Thor Heyerdahl and the Kon-Tiki Expedition

Thor Heyerdahl (1914-2002) was a Norwegian adventurer, archaeologist and author who challenged established scientific theories. He believed ancient civilizations had greater seafaring capabilities than researchers thought, and that migrations could have occurred across open oceans using primitive vessels.

To prove his theory, Heyerdahl built a balsa raft following ancient Inca methods, using only materials and techniques available to people in South America 1,500 years ago. Nine balsa logs were bound together with hemp rope, without using nails or modern methods.

On April 28, 1947, Heyerdahl and five crew members departed from Callao, Peru on this primitive raft. Through 101 days on the open sea, the crew faced storms, shark attacks and sunstroke. 8,000 kilometers later, Kon-Tiki ran aground on Raroia atoll in Polynesia. The expedition proved that migrations across the Pacific were technically possible and challenged existing theories about how Polynesia was populated.

Film footage from the journey won the Oscar for Best Documentary in 1951. Heyerdahl's book about the expedition became an international bestseller, translated into 70 languages and sold over 50 million copies.

Original Expedition Vessels

Kon-Tiki Museum displays the original vessels from Heyerdahl's expeditions. Each vessel represents a theory about how ancient civilizations could have crossed oceans and exchanged culture far earlier than established science assumed.

The Kon-Tiki balsa raft (1947) stands as the museum's main attraction. Nine balsa logs from Ecuador bound together with hemp rope following Inca methods. No nails, no modern materials. On this raft, six men crossed 8,000 kilometers across the Pacific from Peru to Polynesia in 101 days. The raft proved that pre-Columbian peoples could theoretically have reached Polynesia.

The Ra II papyrus boat (1970) demonstrated that ancient Egyptians could have crossed the Atlantic. Built from papyrus from Lake Chad in Africa following ancient Egyptian methods. Heyerdahl and an international crew sailed from Morocco to Barbados in 57 days. Ra I failed the year before, but Ra II completed the crossing and showed that papyrus withstands long sea voyages.

The Tigris reed boat (1977-1978) aimed to prove contact between Mesopotamia, the Indus Valley and Egypt. Built from berdi reeds from Iraq. The expedition navigated from Iraq via the Persian Gulf and the Red Sea, but was burned as a protest against wars in the region.

Each vessel in the museum has actually crossed world oceans and proved that primitive navigation techniques worked better than modern research assumed.

More Than Just Vessels

Kon-Tiki Museum offers interactive experiences for the whole family. Children can participate in workshops, build their own raft models and explore the museum through puzzle trails and the Safi the monkey story.

The museum offers:

• 30-meter cave ladder inspired by Easter Island
• Underwater installation with 10-meter whale shark model
• Daily screenings of the Oscar-winning Kon-Tiki film (1950)
• Library and archive with over 8,000 books (UNESCO-listed)
• Exhibitions about Easter Island, Galápagos, Fatu Hiva
• Child-friendly activities and workshops

 

Easy to Reach by Bygdøy Ferry

Kon-Tiki Museum is located in Bygdøynes, just 7 minutes by ferry from Rådhusbryggen. Norway Yacht Charter operates the Bygdøy ferry, which runs throughout the summer with frequent departures. The museum is within walking distance of the ferry pier, along with the Museum of the Viking Age, Norwegian Folk Museum and Fram Museum.