Norway Retreat
Manshausen | 21 - 26 February 2025
Escape to an exclusive private island on Norway’s pristine North West Coast
Experience a curated Arctic sea and mountain adventure. Retreat to Manshausen - a private island situated in the Steigen Archipelago off the coast of Northern Norway, famed for its spectacular juxtaposition of steep mountains, vivid green seas, and award-winning futuristic architecture. Stay in your own secluded sea cabin, with floor to ceiling glass walls, revealing the most wondrous ocean vistas and glimpses of the Northern Lights. Thrive on twice daily yoga with Nina and feel energized on guided kayak and hiking trips. Enjoy seasonal, regional cuisine, prepared by Manshausen’s celebrated chef and connect with like-minded adventurers next to a crackling fire, or in the Nordic sauna.
Anticipate a journey with…
A private island
Stay on Manshausen, a private island owned by Norwegian explorer, Børge Ousland. It is situated with unprecedented views of the breathtaking Lofoten fjord, and is entirely isolated, giving you the feeling as though you are suspended in place and time. This is the perfect retreat location; unplug, unwind, reconnect with the mountains and the sea!
Delicious, regional food
Breakfast at Manshausen is buffet-style, with fruits, yogurt, muesli, cheeses, cured meat and smoked salmon, eggs, breads, jams and preserves. Lunch is a single course light meal, usually a pasta or rice dish with salad. Dinner is a special affair, as the talented Manshausen chef treats us to a 3-course ritual. Almost all ingredients are seasonal, local and organic.
Kayak adventure in the fjords
The kayak is a humble yet ingenious vessel that gives you an intimate connection with the waters. Regardless of the season, kayaking is something that everyone can enjoy! We’ll be safely guided on a 4hr kayak trip through the surrounding fjord. Drysuits and kayak equipment will be provided, as well as warm drinks and lunch.
Guided hike to a Norse cave!
We’ll be guided on a 2-3hr hike and cave exploration to Resshola Cave. The starting point for this trip is Oksholmen on the northern edge of the fishing village of Nordskot. We climb upwards from there through woodlands until we reach Resshola, a 140m deep hidden cave steeped in history. We’ll have lunch packs and warm drinks.
Aurora Borealis
Retreat to Manshausen in late February - dates carefully selected for the reason that you can see Northern Lights (Aurora Borealis) at this time of year, and yet the daylight hours are long enough to enable us to take advantage of adventure activities. Don’t forget to take in the mystical ‘Artic blue light’ in the long dusk periods after sunset!
Daily yoga & meditation
Reset and rejuvenate on a fun holiday with like-minded people! Daily yoga is an enabler for you to make the most of your time on Manshausen, giving you an energy boost, calming your nervous system, bringing you to the present moment, and helping you to truly appreciate and enjoy the stunning natural surrounds!
Location
Steigen Archipelago
Situated in the Steigen Archipelago off the coast of Northern Norway, the island of Manshausen lies in the middle of the Grøtøy strait between the dramatic peaks of the Lofoten mountains and the Barents Sea. Manshausen and the surrounding archipelago are an outdoor adventurer’s dream with endless winter and summer sports and dramatic unspoiled natural beauty. Our retreat will be held in late winter, when there are still opportunities for Aurora Borealis (Northern Lights) sightings. There will be snow and ice on the surrounding mountains, but as we are right on the sea, the temperatures hover around zero celsius. February is late winter - expect average temperatures: low -5℃ / high 5℃ (low 23℉ / high 41℉).
Accomodation
Manhausen Island
Set on 55 acres, there are 7 sea cabins that have dramatic floor-to- ceiling windows. In addition, there are 2 new towers with glass ceilings as well as glass in the front of the structure. The main house accommodates the kitchen, dining area, and library. This striking collection of Architizer award winning cabins was commissioned by renowned Norwegian polar explorer Børge Ousland in partnership with architect Snorre Stinessen. Constructed and assembled on site, the prefabricated cabins were designed to limit the impact on the pristine environment, highlight the beauty of the landscape, and provide maximum privacy and comfort. Each cabin has a queen bed, lounge area, kitchen, bathroom and additional small room with a bunk bed. There is a Nordic sauna on the island, as well as a yoga space!
This retreat is for you if you:
Are a nature lover with a thirst for adventure.
Want to connect with like-minded humans on a holiday where all the fine details and logistics are taken care of for you.
Enjoy yoga and meditation in non-competitive, inclusive classes.
Appreciate organic, regional cuisine and the ritual of dining together with others.
Are seeking a nature-orientated holiday that feeds your soul and invites you to connect, recharge, reflect.
What you can expect:
The most awe-inspiring, pristine wilderness - staying on a private island across from the Lofoten fjords.
Unique, guided adventure trips - kayaking in the fjords and a hike to a Viking cave!
Daily, unlimited use of a Nordic sauna - with optional ice plunging!
Time each day to relax, reflect, journal, or do whatever feeds your soul.
Exquisite, regional and organic food, prepared fresh, and carefully selected wines/beers/soft drinks to pair.
Daily yoga and meditation with Nina
Your InRetreat guide
Nina integrates poetry, personal transformation and unique insights to her practice, enriching body movement with meaning. Her classes are playful, flowing and accessible to all levels, offering an inclusive space where everyone can discover their own personal edge and cultivate presence in a grounding and nourishing atmosphere.
This Retreat in Review
All the retreat details
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5 nights accommodation on Manshausen Island
All meals - breakfast, lunch and 3-course dinner daily
2 yoga classes per day, led by Nina Butler
4-hour guided kayak adventure through the fjord
3-hour guided hike and cave exploration
Return Boat transfers - Nordskot to/from Manshausen Island
Unlimited use of the Nordic sauna
Gift bag
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Flights and travel to/from Nordskot
Visas
Alcoholic and other beverages
Hot tub rental
Other activities/adventures bookable direct with Manshausen
Tips and gratuities (in Norway tipping is not expected/required)
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Arrival 23 February 2024
Fly to Bodø Airport (BOO). Connections to this small regional airport are through Oslo Gardermoen International Airport (OSL). From here it is a 5 minute bus, or taxi, to Bodø Sentrumsterminalen båt (which is the smaller of the 2 ferry ports in Bodø). The daily express boat from Bodø (Sentrumsterminalen båt) to ‘Nordskot hurtigbåtkai’ (Steigen) takes 1.5 hours, and departs at 18:00 every day. So you need to get to Bodø Sentrumsterminalen båt no later than 17:30. *Book your ferry ticket to ‘Nordskot hurtigbåtkai’ (Steigen), on this website: https://www.reisnordland.com/
Everyone in the group will be on the same ferry, so we will meet up on the ferry journey. The ferry arrives at Nordskot at 19:20, and the friendly Manshausen staff will be there to meet us, and will take us directly across to the island via private boat. We will be shown to our cabins and then convene for a welcome dinner.
Departure 28 February 2024
We depart on 28 February on the 07:55am ferry leaving Nordskot for Bodø Sentrumsterminalen båt. *Get your tickets here: https://www.reisnordland.com/
The Manshausen boat will take us to the Nordskot harbour by 07:30 on the 28th of Feb. We arrive back in Bodø by 09:30. The Bodø Airport is 5 minutes in a bus or taxi from the harbour.
*Please note that ferry tickets are only bookable 2 months ahead of time. So the earliest you will be able to purchase your ferry tickets is 23 December 2023.
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21 - 26 February 2025
All inclusive rates for sea cabins
Single occupancy cabin: 49,999 NOK
Double occupancy cabin: 58,999 NOK
there are only 7 sea cabins
All inclusive rates for towers
Single occupancy tower: 63,999 NOK
Double occupancy tower: 72,999 NOK
there are only 2 towers
BOOKING
A 30% deposit is required to secure your booking.
Balance payment is due 60 days prior to start date.
TERMS
The deposit payment is non-refundable.
If the retreat has to be postponed due to unforeseen circumstances, new dates in the future will be set, and 100% of payments made by guests will be put forward to new dates. If the new retreat dates do not suit guests, vouchers/ refunds can be arranged.
** PLEASE NOTE: All cabins have a queen bed and it is not possible to separate this into 2 twin beds. All cabins have a second room with a bunk bed, so two friends sharing do not have to share the same bed, however, the second room with a bunk bed does not have the same floor-to-ceiling glass views as the queen bed.
Contact us with questions about this InRetreat
