ADVENTURE | Depending on the destination, the trip includes action, outdoors, play and fun. Our offshore we sail non-stop with everyone being involved in the watches. We do our best to include some hiking or snorkeling (either offshore at 1000s meter deep and/or in an epic anchorage on arrival). On our coastal trips days include a mix of sailing, jumping in the sea, snorkelling, exploring islands, finding treasures, hiking, SUPping/ We try to avoid marinas, so we can be closer to nature.

SPONTANEITY | We run our trips rather spontaneously on purpose. We’re dependent on the weather. We go with the flow, and we may change course to explore what we find on the way. We embrace the art of getting lost. We don’t plan out our routes into detail. On purpose.

SAILING | You don’t need sailing experience. Captains we work with are professionally qualified and teach you the basics, helping you become a competent crew member – or building upon any existing skills you do have. We can sign off miles and give you a reference if you need one. We take care of onboard duties as a group. 

COSTS | As opposed to other trips we have organized, this expedition has food included in the trip price.

VESSELS | We work with local and sustainably-minded charter companies. This Expedition we work with a vessel of more than 100 years old and still sailing the oceans! It can’t get more sustainable than maintaining that what is already built.

IMPACT | We share adventure and relaxation time, as well as thoughts, tips and ideas about how we can live more simply and sustainably, whilst exploring the natural world. No one of us has the answer, but together we do have. Connection and conversation at sea go deeper in one day than months on land.

LOCAL | We aim to team up as much with locals to learn the best we can about the local situation. Working with a local partner comes with different habits, customs, awareness levels and cultural backgrounds. We stay open and look beyond our ‘eco-bubble’ to plot better routes for positive change.

CONSERVATION  | We aim to give back to the best we can when visiting the places we visit through spending local, leaving places cleaner than we find them and learn and engage with the local community. Also, for each booking of this trip Ocean Nomads donates 50 euro into a local conservation project. 

GETTING THERE | We are aware that many need to fly to join one of our trips, and encourage transport options such as train, bus, ferry and car sharing. We’re actively looking for the best ways to maximize our positive and minimize our negative impact. We recommend booking only one way ticket. You won’t be the first ocean nomads joining a trip, and just keep on going… 🙂

ENVIRONMENT | We do what we can to minimize our environmental impact. We sail as much as we can and use the motor as little as possible. Preparation and doing your part is key. And we encourage and welcome your ideas, tools and tricks on improving our positive footprint.

PROVISIONING | Collectively we take care of the provisioning and cooking. It’s part of the fun! We don’t organize luxury cruises. We aim to provision as locally as possible, and minimize plastic use. Our trips are vegetarian (fish and meat-free), with occasional opportunities to eat ashore if you struggle with this. We use less freshwater and power than the average sailboat charter. We share thoughts, ideas, and knowledge on no-fridge food preservation, eco-friendly sailboat maintenance, and other positive solutions.

PEOPLE | We make our gathering big enough to guarantee a wonderful mix of inspiring souls, but small enough to drop anchor in the middle of nature. Participants usually don’t know each other, but after days of shared adventure and collaboration, new friendships are made. Many of our previous nomads come back again and again. Ocean Nomads come from all walks of life; we put a lot of effort in creating a diverse mix of people, so that we can learn from each other and pass on inspiration & ideas. Many trip alumni and members have since teamed up for more adventure and impact projects.

TEAMWORK | Sailing is an active way of travel that needs teamwork. We share the tasks, operation, and sailing of the boat. We provision, cook, sail, fix things (if necessary) together as a team. Our trips are not a laid back luxury experience.
Hands-on participation creates the adventure, and helps you learn to be a better sailor.

HEALTH | We can only do good if we feel good. Our trips have elements of yoga, breathwork / freedive clinics, healthy and local food provisioning, and lots of outdoor action and adventure. Powered by YOU, our members and crew. 

PEACE | Our trips are not a party experience. We value the mornings and like to maximize daylight for exploring and connecting to nature. Drinking a lot of alcohol ruins this experience and has no place on our trips. We operate a strict no alcohol at sea policy.

ADAPTATION | Boats rock and make noise. Boats are small. People snore. Weather rules. We have limited resources. Adaptability is key.

ACCESSIBILITY | We know a trip like this is not within financial reach for everyone. It costs considerable money to make this expedition real, in most safe way. But where resources allow we facilitate scholarship opportunities to make an adventure like this accessible for the driven on a budget ones.

Learning by doing, that’s what we strive for. Here are some of the skills you develop on our trips:

SAILING | You’ll learn hands-on everything to become a competent crew member. By the end of the journey you can sail the ship. Our skippers and often also fellow crew members are happy to share and show what to know.

SEAMANSHIP | Huge part of happy, safe and meaningful ocean nomadic living depends on your seamanship skills.  You can have the biggest bank account but once you’re at sea nothing can be googled or bought. And no person can be hired to fix something. You have to be inventive as situations arise and you’ll learn from experiences along the way. You’ll learn to work with your hands. You learn about the wind, the weather, geography, stars, navigation, sea life, boats, yourself, people, and much more. 

CONSCIOUS LIVING | Experience resourcefulness. And how you can implement it all into your life. As sailors, we are intricately connected to the ocean on a daily basis. Experiencing sea time daily provides a deep and lasting respect for nature. You’re dependent on it. You experience the power of the wind and the waves, and realise how precious our resources are, such as water, fresh air, power, and fresh vegetables. You will become aware that what might be considered normal ‘back home’, is not so normal on a boat.

The luxuries of living on land: sitting up straight in your bed in the morning, taking a shower lasting more than ten seconds, pouring a coffee of that doesn’t spill, flushing a toilet, a fresh apple in a fruit bowl, sleeping on a bed that doesn’t move, food that stays on the stove, power plugs, getting through your morning routine without four new bruises, doing dishes with warm water, walking more than ten metres, friends to talk to, WiFi, and so much more. All the things we take for granted on land become priceless when you have experienced life without them. 

Sailing makes you a conscious consumer and a more grateful person for every little luxury thing. With limited storage and cooling, food sharing, and adaptation, you have to think about every item you bring on board and why. After a sailing experience you will appreciate every drop of water, fresh fruit or vegetable and a good night of sleep even more.

NATURE AWARENESS| Most of us spend more time indoors than outdoors. It’s easy to forget the natural world we’re coming from and living in. On the ocean, you face the wind and water elements and find that connection to nature. Imagine a scene with no traffic, no news, no pollution, no civilisation. Just wind and water – plenty of that! A scene where you can gaze for hours to the millions of stars above you; enjoy the dozens of dolphins sliding through the water at the bow of the boat; admire the pink-orange-red sunrises and sunsets, without any airplane trails changing the fluffy and cauliflower-like cloud patterns.

By being disconnected from everything but nature, you’ll learn a great deal about the ocean. When you see the good, bad and ugly with your own eyes, talk face-to-face with people living on and for the ocean, and experience its value, it makes you eager to learn more, do more, be more, and likely Live more: At sea.

You’ll become very aware of the natural world around you. This inspires. And it’s eye-opening. You come to realise how disconnected from nature we are in our daily lives. In the middle of nature, far away from civilisation, you will see human impact. Usually we’re far away. It’s hard to make it tangible. It doesn’t really affect us. Or so we think. But by being out there, you literally broaden your horizon. Experience will make you think, gain fresh perspectives, and may inspire you to act to turn the tide of the ocean challenges.

We share tips & tools, helping accelerate personal journeys to alternative adventurous conscious life on or near the sea.

Ocean nomads adventures are not just a one time thing you join for a week or two and that’s it. These are experiences that change the way you approach life, nature and the ocean. We believe our trips are just the beginning for plotting the next course in your life. By jumping on board this, you also join our expanding global network of impact-driven travellers, ocean entrepreneurs, sailors, (free)divers, surfers, and active salty souls passionate about the ocean and eager to do good. On our community HUB we continue the conversation, action, team-ups and meet-ups beyond our events and expeditions to maximize the impact, fun, and ripple effects for ocean adventure and action. We got your back before and after the trip.

We used to have an image in our head that sailing is only for rich people, that it’s about showing off boats and boat toys, and that as crew you’re just meant to scrub the deck. Not true. Sailors are free spirits and ocean-minded people. Most of us share the same dream to live a simple life on a sailboat, set off to explore the world, and live life on their own terms. We unite and exchanges ideas to make this dream happen! We  connect with fellow nomads that are on the same mission. Who knows who you may meet during these adventures and what opportunities may come from it?