The image depicts a serene coastal scene featuring a vibrant red lighthouse situated on a rugged rocky outcrop, surrounded by calm waters and a clear sky.
The image depicts two sheep standing on a grassy cliff overlooking the ocean, with a small island visible in the background under a clear blue sky.
A cheerful older woman wearing glasses and a grey apron smiles warmly while standing on a staircase in a bright, airy room with white wooden walls.
Two people are building or repairing a stone path in a rocky, grassy landscape. Tools and an orange bucket are nearby. Wildflowers and ferns surround the scene.
The image depicts a serene outdoor setting with a table and chairs, surrounded by a body of water, evoking a sense of tranquility and relaxation. The scene is likely a park or a beach.
A person is planting in a garden, with a pile of soil and a shovel visible in the background. The scene is set against a natural outdoor backdrop.
The image depicts a serene coastal scene with kelp hanging from a chain, set against a backdrop of a body of water and a cloudy sky.
The image depicts a man carrying two bags of firewood, standing on a rock in front of a white building with a red-framed window and door.
The image shows a person sitting at a desk with a laptop and papers, surrounded by a cluttered workspace, conveying a sense of disorganization and lack of productivity.
The image depicts a kitchen with a table and chairs, featuring a large window and a doorway, with a wooden floor and a white wall, providing a clean and organized space.
The image depicts a room with a bed, desk, and chair, featuring a window with a view of a body of water and a mountain range in the background. The room is well-lit and has a neutral color scheme.
The image depicts two men swimming in the ocean, with one man in the foreground and another in the background, both surrounded by waves.
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Off-grid living with an Arctic NGO at a lighthouse in Vesterålen, Norway

Profile information

  • rating

    Host rating

    100 %

  • Last replied

    Last replied

    17 Jul 2026

  • Reply rate

    Reply rate

    76.3 %

    Usually responds within 12 days

  • feedbacks

    Feedback

    131

  • Email verified

    Email verified

Country info

IF you are not a Norwegian or EU citizen and are planning to visit to work, volunteer or study, YOU WILL NEED THE CORRECT VISA / AU PAIR PERMIT (if applicable). To find out more information please contact the embassy in your home country BEFORE travelling.

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Availability

  2026 

 Min stay requested: 1 month or more

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What's this?

Details

  • Description

    Description

    This is a lighthouse on a small island in the Arctic part of Norway, called Vesterålen, just north of Lofoten. The lighthouse premises are the only buildings on the island. Elena has been living here year round for 20 years. She welcomes volunteers who want to help if you are ready to spend 1 - 3 months at this unique place in the Arctic north.

    This is a non-profit organization in the process of turning the lighthouse into a special guest place. We are off grid and self sufficient with water, energy & boat transportation.

  • Types of help and learning opportunities

    Types of help and learning opportunities

    Help with Eco Projects
    Light gardening
    Creative DIY projects
    Help around the house
    Light maintenance
  • UN sustainability goals this host is trying to achieve

    UN sustainability goals this host is trying to achieve

    Icon

    ...

    ...

    UN goals
    No poverty
    Zero hunger
    Good health and well-being
    Quality education
    Gender equality
    Clean water and sanitation
    Affordable and clean energy
    Decent work and economic growth
    Industries, innovation and infrastructure
    Reduce inequality
    Sustainable cities and communities
    Responsible consumption and production
    Climate action
    Life below water
    Life on land
    Peace, justice and strong institutions
    Partnerships for the goals
  • Cultural exchange and learning opportunities

    Cultural exchange and learning opportunities

    Volunteers staying here will first of all learn how it is to be living off grid; as we are producing our own energy and collecting rainwater. We have some water flush toilets and some dry toilets. We need to go to the mainland to do our shopping and get rid of our garbage, even if we compost & recycle as much as possible. We have our own boat, handled by Elena, who goes out at sea in most weather, but we prefer to avoid the real storm.

    We are the only persons living on the island, so we have quite a lot of space, but we are sharing a limited house space so you'll learn to be considerate and to keep the spaces clean.

    Elena is the only Norwegian and fellow volunteers normally come from all around the world.

    Some keywords; the sea, the changing weather, the constant change of light through long summer nights and short winter days, various fish types, always fresh sea weed, wood collection, wood burning all winter through, Northern lights, midnight sun - and all the shades of light in between. Coastal history & culture going hundreds of years back. And even today; weather, season and tides needs to be coordinated with many activities at the lighthouse island.

    Life here takes more time to live than in an ordinary society; particularly because many things have to be done the old fashion manual way. The boat transport of goods, wood and food adds to this. Also, be prepared that it demands a certain amount of energy to get used to life and routines here. We recommend that you don't bring important projects with deadlines on the top of the volunteer work.

  • Charity

    Registered charity

    This host is a registered charity in their country and is looking for volunteers to help with their project(s).

  • Help

    Help

    WE URGENTLY NEED SOME STRONG & HANDY HELPERS! Generally, we welcome various assistance in the caretaking of the historic lighthouse buildings. Any relevant experience is welcome. But we also love to share the work in our Arctic garden. Life here is physically quite demanding, so we do need persons who are fit and enjoy an active life. Volunteers coming here should be interested in a self sustainable life at the edge of the ordinary comfort zone. We are looking for responsible persons. It is necessary that you respect the physical facilities made available to you and do your daily and weekly share of cleaning - for respect of yourself, the house and the others. Please describe the experience you have relating to any of these, and the period you are available.

  • Languages spoken

    English: Fluent
    French: Fluent
    Norwegian: Fluent

  • Accommodation

    Accommodation

    Our volunteers share a small house by the sea which used to be a boathouse. Now it is pretty much as an old "Rorbu" or fisherman's cottage. It has a nice living room, a small bathroom and a kitchenette on the ground floor; the first floor is sectioned into 4 separate sleeping spaces.

    We normally share lunch together in the lighthouse keepers' house; breakfast and dinner is often made in the boathouse. Our food is home-made and sound. We do use local and fresh fish quite often, sometimes also meat. We make our own bread & jam and are experimenting with seaweed.

    Due to our off grid location in the Arctic and our daily routines WE CANNOT ACCEPT VOLUNTEERS WITH SPECIAL DIETARY REQUIREMENTS (i.e. vegans, different allergies & intolerance, etc).

  • What else ...

    What else ...

    When applying please consider the travel expenses before contacting us! The cheapest way to come here is normally with plane from Oslo (Gardermoen) to Harstad/Narvik (Evenes). Check out the website for Norwegian or SAS. On an ordinary week day the airport shuttle bus to Sortland town is coordinating with flights if you're not arriving too late. Then bus from Sortland to Steine in Bø where you're picked up by boat. The absolute best is to start early from Oslo, otherwise you'll arrive too late to reach the poor bus connections!
    ALSO: REMEMBER TO SIGN UP FOR A TRAVEL & HEALTH INSURANCE. YOU NEVER KNOW WHAT CAN HAPPEN!

  • A little more information

    A little more information

    • Internet access

    • Limited internet access

      Limited internet access

    • We have pets

    • We are smokers

    • Can host families

  • How many Workawayers can stay?

    How many Workawayers can stay?

    More than two

  • My animals / pets

    My animals / pets

Host ref number: 7476261214e1

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Photos

The image depicts two sheep standing on a grassy cliff overlooking the ocean, with a small island visible in the background under a clear blue sky.
The image depicts a serene coastal scene featuring a vibrant red lighthouse situated on a rugged rocky outcrop, surrounded by calm waters and a clear sky.
A cheerful older woman wearing glasses and a grey apron smiles warmly while standing on a staircase in a bright, airy room with white wooden walls.
The image depicts a serene outdoor setting with a table and chairs, surrounded by a body of water, evoking a sense of tranquility and relaxation. The scene is likely a park or a beach.
A person is planting in a garden, with a pile of soil and a shovel visible in the background. The scene is set against a natural outdoor backdrop.
The image depicts a serene coastal scene with kelp hanging from a chain, set against a backdrop of a body of water and a cloudy sky.
The image depicts a man carrying two bags of firewood, standing on a rock in front of a white building with a red-framed window and door.
Show all photos
The image shows a person sitting at a desk with a laptop and papers, surrounded by a cluttered workspace, conveying a sense of disorganization and lack of productivity.
The image depicts a kitchen with a table and chairs, featuring a large window and a doorway, with a wooden floor and a white wall, providing a clean and organized space.
The image depicts a room with a bed, desk, and chair, featuring a window with a view of a body of water and a mountain range in the background. The room is well-lit and has a neutral color scheme.
The image depicts two men swimming in the ocean, with one man in the foreground and another in the background, both surrounded by waves.

Chat with Workawayers who've visited this host

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