General info
How to get here
Enjoy a scenic 90-minute drive from the center of Tromsø to the ferry berth at Mikkelvika. From here it is a 10-minute ferry crossing to Bromnes on the island of Rebbenesøya. When you set foot on the island, it is a 15-minute walk on a slightly hilly path along the shore to the camp. Please see the map.
If you use your own car, it is possible to park at Mikkelvika in the parking area just 100 meters from the harbor. It is also possible to take the car with the ferry to Rebbenesøya where it is possible to park near the harbor and where the hiking trail starts.
Link to ferry schedule
Our Trips
At Elements Arctic Camp, group sizes on the paddle trips are normally limited to 4 participants.
Larger groups can be considered on request. We want to have small groups so that all our guests will be taken care of individually, on a personal level and you will also have a better experience of the camp and its surroundings.
The tour packages include all necessary paddle and safety equipment. Each participant will have their own kayak as we do not have double kayaks.
For beginners, the guide provides an introduction to paddling techniques and safety. Please state your size (length and weight) when ordering, so that we can ensure that we have suitable equipment available.
Food
On our trips we provide local food and local sweet snacks. Beer, wine and soft drinks are not included. Food is an important part during our trips and adventures. We therefore do our best to choose the best local products available for that specific season you are staying with us. In our packages it will be possible to prebook the type of food you prefare or if you have any special wishes. We can also provide glutenfree food or vegetarian food.
The guests and the guide bring the food together to the cam. The guests prepare the food themself with support/guidance of the guide. The meals can be prepared in the fully equipped kitchen in the yurts, at the boathouse around the camp fire in the great outdoors.
Engvik Foodstore, the island has itsown foodstore only 20 min driving from Bromnes, the pier were you can buy food, as well as other different stuffs.
To bring
Please bring warm clothes to both wear during the stay at the camp and to wear under the drysuit. We recommend dressing in layers to keep warm. The weather can change quickly here in the north and at times it can get quite cool even during summer. This is part of the charm here in the Norwegian Arctic, but it means you need to make an extra effort with your choice of clothing.
Feel free to bring a seating pad to use during breaks. You may borrow an uninsulated wind sack on request. We also recommend you bring suitable clothes and footwear for outdoor activities, such as hiking.
You can borrow thermal overalls at the camp.
Summer:
-Wind- and rain-resistant jacket and trousers
-Two layers, wool or fleece (under dry suit)
-Waterproof hiking boots
-Hat and gloves
-Sunglasses and sunscreen.
-Extra clothes
Winter:
-Winter trousers and winter jacket (thermo)
-Winter boots high-handled
-Minimum two layers of wool or fleece (under dry suit)
-Warm hat, baclava, mittens or scarf
-Headlight
-Extra clothes
Generall year round:
-Therm cup, drinking bottle
- Binoculars if you have any
Note; equipment and clothing should be packed rainproof and in a backpack for the actual walk out to the camp.
Security
We have high focus on security. In our region the water temperature is low throughout the year, and the weather can change very fast. Dry suit and west are always obligatoric during our trips. Our guides ensure that the kayaking is conducted safely and adapted to the participants skills. It is important that you inform the guides in advance of a trip/adventure of medical sircumstanses or other things that might have an influence of the security.
Difficult level
While no previous paddling experience is necessary, you must be in medium physical condition. You must be able to walk the distance of 800 m from the harbour to the camp site. Part of the route is uneven. During the middle of winter, we walk this stretch in darkness using headtorches, which is very exciting.
Travel insurance
Everyone participating at our activities must have valid travel insurance covering all the activities offered by Elements Arctic Camp, which may be presented on request.
When participating on our packages you have to fill out an personal statement.
Indicative programme
3 day trip - Winter
We will pick you up in Tromsø city or another place by agreement. We then drive in the direction of the camp. The journey to the camp is an adventure itself. We will drive alongside fjords with fantastic views. When we drive over the mountain pass we will pass Norway’s largest island lake. The drive finishes at the Mikkelvika ferry landing, where we take a 10-minute ferry crossing over to Bromnes on the island of Rebbenesøya. Thereafter we have a 15-30-minute walk- or snowshoe trip to the camp.
After settling into your yurt, we start to warm it up. We thereafter prepare a light meal and plan the evenings kayak trip. Look forward to a very special experience, to paddle in the darkness, and if we are lucky, the Northern Lights can suddenly start dancing over your head. Back at the camp we enjoy a nice dinner and you will be able to enjoy a relaxing time either in a warm and cozy yurt in comfortable chairs in front of the wood fired oven or outside around a campfire.
Look forward to a nice sleep in the yurt in our super comfortable beds.
Day 2
Next day after breakfast we get ready for a new sea kayaking trip, this time in the daylight of the Arctic winter. This will be a totally different experience from yesterdays kayak trip in darkness. We plan to be out kayaking half of the day. The area surrounding our camp offers enormous variety for sea kayaking with wonderful trips of varying lengths and levels. The crystal-clear water makes it possible to study the marine life underneath your kayak. During the trip, we have short breaks were we eat some snacks and get some hot to drink. When we return to the camp we prepare a nice warm lunch either inside the yurt or outdoors around a campfire. The second part of the day we plan all dependent of the snow condition either hiking or snowshoeing or cross-country skiing. It is possible to do trips directly form the Camp, we can also choose tracks on the Island. The Island even has its own trail with light making it easy for cross-country skiing wintertime.
Evening time and if you still have some energy left we can do another short kayaking trip maybe with the northern lights dancing above our head, or if snow, snowshoeing or cross-country skiing.
Or, if you prefer, simply relaxing and enjoying the atmosphere at the Camp. We assure you that this is a wonderful place to relax. You can play card, read a book, listening to the sound of the sparkling wood oven in the light of candles, before you go to sleep.
Day 3
After breakfast we plan to do a sightseeing trip on the Island, including breaks underway were you can take photos. We drive southwest on the island to Engvika, which is perhaps home to the world’s most beautifully located shop. if conditions allow us we can hike the hills just nearby were you will have a spectacular view of the open sea. From this view you will be able to see the Island Sørfugløya, towering on the horizon. The Island is well known for the puffin colony. Another beautiful place south on the Island is Måsvik which also offer a beautiful view, with white beaches, clear shallow and green water and lots of small Islands.
2 day trip - Winter
We will pick you up in Tromsø city or another place by agreement. We then drive in the direction of the camp. The journey to the camp is an adventure itself. We will drive alongside fjords with fantastic views. When we drive over the mountain pass we will pass Norway’s largest island lake. The drive finishes at the Mikkelvika ferry landing, where we take a 10-minute ferry crossing over to Bromnes on the island of Rebbenesøya. Thereafter we have a 15-30-minute walk- or snowshoe trip to the camp.
After settling into your yurt, we start to warm it up, and we get to fetch water from the nearby stream. We thereafter prepare a light meal. We plan the evening kayak trip and the next day trip according to the weatherforecast, your excperience and wishes.
Look forward to the evenings kayak trip. To paddle in the dark is a special experience and if we are lucky, the Northern Lights can suddenly start dancing over your head. Back at the camp we enjoy a nice dinner and you will be able to enjoy a cosy and relaxing time in a warm yurt either in comfortable chairs in front of the woodfired oven or around a campfire.
Look forward to a nice sleep in the yurt in our super comfortable beds.
Day 2
Next day after breakfast we get ready for a new sea kayaking trip, this time in the daylight of the Arctic winter. This will be a totaly different excperince from yesterdays kayaktrip in darkness. All depending on when we start the trip in the morning, we will be able to be out kayaking for about 3-4 hours.
The area surrounding our camp offers enormous variety for sea kayaking with wonderful trips of varying lengths and levels. The crystal-clear water makes it possible to study the marine life underneath your kayak. During the trip, we have short breaks were we eat some snacks and get som hot to drink. When we return to the camp we prepare a nice warm lunch. We enjoy the atmosphere at the camp before heading back to Tromsø.
During the trip we have to take precautions regarding the weather. Alternative activities is we drive south on the island to Engvika, which is perhaps home to the world’s most beautifully located shop. We can visit the shop and if conditions allow us we can hike the mountains just nearby were you will have a spectacular view of the open sea. From this view you will be able to see the Island Sørfugløya, towering on the horizon. The Island is well know for its huge puffin colony. Another beautiful place even more south is Måsvik with beautifulwhite beaches, clear shallow and green water and lots of small Islands.
If we have snow we will be able to go snowshoeing or cross-country skiing either directly from the Camp or we can choose other tracks on the Island. The Island even has its own trail with artificial light making it easy for cross-country skiing wintertime. It will also be possible to do ice fishing on a small lake nearby the Camp.
...Or, if you prefer, simply relaxing and enjoying the atmosphere at the Camp. We assure you that this is a wonderful place to relax.
Snow conditions and weather:
Usually we have more stable snow conditions from January until Mars/April, so it is more predictable for skiing and cross-country skiing in this period.
We get snow in the early winter as well but use to have periods with rain when the snow might disappear for short periods.
Booking, payment and cancelling
The following cancellation fees / deadlines apply: - Full refund is given for cancellations made more than 60 days before the arrival date / tour date. 50% of the total amount is refundable for cancellations made 59-22 days before the day of arrival / tour date - No refunds will be given for cancellations from 21 and less days before the date of arrival / tour date. Any changes made by the guest are considered a cancellation.
Cancellation from our side:
We cancel the tour when we consider the drive to the camp and/or a stay at the camp for too risky or dangerous due to very bad weather (very heavy storms). In case of this type of cancellation / major change, you will be given 100% refund.
No cancellation is done regarding too rough weather for kayaking, we can offer other activities such as hiking, skiing, snowshoeing (if snow), sightseeing on the Island.
Payment
It will be possible to do the payment in different ways:
1) Online booking
It is possible to pay online directly from our homepage or through Visit Tromsø.
2) Invoice sent by e-mail (bank account)
