Simplicity at its Finest
Reset Your Senses
An hour by boat west of Bodø, far out to sea you will find The Arctic Hideaway. Eleven unique cabins dancing from hilltop to shoreline: your invitation into this precious island landscape.
Your senses will be reset by the absence of artificial noise, or visual clutter. This is a place designed for focus and we believe there is nothing more focused than simplicity. Every line has been consciously drawn to connect you with the coastal elements so that you leave closer to your own senses, your own intuition. Your contribution is to continue with awareness once you leave.
Still curious? Visit our FAQ section:
Here we are reminded that immersion, calm, and silence is something that nowadays needs to be raised as an intrinsic value. That it is something we must seek out.
President of the Norwegian Parliament Olemic Thommesen in his opening speech in August 2016.
The Key that Unlocks an Experience
We’re creating more than just a place to stay, we’re curating an experience. When you book, we hand you the key to an entire way of life. Come open to possibilities and unlock this transforming experience.
From the first step you’ll be immersed in the seascape of Fleinvaer. See yourself as part of the island ecosystem as much as the human community. We share this place with fishermen, artists, eider ducks and otters so give them your attention and see what they can teach you.
We include all food and sauna wood in the cost of your stay. This is designed to encourage total surrender to your senses and subconscious, letting logistics drift away. Flow between private and social spaces as suits your needs and let your body dictate routines, in harmony with nature’s elements. Nature is our luxury here.
There are no cars or shops on the island, but you won’t miss a thing.
How Does our Concept Work?
The complex works for groups of up to 8 adults, or come alone and rent a single cabin. Long stay guests might invite their family to join them for part of their stay—with children we can increase capacity to 12 people in total.
The sleeping cabins are as follows:
- 2x double cabins
- 2x single cabins (with writing desk)
- 1x ‘large’ single cabin
- 1x triple cabin
As well as sleeping cabins, you’ll have the use of our kitchen house, studio house, Njalla (tower house inspired by Sami design), wood-fired sauna and bath house (plus two toilets). Buy-outs are possible if you want sole use of the entire complex. If you rent a single cabin, all other spaces will be shared with your fellow guests.
We welcome artists, creative people and curious travellers but how about bringing your board for an annual review with a view of the ocean? We host team meetings for local and international organisations with day or overnight packages. Find details in our FAQ then get in touch to transform your next meeting into an experience.
Food and Drink
Breakfast is between 09:00 and 10:00. Simple, fresh, good food to start your day. Bread baked daily by your host and a simple selection of continental and cooked options await you.
Here the evening meal is not just about food; it’s about conversation so we encourage a shared meal, prepared by one of your fellow guests, or you. The focus is fresh, local meat or seafood sourced from our rich, blue storehouse of an ocean. You’ll be amazed how simple your cravings are when you enjoy fewer choices.
Alcohol is at your discretion – bring what you want to drink. Bring one more from your locality to share with new acquaintances.
Sustainable days of travel
We want to practice true sustainability at all levels. For this reason we strongly encourage stays of three nights or more and our price structure rewards stays of over a week. We are part of a fragile island community and ecosystem which we have a responsibility to look after. Slow travel, fewer people for longer stays means less disruption for all.
In 2022 The Arctic Hideaway was awarded Norway’s Eco-Lighthouse certificate in recognition of our environmentally and socially responsible practices. But this is only the beginning. We continually assess the way we run to continue moving closer to our sustainability goals. We are not just about facilitating creativity, we are leaders in travel that nurtures place, with ripples going beyond as we teach you how to do the same in the place you call home.
During the period of winter storms sustainable travel becomes increasingly difficult. If this period speaks to your soul get in touch to discuss possibilities for long stays over wild days.
Get in touch on booking@thearctichideaway.com
Booking request
Public ferries run from the port in Bodø just 20 min walk from the airport. There are an average of 2 daily departures to and from the island which vary depending on the day of the week/season. We will assist you with choosing right boats, or even chartering a private boat should you wish.
Please be aware that we can experience heavy weather all year round but especially in January, February & March when the ferries may not run. This is part of the reason advise minimum four night stays – if you arrive one day later than planned you still have time to be.
We have built eleven houses; five houses are for sleeping (duvets & pillows), one is a bath house ( toilets & shower ) one is meant for cooking & eating ( kitchen table, gas & induction), one is a chill-out zone/open studio house ( cozy chairs, stereo & NU1 piano ), one is a sauna and changing room (wood stove), another is meant for outdoor cooking ( gas & fire place), and finally, the last one is the iconic Tower House, a hang out zone with a day bed.
Your sleeping cabin will have either a single or double bed, complete with bedding/towels, space to store your belongings, a small entrance area for shoes etc. and in some of the cabins there is a working space/desk.
Wifi exists in the kitchen and studio house, and now all sleeping cabins too.
Let us answer with a question: Are you prepared to come without expectations? Of what you will experience, of how you will react to deep immersion in nature. If you come to compose and leave without writing a single note but still understand how valuable your time has been, then yes. It is up to you how you spend your time here, which is a rare and precious gift in our culture of busy-ness. Come prepared to do nothing and see how it feels in your body and your subconscious. We welcome you into space, time for yourself and pleasure in simplicity.
Pack wool. Even in the summer. Pack for wind and pack for rain. And pack a pair of shorts for the sauna. Then you have packed perfectly.
The beds will be ready for you when you arrive, we have towels for you, we have wood for the sauna.
Our host will meet you at the dock upon your arrival to Fleinvær.
This wonderful person makes sure that everything is running smoothly from the moment you arrive until the moment you leave. They are here to give guidance on the facilities, and share advice on moving through and between our collection of houses.
The host also acts as a liaison between you and the local people and environment. Please find time to chat with them and enrich your stay through the information and discussions you will have. Your host will help coordinate meals, come prepared to contribute to cooking and cleaning up of the communal evening meal. The host will prepare breakfast for all guests each morning but for the rest of the day you feed yourself.
We bought the first estate in the arctic archipelago of in 2004, then we dug with spoons and forks the first years before we met Yashar & Andreas from TYIN architects in 2013 ,who immediately introduced us for their need for prof. Sami Rintala from RintalaEggertson arch. as a mentor. Which where totally perfect for us. Suddenly we had the two most published architect offices in Norway in our team. After ideas thrown forth and back, we started in august 2014 with a workshop for architect students, and after six workshops with students from all over the world and two years of building process led by multiskilled architects and designers Andrew Devine & Ruben Stranger, we now have twelve small houses in our small village. Let´s see if it stops there…
Still curious about something? Visit our frequently asked questions.