Joh L Unstad Sjøhus

The Viking ship Lofotr, Skarvhellodden. Behind the ship the spacious white seahouse Joh. L. Unstad Sjohus at Maervollpollen, the northern continuation of the fjord Steinfjorden. Reception in the white house (No.205) above the seahouse.

Maervoll in Lofoten, Norway: a beautiful, quiet spot away from it all.

Rorbuer Lofoten: the whitepainted seahouse Joh L Unstad Sjohus (JOHLUNS) offers rorbu camping and has nine rorbu rooms with totally 40 beds for rent. There are 2-6 beds in each room. Prices: from NOK 350-600/night/room, that means NOK 125/night/bed or less if at least 4 persons share a rorbu room. The seahouse is spacious with special good opportunities for backpackers, youth groups and other low budget groups. This budget accommodation has its own quay with a gorgeous view to the fjord and the proud sea alpine Lofoten mountains Himmeltindene (the Heaven Peaks).

A cosy 125 year old little Nordland house with grassturf roof is also for rent (suitable for four persons, NOK 3.600/week, for less than a week NOK 550/night). This accommodation Torastua you find in the site www.ferienhausmiete.de/ferienhaus_details.php?obj_nr=266 Click for the English version.

The mighty sea alpine mountains Himmeltindene and the fjord area with the white seahouse Johluns marked with a circle.

In Borg (10 km from Maervoll) you find the Viking museum Lofotr (www.lofotr.no). Among other activities here you may participate in rowing a Viking ship in Borgpollen.

A few hundred meters from the Viking museum - situated on a hill - you find the concertfriendly new church of Borge. It was rebuilt in modern shape in 1987 four years after the earlier wooden church from 1898 got lost in a fire. Seen from the northwest direction the church has a shape which in the winter time might represent an irresistible ski jump temptation for Eddy the Eagle.

After having passed through the Saupstad tunnel you are able to see the white seahouse Johluns (marked with the arrow) far away in the fjord arm Maervollpollen.

The final voyage Leknes-Maervoll: E-10 Leknes-Liland 11 km (2 km before Borg). Then drive 5 km westwards along Steinfjordveien and Unstadveien and through a 400 meters tunnel (the Saupstad tunnel). After having passed through the tunnel you see the white seahouse Joh. L. Unstad Sjøhus (Joh L Unstad Sjohus) far away in the fjord, 3 km from the tunnel (the photo with the arrow points out the seahouse). After the tunnel you follow the road (here called Saupstadveien) some hundred meters until you reach the road cross with the seahouse sign and the sign Mærvollveien. Then follow the road Maervollveien along the fjord about 2 km. The owner lives in the white house Mærvollveien 205 above the seahouse. See here also the photo with the Viking ship.

The bus stop for Maervoll is left above the seahouse. Bus information for Mærvoll in www.nordtrafikk.no (route Borg-Eggum-Unstad).

The taxi at Borg has telephone number (+47) 760 84599.

The nearest airplane connection is at Leknes, 19 km from the seahouse. Look at (www.wideroe.no, and search for Bodoe-Leknes).

Information for the coastal steamer (hurtigruten) and the ferry connections Bodø-Moskenes, Skarberget-Bognes and Skutvik-Svolvær you find at www.hurtigruten.com The site www.nordtrafikk.no gives information concerning the ferry connection Melbu-Fiskebøl from Vesterålen.

The nearest railway connections are in Bodø (Bodoe) and Narvik, more than 300 km from the Lofoten islands. Train information for Norway you find in the site www.nsb.no

Participants of a youth group gathered on the seahouse quay where Steinfjorden stretches out its left arm Maervollpollen. In the background the giant seaalps Himmeltindene (the Heaven Peaks).

The last photo shows participants of a youth group visiting the High North gathered on the quay outside the seahouse. The group rented the whole seahouse for some days. Here they have a magnificant view to the Himmeltindene (Himmeltindan) mountains and the fjord Steinfjorden (Steinsfjorden), which divides into Tangstadpollen and Mærvollpollen (Maervollpollen), at which the seahouse is situated.

At Borg (opposite the Viking museum) Borg Taxi Station (tel. 0047 76084599) is situated. In the nabour building there is the little restaurant and kiosk Borgtun Kro from which they also rent out second hand cars like rent-a wreck (Borgtun Bruktbilutleie). If they should not have a free car at Borg, Joh. L. Unstad Sjohus will assist you in finding another second hand car for rent. New cars are rented out from Leknes and Stamsund (Hertz, Europcar and Avis). At Borg you also find a grocery (Spar) which also offers post service.

The nearest gas station (Shell) is situated at Sletteng (Strømgård), about 14 km from Maervoll, direction Svolvær. Here you must help yourself with a credit card. At Bøstad (Bostad) about 12 km from Maervoll, Lofoten Sparebank is situated as well as grocery (ICA nær) and shop with sport articles (L. Barth).

The seahouse has kitchen with equipment for selfhousehold, lounge, showers and toilets. Electrical heating.

The other rent alternative, namely the little vacation house or cottage Torastua has kept its good old atmosphere, but has nevertheless modern facilities like electrical heating and bathroom with shower and WC. Further a little kitchen with electrical oven, fridge, sink and utensils, living room and 3 bedrooms with bed space for 4 persons.

If you do not bring with you bed cloths or sleeping bags, bed cloths may be rented for NOK 75/person (both for the seahouse Johluns and for the cottage Torastua). Please tell in advance if you need to rent bed cloths.