The Viking warship Helge Ask on Roskilde Fjord

Why it is on the list

Helge Ask is the Viking Ship Museum's reconstruction of Skuldelev 5, a small longship whose original lies in the museum's Viking Ship Hall; the keel was laid in 1990, and the hull is painted yellow and red-brown after the Bayeux Tapestry, with a snake copied from the original's carving at bow and stern.¹ The museum builds its ships in its own boatyard by Viking Age methods, with copies of the period's tools.² The ship has no motor: the party rows, sets the sail and handles the ropes under the museum's Viking ship sailors, and one of you may take the rudder.² It sails on the fjord where the five original ships were found.³

It is the wrong choice for a party that wants to be carried rather than work: everyone on board is crew.² There is no sailing from October to April.² For a quieter morning out of the city, take the curator's tour of Frederiksborg Castle instead.

How to get it

Write to the museum's booking office, or send the enquiry form, and ask for Helge Ask by name, with the date, the number of people and any food you want.²⁴ The office answers the phone on +45 46 300 253, Monday to Friday 10.00 to 14.00.² A two-hour trip costs DKK 12,000 for up to 20 people, and each further hour DKK 2,500; the time on the water is about 1 hour 50 minutes, including life jackets and instruction.² The museum can add Viking-inspired food on land or a picnic on board, and a day with lectures or museum activities; longer trips can go ashore for lunch or coffee.²⁵ Sailed within opening hours, 10.00 to 17.00, the trip includes the Viking Ship Hall before or after.²

The season is 1 May to 30 September.² Changes and cancellations are free up to five weeks before; between five and two weeks half the price is charged, and inside two weeks all of it.⁶ The ship sails in rain and wind while it is safe, and the museum may cancel or cut a trip short for weather or safety; the route follows the wind.⁶⁵ Bring warm, waterproof clothes; it is colder and wetter on the water than on land when the wind blows.² Children must be at least four.²

Discretion

The ship is hired for your party alone, and the party is its crew, with the museum's instructor and sailors aboard.² It leaves from the Museum Harbour in Roskilde, where Helge Ask lies.¹ Life jackets are worn for the whole trip.²