Sailing holidays aboard magnificant tall ship Linden in Svalbard, Norway.

Description

Linden is a wooden schooner built for the high latitudes. She is strong enough for Arctic ice and spacious enough to live aboard comfortably for weeks at a time. She sails the waters of Svalbard, East Greenland, and the Lofoten Islands under the command of Captain Rasmus Jacobsen, whose thirty years on the ocean make him as well-placed as anyone to navigate these remote and extraordinary seas. Guests are genuinely encouraged to get involved with the sailing, but equally welcome to simply watch the Arctic world pass by from the deck.

Linden runs week-long and multi-week expeditions from June through to early October, ranging from Lofoten island-hopping in early summer to ambitious crossings of the Greenland Sea in the height of the Arctic season. These voyages are built for curious, independently-minded travellers; those drawn by wildlife and wilderness, and by the idea of arriving somewhere genuinely remote under sail.

From the shifting ice of the Svalbard archipelago to the deep fjords of East Greenland, Linden reaches the places that most travellers never see. Two Zodiac tenders allow the expedition to land on remote shores, drift alongside icebergs, and position for a closer look at whatever the Arctic decides to show on any given day.

Built in 1993 as a faithful interpretation of the original Linden from 1920, Linden is one of the largest wooden sailing vessels of her kind still actively sailing in European waters. She was designed and built for the high latitudes, combining traditional materials with modern safety systems and equipment.

Below decks

Linden accommodates up to 12 guests across six twin cabins, five of which are ensuite – a genuine luxury on a wooden expedition vessel. Two of those ensuite cabins offer a comfortable double bed rather than bunks, making them well-suited to couples. All cabins are compact but well-considered, with full bedding and towels provided, USB charging points, and enough storage for an expedition. The crew of six to eight, including Captain Rasmus, deckhands, and a cook, have their own private quarters.

The saloon is the social heart of the ship. Warm, well-stocked with books and a well-used bar, it is the natural gathering point after a day on deck or ashore. Meals are freshly prepared in the galley each day. Warm overalls are provided for time on deck, and fishing rods, lines, and tackle are available for those who want to try their luck at catching dinner. Linden also has an onboard sauna – a Scandinavian staple that earns its keep on longer Arctic passages, particularly after a swim in waters that are exceptionally cold.

Life onboard

Our sailing expeditions aboard Linden are made for those who want to reach the places most travellers never see. Navigate the icebergs and fjords of Svalbard and Greenland on one of Europe’s finest wooden tall ships, guided by a crew who know these waters as well as anyone alive.

Getting Involved

Linden is a working sailing ship, and getting involved is one of the best things about being aboard her. With a crew of just six to eight, guests can hoist the sails, taking a turn at the helm, or learning to read the wind and weather.

Captain Rasmus has spent over thirty years on the ocean, working on galleons, square rigs, research vessels, and passenger ships, and his approach to teaching on board is relaxed, patient, and deeply knowledgeable. He and the crew will show you the ropes at whatever pace suits you, so there is no pressure and no expectation.

Beyond the sailing itself, Linden’s Zodiac tenders open up a different kind of exploration. Land on remote shores, drift quietly alongside icebergs, or position for a closer look at a polar bear on the ice edge. Participation is always your choice, but the opportunities are unlike any other place on earth.

Linden guests on the shore of Arctic Greenland group shot

A Typical Day

Days aboard Linden follow the rhythm of the Arctic rather than any fixed schedule. Mornings often begin with the crew reading the weather and plotting the day’s course over breakfast. When conditions allow, the sails go up, and Linden moves – sometimes coast-hugging, sometimes crossing open water towards the next fjord or ice edge. Afternoons might bring a Zodiac landing ashore, a hike across Arctic tundra, or simply time on deck watching for wildlife. Evenings gather everyone back in the saloon for dinner and stories.

Linden guest ashore hiking in Arctic Greenland

Sleeping & Relaxation

Linden accommodates up to 12 guests across six twin cabins, five of which have private bathrooms. Two of those ensuite cabins offer a double bed rather than bunks, making them well-suited to couples. All cabins are compact but well-considered, with full bedding and towels provided, USB charging points at the desk, and enough storage for expedition kit. Average bunk length is a generous two metres.

The ship’s large saloon doubles as a library, bar, and common room. A warm retreat when the Arctic weather closes in, and a lively gathering space on calm evenings at anchor. For those wanting something a little more, Linden carries an on-board sauna – a Scandinavian staple that earns its keep on longer Arctic passages, particularly after a swim in waters that are, by any reasonable measure, exceptionally cold.

Eating Aboard

With long days on deck and cold Arctic air working up an appetite, food aboard Linden is taken seriously. All meals are freshly prepared in the galley by the ship’s cook, and the team will happily accommodate dietary requirements throughout. Expect hearty, warming food that suits the latitude – substantial enough to fuel a day of hiking or sailing, and good enough to look forward to after hours on the water.

Meals are served in the saloon at a communal table, which quickly becomes one of the best parts of the voyage. Sharing food at the end of a day in some of the most remote waters on earth has a way of bringing a group together in ways that are hard to replicate ashore.

Meet the crew of LINDEN

Captain Rasmus Jacobsen

Growing up in Denmark in a family that lived aboard a yacht, the sea was never something Rasmus Jacobsen had to seek out. Over thirty years of ocean sailing have followed, taking him across galleons, square rigs, research vessels, and passenger ships, and eventually to the high Arctic latitudes that now define his sailing life.

Rasmus has captained Linden through some of the most demanding waters in the world. From the Greenland Sea, the fjords of East Greenland, and to the shifting ice of the Svalbard archipelago. He and his crew are committed to sailing with as light a footprint as possible, drawn to the places in the Arctic that remain genuinely untouched, sailing with a philosophy shaped equally by seamanship and environmental responsibility.

On board, Rasmus is a calm and generous presence, patient with those new to sailing, exacting about safety, and quietly passionate about the Arctic in a way that tends to be contagious. He is a gregarious, entertaining company, and guests who sail with him more than once will tell you that his knowledge of these waters is matched only by his enthusiasm for sharing it.

Host – Joe Shutter

If Rasmus keeps Linden moving safely through Arctic waters, Joe is the reason the experience feels like something more than a sailing trip. British-Brazilian and Iceland-based for over a decade, Joe believes that the best travel is intentional, curious, and leaves something behind in the people who do it.

Joe has spent years leading expeditions and workshops across Iceland and the Arctic, and his knowledge of the region, its wildlife, its landscapes, and its history runs genuinely deep. On board Linden, he is host, guide, and fellow explorer in equal measure: leading hikes ashore, sharing what he knows, and creating the kind of group atmosphere that tends to make strangers feel like old friends by day three. His approach is warm, knowledgeable, and unhurried. He is the sort of expedition leader who is as excited to be there as anyone else on board, and isn’t afraid to show it.

The history

The first Linden was built in 1920 at the Albanus shipyard in Mariehamn, in the Åland Islands, Finland. She was a vessel of exactly the right size to carry cargo and passengers across the Baltic, and well-suited to the modest but skilled facilities of the yard that built her. She was, by all accounts, a beautiful and well-made ship, and she kept sailing until 1957.

When the time came to build a new Linden in 1993, the builders faced an unusual challenge: no drawings of the original had survived. The new ship was designed entirely from photographs and a half-model of the original hull. The result is a vessel that is, externally, almost identical to her predecessor; the most visible difference is the addition of larger deckhouses.

Linden is one of the very last sailing ships to have been built in Åland using traditional methods, and she is constructed from materials that match the ambition of her design. Her hull is Åland pinewood, cut from the largest trees available. Her masts and bowsprit are larch from Carelia, a timber grown from trees planted by order of Tsar Alexander II specifically for use as masts, and already 110 years old when they were felled. She was built as a passenger ship from the outset, classified accordingly, and combines those traditional materials with modern safety systems and equipment.

Her early years were spent as a sail training vessel in the Baltic Sea, where she developed a reputation for producing capable young seafarers and competed in tall ship races across Europe. That heritage shapes the way she is still sailed today – with real involvement from those on board, a respect for traditional seamanship, and a captain who views the sea as both teacher and destination.

Today, registered in Mariehamn and operating under Captain Rasmus Jacobsen, Linden sails almost exclusively in Arctic waters – following the ice edge between Svalbard and Greenland on expeditions that her original builders would, in all likelihood, have recognised immediately. She remains one of the largest wooden sailing vessels still actively voyaging in European waters, and with each Arctic season, her story continues.

Reviews

FAQs

Are all meals included in the price?
Yes - however drinks with meals are not. They are available to purchase from the on board bar.
Are dietary requirements catered for?
Yes, the chef will be glad to help you with your dietary requirements. Please make sure you complete the section on diet when booking.
Are there any added extras?
No
What are the sleeping arrangements?
There are five ensuite, twin bunk cabins with twin beds and one twin cabin.
Is there a porthole in my cabin?
No
How many toilet/showers does she have?
There are 5 twin cabins with private shower and toilet, 2 bathrooms in the sauna area and one toilet on deck.
Is bedding included?
Yes, all bedding and towels are included.
Is there a hairdryer on board?
On request.
Is there laundry available onboard?
Limited service available on request.
Is there air con/heating on board?
There is heating throughout but no air con.
Do I need to tip the crew?
If you have enjoyed your voyage it is recommended to show your appreciation. Tips can be put in an envelope and place in the tip box at the end of the voyage.
What language is spoken onboard?
English, Danish, Norwegian and Portuguese
Is there WIFI?
No, there is no wifi available.
Can I charge my phone/camera?
Yes - just make sure you bring an adaptor for EU sockets.
What is the currency on board?
The onboard currency is Euro's or Danish Krone and can be paid in cash or card onboard.
Are there life jackets provided?
Yes
How do I get on and off the boat?
Are Waterproofs provided?
Warm overalls are provided
Do I need sailing experience?
No, just a love for adventure.
Does the boat have any water toys?
There are no water toys but there are rods, lines and tackles for fishing.
Will I get sea sick?
Everyone reacts differently but if you're worried, we recommend taking tablets 24 hours before you travel.
Is there an age limit?
Over 18's only on all normal voyages. Under 18's can sail as part of a private charter only.