Navigation
Map and compass
You learn to read the map and choose your route through terrain without trails.
The trip
Setesdal: easy to reach, with a remote feeling.
A private seven-day trip, usually with five days in the wilderness of southern Norway. Vast forests, rivers, lakes, mountains and high plateaus, about an hour and a half from Kristiansand.
The trip at a glance
- Season
- May to October
- Level
- Beginner to experienced
- Duration
- Usually five days in the wilderness, within a seven-day trip
- Getting there
- About an hour and a half from Kristiansand
Why the wilderness
Out here, you’re really away.
No traffic. No busy trails. No village waiting at the end of the day. Just you, the landscape and what you carry.
You’re not on your own, but you are far away from everyday life. That’s what makes the wilderness different from a normal hiking trip or a relaxing holiday. After a few days, the silence starts to feel normal and everything back home feels a little further away.
A day out there
No two days are the same. The rhythm is simple.
There’s no alarm. We get up, have breakfast, pack the tents and gear, and look at the map for our next place to camp. Where we go that day depends on the weather, the terrain and how everyone is feeling.
We navigate with map and compass and make our way through forest, over rock and alongside streams and lakes. We may see wildlife along the way.
Well before dark, we start looking for a place to spend the night. We pitch the tents, gather wood, fish, make a fire and boil water.
Then there’s time to relax, talk or just sit by the fire. Tired in a good way, you get into your sleeping bag. Tomorrow we do it all again somewhere else.
What you do
You do as much as possible yourself.
Jay explains and helps where needed. Your days are filled with navigating, making camp, finding water, lighting fires, fishing and cooking.
Camp
A place for the night
Choosing a good spot, pitching your tent properly and dealing with rain and wind.
Fire and food
Fire, fish and water
Making fire, fishing for trout, boiling water and cooking together.
Route and difficulty
Tailored to you. Steered by the weather.
On the preparation day in the Netherlands, Jay sees how you handle yourself outdoors and sets the level of the trip accordingly. The route isn’t fixed: in Setesdal it’s shaped by the weather, the terrain and the group’s energy.
Jay sets out with a clear plan, plus alternatives in case the weather or conditions change.
Good to know
The questions everyone asks.
The short answers are here; the full ones are in the FAQ.
What if I have to cancel?
The 30% deposit is non-refundable. The rest is refunded in full up to 90 days before departure, and on a sliding scale after that.
What insurance do I need?
You arrange adequate travel and cancellation insurance yourself.
How fit do I need to be?
You don’t need to be a seasoned outdoor type. Decent basic fitness is enough, and the trip is set to your level.
What happens in bad weather?
The route follows the weather. Jay adjusts the route and plan as you go, and if conditions are unsafe the trip can be rescheduled.
Not ready yet?
The kit list for five days in the wilderness.
What to pack, what you can borrow and why wool beats cotton. Sent to your inbox as a printable checklist, so you can decide in your own time whether this is for you.
Contact
Plan your trip with Jay.
Tell us how many people you want to travel with, when, and what kind of trip you are looking for.