NORWAY: PEAKS AND VALLEYS

NORDIC WILDERNESS ADVENTURE PROGRAM

With nearly 19 hours of daylight in the summer months, Norway is the perfect place to explore under sunlit Scandinavian skies. On this physically challenging 21-day teen adventure travel program, we don’t just visit Norway — we cross it! Through 3 multi-day expeditions, we bike, kayak and hike to see some of the best backcountry scenery Norway has to offer. This trip is geared towards adventure loving teens who want a challenge.

Activities

• Sea Kayak: The fjords and coastline around Bergen 

• WhiteWater Raft: Sjoa Rapids

• Hike: Jotunheimen National Park 

• Bike: The world famous Rallarvegen trail

• Explore: Oslo, Bergen, Voss, Rallarvegen, Sjoa

• Discover: Norway as we adventure through it from East to West

PHYSICAL FITNESS

Peaks and Valleys is an adventurous trip designed for those in good physical standing. Summer weather varies in Norway, and we typically encounter beautiful sunshine, days of rain and wind, and once in a great while, it may snow on us in the mountains. Participants must be comfortable with camping and be physically fit enough for long, active days. Participants must also be able to carry their own gear as well as help carry group gear during the backcountry portion of this program. We recommend breaking in hiking boots and incorporating some physical activity into your participant’s daily routine in the months and weeks leading up to the trip. While this program is designed with beginners in mind and the majority of our participants are new to backcountry adventures, it is important for your participant to prepare in advance to ensure their success in completing this program.

WHAT IS INCLUDED AND EXCLUDED IN TRIP TUITION

The trip tuition listed above includes accommodations, activities, meals, and group gear. The tuition does not include personal gear and clothing, travel insurance, spending money, and travel expenses such as airfare to and from the start and end of the program, unaccompanied minor fees, and baggage fees.

Accommodations and showering

For this adventure trip, we sleep in tents in front and backcountry campsites. For tent camping, we aim for it to be 2 participants in a 3-person tent or 3 participants in a 4-person tent with luggage. We also have a few nights in hostels where we will be in rooms divided by gender in bunk beds.

Bathrooms and showers are rustic so please be prepared. Generally speaking, we shower after every adventure section or around every three to five days. Bathrooms are backcountry style or latrines throughout apart from when in the hostels.

FOOD

Participants on this trip will plan, prepare, and eat meals as a group. Split up into smaller cook crews, each crew will have the chance to prepare a meal approximately once per day. This process is supervised by staff who offer advice on nutrition, and menu planning, and ensure safe food storage, preparation, and handling.

Meals are prepared on back-country-style camp stoves. Meals are nutritious and filling, but the back-country nature of the program often necessitates a simpler menu than a restaurant or home cook might allow. Some meals will be prepared by our activity partners. There may be opportunities to assist in food preparation on these days depending on the preference of the partner.

We are able to accommodate all dietary requirements and preferences.

TRAVEL

Families are individually responsible for booking their own airfare or making their own travel arrangements to get their participant from home to the Oslo Airport (OSL) on the first day of the trip, and from the Bergen Airport (BGO) to home on the last day of the trip. RLT will provide exact windows of time that we require all participants to arrive and depart within. It is imperative that no one make any travel arrangements until RLT directs them to do so.

A leader-escorted round-trip flight will be available from the New York area (but is not required) for those travelers who wish to fly with a leader. Please contact our office for details.

PASSPORT REQUIREMENTS

For all international travel, we require participants to have a passport that is valid for a minimum of 6 MONTHS past the end date of your participant's RLT trip. If your participant's passport is due to expire within those 6 months, please work on updating your participant's passport as soon as possible upon enrollment. According to the State Department, routine passport renewal will take 10-13 weeks and expedited processing, which costs an additional $60, will take 7-9 weeks. It is your responsibility to ensure your participant's passport is up to date and meets these requirements. We encourage families to familiarize themselves with the U.S. Department of State website for all up-to-date and accurate passport recommendations. 

TRAVEL INSURANCE REQUIREMENTS

The Road Less Traveled does not provide its own insurance. However, we require participants to purchase travel insurance through a third party for all international programs. For additional details, please visit our FAQ page or you may contact a member of our team at info@theroadlesstraveled.com or 773-342-5200.

VACCINE & MEDICATION INFORMATION

We always encourage families to review the CDC website regarding recommended vaccinations and medications for international travel. More information will be provided to enrolled families from our Admissions Team in the Spring.

TECHNOLOGY

As part of the RLT experience, our trips are electronic-free. While it is encouraged to travel with cell phones, leaders will collect phones and any other personal devices after all participants arrive on the first day. It can feel tough initially to not have access to your phone, but it really helps everyone in the group to connect and have a really great trip experience. This includes phones, iPods, tablets, gaming devices, music devices, smartwatches, etc. All electronics will be held by RLT leaders, kept safe and dry for the duration of the trip, and returned at the end of the program. All cameras, go pros, etc. are acceptable and can be kept with you! If you do not have a camera, please note that leaders will also be taking photos throughout the program, and these photos will be shared through an online gallery.