Sauna & Kayak Camp
Experience sauna sessions and kayaking in the stunning Helgeland coast
Welcome to Ylvingen, in the heart of the UNESCO World Heritage Vega Archipelago.
Out here, among the sea, islets, and high skies, we invite you to a few days of sauna, kayaking, sea bathing, and authentic coastal life.
Together with our team, you will experience the heat and the cold, paddling trips in the archipelago, long meals, and quiet moments designed to relax your shoulders and refill your energy.
These are days for fresh sea air, salty hair, good conversations, and the feeling of being far away from everyday life — close to nature, the sea, and the raw energy of the Helgeland coast.
3-Day Sauna & Kayaking Camp — Ylvingen, Northern Norway
Surrounded by the sea, islets, and the rugged Helgeland coast, we invite you to three days of sauna, kayaking, sea bathing, and authentic island life. Right in the UNESCO-listed Vega Archipelago, and known from the TV series Himmelblå, everything is set for you to unwind, settle into your body, and gather new energy close to nature.
During the camp, you will be guided through sauna experiences, warming rituals, cold-water baths, and peaceful moments by the sea. We combine this with kayaking trips through the archipelago, long meals, fresh sea air, and the simple life on a small island at the edge of the Helgeland coast.
The camp is suitable both for those curious about sauna and bathing culture and for those who simply want a few days closer to nature, their body, and calm. Here, it’s not about performing, but about lowering your shoulders, feeling the contrasts between warmth and cold, and experiencing the very special feeling of northern Norwegian coastal life. No prior experience in kayaking is required for this trip.
Between sauna sessions and paddling trips, the sea invites you to refreshing swims in the clear Arctic waters around Ylvingen. The contrasts between warmth, cold, silence, and movement create an experience that lingers long after you have returned home.
This is an invitation to slow down, breathe deeper and reconnect with both nature and yourself.
Out here on the Helgeland coast, surrounded by raw northern landscapes and open ocean, we create a space where rituals, adventure, rest and the sea come together naturally.
Mille Purton, Sauna og Aufguss-master
Sauna and kayak – close to the sea
Sea kayaking offers a completely unique way to experience the Helgeland coast. As we move quietly through straits, between islets and along rock slabs, we get close to both nature, the sea, and the rhythm out here. The pace slows automatically, and one begins to notice the sounds, the light, the weather, and the movements in the water in a different way than from land.
Many also experience that the combination of kayaking, sauna, and sea bathing creates a special balance between activity and calm. The body gets to work, while the surrounding nature invites presence and stillness. Paddling through the open coastal landscape, before returning to the warmth of the sauna and a cold sea bath, gives a feeling of both energy, mastery, and deep calm.
The kayak also makes it possible to explore small coves, hidden beaches, and islands around Ylvingen on the terms of nature—close to the sea, without engine noise, and with time to truly be present in the landscape.
All Inclusive
The retreat is fully catered, with nourishing breakfasts, lunches and dinners served throughout your stay. After days spent in the sea air, we gather around long tables for shared meals and relaxed evenings together — an important part of life here on the coast.
Your Stay
You can choose between shared or private rooms, allowing you to shape the experience around your own need for rest, comfort and community.
Who is the Sauna & Kayak Camp for?
This camp is suitable for those who want a few days closer to nature, the sea, and their body — whether you come alone, with a friend, or as a couple. You don’t need any prior experience with saunas or sea kayaking, just the desire to try something new and unwind a little.
The combination of hot saunas, refreshing sea baths, kayaking, and relaxed island life provides an experience that can be both energizing and relaxing at the same time. It’s not about performance, but about being outdoors, feeling the contrasts between heat and cold, and finding calm at nature’s own pace.
To create a safe, personal, and intimate experience, we only accommodate up to 5 participants per camp. The small group size allows for quieter days and a natural sense of community along the way.
Accommodation
The stay includes accommodation in shared rooms at Himmelblå Brygge. Here we live simply and socially, close to the sea and the nature around us. Shared meals, good conversations, and the warm atmosphere around the long table are an important part of the experience on Ylvingen.
Practical - 3-day retreat with all facilities included:
Price per person:
Shared room - 5460 NOK
Included in the price: 2-3 meals per day, a 3-day activities and ritual plan, full access to facilities and equipment.
NB: We must have a minimum of 4 guests registered to carry out the Sauna and kayak camp
Read more about how to travel to and from Ylvingen here
Mille Purton, sauna og aufguss-mester
Mille is an Oslo born Sauna Master who has escaped the big city to live her Island dream on Ylvingen. She has trained with renowned masters of the Lithuanian 'Pirtis' style of sauna. Mille is also a certified Reiki practitioner and has experience as a meditation guide for both women's and mixed groups.
Mille's passion for sauna came after a long illness. Following countless treatments, experiments, and soul-searching, she found sauna and was able to heal herself with the power of steam and contrast therapy. It's now her mission to share the magic of sauna with the world.
Typical Itenerary
(Some events are seasonal and subject to weather!)
Day 1
- Arrive at Himmelbla Brygge!
- Opening Circle & Orientation
- Orange Ritual
- Yoga Nidra
Day 2
- Hot & Cold Ritual
- Hike to Tyskhaugen
- Norse Ritual
- Sauna Meditation
Day 3
- Sea Kayaking
- Baltic Pirtis Ritual
- Salt Meditation
Day 4
- Make your own body scrub
- Scrubbing Ritual
- Private Pirtis Ritual
- Cacao Ceremony
Day 5
- Closing Circle & Goodbye Sweat
- Departure
