INFORMATIONS
PRACTICAL
Planning your stay at Manshausen is easy, with all the essential information you need to make the most of your visit. Located above the Arctic Circle, Manshausen can be reached easily. From accommodation and dining to activities, seasonal conditions and what to bring, this section will help you prepare for your stay in this unique island retreat. Whether you are looking for adventure, relaxation or simply time to reconnect with nature, you will find everything you need to know before arriving at Manshausen.
Getting to Manshausen
Manshausen is located in the heart of the Steigen archipelago, above the Arctic Circle, where mountains meet the sea. Despite its remote setting, reaching the island is surprisingly straightforward. Depending on where you are travelling from, you can arrive by express boat, private boat, car, bus, train or plane.
For most guests travelling from Bodø, the express boat to Nordskot is the easiest option. The journey takes approximately 1.5 hours.
From Nordskot, Manshausen is only a short boat journey away.For a more private and adventurous arrival, private boat and RIB transfers can also be arranged through local operators. If you are travelling by your own boat, Manshausen has a small guest harbour with electricity and water connections. Please contact us in advance to reserve a berth.
Arriving on
the island
Once you arrive in Nordskot, the final part of your journey to Manshausen is by boat. Manshausen operates a shuttle boat between Nordskot and the island, and the crossing takes approximately 10 minutes.
Please inform Manshausen of your expected arrival time in advance so that the team can arrange your transfer to the island. If you are arriving by express boat, it is helpful to provide your boat's scheduled arrival time in Nordskot.
The boat transfer is an integral part of the Manshausen experience and offers your first glimpse of the surrounding archipelago, with its rugged mountains, small islands and open sea.
If you are arriving with your own boat, Manshausen has a guest harbour with access to electricity and water. Please contact the team in advance to arrange your arrival and confirm availability.
Once on the island, guests can check in from 15:00. Check-out is by 11:00 on the day of departure.
Services
Groceries:
Nina’s shop in Nordskot is open 24/7, well-stocked and full of charm.
Cool Neighbours:
Villa Haugen, Naustholmen, and Nordskot Brygge all offer unique experiences: check them out!
Wi-Fi & Mobile:
Wi-Fi is available in the Main House and Library; 4G mobile
coverage is excellent across the island.
Pet Policy:
Sadly, no dogs allowed, we have free-roaming wild sheep.
Restaurant & meals
The restaurant is located in the Main House and serves breakfast, lunch and dinner.
Breakfast
Breakfast is included for overnight guests and is served as a traditional Norwegian buffet. Guests can also prepare a packed lunch for their day of exploration for an additional charge.
Lunches
Lunches are based on seasonal ingredients and may include local fish, pasta dishes, stews and vegetables. Dinner focuses on ingredients from the region, including locally caught fish, moose, reindeer and lamb from Lofoten. Seasonal vegetables are sourced from the island's garden and nearby farmers whenever possible.
Dinners
Dinners are mostly local fish, moose, reindeer or lamb from Lofoten. The dishes are accompanied by seasonal vegetables that we get from our garden or nearby local farmers in the summer. What is left from summer/autumn we try to preserve through, salting, curing, smoking and fermenting for the winter season to complete the flavours of the cold months. We are ready to prepare something special in case of allergies, intolerances, special regimes, etc.During the colder months, the kitchen makes use of traditional preservation techniques such as salting, curing, smoking and fermentation.
Special meals can be prepared for guests with allergies, intolerances or specific dietary requirements. Please inform the team in advance.
Dinner reservations must be made at least 24 hours in advance.
Lunch (350 kr)
Light dinner (650kr) - main course & dessert
3-course dinner (950kr) - starter, main course & dessert
Tasting menu (1570kr) - 2 snacks, 2 starters, 2 main courses & dessert
Cabin Rates
Sea Cabins (2026)
-
2 Persons: 3,200 NOK/person/night
-
Single Occupancy: 5,500 NOK/night
-
Extra Person (Second Bedroom): 900 NOK
-
Children Under 16 Years Old: 450 NOK
As above except:
April, special low season rate
-
2 Persons: 2.700 NOK/person/night
-
Single occupancy: 4.500 NOK/night
1st June-15th August: High season rate
-
2 Persons: 3.700 NOK/person/night
-
Single Occupancy: 6,500 NOK/night
Included: Breakfast, linen, towels, and final cleaning.
Note: A 2-night minimum booking is required on weekends.
Tower Cabins (2026)
-
2 Persons: 4,900 NOK/person/night
-
Single Occupancy: 7,700 NOK/night
-
Extra Guest (single bed 1st Floor): 2,120 NOK/night
-
Children under age 16: 1,670 NOK/night
As above except:
April, special low season rate
-
2 Persons: 4.400 NOK/person/night
-
Single occupancy: 6.700 NOK/night
1st June-15th August: High season rate
-
2 Persons: 5.400 NOK/person/night
-
Single Occupancy: 8.700 NOK/night
Included: Breakfast, lunch, and 3-course dinner (no drinks), linen, towels, and final cleaning.
Note: 2-night minimum stay required on weekends.
Check-in & Check-out
Check-in: from 15:00
By all means come earlier if you wish to get more out of your first day, and in most cases your room will be ready earlier!
Check-out: by 11:00.
Cancellations
For a full refund,
cancellations must be made no later than 4 weeks (28 days) prior to your arrival date.
Cancellations made 2–4 weeks before your arrival date
will be charged a 25 % cancellation fee.
Cancellations made 7–14 days before your arrival date
will be charged a 50 % cancellation fee.
Cancellations made less than 7 days before your arrival date
will result in forfeiture of the entire payment.
You may free of charge change your reservation dates, as long as this is done at least 4 weeks (28 days) before your originally-scheduled arrival date.
For changes made between 2–4 weeks before arrival, a 15 % fee will be charged.
Payment
Payment terms:
When booking: 50 %
The remaining 50 % is due 15 days before arrival
Payment options:
Credit card, debit card or PayPal. You can request an invoice.
Price for guided fishing trips
:2 hours:
1–2 persons: 3,500 NOK
3–4 persons: 1,750 NOK per person
4 hours:
1–2 people: NOK 5,500
3–4 people: NOK 2,750 per person
The price includes a boat, guide and boating suit
Fishing equipment NOK 250 Full day
Price for guided Sea Eagle safari
1,750 NOK per person (min. 3,500 NOK)
Max: 4 people
Includes boating suit, guide and boat.
Price for guided boat trip
2 hours:
1-2 persons – 3.500 NOK
3+ persons – 1.750 NOK per person
4 hours:
1-2 persons – 5.500 NOK
3+ persons – 2.700 NOK per person
Includes kayak, guide and drysuits
Private guide
Half day guiding 3 hours:
1-2 people – 2.600 NOK
3+ people – 1.000 NOK per person
Full day guiding - 6 hours:
1-2 people – 4.600 NOK
3+ people – 2.000 NOK per person
Price for guided kayak
2 hours:
1-2 persons – 3.500 NOK
3+ persons – 1.750 NOK per person
4 hours:
1-2 persons – 5.500 NOK
3+ persons – 2.700 NOK per person
Includes kayak, guide and drysuits
Kayak rentals
Single Kayak: 750 NOK/day
Double Kayak: 1000 NOK/day
- Includes paddle + life jacket
Drysuit: 250 NOK/day (mandatory Sept 1–May 31)
Non staying guest 1.000 NOK single kayak
Non staying guest 1250 NOK double kayak
- Includes paddle + life jacket
Non staying guest 400 NOK drysuit
Guided Nordskot Traverse
Duration: 7–9 hours
Difficulty: Moderate to challenging
1–2 people: NOK 6,000
3 or more people: NOK 3,000 per person
The price includes a guide, helmet, harness and
climbing equipment.Equipment rental
Harbour Info
Our floating dock lies in sheltered
2.5 meters deep waters.
Up to 40 ft: 300 NOK
41–50 ft: 450 NOK
Over 51 ft: 600 NOK
Prices include electricity & water.
Let us know in advance if
you're coming by boat!
Full dock? Nordskot welcomes sailors too.
Activities
Boat rentals
We only rent out boats with a skipper. For independent boat rentals, visit our neighbours at Nordskot Brygge post@nordskotbrygge.no.
What to pack
The weather here keeps things interesting, sun one moment, wind the next. It’s not usually freezing, but various layers so you can adjust are the key.Please check the forecast before your trip.
We recommend:
- Various layers (preferably wool) to adjust as weather changes
- Waterproof and windproof outerwear
Mitts and gloves recommended
- Solid, comfortable footwear for uneven terrain
For Families
Here, children rediscover wonder. Exploring saltwater tidepools full of tiny marvels,there are beaches to roam, adventures to be lived.
Manshausen and its surrounding waters have strong currents, children must always be supervised near the sea, and we recommend that you bring a lifejacket suited for your child.
Wild weather, wild beauty
One of the defining features of Manshausen is its ever-changing weather. While some guests arrive hoping for sunshine from start to finish, many discover that it’sthe storms and shifting skies that create the most unforgettable memories. Whether it’s clear or wild outside, you’ll dine just as well, sleep just as deeply, and perhaps feel even more connected to nature’s powerful rhythm. Every kind of weather has its charm. Up here, nature’s in charge and we love it that way.
The dark period
Winter’s Wild Magic may surprise you. It’s one of our favourite seasons. The sun is gone completely for about a month, a time when the light turns ethereal and the silence of snow brings a calming presence to the island. Days are short, but many of the activities you’d enjoy in summer are just as accessible, from kayaking and hiking to fishing. And when snow does fall, it transforms the landscape with a soft brilliance that makes the dark sea and sky feel even more alive.
Storms
The Vestfjord, which separates Manshausen from the Lofoten Islands, is a stretch of open sea known for its strong dangerous seas. For centuries, fishermen have navigated it with both skill and caution. Thankfully, Manshausen is naturally protected, nestled among smaller islands and reefs that temper the wind and waves. Still, when a storm does pass through, it becomes part of the experience. From the warmth of your cabin, you can observe the elements in motion, the sea alive with movement, the sky ever-changing. It's a powerful reminder of the landscape’s character, and one of the many ways nature makes its presence known here. Even when the weather turns dramatic, we will make sure you are well taken care of. Our boats, lifejackets, and dry suits are designed for all seasons.
The bright period
From mid-June to mid-July, the sun never sets—and nature responds in kind. Birdssing through the night, colours shift and shimmer, and the line between day andevening blurs into a continuous golden glow.During this time, Manshausen comes alive with round-the-clock energy. There’s nopressure to sleep—you can hike at midnight, kayak at dawn, or simply sit and watchthe light and the sea. Your senses stay wide awake, and time feels beautifully suspended.
Stargaze and Silence
As autumn deepens, the stars return in numbers you may have forgotten even existed. Free from the haze of city lights, the skies above Manshausen open up instunning clarity. The Milky Way stretches across the heavens, constellations become familiar again, and the night is filled with stillness. Bring a camera, and maybe a tripod, it may be hours before you get to bed!
Northern Lights
The Aurora Borealis often appears on clear winter nights, and with little surrounding light-pollution, Manshausen is ideally placed to witness it. You can watch the spectacle unfold from the comfort of your cabin, framed by floor-to-ceiling windows that open out to the Arctic sky. One evening, the aurora may drift gently in soft greenwaves; the next, it might pulse in brighter, shifting patterns. Few experiences compare to seeing it in person.There’s a scientific explanation, of course; solar particles colliding with the Earth’s magnetic field, but no amount of knowledge lessens the feeling of wonder when you see it with your own eyes.
More than weather: It’s atmosphere
Whether it’s the thrill of a midnight paddle, the quiet after a snowstorm, or the hush before the aurora appears, the weather at Manshausen isn’t just something you plan
around, it’s something you remember.
Spring
April marks a dramatic shift in light days grow long, and nature awakens. The sea comes alive as cod migrate south from the Barents Sea, and halibut move into the shallows around Manshausen. It’s a fantastic time to explore, fish, or simply enjoy nature waking up.
Summer
Located above the Arctic Circle, Manshausen basks in the light of the midnight sun from mid June to mid July. Even outside these weeks, from early May through mid-August, the nights remain bright. June, July, and early August are a lush celebration of life, with vibrant nature.
Autumn
As the air cools and colors deepen, autumn arrives with its own magic. Frostedmornings and starry nights set the stage for the Northern Lights, which can appearas early as late August. For the best aurora displays, visit between September and March.
Winter
We close during the two stormiest month: December through January but reopen 1st of February. Winter here, when calm, is quietly spectacular, with serene snowy landscapes, starry skies and the mystical dance of the Northern Lights.