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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

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.
  • Rjukan only Friday - Sunday from 
    • Only program in Rjukan from Friday - Sunday. All included except transport, breakfast and accommodation. 
  • 1/2 - 1 day clinic
    • 1/2 - 1 day clinic at Krokan in groups.
    • Drop in is also possible, but doe not guarantee a spot.

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.

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.

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Dates and booking
There are no departures on this trip.
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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

Day by day

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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.

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.

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NorrønaIceFestival-2026@MikeHolley (7)

Day 2:Departure to Rjukan and clinics

Breakfast is enjoyed at your accommodation. 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.

Breakfast is enjoyed at your accommodation. 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.

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Day 3:Clinics and speed climbing competition

Breakfast is served at our hotel, followed by a morning briefing. We then 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. The day concludes with dinner, ambassadors talks, and an award ceremony at Rjukanhuset

Breakfast is served at our hotel, followed by a morning briefing. We then 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. The day concludes with dinner, ambassadors talks, and an award ceremony at Rjukanhuset

NorrønaIceFestival-2026@MikeHolley (8)

Day 4:Clinics and departure

Breakfast is served at our hotel, followed by a morning briefing. We then split into groups before heading out for a day of ice climbing, before departure from Rjukan.

Breakfast is served at our hotel, followed by a morning briefing. We then split into groups before heading out for a day of ice climbing, before departure from Rjukan.

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.

Breakfast is enjoyed at your accommodation. 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.

Breakfast is served at our hotel, followed by a morning briefing. We then 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. The day concludes with dinner, ambassadors talks, and an award ceremony at Rjukanhuset

Breakfast is served at our hotel, followed by a morning briefing. We then split into groups before heading out for a day of ice climbing, before departure from Rjukan.

Safety & Grading

Read more

  • 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

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

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

Recommended

Clothing

For evenings and leasure days.

Footwear

Lightweight and low volume footwear for indoor use. Slippers or similar. 

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. 

Ski equipment is only needed for those who would like to attend ski touring at Gaustatoppen.

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