Our trips are social – we travel together in small groups. However, that doesn't mean you have to travel with someone else to join us.
About half of our guests travel alone. There are no extra costs associated with this, and you will share a room or tent with another tour participant of the same gender. It is usually also possible to get a single room/tent – at an additional cost – if desired.
When you sign up for a trip with Norrøna Adventure, you sign up to travel with like-minded people, all with a common goal or desire to participate in the trip in question. This goal and the seamless execution of our trips often creates a pleasant atmosphere – even if you did not know anyone in the group or who the others were beforehand. In fact, most likely you will end the trip with new friends for life.
One of our solo travellers is Else Bakkevig (49). She has been on several trips with Norrøna Adventure, both alone and with travel companions. She has been to Kilimanjaro, Oman and Japan alone, kayaked in Greenland with someone she met on the Kilimanjaro trip, and traveled with friends to Corsica. In other words, she is a woman with extensive experience of traveling both alone and with friends. A true adventurer!
She says that before her first adventure alone in a group, she was a bit nervous to meet the rest at Oslo Airport, but quickly realized that traveling alone was nothing to worry about.
- It's very easy to travel alone with Norrøna Adventure. The itineraries are good, and the guides I've had the pleasure of traveling with have been absolutely fantastic: competent, sociable, safe, and generous.
Another solo traveller with Norrøna Adventure is Daniel Petersson (24) who climbed Elbrus with Norrøna Adventure in 2015.
- I had no problem traveling alone. There were quite a few of us on this trip who were traveling without companions, so it was very easy to become part of the group. We became very close as a group, and it didn't take long before it felt like we were traveling with good friends.
Else shares the same opinion about the group trips she has been on.
- In my experience, most people who travel are nice, outgoing, positive, and interested in making the trip a good experience for everyone involved. There's a good mix of ages and a mix of couples, friends, and solo travelers. I have kept in touch with some of them afterwards, and others not.
Henrik Næss (46) has also been on several trips with Norrøna Adventure, and has often ended up making new travel companions on these trips.
- I went to South America and the Cordillera Huayhuash trek in Peru in 2013 with someone I met on a previous trip to Georgia. This year, I traveled to Aconcagua alone, but then I found out that two people from last year's Elbrus trip would also be joining. People who choose these trips usually share an interest in travel and beautiful nature, and the group dynamics are usually very good!
Why travel alone?
- The freedom to choose your destination and when to travel, regardless of your family and friends' plans and interests, means a lot. I would definitely recommend others to follow their dream of traveling somewhere alone, especially if the alternative is not going on a trip at all, says Else.
Henrik has not had any specific goal of traveling alone, but that has not been a problem either.
- The best thing about traveling alone is that you have to seek contact with others. You get to know many new, nice people.
Are there any disadvantages to traveling alone?
- The disadvantage of not sharing the experience with someone you know is the lack of opportunity to reminisce and have a common reference point afterwards, says Else.
- Of course, it's okay to share a room or tent with someone you know and know doesn't snore, but it's fine either way, says Henrik with a smile.