Step into Norway’s Scandinavian Alps on a founder-led, small-group hiking holiday based in Hemsedal, with sweeping mountain views from Skarsnuten Hotel high above the valley.
This tour is a 2 out of 5 level of difficulty.
Seven nights in hotel accommodation.
Breakfast and two-course dinners made with fresh, local ingredients.
Upon arrival, you travel by train to Gol, from then on and for the duration of the tour, the group is transported by van.
Touch history that's thousands of years old while gaining vistas of the countryside.
Guests receive a self-guided training plan to prepare for the Ridges and Valleys tour.
On cultural days, lunch can be puchased while in town. On hiking days a brown back lunch can be purchased in advance.
We include wine that will go well with the main course at dinner. Any alcohol or drinks requested in addition are at your own expense.
Travel insurance is required. We recommend choosing a plan that includes medical insurance.
Guests meet at the Park Inn Oslo Airport West at 11:00 AM. Following a picnic lunch, we will use the afternoon to travel by scenic train to our starting point in the mountain town of Hemsedal and settle into the condo-style accommodation. Explore the quaint town center, where echoes of the past mingle with the present, and discover local shops offering artifacts and crafts inspired by Viking heritage.
Included / Picnic lunch, dinner
Lodging / Hotel
Hemsedal has many beautiful peaks, glacial lakes, and lush valleys. Based on the weather, three hikes will be chosen that offer you a chance to see the Scandinavian Alps in a way that can only be done on foot. As you hike through dense forests and across alpine meadows, envision the Norse gods who are said to have once trodden these very slopes.
When not hiking, we visit a Viking settlement, touch ancient rune carvings at a Stave Church, cruise a fjord, and drink mead at a long table. As we traverse the landscape, you can reflect on the resilience and spirit of the Norse people who call this rugged yet breathtaking terrain home.
Included / Breakfast, dinner, entry to all cultural sites, fjord cruise
Lodging / Skarsnuten Hotel
The next part of our tour returns to Oslo to gain deeper insights into Norwegian culture and heritage. We will learn about the Vikings' enduring legacy and influence on Norwegian society, as well as the profound impact of the resistance movement on shaping Norway's national identity and commitment to freedom and democracy.
We begin by visiting the Viking Ship Museum, where we marvel at the remarkably preserved Viking longships, iconic symbols of Norse craftsmanship and seafaring prowess. We then learn about the Viking Age through interactive exhibits, discovering the myths, legends, and daily lives of these enigmatic warriors who once ruled the seas.
From here, we transition to the modern era and visit the Resistance Museum, where the heroic stories of Norwegian resistance fighters during World War II come to life. Explore exhibits detailing acts of sabotage, espionage, and defiance against Nazi occupation, shedding light on the courage and sacrifice of ordinary individuals who stood up against tyranny in the darkest of times.
Our Athara Adventures tour ends on Sunday afternoon when we return you to the Radisson Blu Hotel.
Included / Breakfast, lunch, entry to museums
Lodging / Hotel
