Situated on the western part of the Scandinavian peninsula, Norway is the 'Land of the Midnight Sun'. A Norway walking holiday is one of the best ways to explore this staggering country and experience the adventure of a lifetime. Between May and July, the sun never sets in Norway's Arctic Circle, an incredible phenomenon which casts a warm glow across the land.
Norway has a long, fascinating history pre-dating the Viking arrival in the late 8th century. The earliest human skeleton found in Norway was carbon dated back to 6,600BC, when the land became habitable after the Ice Age, thanks to the Gulf Stream. Farming, sealing, fishing, and hunting attracted the first settlers. By the 9th century, the land that is today known as Norway was starting to forge a common identity. Today, with a population of over five million, Norway remains one of the most sparsely inhabited countries in Europe.
Home to some of the world's most dramatic landscapes, Norway is brimming with natural wonders. Our Norway walking holidays take you along mountain paths and spectacular glaciers where the immense scenery will make you feel insignificant. It's your choice whether you discover these dramatic landscapes on one of our guided walking tours or while enjoying the solitude of one of our self-guided ones. Either way, walking in Norway is a great way to get up close to the country's immense landscapes.
Guided Norway walking holidays include an experienced guide, accommodation, and most meals.
If you want to experience the authentic Norway and face the rugged landscape head on, you'll be rewarded by panoramic views of expansive fjords, high-reaching mountains, and wild green open spaces. Here are a few of the highlights you may come across on your Norway walking tour.
Flam is a small village in western Norway. It is perched at the end of Aurlandsfjord, which is an 18-mile long branch off the country's longest fjord, Sognefjord. Here, you'll be able to ride on the world-famous Flamsbana Railway, which can take you all the way up to Myrdal, 867m above sea level, on an hour-long journey filled with mountainsides, waterfalls, and tiny villages.
The hiking opportunities around here are plentiful, and cater to different abilities. Follow the tracks of the Royal Postal Route along the UNESCO heritage site of Narofjorden or take a longer walk back down to the valley from Myrdal Station.
Walk amongst wild reindeer in Norway's oldest national park. Explore the Rondane mountain range, lichen-covered plateaus, and the farming valley of Grimsdalen. Hike 1,463m above sea level up Store Ramshogda and savour the views of the surrounding peaks from its dizzying heights.
This serene village abounds in walking opportunities, from which you can take in views of the nearby fjords and the Solsaevatnet Lake. While traversing this landscape, you may come across the fruit-growing orchards which Ulvik is famous for and sample local cider and fruit juices. You can also see the field of burial mounds which date back to 200-400AD.
One of the most popular pilgrim paths in Norway is St Olav's Pilgrim's Road, a series of nine routes which all lead to Saint Olav's shrine in Trondheim. Along the route, you can see quintessentially Scandinavian painted farmhouses, a 4-6AD hill fort, and one of the few medieval stave church buildings that remains intact in Norway. You'll learn the story of Saint Olav, the Norwegian ruler who brought Christianity back from Viking raids in England and became the country's patron saint.
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Wild, untouched landscapes – vast mountain plateaux, dramatic canyons, glistening waterfalls, crystal clear lakes, this is Norway's vast yet beautiful, untouched wilderness at its very best, ready to be explored from your base at the Venabu Fjellhotel.
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Yes, Norway is the prime place to be if you're the type of person who likes to use your own two feet to get around. The many mountains and fjords make it a hikers' paradise, while most cities and towns are designed in walker-friendly ways. The capital of Oslo is neat and compact, with many traffic-free areas to reduce pollution and make it easier to navigate the streets by foot.
You can expect to hike rugged landscapes with steep mountainsides and picture-perfect views of fjords. By day, you'll get right up close to some of Norway's most stunning scenes. By night, you will enjoy comfortable stays in hand-picked hotels close to these locations.
On your walking holiday in Norway, you may even be presented with the choices to cycle or take scenic railway routes. Some locations may offer the possibilities of transferring by ferry or bus, offering a myriad of different ways to take in the scenery.
We know that a 'one-size-fits-all' approach isn't ideal for travellers, so we've made sure that many aspects of your walking holiday can be tailored according to your preferences. This means you'll usually have a selection of walks to choose from on any given day, as well as the options to upgrade your hotel or add on additional nights.
If you're wondering what to wear on a walking holiday in Norway, you should know that the weather is quite unpredictable. To be prepared for this, it's a good idea to pack as if you were bringing clothes for every season, with everything from summer shorts to winter-proof layers in your bag!
Practical hiking gear is essential. One good tip is to incorporate clothes with wool in them, as this will keep you warm and dry in the cold, while wearing lightweight wool when it's hot conducts the heat and retracts moisture away from the skin keeping you cool and less sweaty. Bring along a fleece jacket which you can easily put on and take off and don't forget waterproof, breathable trousers too.
Many of the cafes that you encounter on your walks will involve sitting outdoors, even if there's a very chill wind blowing. For this reason, it's a good idea to keep a hat, scarf, and a pair of gloves handy. Even in summer, the temperatures at higher altitudes can be bracing.
We'd say that the best time of year for walking in Norway is summer. The longer summer days and the midnight sun you will find north of the Arctic Circle enhance visibility and mean you can get more out of each day. In contrast, winter walking can be very tricky due to short windows of daylight as well as icy conditions.
We have nearly 40 years of experience crafting itineraries for our travellers, so you can count on us to help you have an unforgettable experience in Norway. Book online today and start getting prepared!
Satisfied customers - Our customers rate us very highly after travelling with us, which means we have a rating of 4.6 on Feefo.
Exciting destinations - Using a five-step approval process, we hand-pick the hotels on our routes as well as hosts who will help you get the most out of your trip.
We can arrange your flights - If you want us to take care of the whole booking process, including your flights, we can! This frees you up with more time to get excited for your holiday.
Award-winning provider - Our walking holidays have been recognised for their quality in various ways. We've won awards such as for Best Travel Company to Central/Western Europe and more.
Sustainability matters to us - We're constantly looking for ways to reduce our tours' impact on the environment. This includes working to become Nature Net Positive and running our tours in line with our People, Places & Planet plan.
ABTA- and ATOL-protected - You can book in confidence, knowing that our Norway walking tours are protected. Read more about your key rights when booking with us.
Here for communities - It's important to us that we do our bit, so we have set up The Exodus Travels Foundation. This provides disaster relief and help with conservation causes in many of the areas we take travellers to around the world.
