ISSA INSHORE SKIPPER · NORWAY · 29.05–05.06.2027
The Viking Way: a Norway you can't see from the shore
8 days under sail through the Sognefjord — the waters Viking longships sailed a thousand years ago. You are not a passenger — you are crew. At the finish — an international ISSA skipper certificate.
from 1800 € · 29.05–05.06.2027 · start and finish in Bergen
Expedition
This will be more than a trip
Some places are best seen not from a car window or a viewpoint. You have to arrive by sea. Mountains rise straight from the water, hundreds of waterfalls tumble from the cliffs, and the deep blue sea slowly turns emerald.
Viking waters
A thousand years ago, longships sailed here
The Sognefjord — Norway's longest and deepest fjord — was the Vikings' road into the heart of the country. Their farmsteads stood here, sagas were composed here, and from here they set out into the North Sea. We will sail the same waters — only instead of oars we have sails, GPS and a VHF radio. But the skill of reading water, wind and shore is the same.
Bergen
Founded by King Olaf the Peaceful in 1070, at the end of the Viking Age; once the capital of Norway.
Balestrand
Viking-age burial mounds and the legend of King Bele and the saga hero Frithiof the Bold.
Nærøyfjord and Flåm
A reconstructed Viking village in Gudvangen, and a brewery styled as a Viking hall in Flåm.
Once, the ability to sail a ship made a person free. It still does today.
What you get
International skipper certificate
- ISSA Inshore Skipper — the right to charter yachts and catamarans up to 24 m almost anywhere in the world
- No expiry — never needs renewing
- Day + night
- Plus a VHF radio operator certificate
Training programme
What you will learn
Helming a sailing yacht, sail handling, manoeuvres
Mooring and crew work in the marina
Taking over a charter yacht: engine, sails, rigging, navigation, safety equipment, hull
Nautical charts, navigation equipment, passage planning with the weather
COLREG: right of way, lights, signals
VHF radio: radio procedure, calling a marina, channels
Safety, emergency procedures, watch organisation
“Skipper for a day”: everyone plans a passage, keeps the log and leads the crew
Route
Bergen → Sognefjord → Bergen
Route stop
Bergen
Start and finish. A city founded by King Olaf the Peaceful in 1070.
Tap a point on the map to learn more.
Day-by-day programme
8 days you will remember
1ᚠSat 29.05 · BERGEN
Meeting the crew
Sat 29.05 · BERGEN
Meeting the crew
The team gets acquainted, first briefing, route discussion and a dinner together in a city founded at the very end of the Viking Age.
2ᚢSun 30.05 · BERGEN → FEDJE
Casting off
Sun 30.05 · BERGEN → FEDJE
Casting off
Provisioning, taking over the yacht with a walkthrough on how not to lose money and nerves at check-out. First passage to an island on the edge of the North Sea.
3ᚦMon 31.05 · FEDJE → LEIRVIK
The longships' way home
Mon 31.05 · FEDJE → LEIRVIK
The longships' way home
Heading for the mouth of the Sognefjord — the same way longships returned home from the sea. The shores rise higher, mountain ranges ahead. Evening in a small marina with a restaurant on the shore.
4ᚨTue 01.06 · LEIRVIK → BALESTRAND
Entering the Sognefjord
Tue 01.06 · LEIRVIK → BALESTRAND
Entering the Sognefjord
Waterfalls on the slopes, the water turns from deep blue to emerald. In the evening — a walk around Balestrand, Viking-age burial mounds and the legend of King Bele and Frithiof.
5ᚱWed 02.06 · BALESTRAND → SOGNDAL → NÆRØYFJORD → FLÅM
The highlight of the expedition
Wed 02.06 · BALESTRAND → SOGNDAL → NÆRØYFJORD → FLÅM
The highlight of the expedition
Farms and orchards, the narrow Nærøyfjord, cliffs hundreds of metres above us, dozens of waterfalls, silence. In the evening — a sauna on the shore with a fjord view.
6ᚲThu 03.06 · FLÅM → LOSNEGARD
A real sea day
Thu 03.06 · FLÅM → LOSNEGARD
A real sea day
For those who want — the famous Flåm Railway (Flåmsbana). Then one of the longest passages: navigation, watches, crew organisation.
7ᚷFri 04.06 · LOSNEGARD → BERGEN
Final passage
Fri 04.06 · LOSNEGARD → BERGEN
Final passage
What seemed difficult becomes routine. The last sauna, dinner with the whole team, photos and memories.
8ᚹSat 05.06 · BERGEN
Finale
Sat 05.06 · BERGEN
Finale
By 09:00 we prepare the yacht for check-out, final inspection — and step off board for the last time. We recommend booking your return flight no earlier than [__:__] — time to be confirmed.
Who it's for
This course is for you if…
You dream of chartering a yacht yourself and sailing with friends or family
You have sailed as a passenger and want to take the helm
You want to earn a skipper licence not in a classroom, but in one of the most beautiful places on earth
You simply want to set off on a sailing trip through amazing Norway
Why SEAPILGRIMS
The school you go to sea with
ISSA
Accredited school
3+ years
Teaching sailing
400+
Graduates
5 destinations
Turkey, Greece, Italy, Tenerife and Norway
Team
Your instructors
Dmytro Kyrylenko
Founder and lead instructor
Serhii Korobenko
Instructor
Instructors qualified as Yachtmaster Offshore
Price
Choose your cabin
Berth in a shared cabin
1800 €
- Training: theory + practice
- Accommodation on the yacht in a cabin shared with another student
- 8 days
Private cabin
3500 €
- Training: theory + practice
- A private cabin just for you
- 8 days
- You can bring someone close on the trip, in your cabin
| Paid separately | Per person |
|---|---|
| ISSA Inshore Skipper + VHF certificates | 530 € |
| Bed linen, towels, final cleaning, sailing documents, "Starlink" internet | 120 € |
| Crew fund (food, fuel, marina fees) | Approx. 200 € per person |
| Deposit (refunded if there is no damage) | 250 € |
| Flights to Bergen |
Booking terms
50% prepayment of the course price
What to bring
Norway in late May – early June is cool (≈ +10…+17 °C), with possible rain and wind.
- Waterproof clothing
- Warm layers: fleece, thermal underwear
- Hat
- Sailing gloves
- Shoes with white/light soles
- Sunglasses
- Power bank
- Personal medication
- Soft bag instead of a suitcase
Questions and answers
Do I need experience?
No, we teach from scratch. Most students take the helm for the first time on the course.
What certificate is it and where is it valid?
ISSA Inshore Skipper — lets you charter yachts and catamarans up to 24 m almost anywhere in the world. The certificate has no expiry date.
How does the exam work?
At the end of the course: a theory part and practice on the water.
What is the difference between the tariffs?
1800 € — a berth in a cabin shared with another student, 3500 € — a private cabin. Training and certificates are the same.
How many people are in the group?
Up to 8 students.
How do I get to Bergen?
Direct and connecting flights from Poland (Warsaw, Kraków, Gdańsk) and other European cities.
What's the weather like?
Cool (≈ +10…+17 °C), long daylight — the sun sets around 23:00.
What are the crew fund and deposit?
The crew fund covers food, fuel and marina fees, split equally between the crew. The 250 € deposit is refunded if the yacht is returned without damage.
How do I book a place?
Leave an application → a manager contacts you → a prepayment secures your place.
Do Ukrainians need a visa?
No, with a biometric passport entry to Norway is visa-free for up to 90 days within any 180-day period in the Schengen Area. Take days already used into account.
Do I need insurance?
Yes, we recommend travel insurance that covers active water recreation.
What if I get seasick?
Most of the route is in the sheltered waters of the fjords, but there may be swell on sea passages. Choose seasickness remedies in advance with a doctor or pharmacist; fresh air and looking at the horizon help on board.
What happens in bad weather?
The skipper adjusts the route, safety comes first. Training continues: in dangerous conditions — theory and marina exercises instead of going to sea.
Are there age restrictions?
[Age restrictions to be confirmed]. Write to us to agree on participation.
How do I pay?
[Payment methods to be confirmed]. The manager will provide payment details and terms before booking.
Take your place in the crew
Leave an application — a manager will contact you within a day, answer all your questions and explain how to secure your place.