Q&A

As a general rule, our lower age limit is 16 years. We can make exceptions down to 14 years in special cases. If you are under 18, you must travel with a guardian. If the person under the age of 18 has to cancel the trip, the guardian must accompany them. There is no age limit for tailor-made tours.

For Norrøna Adventure, the social factor on our trips is a crucial element in order to have high-class experiences. Our guests are adventure seeking and want to experience the destination they visit in a realistic manner. Therefore, we always travel in small groups, in close proximity and within the various cultures we visit. Approximately half of our guests travel alone, and there are no extra expenses connected to traveling alone unless you request a single room. During the trip, you will share room or tent with a person of the same sex. 

Even when you are traveling alone, you will always experience a friendly and positive atmosphere. Our guests are often keen travelers and explorers, and most people walk away from these experiences with new friendships. Good conversations and similar values often accompany our trips to learn more about each other and new ideas for future travels. You can read more about Solo Travel experiences in our interview with Mike Medves, in our Guest Stories section. 
 
Create new friendships and have the adventure of a lifetime on a trip with Norrøna Adventure. 

You will find the answer here.

Many of our trips are physically demanding, and we have a difficulty level our tours. This gives an indication of how demanding the trip you are considering is. If you are in doubt, you can contact us and we will give you more information.

Whether you are in good enough shape or have good enough health to join depends entirely on the type of trip you will be joining. Perhaps you are not in good enough shape to go on an expedition, but we still have many trips that might suit you. For example, kayak trips and relatively easy mountain and bike tours.

If you are over 67, you should have a thorough medical check-up before your trip. Make the doctor aware that it is a trip with physical exertion and where we move off the beaten track. It is important that you fill in all parts of the registration form (especially where we ask for information about health and allergies), and let us know if there is anything we need to be aware of before and during the trip.

Relevant health information that may have an impact on the trip must also be communicated to the guide at the start of the trip.

If we would list specific details for every destination we offer trips to, this would be a lot for you to read. What we can say is that we do our best to plan our trips according to suitable seasons at the destinations we visit. All destinations we visit have particularly suitable seasons for hiking, kayaking, skiing or biking, and we set our departures to the most ideal time of year for the activities we are doing. 

For participants visiting Norway, we believe that all four seasons have their charm, where each one of them offer unique nature experiences. 

Winter time, December to February, comes with darker days and cold weather. This does not mean that you can’t go outside, as it is a good period to go skiing almost anywhere in Norway. Or you can chase the northern lights, especially in the Northern parts of Norway.

Spring time, March to May, welcomes you with longer days, warmer temperatures and perfect conditions for ski touring. The birds are starting to sing, reminding us that warmer and brighter days are ahead. 

Summer time, June to August, usually has quite warm temperatures in the Southern part of Norway. Temperatures are cool along the coast and in the mountainous areas, and most of the snow from winter has melted. Rain is common, especially along the West Coast. But many days are warm and dry, and you will see many Norwegians out in the mountains, absorbing the sunshine. 

Autumn, from September to November, gives you crispy, fresh air and beautiful colours. This is also a good period for outdoor activities and Northern lights. 

We can cater to most cuisines in Norway. If you have special dietary needs or requests, please get in touch with us.

For trips to other countries, it is not always easy to get hold of gluten-free wholemeal bread, lactose-free alternatives or to accommodate other food preferences. If you have any allergies, please let us know in the registration form and we will try to accommodate you as best we can. However, we would still recommend that anyone with special dietary needs bring some alternatives in the form of, for example, a packet of crispbread, energy bars or similar that you know you can eat.

The equipment lists are available on the webpage for each trip. 

General advice

Be prepared for any weather, the summers are often cool in hiking environments. Think spring/autumn clothes, being ready to add or remove a layer. Wear pants, a wool mid layer over a t-shirt; and have a puffy jacket that fits under your rain layer. On long hikes where you work up a sweat, having an extra base layer to change into on the summit will keep you warm and comfortable even when youre not moving. Its imperative to always have a raincoat (meaning gore-tex or equivalent), especially along the coast. A lot of hiking in Norway can be muddy, slippery or rocky due to the climate and ecosystems, be prepared by having waterproof boots or use boots with a gortex sock option.

For the northern islands (Jan Mayen, Svalbard): think Winter. Warm base layers, a down jacket, a hat, gloves, windbreaker, buff, and a rainjacket. 

Skiing in Norway? Information about clothing and gear for ski expeditions and Nordic skiing.

If you need help selecting gear, we strongly recommend you check out our Shop Gear icon in the top menu. Experts at Norrøna can help you select the proper gear for your Norwegian adventure. 

Read about travel insurance.

The guide will send you an e-mail around one week prior to departure to to see if you have any questions. If you have any questions regarding the trip, please don't hesitate to contact our office. 

Preparing properly for the weather in Norway is of the utmost importance before your departure. Norway is located in Northern Europe, within or close to the Arctic Circle. This means the weather is variable, with long days in the summer, and long nights in the winter. The weather each day can change drastically- from sunny and warm, to windy, cold and rainy.

Check out www.yr.no for the weather forcast for where you are going in Norway.  The weather is normally different in different regions:

Norwegian Fjords

Has a cool, wet climate, characterized by the frequent passage of weather fronts, so that clouds, rain and wind dominate throughout the year. Rain is common along the western slope.

Northern Norway

Is colder but still affected by the gulfstream. The result is that the open sea does not freeze even at this latitude, and this does not happen anywhere else in the world! The northern coast has strong winds in winter and spring, and is still affected by rain. 

Eastern Norway

The area has a continental climate, with cold and snowy winters, and mild summers. Typically the interior is covered with hills and mountains, and the temperature decreases with altitude. This area of Norway typically sees less overall rain. 

Norway’s trail systems have been created from historical use over time. Due to the harsh climate and low population in Norway, trail maintenance has been uncommon in the past. It is only in recent years, as Norway has become more popular for hiking focused tourism, that trail maintenance and infrastructure has begun to have a presence.

Although the hiking itineraries give you the kilometers, meters in elevation gain, and approximate times for travel – the trail conditions can be more challenging than other places you may have hiked. We encourage you to come to Norway with an open mind, expect to be challenged, and prepare to become part of the Norwegian hiking culture. It is a true nature experience and the beauty that comes with it will leave you breathless and accomplished. Nature is part of Norway’s identity, and the deep passion and love for the Norwegian mountains will be part of your experience.

With this, you can expect to hike steep sections of trail (as switchbacks are rare) and many trails are muddy and wet with roots and rocks along the way. This means trail conditions can be slippery, and you need to be conscious of your footing when hiking. Please make sure to wear reliable hiking boots. Hiking poles are recommended. Follow our gear requirements, bring a positive mental attitude, and prepare to enjoy an incredible hiking experience in Norway with us!

When signing up for a guided group tour it's important to come prepared to make group decisions. Your group will become your family and friends for the duration of your trip, and it's important to join the trip with a group mentality. We will work together on tour, be supportive of one another, and encouraging. Your guides will set a pace that works for the entire group, and the group will hike together when on-trail. If a group member is unable to participate on a scheduled hike, alternative options will be presented. Your guide will have the final decisions each day for hiking based on safety, group ability, and weather. It is important to join our tours with a group-focused mentality, and a flexible mind-set. 

The cuisine in Norway is based on tradition. Norway, being a Northern country, has historically relied on livestock, local fauna, and root vegetables. Your dinners will often be on a set menu consisting of a meat base: fish, sheep, cow, moose, reindeer or deer meat, with potatoes and root vegetables on the side. If you did not include dietary restrictions or allergies in your registration form, please email us at adventure@norrona.com to inform us of your needs. We can accommodate vegetarian/vegan, gluten-free and lactose-free diets. Keep in mind that gluten-free, vegan and lactose-free options are limited in Norway, so if you have some hiking snacks from home that suit your dietary restrictions, please bring them with you.

Breakfasts will be buffet style with a variety of healthy cereals, porridge, fresh-baked bread, “knekkebrød” (seed-based cracker bread), cheeses and meats. Traditionally, Norwegians eat “Matpakke” for lunch, which means a simple meal packed from breakfast to take into the mountains. Typically, Norwegians make open-faced bread slices with cheeses, meats, and a few vegetables. The food we eat on the tour is local, fresh and healthy. You will often see sheep and goats wandering freely when in Norway, and we use partners with local farming relationships for our meals. You can also look forward to eating plenty of delicious deserts when on tour with us!

Read our guide here on how to get to Norway the most sustainable way and by plane, in addition to how you get around in Norway. 

A base level of fitness is required to join one of our active holidays. When you have signed up for a trip with us, we recommend training for your tour. For summer trips, you may not be able to find the same trail conditions or weather that you will find in Norway at home, but here are some tips for training prior to your tour (you can adjust the training to your current fitness level and location):

• Hike 2-6 hours with a weighted day pack: food, layers, and 2 liters of water. Once or twice a week. (If you do not have access to hiking on trails, you can walk around your local area with inclines and declines).
• Trail run or hike  in varied terrain 3-10km (distance depending on your fitness level). Once or twice a week.
• Intervals on the treadmill with a medium to high incline, alternating between walking at a fast pace for 5 minutes and running at a medium pace for 3 minutes. For 30 minutes to 1 hour, 2-3 times a week.
• Walk with a weighted backpack or run up and down flights of stairs.
• Weightlift with moderate weights for overall fitness once a week.
• If you already have a regular exercise schedule, continue your routine, keeping in mind training for hiking specific trips may be beneficial.
• Enjoy your training! Join a local fitness class, get outside and hike or run, or try something new!

Normally, you will receive the final payment link approximately 70 days before departure. If there are 50 days left until departure and you still have not received the payment link, please contact us. 

We need a written cancellation from you. The cancellation will then be registered during our opening hours. You should then contact your insurance company for reimbursement. They often need a doctor's note and a confirmation from us of how much you have paid.