Description »
Get ready to discover Adventure Island!
"Adventure Island" is a name the locals give to Senja, the second largest island in Norway, beautifully located in the archipelago off Norway's north-west coast.
The nickname is well-deserved - compact yet extremely varied, Senja embodies the diverse scenic beauty of Norway with majestic mountains, fantasy-film coastline, rivers rushing through sweeping valleys, and lush pine forests.
On Senja, beautiful and varied landscapes are everywhere, from wild barren summits to welcoming river valleys and forest. Photo: AWG.
Seven days of wonderful hiking and wild camping
Hiking and Wild Camping Across Senja takes you on a north-south traverse through this stunning landscape. Led by experienced guide, you will spend 7 days/6 nights hiking and wild camping your way across the island.
Arriving in Finnsnes, just across from Senja on the mainland, you travel by public bus to the north of the island to begin your tour. Over the next week, you will be hiking through varied terrain, typically covering 10-20km each day with a total distance of around 70-80km over the course of the week.
You will make camp each evening at a suitable spot to relax and absorb the impressions of the day. Everyone assists with tasks around camp such as cooking, washing up, collecting water, etc.
The tour follows an established, but little-used, hiking trail with a number of variations possible. Photo: AWG.
You will for the most part be following a hiking trail which traverses the island north-to-south and takes you through some of the most spectacular landscapes that Senja island has to offer. There is also flexibility to include detours and variations such as some challenging mountain passes along the way, if appropriate depending on weather conditions and the ability of the group.
Your tour passes through the beautiful Ånderdalen National Park to end in the south-west of the island, at Olaheimen, from where you take the public bus together back to Finnsnes for onward travel.
Your home on your back
During the week, you will need to carry everything you need with you in your backpack, including camping equipment, provisions and personal clothing. Communal equipment will be divided between partipants to share the load at the start of the tour. You should count on a pack weight of around 15-20kg.
Tent and cooking equipment/eating utensils are provided. Participants should bring own sleeping bag/mat/liner.
A provisions pack for the tour, which includes provisions for breakfast, lunch and dinner each day, is also provided but paid locally on arrival.
You'll be carrying everything you need with you for the tour, including camping equipment and food. Photo: AWG.
Camp beneath the Northern Lights
Did you know that you don't need to wait until winter to see the Northern Lights? As soon as the night skies are dark enough, which is from early September onwards in the far north, displays can be seen, and autumn is actually a wonderful time to watch for the Aurora. You can stay up late watching the skies (or peek out of your tent for a quick check) without wrapping up in full winter gear, and the glow of the lights reflecting in a lake or bathing the autumn colours of the mountains has its own special magic.
September is a wonderful time for hiking on Senja - the summer is at an end and the rich colours of autumn are everywhere. Temperatures are ideal for hiking, but the nights can be chilly and you may wake up with a frost on your tent!
Subject to availability, tours can also be offered during the high summer period of July and August, when the very long hours of daylight offer a very special atmosphere for hiking and camping in this beautiful landscape.
Autumn comes early in the far north, and the beginning of September sees the mountains ablaze with autumn shades. Photo: AWG.
Time to shoulder your pack and head for the north
Hiking and Wild Camping Across Senja is the ideal hiking tour for those with previous experience of multi-day hiking with a backpack and with a taste for adventure. Discover this beautiful "Adventure Island" and return home with a lifetime of memories!
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Itinerary »
Daily itinerary and exact route taken will vary depending on weather conditions and the ability of the group. Total distance covered over the week will typically be 70-80km.
Day 1: Arrival and hiking
You must plan your journey to arrive in Finnsnes latest 15.00. You may wish to overnight in Finnsnes the night before.
The meeting point is at Finnsnes, just across the water from Senja on the mainland. From here, you will take a public bus (Senja is connected to the mainland by bridge) to the northern part of the island.
On arrival at the start point, you wil organise your equipment, dividing the communal items such as tents, stoves and provisions equally among the group.
When ready, you set off for your adventure! You will hike just a short distance today, but the tour begins with a steep uphill climb. At the top, you'll find a wonderful camping spot with beautiful views, where you make camp together for your first night on the island. It will probably be a late dinner by the time you have pitched the tents, so have a good lunch and bring some snacks with you!
Days 2-6: Hiking across Senja
For the remainder of the week, you will be hiking through the dramatic and varied landscapes of Senja island, camping wild each night at a suitable spot.
The route and daily itinerary will vary depending on weather conditions and the energy and experience of the group. Typical distance 10-20km per day.
You will be hiking through valleys, wetland areas, forests and across mountain plateaus. You may also take some more challenging routes over mountain passes.
The highest point of the tour will be Istind, from where you enter Ånderdalen National Park, with its lush pine forests.
Day 7: Hiking and departure
Your last day of hiking brings you to the end point near Olaheimen on Senja's south west peninsula. From here you take a public bus back to Finnsnes. You will arrive in Finnsnes around 17.00. If travelling via Tromsø, you can take the evening ferry back. If travelling via Bardufoss, you will need to overnight in Finnsnes before onward travel.
Dates & Prices»
Dates 2024
This tour is offered as a private experience on dates by arrangement between July and September for groups of 4-8 persons.
September can be one of the most suitable periods for hiking on Senja, but tours in July and August may also be possible. Please contact us to discuss your requirements.
Tours for groups smaller than 4 persons may also be possible at additional cost.
Prices 2024
| Standard Prices | |
|---|---|
| Per person | GBP |
| Provisions package (pay locally)* | NOK |
*Provisions: Food is not included in the basic tour price, but a provisions package is provided and paid locally (card payment is accepted). This will have provisions for breakfast, lunch and dinner (from dinner Day 1 to lunch Day 7). Participants should bring additional energy snacks, etc, for between meals. Provisions will be largely composed of ingredients dried by your guide (vegetables, beans, meat accompanied by pasta, rice, couscous, etc). Some ready-made expedition provisions may also be used. Breakfast will typically be porridge with milk powder and some extras, and for lunch when hiking you will typically have bread, noodles, couscous, etc. Everyone participates in preparation of meals and washing up. Please let us know any dietary requirements in advance.
What's Included »
Included
- Camping equipment: Tent (shared one per two persons - guests will share tent with other same gender participant or have solo tent if odd-numbered group), cooking stove and fuel, cooking and eating utensils. Tents are typically 2-person Fjällräven or Helsport, weight 2-2.5kg. NB: Sleeping bag, sleeping mat and provisions are not included (provisions are provided but paid locally - see under "Prices").
- Activities: 7 days' hiking as per itinerary.
- Guide: Services of experienced guide. The guide will carry emergency safety and communication equipment (normally InReach communicator and First Aid kit).
Not Included
- Travel: We do not arrange flights or domestic travel, but are happy to advise on suitable connections and assist you with any aspect of planning your journey. See under "Getting There" for general travel information.
- Food. A provisions pack is paid for locally on arrival (see under "Prices") and will provide provisions for breakfast, lunch and dinner (from dinner Day 1 to lunch Day 7). Participants should also bring own snacks, etc, for additional energy between meals. Please advise in advance if you have any special dietary requirements.
- Local travel on Senja. Participants will need to cover the cost for public bus from Finnsnes to the start point on Day 1 and from the end point to Finnsnes on Day 7 (typically total around 250 NOK/person, about £23). Payment can be made by card.
Good To Know »
Required
Health requirements/experience:
Suitable for adults (min. age 18 or min. 16 if travelling with an adult) with general good level of health, fitness and stamina who are used to multi-day hiking with a reasonably heavy backpack (typically 15-20kg/person) on mixed terrain for daily distances of up to 20km. Total distance covered over the week will be around 70-80km.
The tour takes place in a remote area, with terrain including steep ascents/descents, rocky plateaus, wetland areas and forest. The level of challenge can also vary depending on the route taken - when conditions are suitable and if appropriate for the group, some more challenging routes over mountain passes may also be included during the week.
You will be camping wild on all nights during the tour. Participants should have previous experience of camping and be used to living in close proximity with others.
What makes this "Medium-Hard"?
The tour is an extended hike in a remote environment, with wild camping also adding to the level of challenge. You will be carrying all equipment with you for the full duration of the tour, so backpacks will be reasonably heavy.
Daily distances are between 10-20km. However, the itinerary is also flexible to a certain extent and there are some options to vary the route and daily distances to increase/decrease overall level of challenge as appropriate.
NB: Perception of difficulty is very subjective. What is hard to one person may be easy for another and vice versa, depending on factors including level of fitness, age and previous experience. Weather conditions/temperatures can also dramatically affect the actual level of challenge encountered.
Equipment/clothes needed:
For information on any equipment and/or clothing included as standard for this experience, please see under "What's Included".
A detailed recommended packing list for personal items to bring will be sent with your booking documentation.
NB: We advise you not to buy equipment or clothes for your trip or to incur other non-refundable expenses such as flights until you have received confirmation of your booking from us in writing. Note of course that the most appropriate clothing to use as well as the level of challenge experienced during any outdoor activity may vary significantly depending on factors such as the time of year and the particular weather/temperature conditions during your trip.
Preparing for your trip:
For further reading, we also have a number of general information articles to get you ready for your trip, covering a wide variety of topics from what to do on a city break before/after your tour, advice on packing, eyewear for winter and considerations for female travellers.
Minimum number:
This tour is offered as a private experience for groups of 4-8 persons. Groups smaller than 4 persons may also be possible at additional charge. Please contact us to discuss your requirements.
Groups
Max. group size is normally 8 participants. Please contact us to discuss your requirements.
Eco Info
This provider has a detailed written environmental policy.
Getting There »
Getting There
See below for a summary of travel options. To learn more about how to travel to this experience, please get in touch!
Detailed information on travel will be provided in response to your enquiry. We are happy to advise on suitable connections and assist you with any aspect of planning your journey.
NB: Please ensure that you make a booking with us first and wait for confirmation that your spaces are reserved before making any travel arrangements.
Travel Summary:
By Air:
Fly to Oslo for domestic flight to Bardufoss (2 hours) and bus to Finnsnes (55 mins), or fly to Tromsø for bus (2.5 hours) or fast ferry (75 mins) to Finnsnes.
Did You Know...?
- For alternative hiking and wild camping adventures, we also offer Northern Lights Hiking in Three Countries and Self-guided Hiking and Packrafting in Tiveden.
Further Reading
Where Is It...?
