Scandinavian sustainable luxury tour company Up Norway has unveiled a seven-day women’s expedition designed and hosted by two of Norway’s preeminent outdoor skillswomen. Limited to eight guests and departing March 25, 2026, the “Arctic Women, Blazing Trails: A Hosted Women’s Empowerment Trip” answers growing demand for transformative, skills-based and community-driven travel.
From a remote Arctic islet of icy sea dips to quiet national-park wilderness, guests will learn tangible survival skills—fire-building, foraging, ice fishing, winter paddling, wilderness safety and more.
Host One: Randi Skaug
The experience begins in Bodø, where guests will head by express boat to Naustholmen, a tiny islet in the Steigen archipelago off Nordland’s coast and the outpost of trip host Randi Skaug, the first Norwegian woman to summit Everest and complete the Seven Summits. Women will spend their days here outdoors with her, learning to layer and stay warm, and build and cook over open fire, move safely along coastal trails and more. The group will “rediscover sea-air mornings, cave walks and sauna nights under vast Arctic skies,” too.
Mid-journey, travelers sail further north with Hurtigruten’s MS Vesterålen.
Host Two: Hege Enge Dekkerhus
The final chapter unfolds on Senja, Norway’s second-largest island above the arctic circle, known for its jagged peaks, storm-scoured beaches and the forests of Ånderdalen National Park. Guests will settle into Norwegian Wild, a nature-based retreat led by founder Hege Enge Dekkerhus, whose approach to women’s health and resilience is shaped by her own years of struggles with illness and stress.
Here, days take shape around snowshoe forays into birch forests and hands-on cooking over open flame. In and around Ånderdalen National Park, travelers will try ice fishing, slip into winter kayaks on sheltered coves, and head out with trusted partners for husky adventures. Evenings wind down with a sauna, jacuzzi sessions and stargazing.
Tip: Those seeking an extra dose of immersion can spend a night in a tent, weather-permitting. The journey concludes with a shared transfer to Tromsø.
Good to know: Following the inaugural departure, “Arctic Women, Blazing Trails” will become a completely customizable Up Norway journey bookable year-round for private groups.
