10 Days in

NORWAY

With Optional 5 Day Expedition Add On to

SVALBARD

We invite you

to join us on the winter expedition of a lifetime

We begin in Oslo, where we'll immerse ourselves in the vibrant city life, exploring its rich history and mythology.

Continuing our adventure, we’ll hop the Bergen Railway, a train line ranked one of the most scenic train routes in the world. We disembark in the captivating city of Bergen where we'll discover the charm of old Norway.

From the Bergen port we launch our 5 day Fjord Cruise which will bring us alll the way up the coast. With some luck we will be escorted from above by the northern lights as we cross the threshold into the Arctic Circle.

We will make several port calls where we can choose to disembark and explore the coastal towns of Ålesund, Trondheim, Bodø, before finally disembarking in Trømso.

Here in Trømso, we will immerse in the long nights, broken only by a twilight sun, casting an ethereal light across the landscape.

We will meet (and pet and feed) some new reindeer friends, ancestral companions and transportation and food source of our local indigenous Sami guides.

From Tromso some may choose to end the journey, for others we will continue on to Svalbard. One of the most remote outposts on Earth.

Our flight from Trømso will take us to 78* degrees north where we will settle into our Longyearbyen basecamp, full to the brim with quaint old explorer charm.

From here we will launch our excursions into the rugged, dark, cold and eternally beautiful wilderness of the Arctic. We will chase the northern lights, try our hands at dog sledding, with a side quest to see the seed vault and gentle hike into the tundra.

Not a tour for everyone to be certain, this is only for those who welcome the darkness, those of us who love to feel alone and surrounded by a wild and ethereal quiet that only deep snow cover can provide.

Since starting this company for introverts like me, I have been so gleefully excited to discover I am not alone in my love of winter. There seems a large overlap in the venn diagram of introverts and winter lovers. What a wonderfully peculiar bunch we all are.

Please join me, on wild and deep and quiet journey into the Dark Artic this winter.

Come See :: Come Be
Jocelyn Toffic, Founder

Planned Itinerary*

Feb 6
DAY 1 OSLO
Settle in and Relax

• This is considered a free day for early arrivals

• Welcome dinner

• Evening walk with new friends

  • There is nothing quite like an evening walk in a new place. Things look so different at night, more magical, more ethereal somehow

meals: dinner

Feb 7
DAY 2 OSLO
Get to know the City

• Breakfast together

• Norwegian Myths and Legends Private Tour

• Break

• Afternoon Tea at The Bristol

• Evening Free
  

meals: breakfast, afternoon tea

Feb 8
DAY 3 OSLO > BERGEN
An Iconic Railway Journey

• Breakfast together

• Off to the Oslo train station

• The Bergen Railway Line will take us through some of the most stunning highlights of Norway’s snow swept countryside: forested valleys, stunning fjords, and Northern Europe’s largest mountain plateau, Hardangervidda. Relax and enjoy one of the world’s most beautiful train journeys.

• Railway Lunch

• Arrival in Bergen

• Check in to Bergen Børs Hotel

• Evening Free

meals: breakfast, lunch
train journey: 7 hrs

Feb 9
DAY 4 BERGEN
Get to Know the City

• Breakfast together

• Locally guided tour of this charming West Coast fjord city

• Lunch together

• Evening Free!

meals: breakfast, lunch

Feb 10
DAY 5 EMBARK
5-Day Northern Lights Fjord Cruise‍ ‍

• Breakfast at you leisure

• Morning and afternoon free

• Evening ~ All aboard for our 5-day Coastal Fjord Auroa Cruise with Hurtigruten, favorite of the locals. Our ship is fully equipped with multiple restaurants, a sauna and outdoor hot tubs, delightful onboard educational workshops, and some outstanding shore excursions. Come see the Northern Lights from the luxurious indoor viewing deck and have a drink at the bar, or pack your knitting, you will not be the only one! Most of the fleet has a community yarn basket to take or leave a bit of yarn to keep your hands busy and your eyes on the ethereal aurora.

• Dinner together on the Boat!

• Nighttime stargazing and whispers to call down the Northern Lights
  

meals: breakfast, dinner

Feb 11
Day 6 FJORD CRUISE
Ålesund Port Call

• Breakfast at your leisure

• Ålesund is renowned for its beautiful Art Nouveau architecture and Atlanterhavsparken, one of northern Europe’s largest saltwater aquariums

• You’ll have most of the day to explore this picturesque town and its cobbled streets and quaint cofes

• Dinner at your leisure

meals: breakfast, dinner
Also stopping at: Florø • Måløy • Torvik • Hjørundfjorden • Molde

Feb 12
Day 7 FJORD CRUISE
Trondheim Port Call

This section of the voyage brings us to the Trøndelag region of Norway, marked by crumpled hills, fields dotted with farmsteads, and low-lying coastal settlements. Magical, medieval, and modern. Trondheim was founded by Viking King Olav Tryggvason in 997 A.D. and is now Norway’s third-largest city. It features a mix of historic buildings and a lively student population.

• Breakfast together

• Group exploration of the city and the gorgeous gothic masterpiece Nidaros Cathedral

• Dinner at your leisure

meals: breakfast, dinner
Also stopping at: Kristiansund • Rørvik

Feb 13
DAY 8 FJORD CRUISE
Bodø Port Call

We cross the Arctic Circle early in the morning, crossing a threshold into realms explored by very few. A place of deep mystery and a darkness that creates perfect conditions for the Aurora Borealis

• Breakfast at your leisure

• Afternoon Arctic Coastal Walk - Enjoy a guided walk along the coast in Bodø and learn how a love of nature and the outdoors is an integral part of Norwegian culture

• Rest of afternoon free aboard the ship as we sail through the majestic and surreal Lofoten Archipelago

• Dinner together

meals: breakfast, dinner
Also stopping at: Brønnøysund • Sandnessjøen • Nesna • Ørnes • Stamsund • Svolvær

Feb 14
DAY 9 DISEMBARK
Get to know the Arctic North

• Wake and breakfast at your own pace

• Afternoon disembark in Tromsø

• Check in to our Polar Hotel

• Visit to the Polar Exploration Museum

• Free time to explore

• Dinner together

• Drinks at the historic and coziest Arctic Explorer’s Pub, Ølhallen

meals: breakfast, dinner

Feb 15
Day 10 SAMI CULTURE
Feed and Pat the Reindeer

• Free Day in Tromsø!

• Maybe go see the museums, explore the coastline, or hop over to Tromsøbadet, Tromsø’s public pool complex. I always encourage everyone to experience as many public badets as possible, it’s such an integral part of Scandic culture and they are always so amazing to experience with outdoor heated pools and hot tubs and saunas galore

• Evening trek out of the city with our local Sami guide

• We will drive about 30 minutes to a Sami Reindeer camp to see these magical creatures and give them a snack under the starlit sky!

• Afterwards, we will enter a candlelit traditional Gamme (Sami Hut) to enjoy a rustic 3 course meal in camp with our Indigenous hosts

• Followed by joiking (traditional Sami songs), Sami history and stories

• On a clear night, we might be lucky enough to catch the Aurora!
  

meals: breakfast, dinner

Join the Svalbard Expedition Add On

Feb 16
DAY 1
Svalbard Expedition

• Breakfast together

• 2 hr Flight to Svalbard

• Check in at our basecamp hotel

• Free time to settle in. Maybe go to the Husky Cafe?

• Dinner at 6 at the stunning Vinterhagen Restaurant
  

meals: breakfast, dinner

A NOTE ON POLAR BEARS & OTHER SVALBARD GUIDELINES

All of our excursions are guided by highly skilled and trained professionals with all required safety equipment

Pack List

Svalbard Community and Safety Guidelines

Longyearbyen Community and Safety Guidelines

Polar Bears

The Darkness - Mørketiden

Feb 17
DAY 2
Svalbard Expedition

• Breakfast at Camp

• Light nature trekking and visit to the seed vault (outside only, it is not permitted to enter) - Level 2 most can participate

• A visit to the North Pole Expedition Museum

• 2 hr Gentle Hike - up past an old mine and into a snow cave - Level 3 - moderate physical fitness required

• Evening Aurora Hunt and Dinner At Camp Barentz

  • An amazing location right below the last operating coal mine, at the foot of the mountain Breinosa. One of the buildings at the camp, Barentz House, is a copy of the cabin that the discoverer of Svalbard, Willem Barentz, overwintered in on Novaya Zemlya in 1596. Here, far from town, there is little light pollution, and perfect conditions for hunting the northern lights. What’s more, at Camp Barentz we often see Svalbard reindeer, and even grouse and foxes if you are lucky. Our knowledgeable hosts are also prepared in the unlikely event that a polar bear should appear.

    As we arrive at the cosy wooden cabins we will be met by the evening’s host. Good drinks and a delicious homemade reindeer stew will be served, together with campfire coffee and dessert. (Vegetarian option available)

• Bus ride back home to Basecamp for zzzzzzz…
  

meals: breakfast, dinner

DAY 3 Svalbard
Traditional modes of transportation

• Breakfast

• Meet the Huskies! If you haven’t met them at the Husky cafe already. They are very sweet.

• Dog sledding, everyone will share a team, so one person can sit in the sledge and another drives. And remember to take turns, girls! Necessary clothing for the activity will be provided. This is a physical activity where our guests gets involved in handling the dogs but still considered level 2 - most can participate. Sled trip duration 1 - 1.5 hr. Total time 4 hrs. Level 3 - moderate physical fitness required

• Free Time for choose your own adventure, maybe go to the Sauna and take a dip in the Arctic Fjord??

• Farewell Svalbard Dinner
  

meals: breakfast, dinner

DAY 5 Travel Day
Svalbard >>> Oslo

• Breakfast

• Bid Farewell to Svalbard and our cozy Basecamp

• Flight to Oslo

• Check in to our Oslo Hotel just 12 minutes from the airport at the luxurious Lily Country Club

• What better way to end an Arctic expedition than pool side with a good drink and a long soak (optional add on spa treatments & massages highly recommended)

• Farewell Dinner together at the Hotel

DAY 6
Departures

• The tour officially ends at noon check out

• But our AWT Tour Leader will remain to see you off no matter when you depart

• Text us when you get home safe, and we’ll see you soon!

Norway will miss you
and so will we!

What is Included?
Norway 10-Day

• An experienced AWT Tour Leader ready to show you the adventure of a lifetime

• Private airport pick up

• Shared airport drop off

• All Accommodations

• Half Board ~ All breakfasts plus lunch or dinner or afternoon tea where specified = At least 2 meals per day

• All transportation to itinerary locations

• Local guides for all city and day tours

• Tips & gratuities for all local guides and included meals

• Afternoon Tea at The Bristol

• Private Myths & Legends Tour of Oslo

• Bergen Line Train Journey ~ Oslo to Tromsø

• Guided tour of Bergen

• 5 Day Fjord & Northern Lights Cruise ~ Bergen to Tromsø

• Trondheim port call

• Entry to Nidaros Cathedral

• Coastal ecology walk in Bodø

• Entry to Tromsø’s Polar Expedition Museum

• Sami Educational Experience at the Reindeer Camp

Svalbard Expedition

• Internal Flights - Svalbard Expedition only

  • Tromsø >>> Longyearbyen, Svalbard

  • Longyearbyen, Svalbard >>> Oslo

• Svalbard guided exploration

  • Visit the seed vault (outside only)

  • Entry to the Arctic Exlporer’s Museum

  • Hike to snow cave

• Guided Northern lights expedition out to Camp Barentz for dinner and lecture by the fire on the history of the island and Northern Lights

• Husky Sledding with your own team of these well loved and energetic cuties

• An abundance of intentional and well-timed rest and free time to explore on your own and recharge your little introvert battery

• A sweet little travel crew of independent women ~ lgbtq welcoming, introvert accommodating, neurodivergent encouraging

• Exclusive access to a group shared digital photo album

• Memories to last a lifetime and some amazing new friends!

What is not included?

• Flights - except for those flights which are part of our Itinerary to and from Svalbard

• Travelers Insurance is required - Here is a handy dandy insurance search tool

• Alcoholic beverages at meals

• Meals not listed on our itinerary

• Hotel room service, mini-bar or hotel add-ons beyond the night’s accommodation

• Tips and gratuities for housekeeping, portage, AWT tour leaders - all at your discretion

• Any required visas

• Anything else not listed on the IS INCLUDED list

AVALON WOMEN’S TRAVEL

is pleased to partner with

ONE TREE PLANTED

We take our environmental impact seriously.

To us “sustainability” is not just a trending keyword, and we are well aware of the limitations and rife corruption within the carbon offset industrial complex.
AWT pledges a full 5% of our profits to reforestation efforts all over the globe. The largest profit percentage in the travel industry.
We know the best carbon capture technology is Trees, and lots of them. Both planted and protected.
Read more about our partnership with One Tree Planted here

And read about our travel philosophy here