This Sportquest Holidays exclusive solo week has been carefully designed for single anglers seeking an exciting fly-fishing adventure targeting Atlantic Salmon in Norway. Unlike many overseas fishing holidays, where you may need to travel with a friend or organise a group of anglers to make a trip viable and cost-effective, this special departure allows solo anglers to join a group of like-minded customers, travelling and fishing together.
The Åelva River is one of Norway’s true hidden fly fishing treasures, a wild and remote Salmon system now available through Horstad Gård Lodge. Regarded as one of Norway’s most productive Salmon rivers, the Åelva offers both numbers and genuine trophy potential, with Salmon of over 40lb running the river alongside specimen Sea Trout exceeding 25lb. Fishing takes place across more than 17 kilometres of private water, featuring 19 named pools and a superb mix of rugged canyons, broad glides, intimate pockets and classic fly water suited to both single and double-handed rods.
At the heart of the trip is Horstad Gård Lodge, a historic riverside property dating back to 1611 and located just steps from the water. With simple, comfortable rooms, hearty meals, drying facilities and a small fly shop with tying areas, it provides a welcoming base for the week. For solo anglers looking to join a sociable group, enjoy expert support and fish one of Norway’s most compelling Salmon rivers, this Åelva departure offers the perfect blend of adventure, camaraderie and world-class fly fishing.
The season runs from June to August.
Season: June to August
Peak: July & August
Weight: 8lb to 45lb
Average Weight: 14lb
Season: June to August
Peak: July
Weight: 3lb to 25lb
Average Weight: 3lb
Depart Any international airport - Arrive Trondheim
Depart Any international airport - Arrive Trondheim
Depart: TBA
Arrive: Trondheim Airport, Værnes
General Note
General Note
Please note that depending on what international airport you depart from, travel to this destination may involve an overnight flight and/or an overnight hotel.
Once flights are available, your itinerary will be finalised.
Transfer from Trondheim Airport to your overnight hotel
Transfer from Trondheim Airport to your overnight hotel
Once you’ve landed and collected your bags, you’ll need to make your way to your overnight hotel, which is located just a short walk from the airport.
After checking in, the rest of the day is yours to relax and enjoy your stay.
Trondheim Standard Hotel
Overnight Accommodation
Trondheim Standard Hotel in a Single Room on a Bed & Breakfast basis
Travel from Trondheim to Terråk
Travel from Trondheim to Terråk
After checking out of your hotel at around 8.00am, you’ll be met by a representative from our local partners and transferred to Horstad Gård Lodge in the village of Terråk. The journey takes approximately four hours, travelling through some of Norway’s spectacular scenery, with plenty of opportunities to stop along the way should you wish to stretch your legs or admire the views.
On arrival at the lodge, you’ll receive a warm Norwegian welcome with drinks and canapés before being shown around the facilities and introduced to the Åelva River. Before heading out for your first afternoon on the water, you’ll also be required to disinfect your waders and fishing equipment in line with local regulations, before preparing for your first half-day of fishing.
Fishing
Fishing
Your first afternoon on the river will typically begin at around 2:00pm, when you’ll meet your guide and head out to enjoy your first session on the magnificent Åelva River. This is your introduction to one of Norway’s finest Salmon fisheries, with over 17 kilometres of private water to explore, featuring everything from intimate pools and fast-flowing runs to classic glides and powerful rapids.
Following your afternoon and evening session, you’ll return to Horstad Gård Lodge to relax with a drink before enjoying a hearty evening meal with your fellow anglers. Afterwards, you can retire to your room for a well-earned night’s rest, ready for the next five days of memorable Salmon fishing.
Horstad Gård Lodge
Overnight Accommodation
Horstad Gård Lodge in a Single Room on a Full board basis
Fishing
Fishing
On all your full fishing days you’ll leave the lodge with your guide at approximately 8.30am, fishing both a morning and afternoon session. At lunchtime, you can either return to the lodge or take a packed lunch to enjoy beside the river.
Fishing is based on two anglers per guide, with each guided day lasting around eight hours. During the summer months, however, the midnight sun provides the opportunity to continue fishing unguided at almost any time of day or night.
Throughout the week, anglers fish the river on a rotating basis. The rotation is drawn on arrival, ensuring everyone enjoys a fair share of the water and has the chance to experience each section of the river.
Horstad Gård Lodge
Overnight Accommodation
Horstad Gård Lodge in a Single Room on a Full board basis
Fishing
Fishing
On your final two full fishing days, those fortunate enough to have already landed an Atlantic Salmon may wish to turn their attention to the river’s excellent Sea Trout fishing.
The Åelva holds a healthy population of Sea Trout averaging around 3lb, although much larger specimens are caught each season. The current lodge record is an exceptional fish of 25lb, demonstrating the remarkable potential of this varied river.
Horstad Gård Lodge
Overnight Accommodation
Horstad Gård Lodge in a Single Room on a Full board basis
Fishing
Fishing
On the morning of your final day, you’ll have the opportunity to enjoy one last session on the Åelva River, usually beginning at around 7.00am. Fishing will normally continue until midday, when you’ll return to the lodge to check out.
Travel from Terråk to Trondheim
Travel from Terråk to Trondheim
After checking out of Horstad Gård Lodge, you’ll be transferred by one of our local partners back to Trondheim, enjoying a scenic journey of approximately four hours through the beautiful landscapes of central Norway.
On arrival in Trondheim, you’ll check into your overnight hotel, where the remainder of the day is yours to enjoy. Whether you choose to relax after a memorable week on the river or spend some time exploring the city’s historic streets, waterfront and restaurants, it’s the perfect way to round off your Norwegian fishing adventure.
Trondheim Standard Hotel
Overnight Accommodation
Trondheim Standard Hotel in a Single Room on a Bed & Breakfast basis
Transfer from your overnight hotel to Trondheim Airport
Transfer from your overnight hotel to Trondheim Airport
In the morning, after breakfast, you will need to take the short walk to Trondheim Airport ready to catch your return flight home.
Depart Trondheim - Arrive Any international airport
Depart Trondheim - Arrive Any international airport
Depart: Trondheim Airport, Værnes
Arrive: TBA
General Note
General Note
Please note that depending on what international airport you depart from, travel to this destination may involve an overnight flight and/or an overnight hotel.
Once flights are available, your itinerary will be finalised.
Prices are shown per person and are based on single rooms and two anglers per guide unless stated otherwise. All prices are accurate at the time of publication but may vary slightly depending on factors such as travel dates, booking time, airline pricing, or fuel surcharges set by the operators. Flights are always priced at the most competitive rates available at the time of enquiry to ensure you receive the best possible value when booking. Proudly an ATOL bonded company, our trips are complete packages, including all flights, transfers, accommodation, and fantastic fishing and shooting experiences.
| Travel Available Between These Dates | Days | Price | Availability | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10/07/2027 | 18/07/2027 | 9 | £5,794 | Enquire Book Now |
| 31/07/2027 | 08/08/2027 | 9 | £5,794 | Enquire Book Now |
| 14/08/2027 | 22/08/2027 | 9 | £5,994 | Enquire Book Now |
If your preferred week or travel dates do not appear in the calendar above, please get in touch. Many lodges release availability in stages, and some dates depend on tides, seasons, guide schedules, or short-notice changes. By speaking with us directly, you will receive the most up to date availability and clear guidance on securing the strongest options before popular weeks fill. Enquire now and we will check live availability for the dates you are considering.
Our ATOL protection, means you have financial security on your booking.
All our destinations are thoroughly researched by our team of experts.
We have worked hard to be able to provide you with the best prices possible.
We offer complete holiday packages, making booking a holiday simple.
Horstad Gård Lodge is a beautifully restored Norwegian farmhouse with a history stretching back to 1611. Blending traditional character with modern comfort, it provides an authentic base for anglers fishing the renowned Åelva River, located just a short walk from the lodge.
The lodge offers 13 comfortable guest rooms, accommodating up to 25 guests. Inside, you’ll find a welcoming library complete with a large open fireplace, two dining rooms, a comfortable sitting room, and a spacious meeting room. All meals are served in the neighbouring building, where guests can enjoy traditional Norwegian hospitality in a charming dining room centred around an open fire.
Designed with anglers in mind, the lodge also features a well-stocked fly fishing shop, a dedicated fly-tying area, and a tackle hut with a drying room for waders and a large rod rack located in the heart of the grounds.
Your stay is on a full-board basis, with the lodge’s experienced chefs preparing a hearty breakfast, lunch, and excellent three-course evening meals using fresh local ingredients. Specialities regularly include Cloudberries, Reindeer, Elk, Halibut, and Cod. When weather conditions allow, lunch may also be served beside the river, adding to the unique experience of fishing this spectacular Norwegian destination.
For anglers who dream of casting a fly across wild, untouched water, the Åelva River offers a rare opportunity to experience Norwegian Salmon fishing at its most authentic. Based at the beautiful Horstad Gård Lodge, this remote Arctic fishery is one of the newest additions to our Norwegian Salmon portfolio and has long been regarded as one of the country’s best-kept secrets. Until recently, the river was privately owned and closed to the public, helping preserve both its character and exceptional fishing.
The Åelva has earned a reputation as one of Norway’s leading Salmon rivers, with an outstanding catch rate per angler. In 2020 alone, just 46 rods landed 436 Atlantic Salmon, averaging more than nine fish per angler. Guests have access to over 17 kilometres of clear, varied water, flowing through rugged canyons, fast runs and classic pools that are perfectly suited to sight fishing.
With just a limited number of rods available each week, this solo traveller trip gives every angler the chance to enjoy a peaceful, uncrowded experience, allowing them to fully appreciate both the quality of the fishing and the remarkable wilderness that surrounds the river.
Atlantic Salmon exceeding 40lb enter the system, alongside specimen Sea Trout, creating exciting opportunities throughout the season. Remote, unspoilt and wonderfully productive, this is wild salmon fishing in its purest form.
The Åelva is an exceptionally varied river, and the fishing reflects that diversity. Its mixture of powerful gorges, waterfalls, intimate pockets and classic holding pools allows anglers to use a wide range of methods, making it well suited to different preferences and styles of Salmon fishing.
In the narrower gorge sections, lighter single-handed rods come into their own. Here, anglers can move carefully through the water, use a stealthy approach and stalk Atlantic Salmon and Sea Trout in the smaller pools. It is not unusual to peer over the rocks into the water below and see Salmon weighing up to 40lb holding in the clear flows.
Surface fishing is particularly popular, with dry flies such as the Bomber producing some truly spectacular takes. Watching a Salmon rise through the water column before engulfing the fly is one of the most exciting sights in fly fishing. The Hitch, small Sunray Shadows and dibbled flies are also highly effective, especially in the white-water sections where fish often gather before continuing their journey upstream.
Elsewhere, the river opens into broader runs and larger pools, creating ideal water for Spey casting with a light double-handed rod. These sections allow anglers to cover the key lies efficiently and present the fly across a wide variety of currents.
From late July onwards, the Åelva also offers superb Sea Trout fishing. The average fish weighs around 3lb, although double-figure specimens are caught regularly, and the river record stands at more than 25lb. Pools such as Worlds End and Calm Water can become especially productive in the evenings, when these fish can be targeted with traditional Sea Trout patterns and lighter tackle.
We recommend travelling with two outfits: a 12ft to 15ft #7 to #10 double-handed rod and a 9ft to 11ft #6 to #8 single-handed rod. Both should be matched with a reel featuring a strong, smooth drag and enough capacity to handle a large, powerful Salmon. Leaders and tippet material should be rated between 15lb and 25lb, while flies should be tied on strong single or double hooks. Small trebles are also permitted.
The Atlantic Salmon season on the Åelva River runs from June through to August, although, as with any wild fishery, success is influenced by prevailing weather and water conditions. Our solo traveller weeks are booked on some of the peak weeks of the season and all the fishing is based on two anglers per guide, with each full fishing day lasting approximately eight hours. During the height of summer, the midnight sun also gives guests the option to continue fishing unguided at almost any hour of the day or night.
Horstad Gård Lodge is also suitable for families. While the main focus is naturally on the fishing, children and non-angling companions are very welcome. Depending on the time of year, additional activities may include fruit and mushroom picking, casting practice, swimming in nearby ponds or the sea, and day trips to the beach.
A standard week at Horstad Gård Lodge runs from Sunday to Saturday and includes five full fishing days and two half days. A typical full fishing day is structured as follows:
8.00am – Breakfast
8.45am – Depart for the morning fishing session
9.00am – Meet with the guides
12.45pm – Lunch
2.00pm – Afternoon fishing session
5.00pm – Return to the lodge
7.30pm – Dinner and drinks
For lunch, guests can either take a packed meal to enjoy beside the river or return to the lodge for a freshly prepared cooked lunch.
Also known as the Åbjora, the Åelva River is situated in the Bindal Municipality of Nordland, Norway. Rising in the mountains between Tosen Fjord and the Namsen Valley, it flows for approximately 59 kilometres before entering Osan Fjord. Although modest in size compared with many of Norway’s better-known rivers, the Åelva has earned a reputation as one of the country’s true hidden gems. Flowing through unspoilt wilderness, it supports a wide variety of wildlife, including impressive runs of large Atlantic Salmon.
The river itself is dramatic and highly varied, with powerful gorges, waterfalls and a wide range of pools. This demanding environment has helped shape the fish into exceptionally strong specimens. Access is limited to a maximum of eight anglers per week, who can explore 17 kilometres of water and 19 named pools, including the rarely fished deep-canyon section of the upper river. This area can be especially rewarding for sure-footed anglers in good physical condition who are comfortable with some climbing.
One of the river’s most remarkable stretches lies below the prolific Brattfossen beat, which is said to be among the most Salmon-rich sections of river in Europe. The high waterfalls naturally concentrate the fish for much of the season, creating exciting opportunities for visiting rods. For those who prefer less demanding access, the Åelva also offers plenty of productive, easily reached water.
To learn more about Åelva River Salmon Fishing and the beautiful Horstad Gård Lodge, visit our YouTube channel.
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