Norrøna Ice Festival

Our epic 4-day ice climbing festival in Rjukan with Petzl and Scarpa

Norrøna Ice Festival

Our epic 4-day ice climbing festival in Rjukan with Petzl and Scarpa

- Reviews

When: 11-14. February 2027

Whether you have never tried ice climbing before and want to learn the basics, have some experience and want to improve your technique, or are an experienced ice climber looking to take on new routes and multi-pitch climbs, the clinics, led by Norrøna ambassadors and experienced local guides, will adapt to different experience levels.

From beginner ice climbing and technique clinics to advanced climbing, rescue, and multi-pitch, the festival is an opportunity to learn, progress and experience more of what Rjukan has to offer.

You also don’t need to have all your own gear ready before joining. Throughout the festival, you’ll have the opportunity to test and use gear from Norrøna, Petzl and Scarpa, so you can take part in the activities and try out new equipment along the way.

We offer various packages

All included Thursday - Sunday
- Thursday at Norrøna House with 3 course dinner, Hotel Rjukan, all clinics, all meals, transport, goodie bag, product testing and evening programs.*Hotel in Oslo not included, but can be added.
Local package in Rjukan Friday - Sunday
- Only program in Rjukan from Friday - Sunday.
- Includes dinner at Rjukan Admini, lunch, ice climbing clinics, goodie bags, presentations and social gatherings.
- Accomondation and transport is not included.
1 day clinic on Saturday
- 1 day clinic at Krokan in groups with local guides.
- Drop in is also possible, but doe not guarantee a spot.
- Includes possibility to join speed climbing competition, social gathering and presentation at Rjukanhuset in the evening.

Add ons:

Hotel in Oslo Thursday - Friday
Half day multipitch on ice falls
- 2-1 guided trip ½ day
- Trip difficulty based on skill level
- We will select the day for your multi pitch experience.

*Subject to weather and conditions

Our ambasadors and guides:

Thomas Horgen
Robert Caspersen
Matthias Scherer
Tanja Schmitt
Heike Schmitt
Dani Arnold
Trond Kristian Kalstø

Highlights

Multipitch add-on
Clinics: beginner, intermediate, advanced, rescue (further information below)
Night climbing (late evening) with Petzl headlamps
Tent with hot drinks and BBQ will be set up at Krokan, ice climbing area
Testing of Norrøna, Scarpa, Petzl and GoPro products
Indoor climbing at Gneis Lysaker, Oslo (all inclusive package)
3-course dinner at Norrøna House, Oslo (all inclusive package)
Dinner at Rjukan Admini
Presentations and social hang out at Rjukanhuset Saturday evening
Speed climbing competition
Goodie bags
Tech talks filled with the best tips and tricks to master your craft with ambassadors

This 4-day festival will kick off at Norrøna House, Lysaker, Oslo. You will have the opportunity to join an indoor climbing session at Gneis House before a delicious 3-course dinner at Naturen Restaurant. The festival will then continue at Rjukan.

Since 1993, Rjukan has hosted an Ice Festival led by a local climbing club. Now, Norrøna is onboard and welcomes you all to a festival that is all about having fun, meeting like-minded people, learning new skills, testing the latest products, and enjoying a great time together. Clinics have always been a big part of the festival since the beginning. Over the years, the festival has also included a speed climbing competition, which has become a great tradition.

Rjukan is located in Telemark county in the southeast of Norway, about a two and a half-hour drive from Oslo. With over 150 icefalls, Rjukan is a world-class destination for ice climbing. In Rjukan, you will find relatively stable ice climbing conditions: due to the narrowness of the east-west valleys, the sun doesn’t touch the valley bottom between October and March, making it a place with very little sunlight and plenty of ice. Most ice climbs are within a short approach, even with heavy snow conditions, making it possible to get a lot of climbing done.

Rjukan is also flanked by two famous mountain ranges. To the south is the mighty Gaustatoppen peak (1883m), which offers superb skiing opportunities, while to the north, you will find the impressive mountain plateau of Hardangervidda.

Days

4

Language

EN

Physical level

3/6

Comfort level

5/6

Risk level

3/6

Dates and booking

There are no departures on this trip.

Can't find a date? We'll notify you when new trips open!

Opening hours Phone

Mon-Fri : 08-20

Sat-Sun : 14-17

Opening hours Chat

Mon-Fri : 07-23

Sat : 10-18

Sun : 13-21

CET

Chat

(+47) 67 79 24 79

(+1) 929 470 3469

Book consultation

Contact us

Day by day

Day 1:Arrival Norrøna House (for all inclusive package)

We meet at Norrøna House in Lysaker, Oslo, around 13:30 for a welcome and an introduction to the programme for the coming days. The afternoon continues with an indoor climbing session at Gneis together with professional climbers, with the opportunity to test equipment from Norrøna, Scarpa and Petzl. The day ends with a three-course dinner at Naturen Restaurant, followed by transport to the hotel for those who have booked accommodation. More information about the hotel will follow.

Day 2:Departure to Rjukan and clinics

We will meet early in the morning at Norrøna House for the departure to Rjukan. Upon arrival, we will spend half the day on ice climbing clinics at Krokan. For those who have booked "in Rjukan only", we will meet in Rjukan for the first day of ice climbing clinics After a full day of ice climbing, you have two options. Stay at Krokan for a simple dinner in the warmth of the tent before heading back out to experience ice climbing in the dark with Petzl headlamps. Or, if you prefer to return to the hotel, enjoy dinner at Rjukan Admini followed by an evening talk by the fireplace.

Day 3:Clinics and speed climbing competition

We split into groups before heading out for a day of ice climbing and a speed climbing competition where everyone, regardless of skill level, is welcome to participate. Hot drinks and food are served in a tent at Krokan. A 3-course dinner is enjoyed at Rjukanhuset followed by presentations, prize ceremony and social gathering at Rjukanhuset.

Day 4:Clinics and departure

The final day in Rjukan before heading home. We split into different groups for another day of ice climbing at Krokan. For those who booked the all-inclusive package, the bus will take all participants back to Oslo following the farewell and wrap-up of this year's festival at Rjukan Hotel.

Day 1: Arrival Norrøna House (for all inclusive package)

Day 2: Departure to Rjukan and clinics

Day 3: Clinics and speed climbing competition

Day 4: Clinics and departure

Safety & Grading

Guides trained in wilderness first aid
Basic medication and first aid kits available

Physical level

3/6 Physical

Some segments of the journey may prove challenging. It's essential to possess a solid level of fitness prior to departure. Persistence will be required in reaching the trip's goal.

Comfort level

5/6 Comfort

Good to high quality hotels with good meals, ambience and service. Accommodation with a special touch.

Risk level

3/6 Risk

Activities/trips with some risk. Certain incidents may occur, and they may be of such a nature that they may require professional help.

Accommodation and Transportation

For all inclusive package. We offer double rooms and a limited number of twin rooms. Please indicate the name of your travelling companion and your bed preference on the booking form. If you are travelling alone, we will pair you with someone of the same gender.

If you are booking a single room, you will be given a double bed for single use.

Transport

The closest trail station to Norrøna House is Lysaker (10 min walk). If you are travelling from Oslo Airport, you can take the trail directly to Lysaker.

Transport to and from Norrøna House to Rjukan, and to the activities in Rjukan will be organized and is included in the price for the all inclusive package.

Ambassadors and Guides

Several of Norrøna's ambassadors and guides will participate in the festival, and you can sign up for various ice climbing and ski touring courses with them.

Our ambasadors and guides:

Thomas Horgen
Robert Caspersen
Matthias Scherer
Tanja Schmitt
Heike Schmitt
Dani Arnold
Trond Kristian Kalstø
Local guides

Clinics

Registration for courses and trips will be sent out closer to the festival. You can participate in different courses and trips each day.

We will offer clinics for all levels, from beginner to expert. We will divide into clinics depending on what you would like to learn.

Clinics:

Ice climbing beginner

No prior ice climbing or climbing experience needed.
Basic ice climbing techniques
All gear needed is provided

Ice climbing intermediate

Climbers must know be adept with a belay device
2 groups: movement skills and rope handling skills

Ice climbing advanced

Steep ice and mixed climbing
Lead climbing techniques
Creating good belays and stances
Abalakov
Rope handling

Rescue

Multipitch

Half day

What's included in the price

Included

1 night at Radisson Blu Fornebu (optional)
2 nights at Rjukan Hotel (optional)

Some drinks are included in the price.

Ice climbing

Not included

Transport to and from Norrøna House is not included in the price.

Reservation

We reserve the right to change prices. The day by day program is indicative and changes may occur. We also refer to our general travel conditions.

Travel insurance

On all our trips we require you to have full health and accident insurance which will also cover any transport home. Read more about travel insurance.

Highlights

View all

Equipment list

This list is intended as a guideline, so that we have what we need regardless of the weather we get on the trip. Remember that you can also get used outdoor equipment that works perfectly. Get in touch if you have any questions. TIP: We recommend that you have the most important equipment in your hand luggage, for example hiking boots and gore-tex jacket/trousers.

Obligatory

Clothing

Two layers for extra cold conditions: for example, combining wool or synthetic mesh next to the skin, with regular wool underwear on top.

Wool, 2-3 paris.

Fleece or wool.

Down or synthetic insulation.

Warm, light, and long - down is strongly preferred. It should be big enough to fit over everything else, have a hood (preferably helmet-compatible), and cover the butt.

Gore-Tex or equivalent. Must withstand wind, rain and snow, and have a decent hood with room for the climbing helmet.

Gore-Tex or similar. Must hold out wind and rain. Ventilation zippers along the legs is recommended.

For warmer days, and as a hat when sleeping.

Warm hat for cold days.

Thick, warm, large mittens are important. Make sure you have plenty of room inside and that they are long. There are several good expedition gloves in down/primaloft.

Footwear

Large, warm boots with removable inner boot, for example Millet Everest or La Sportiva Olympus Mons. If you know for sure that your feet don't freeze easily, the Scarpa Phantom 6000, La sportiva G2, or Kayland 6001 can also work. In any case, the boot should be roomy so there is room for thick socks.

Equipment

In this pack, you’ll carry what you need during the day on the hike: extra clothes, food, water, snacks, etc. Remember a rain cover. Around 30 liters, give or take, is suitable.

Check that they fit the boots. NB: Choose steel - aluminum crampons break easily when we walk on stone/gravel with heavy equipment.

Can be rented, let us know good time in advance

Food is included on the ski trip, and you pick what you want to take with you from our warehouse - oat porridge for breakfast, vacuum-packed freeze-dried tour food for lunch and dinner, drinks (coffee/tea), chocolate, nuts, biscuits. If you would like more chocolate/snacks, you must bring this yourself.

3 of them.

Useful

It will be possible to borrow equipment such as: harness, ice axe, crampons and boots from Petzl and Scarpa. We do not guarantee that we have equipment for all. Equipment is reserved for beginner group.

If you are in need of renting equipment, contact us: [email protected]

USD 3706

USD 2610

USD 2766

USD 4165

USD 3445

USD 3706

USD 2610

USD 2766

USD 4165

USD 3445

We offer various packages

Our ambasadors and guides:

Highlights

4

EN

3/6

5/6

3/6

There are no departures on this trip.

Can't find a date? We'll notify you when new trips open!

Opening hours Phone

Opening hours Chat

Chat

(+47) 67 79 24 79 (+1) 929 470 3469

Book consultation

Contact us

Day 1: Arrival Norrøna House (for all inclusive package)

Day 2: Departure to Rjukan and clinics

Day 3: Clinics and speed climbing competition

Day 4: Clinics and departure

Safety & Grading

Physical level

3/6 Physical

Comfort level

5/6 Comfort

Risk level

3/6 Risk

Accommodation and Transportation

Ambassadors and Guides

Clinics

Included

Accomondation

Breakfast, lunch and dinner

Courses and guided clinics

Testing of Norrøna, Scarpa, and Petzl products

Goodie bag

Presentations and tech talks

Transport to/from Norrøna House to Rjukan for all inclusive package

Transport to activities in Rjukan for all inclusive package

Not included

Flight tickets

Snacks

Travel and cancellation insurance

Reservation

Travel insurance

Obligatory

Clothing

Underwear

Base layer, 2-layer

Socks, thick

Midlayer

Insulated jacket, thin

Insulated jacket, warm

Shell jacket

Shell pants

Hat, thin

Hat, warm

Thin gloves

Gloves/mittens

Neck gaiter/buff

Footwear

Expedition boots

Climbing shoes

Equipment

Daypack

Sunglasses

Crampons

Ice axe

Climbing Harness

Helmet - Climbing

(+47) 67 79 24 79

(+1) 929 470 3469