Expedition Overview
This seven-day experience includes travel days and the four-day qualifying expedition:
- Meet up in Oslo, Norway’s capital city
- One night’s camping in Oslo at Langoyene island campsite
- Bus travel to our expedition base, the village of Beitostolen.
- Another night at a service camp in Beitostolen and time to buy extra rations and prepare for the expedition.
- Four days trekking in the Valdres mountains of Norway, a diverse region known for gentle, tundra-like highlands and the more dramatic peaks of the nearby Jotunheimen mountains.
- Two nights wild camping and one night in a Norwegian Mountain Hut.
- Expedition support to plan the expedition route.
More about trekking in Norway
Norway is one of the most beautiful countries in the world, with fantastic trekking. There is a strong tradition of hiking and skiing in Norway, underpinned by its public right of access to the outdoors. There is a big network of trekking routes throughout the country with simple waymarking. These trails link up with over 500 mountain huts, run by the Norwegian Trekking Association (DNT). There are three types of Norwegian huts: the simplest type is like a spartan Scottish mountain bothy; then there are self-service huts, with beds and bedding, a kitchen with a stove, cutlery, pots and pans; and lastly, there are staffed mountain hotels. The huts have a huge amount of character.
Our expedition area is called Valdres. It is adjacent to the mighty Jotenheim mountains. The area is easy to get to by bus from Oslo, about four hours to the north west. Beitostolen is the nearest village to the expedition area. It has a campsite, restaurant, and supermarket. The Valdres area comprises of a high plateau, lakes, alpine peaks, and glaciers. The most prominent feature of our expedition area is Lake Bygdin, about 30km long. A ferry runs along the length of the lake in summer, and could be used by participants to access Jotenheim, further West.
What's Included
- One night’s camping in Oslo
- Two nights camping at Beitostolen
- All bus and ferry transport in Norway (apart from between Oslo airport and Oslo City Centre)
- Gas for stoves
- Expedition supervision and assessment by two ASpen instructors
- One night in a Norwegian Mountain Hut
What's not included
- Flights to and from Norway
- Travel, usually by train, from Oslo airport and Oslo city centre
- Expedition food
Day by Day Itinerary
DAY 1 - Monday 3 August 2026, Meet up in Oslo
OsloParticipants will meet up with the instructors in Oslo. We will camp on an island in Oslo Fjord called Langoyene. Langøyene island can be reached by ferry all summer, and has a big beach, s shop, a football field, and a campsite.
DAY 2 - Tuesday 4 August 2026, travel to Beitostolen
BeitostolenToday we’ll head back to Oslo and catch an early bus to Beitostolen. The bus takes about 4 hours. Upon arrival, we will check into the serviced campsite in Beitostolen and then spend the rest of the day on expedition preparation: kit check, buying gas for the stove, buying extra expedition rations, and checking over the route.
DAYS 3-6 - Wednesday 5th to Saturday 8th of August 2026
Valdres MountainsOn the morning of the third day, we will pack up our kit and get another bus to reach our expedition area, a short 15-minute journey. Depending on the route you plan, there will be an opportunity to stay one night in a Norwegian mountain hut; there are three nearby: Torfinnsbu, Yksendalsbu, and Tomashelleren. On the last day of your expedition, we will return to the road and catch the bus to Beitostolen, for a second night at our campsite.
DAY 7 - Sunday 9 August 2026
Beitostolen to Oslo airportToday we journey back to Oslo by bus, then catch the train to Oslo airport.
What to bring
Click here for the full kit list, including a video offering advice on packing a Duke of Edinburgh’s Award expedition rucksack. We will provide you gas canisters.
It is recommended that participants bring most of their expedition food with them. There will, however, be opportunities to buy extra food at supermarkets in Norway. We will, for example, need to do some top-up shopping for the period after the expedition. Participants should also bring money for snacks and three evening meals in restaurants.
There won’t be an opportunity to leave travel clothing and spare kit in Beitostolen during the expedition period, so please pack carefully.
Guidance on exped meals here.
Terms and Conditions
Please read our terms and conditions:
These are the terms and conditions for Aspen Outdoors Ltd events.
- Participants must disclose information on any relevant medical condition or treatment that may have a bearing on their ability to take part.
- Participants must provide information to Aspen Outdoors Ltd on their skills and experience in the activity (winter hillwalking, summer hillwalking, multi-day treks, bushcraft activities) to help determine their competence and suitability for the activity.
- Participants must read the information about the activity with particular attention to the grade/difficulty of the hike, the length of the day, the distance to be covered, and the height gained.
- The objectives of the event, for example, the ascent of one or more peaks, are not guaranteed, being subject to weather conditions, snow conditions, and the capability and competence of participants in the group.
- The objectives of the event may be modified or abandoned, subject to weather and snow conditions, and the capability and competence of the participants in the group.
- The event may be postponed or cancelled, subject to adverse weather and snow conditions. Should this happen, the company shall either provide a full refund or rearrange the event.
- Participants must consult the equipment list provided by the company and follow other instructions provided to them before the activity to ensure that they are appropriately prepared for the activity.
- During the activity, the participants must follow the instructions of the instructors to ensure their safety.
- If the customer cancels within four weeks of the event that is due to take place, the customer shall not be eligible for a refund.