Oslo, Norway (February 23, 2026) – Due to broader industry interest in small-group tours, Up Norway, Scandinavia’s premier sustainable luxury travel curator, expands offerings for solo travelers and small groups looking for an intimate communal experience. Small group bookings are up 14% year-over-year, according to Tripadvisor. The new trip offerings showcase Up Norway’s signature approach to Nordic travel: insider access to local experts, sustainable practices, and transformative experiences that honor Norway’s cultural heritage while maintaining the company’s commitment to low-impact tourism. From women-led Arctic living retreats with Randi Skaug, the first Norwegian woman to summit Everest, to cultural heritage immersions in partnership with Norway House, the premier center for Norwegian arts, business, and culture in the United States, each journey demonstrates how thoughtfully limited group sizes unlock deeper engagement with Norway’s landscapes, traditions, and people.
Arctic Women, Blazing Trails: Women-Led Arctic Survival Expedition, September 30 – October 7, 2026
In response to a sold out group in March 2026, the second itineration of Arctic Women, Blazing Trails will take place September 30 – October 7, 2026. This seven-day women’s empowerment expedition pairs practical Arctic survival skills with community-building experiences across some of Norway’s most remote northern landscapes. Limited to fourteen guests, the journey is designed and hosted by two of Norway’s preeminent outdoor experts: Randi Skaug, the first Norwegian woman to summit Everest and complete the Seven Summits, and Hege Enge Dekkerhus, founder of Norwegian Wild. The expedition begins on Naustholmen, a tiny islet in the Steigen archipelago, where guests learn foundational Arctic skills including fire-building, foraging and slow cooking, wilderness safety and how to thrive in nature as well as life in general. Following an overnight coastal voyage aboard Hurtigruten’s MS Vesterålen, the journey concludes on Senja, Norway’s second-largest island above the Arctic Circle, with deeper immersion in kayaking, walks through Ånderdalen National Park, husky adventures, Nordic wellness like sauna, hot tub and outdoor dinners with storytelling under the Polar sky, husky adventures. More than skills training, the experience centers on mentorship, resilience, and the camaraderie that forms when women learn together in wild places. Pricing starts at $5,784 USD per person based on double occupancy and $6,772 USD for single occupancy. Sign up by 01 April.
Late Summer Road Trip in Southwestern Norway with Norway House, September 11–20, 2026
In follow up to successful Up Norway x Norway House trips annually to Norway’s northern and western geographies, this 10-day small group journey (September 11–20, 2026) traverses southwestern Norway’s most evocative landscapes, from Stavanger’s coastal charm through the Setesdal Valley’s pastoral highlands to the dramatic southern tip at Lindesnes. Limited to 10 adults, the itinerary balances cultural immersion with outdoor adventure and culinary discovery. Highlights include a private city walk through Stavanger’s heritage district, a Lysefjord cruise to view the iconic Pulpit Rock from below, and an eco-dome stay at Brokkestøylen in the Setesdal Valley, where guests engage in traditional Nordic wellness practices, foraging, and canoeing on pristine mountain waters. The journey features dining at MICHELIN-starred Hermetikken and Under, the world’s largest underwater restaurant, alongside intimate farm visits that reveal everyday life along Norway’s southern coast. The experience emphasizes seasonal ingredients, traditional preservation techniques, and the stories of families who have shaped these landscapes for generations. Pricing starts at $7,878 USD per person based on double occupancy.
Forest Finn and Sami Heritage Journey with Norway House, February 5–13, 2027
Departing February 5–13, 2027, this nine-day winter expedition for 10 adults explores two of Norway’s most distinctive cultural legacies: the Forest Finn communities of the Norwegian-Swedish borderlands and the indigenous Sami people of the Arctic north. Beginning in Finnskogen, guests discover the heritage of Finnish migrants who settled these vast forests in the 1600s, learning about their unique traditions through museum visits, wilderness walks, and sauna rituals at Finnskogtoppen wellness retreat. The journey then travels north to Alta and Karasjok, the Sami capital, for immersive experiences including Northern Lights safaris, dog sledding with huskies in training, and a reindeer herding experience led by Sami locals with generational knowledge. Accommodations range from designer huts at Engholm Husky Lodge to the intimate ONGA Boutique Lodge, where nightly aurora walks offer front-row seats to the Northern Lights. The itinerary balances outdoor adventure with cultural education and opportunities for reflection beneath polar skies. Pricing starts at $10,133 USD per person based on double occupancy.
All three itineraries exemplify Up Norway’s philosophy that group size matters. According to feedback from past travelers, what guests value most are the genuine human connections formed along the way—with fellow travelers, local hosts, and the communities they visit. By limiting participants, the company creates space for meaningful connections with local hosts, flexibility to follow natural rhythms and weather conditions, and reduces environmental impact. Each journey includes Up Norway’s signature digital guide and seamless travel services, along with carefully selected accommodations that emphasize sustainability, local ownership, and authentic Nordic design. https://upnorway.com/.
