This trip combines between a fantastic boat trip on the sea and a great walk with a guide in beautiful natural areas. The best area the archipelago has to offer here in southern Norway.
Nye Hellesund fortress was built by the Germans in 1942-45. The restoration began in 1987. The fortress was once called "Norway´s little Gibraltar", with its 150 soldiers, four 10,5 cm cannons, radar, 31 buildings, and 26 bunkers. The unit was set up as an independent artillery unit in Germany in July 1942. It was transferred to Norway in March 1943. The unit, which was part of the Sögne Artillery Subgroup, was under the Army's Coastal Artillery Group in Kristiansand
The guide will tell you a lot of history of the war that has occurred in Norway and South Norway during the earlier wartime and will show you many bunkers as well as cannons and various other attractions.
Here you meet Kristiansand archipelago close up at its most beautiful, and at the same time you get to see and experience much of Norway's war history. Exciting for the whole family.
TOUR NOTES:
This tour is suitable for all guests, but all participants must be physically able. You will be sitting in the RIB with your hands gripping the bar in front. The tour is not suitable for pregnant ladies or people with back or neck problems as it can be some bumpy. You will have approximately 45 minutes on the water. The walk at New hellesund will be of 75 minutes. Children from 8-14 years old must be accompanied by an adult. Thermal floatation suits and life jackets will be provided and must be worn. Guests are advised to wear warm, practical clothing and flat shoes (no high heels).
Some Google reviews:
Sue Lancaster
What an experience. Fast high-speed sightseeing with a hike to the top in Helesund. Best nature experience I have ever experienced. This was a year ago, but long lasting memories.
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Mark Obenza
The captain and his love for Norway and the archipelago is what made this an incredible experience (besides all the AMAZING nature and scenery). We enjoyed the thrill of speeding through the waters, seeing birds dive right before you and snapping photos left and right of the scenery. Learning about the area in New Hellesund from the second world war through the captain was the best takeaway. Understanding the impact of the history before the modern society on the impressive nature, you brought it all into perspective. We would go again and again on this RIB Boat tour. It was our favorite!
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Christine Gormeley
We booked by the cruiseship knowing little about the tour but we are so glad that we did. We were fortunate enough that it was clody the night before we went and on the day we experienced a ‘clear sky’ which only enhanced the amazing scenery. The guide/captain was great and the Hellesund tour was unlike anything we had seen before. I would not hesitate in recommending this to anyone who travels to Kristiansand it was such a highlight and we managed to capture some great photographs. We were outfitted well by the tour and were warm the entire time.
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Stella Quibeck
Great RIB-ride. Skilled and nice guide added greatly to the experience, also taking extra care of the younger ones (age 12 and 16). Breathtaking nature, of course, and to add to it we were really lucky with the weather conditions.
Lots of birds coming close to the RIB made ideal conditions for great photos, even for those using mobile phone cameras. Already by the beginning we knew that this would be well worth the price we paid.
Also, Covid-19 restrictions were taken well care of, according to official Norwegian regulations and recommendations..
Highly recommended!!
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Nick Eaton
We highly recommend this company as we had a perfect experience from start to finish: Great welcome at arrival, very good equipment and very engaging guide. We were blessed with the most awesome weather and to be honest the trip viewing the landscape from the sea, and the walk in Hellesund was spectacular in itself. The guide and RIB captain was very knowledgeable and a true pro.
You get the feel right from the start that they are a professionally run business. I would highly recommend them to anyone visiting Kristiansand ....I believe they run all year. Two hours of my life that I will hopefully remember forever.
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Vidar Lømsland
Amazing service, and a very professional team! Two thumbs up! 👍👍
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Ole Kr Flaa
A captain and a guide with passion, passion for our nature, his country and you as a guest. His knowledge made us feel safe and welcoming. My wife has tried other rib companies in Norway, and they don't reached captain Jarl to his knees. So we will highly recommend this firm.
Don't hassitate or forget to bring your camera, no water comes your way into the boat. We got some amazing memories, beautiful nature, close up meetings with seagulls, and dolphins (Nise).
We will come back soon, and take the same tour again. Thank you captain, for an awesome experience.
Best regards.
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Richard Jones
It is with pleasure that I award the maximum score to Havrafting Soer. Service realized by professionals of the organization.
- Perfect and secure logistics.
- Well-honed and balanced program with ideal timing.
- Friendly management by guides passionate about their work and passionate about transmitting their passion.
- An economic model and management focused on customer satisfaction. They fulfills its promises to the maximum and if possible, gives you a little more than the specifications.
It is on this point that Havrafting are real pros. Havrafting, in a perfectly framed and "standardized" service, manages to deliver to each customer the feeling of a unique and exclusive moment. Please, do not sink into the habit or the pursuit of maximum profit, like unfortunately, many Norwegian professionals who abuse visitors with his monopoly of having a country so naturally beautiful. Bravo Havrafting.
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Giorgio Izaguirre
This was one of the best experiences of my life. Our guide was very attentive and took us on a high speed boat through the islands. From the personal safety gear and fast boat to the knowledgable and capable skipper, this was a first class and fun adventure in one of the most beautiful places in the world. Our guide explained how Nye Hellesund came by its beautiful geographic topography, the reason it attracts so many tourists after the world war 2, it's a great story. And, yes, we saw an eagle, but it was just another spectacle in this amazing trip.
I'd highly recommend this adventure -- it's exciting, safe, fun and informative.
Thanks guys.
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Cindy Powel
We did the speedsightseeing RIB tour with a hike to a top recomended by our cruise ship and it was the best experience we had last summer in Norway.
Those guys are the best in the game!
Safety - Adventure - Experience -Wow Nature
This company knows their guiding surroundings, and will give you the best at all the different climate conditions you could get out there.
From the personal safety gear and fast boat to the knowledgable and capable skipper, this was a first class and fun adventure in one of the most beautiful places in the world. The environment is totally amazing.
This is one of the best experiences of my life.
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Nancy Burton
Booked a RIB boat excursion to New Hellesund while in Kristiansand for the day on a cruise and what a wonderful experience! 5 min walk to the meeting point where our captain and guide waiting. Safety briefing and warm suit were provided. The boat only held 12 plus the captain so it felt like a private tour which was great! The views from the water level were spectacular!! The whole trip was conducted to a high standard. One of the best trips I’ve been on.
Highly recommend. the company was great for safety and our boat driver was friendly and personable. I would do this again in a heartbeat!!
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Tim Mc Barrow
We booked this as a cruise ship shore excursion for RIB boat adventure and hike on an island of a WWII fort. The excursion was incredible, the boat got up to 45 knots and standing up in one of the front seats as we went over the waves was an amazing feeling. The Captain was fantastic, checked on us to ensure we were OK with the speed and waves, and of course everyone on board wanted more. He also went out of his way to add on an extra 10 minutes at the end for a tour of the harbour. Incredible boat and ride through amazing scenery. I would definitely do it again and highly recommend it!
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Phil Cricket
The trip to Nye Hellesund is amazing, the crew are fun and friendly. Our teenage son loved the
experience (only sit at the front if you enjoy a bumpy ride!) I am not a thrill seeker so found the fast bumpy bits,which the captain makes happen, a little scary. I’m glad I experienced the amazing tour. The hike to the top of Hellesund was the most beautiful place i ever been. Really worth the money.
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Matteo Bilk
We did the hike to New Hellesund tour. It is with pleasure that I award the maximum score to Havrafting Sor.
This note is justified by:
- Service realized by professionals of the organization and sea's adventure ;
- Perfect and secure logistics;
- Well-honed and balanced program with ideal timing;
- Friendly management by guides passionate about their work and passionate about transmitting their passion;
- An economic model and management focused on customer satisfaction: They fulfills its promises to the maximum and if possible, gives you a little more than the specifications requires it.
It is on this point that they are real pros: Havrafting sor, in a perfectly framed and "standardized" service, manages to deliver to each customer the feeling of a unique and exclusive moment.
Bravo.
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