---
title: "Midnight Sun Sailing in Lofoten and Senja | Boreal Yachting"
url: https://boreal-yachting.com/experiences/midnight-sun-sailing
description: "Sail Northern Norway in 24-hour daylight: Lofoten, Vesterålen, Senja and Lyngen. Whole-boat summer charter from Tromsø with Boreal Yachting."
lang: en
---

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Experience

# Midnight Sun Sailing

Midnight Sun Sailing is a whole-boat summer voyage in Northern Norway, where the sun does not set between late May and late July. From Tromsø we sail towards Senja, Lyngen, Vesterålen and Lofoten, using light that lasts all night to keep going as long as you want to.

Image: Midnight sun over calm Arctic water with mountains on the horizon (https://boreal-yachting.com/generated-images/article-midnight-sun-1920.webp)

Just after midnight in late June. Between late May and late July the sun stays above the horizon.

## At a glance

| Season | Late May to late July |
| --- | --- |
| Duration | 5 to 10 nights |
| Base | Tromsø, 69.6°N |
| Group size | Up to eight guests, whole boat |
| Sold as | Whole boat — private and group charter |
| Level | No experience needed. Some walks ashore |
| Crew | Skipper, plus additional crew on longer voyages |

## A day that does not end

North of the Arctic Circle the summer sun circles the sky instead of setting. In Tromsø it stays up continuously from around 18 May to 25 July. The practical effect on a boat is that time loosens. You can leave an anchorage at ten in the evening and arrive somewhere new at two in the morning in full light.

It also removes the pressure that shapes most sailing holidays. There is no need to reach harbour before dark, so the route follows wind and interest rather than the clock.

The light itself is the reason many guests come back. For several hours around midnight the sun sits low and the whole coast turns copper.

## Where we sail

From Tromsø, a week can go in several directions. South-west takes you along Senja, with its granite spires dropping into the sea, and on towards Vesterålen and Lofoten. East reaches the Lyngen Alps, where snow lies on the peaks into July above green shorelines.

Lofoten is the best-known stretch: fishing villages, drying racks, and mountains that rise straight from the water. It is also the busiest, so we time arrivals to be somewhere quieter than the tour buses.

Ashore there are walks of every size, from an hour on a headland to a full day on a ridge. Sea eagles are common, porpoises are frequent, and the fishing off the back of the boat usually produces dinner.

## A typical week

The route is decided by wind, weather and the people on board. This is what a good week tends to look like.

### Day 1 — Tromsø

Board in the afternoon, safety briefing, and provisioning finished with the crew.

An evening sail out through the islands to a first anchorage.

### Days 2 to 6 — the coast

Passages of three to seven hours, under sail whenever the wind is useful.

A walk ashore, a swim for the brave, and a quiet anchorage each evening.

Around midnight, most of the boat ends up on deck. That is the point of the trip.

### Final day — back to Tromsø

A last morning sail and alongside in Tromsø around midday.

Time in town before flying home, or a night ashore.

## What is included

### Included

- Whole-boat charter for your group
- Skipper and crew
- All meals on board and hot drinks
- Tender transfers and fishing gear
- On-board linen and towels
- Fuel and harbour fees

### Not included

- Flights to and from Tromsø
- Hotel nights before and after
- Travel insurance
- Alcoholic drinks
- Shore excursions and entrance fees
- Crew gratuities

Image: Sailing yacht passing steep coastal mountains in Northern Norway (https://boreal-yachting.com/generated-images/article-tromso-lofoten-1824.webp)

## The boat

Summer voyages sail on monohulls and catamarans from our fleet of ten. Catamarans give more deck space for a family or a group that wants room; monohulls sail better upwind and suit people who came for the sailing.

See the fleet: https://boreal-yachting.com/fleet

## Who this is for

- Families and groups of friends who want the whole boat for a week.
- Guests who want scenery, walks and swimming rather than a fixed programme.
- Photographers working with low light around the clock.
- Anyone who has never sailed before.

If you sleep badly in constant daylight and cannot bear a blackout mask, the midnight sun will work against you. Consider late August instead, when the nights return.

## Practical

### Fitness and experience

No sailing experience needed. Walks ashore range from an easy hour to a demanding day, and the group chooses.

### What to bring

Layers, a waterproof shell, walking shoes, sunglasses and high-factor sun cream. A sleep mask is genuinely useful. Soft bags only.

### Weather

Summer temperatures usually sit between 8 and 18°C, with warm still days and cool wet ones in the same week. The water stays near 10°C, which does not stop everyone.

### Getting to Tromsø

Direct flights from Oslo and several European cities. The harbour is 15 minutes from the airport.

Read the full Arctic sailing packing list: https://boreal-yachting.com/arctic-sailing-packing-list

## Questions guests ask

When exactly is the midnight sun?

In Tromsø the sun stays above the horizon from around 18 May to 25 July. The light stays strong for a few weeks either side of that.

Can we sleep with the sun up?

Most people adjust within a night or two. Cabins have blinds, and we keep sleep masks on board.

Do we choose the route?

Yes, within reason. You tell us whether you want Lofoten, Senja or Lyngen, and the skipper builds a week around the forecast.

Is it warm enough to swim?

The sea is around 10°C. People swim, briefly, and enjoy it more than they expect.

Can we reach Lofoten in a week?

From Tromsø, one way is comfortable in a week with a fair wind. A return trip is better with 10 nights, or we can arrange a one-way charter.

What wildlife might we see?

White-tailed sea eagles almost daily, porpoises and seals regularly, and whales occasionally. Nothing is guaranteed.

## Where this sails

Destination

### Tromsø

Our base at 69.6°N and the starting point for almost every voyage.
https://boreal-yachting.com/destinations/tromso

## Related reading

Itineraries

### 10 Days from Tromsø to Lofoten
https://boreal-yachting.com/journal/tromso-to-lofoten

Itineraries

### One week from Tromsø: Senja, Lyngen and beyond
https://boreal-yachting.com/journal/one-week-tromso

Experience

### Sail & Trek
https://boreal-yachting.com/experiences/sail-and-trek

Compare

### Whole-boat charter vs joining a group departure
https://boreal-yachting.com/whole-boat-charter-vs-group-departure

Compare

### What an Arctic-adapted boat actually means
https://boreal-yachting.com/what-is-an-arctic-adapted-boat

## Enquire about Midnight Sun Sailing.

Tell us what you have in mind. We will come back to you within two working days with a considered answer — not a template.

Speak to us directly: https://boreal-yachting.com/contact

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