Watch our 2011 Footsteps of Giants VIDEO!

With nearly 19 hours of daylight in the summer months, Norway is the perfect place to bike, trek and raft under sunlit Scandinavian skies. On this 24-day travel adventure, we don’t just visit Norway — we cross it. That’s right, join us as we travel to Norway and pedal, paddle and hike our way past unspoiled fjords, rugged coastlines and stunning mountain vistas from one coast to the other. We cover over 150 miles, traversing a blend of scenery, culture and adventure unsurpassed in beauty. Click on Read More to learn more about our own brand of adventure camp as we travel to Europe and conquer the most stunning landscapes in Norway.

From Geirangerfjord, we head north through the “Home of the Giants” to conquer high mountain peaks and cool mountain streams. Next, we cross Sognefjord, taking on the rapids of the Stranda River before riding the undulating course of one of the most famous bike trails in Norway.

We meet in Newark and travel as a group to Oslo, the capital city of Norway. After a day of orientation, it’s “All aboard!” as we travel north by train past Lillehammer (the site of the 1994 Winter Olympics), and finally, down into the charming town of Alesund.

The journey begins here as we set off kayaking through the land of epic sagas and true Viking spirit for six days to Geirangerfjord. A UNESCO World Heritage Site, the majestic waterway of Geirangerfjord is the most photographed fjord in Norway, and perhaps the world. The bright green fjord winds through rock walls which soar 5,000 feet. Steep granite ramparts, snow-capped peaks reflected in deep emerald green water and hundreds of cascading waterfalls dwarf us.

Ready to rest our arms, we abandon the kayaks and travel inland to Jotunheimen (“Home of the Giants”) National Park. Quite possibly the most spectacular national park in the world, Jotunheimen gets its name from Norse mythology which holds that giants, the original inhabitants of the earth, once ruled this mountain range. Awed by the sheer scale of this incredible park, we are convinced that if there ever was a place where giants lived, this would be it! We spend eight days in the park, hiking 6 to 10 miles each day, up and down the myriad of snow-covered peaks, and along meandering valleys of waterfalls. At night, we camp amidst the park’s 60 glaciers. On our "rest day," we'll attempt to summit Galdhøpiggen, the highest peak, not only in Norway, but in all of Scandinavia and Northern Europe.

For the next leg of our journey, we travel across the Sognefjord to Gudvangen, making our way to Voss. There, we put in our rafts and head towards the Class III and IV rapids on the Stranda River, known for its awesome drop-pool profile. Teamwork is key to negotiating whitewater; for five miles, we work in unison, soaked from head to toe, screaming all the way. At the end of the day, we dry out, trade our paddles for mountain bikes and journey towards the “Rallarvegen,” the Railway Constructor’s Road.

Used as a supply road nearly 100 years ago, the Rallarvegen offers one of the best bike rides in all of Norway. The route cuts across open mountains, passing by the Hardangerjokulen Glacier. With dramatic views around every bend, we wind our way through meadows and forests, passing mountain farms, wildflowers and charming villages. We put our focus and energy to the test as we coast down the descents and power up the inclines along this 50-mile road.

After retiring our bikes, it’s back on the train to Oslo for a giant-sized banquet in celebration of our coast-to-coast journey traversing the footsteps of giants — an incredible feat! After all, how many people do you know who have navigated on foot, raft, bike, train and kayak across an entire country?

Settling In

Meet in Newark, NJ; board our group flight from Newark to Oslo; transfer to campground; program orientation; day hikes.

Our Adventure

Transfer by train to Alesund; prepare for sea kayak trip; six day sea kayak trip exploring the fjords of Norway; transfer by bus to Spiterstulen; eight day backpack of Jotunheimen National Park; summit attempt of Galdhøpiggen; transfer by train to Voss; one day whitewater rafting trip on the Stranda River; four day mountain biking trip on the Rallarvegen; transfer to Oslo.

El Fin

Final banquet; group flight from Oslo to Newark; homeward bound.