Join us on a magical journey into the heart of the Norwegian winter!
Do you want to slow down, reconnect with nature, and learn essential outdoor skills?
In our winter wilderness courses, we gradually build knowledge and hands-on skills, leading up to a mini expedition where we put everything into practice. We’ll venture off the plowed tracks, cooking over an open fire and sleeping under the stars or beneath a tarp – experiencing what it means to be self-sufficient in the winter wilderness.
TIMELESS ⊛ OFFLINE ⊛ COMMUNAL ⊛ NATURE RESPECTING ⊛ AUTHENTIC ⊛ PERSONAL LEADERSHIP
★★★★★
“For anyone who seeks to experience the Norwegian winter in its best authentic way this trip is for you. Manuel, Marie & Morten set an amazing group experience full of learnings and overcoming challenges, but also lots of fun and awesome moments in the wild. It will be certainly a trip you won’t forget.”
Thomas
Winter Wilderness Course 2023
Free information call:
We invite you to a 15min info call where you can get to know us and ask questions.
The Practicalities & Details
What you’ll learn
Learning in our courses is hands-on, practical, and rooted in real situations. Mornings often begin with short lectures, which we then bring to life outdoors through direct experience. Each day includes guided sharing and reflection rounds, where we explore questions, challenges, and insights together. We will have silent mornings until breakfast.
We might adapt the program to the conditions of nature, and the rhythm, ability and motivation of the group. In some snow-conditions and situations where skiing is very challenging we might be switching to snow-shoes.
Itinerary of the 8-Day* Mid-Winter Course
* The 6 Day Spring-Winter Course has a more condensed build up. It includes only simple snow shelters & one outside night. And there is no ice-fishing.
Questions and Answers on the Details
Price, Registration, Payment, Cancellation
- Pricing
Early bird price until the 15th of November (mid-winter) and 15th December 2025 (spring-winter):
1250€ for the 2026 8-day mid-winter course
995€ for the 2026 6-day spring winter course
The regular rates are: 1350€ (mid-winter) and 1150€ (spring winter).
All prices stated include the MVA tax where applicable (VAT/ BTW/ MvSt).
Included is full board, accommodation, ski-rental and more, see the full list above.
Not included is travel to and from, personal equipment and optional stuff, see full list above. - Course Registration
Once we received your registration, we will send you more information (Documents on Arrival, Travel, Gear/ Equipment) and the Invoice, along with our Liability waiver that we will ask you to sign.
Further, we will ask you for additional information in a questionnaire on health/ food preferences/ emergency contact/ allergies/ rental options/ sizes (for skis), sauna option and contact sharing consent for travel coordination. - Payment
We offer payment by bank transfer to our EUR account in Belgium or NOK account in Norway, along with card-payments, ideal and some other options shown at the check-out. - Cancellation and Course Confirmation
The course will be confirmed when at least 4 participants are signed up or latest 6 weeks before the course starts. Should we cancel the course due to a lack of participants, you will get a full refund. For the detailed cancellation terms (what happens if you cancel your participation), see our general terms and conditions. We recommend you to take out a cancellation/ travel insurance. So far, we never had to cancel a course due to the weather or lack of participants.
Course Prerequisites and Requirements
- Good physical condition is necessary. We will be skiing/snowshoeing off-trail, on uneven terrain, and physical work is part of every day, this helps us to stay warm too. You will be required to carry your own luggage on the (multi day) trip, and when skiing in and out to the basecamp.
How fit do I need to be?
If you can hike 10km on small unpaved paths carrying 12-15kg of luggage (=20% of body weight) and going at least 400m up and 400m down, you have the fitness needed for coming on this trip. If you have doubts, previous injuries, etc., please reach out to us so we can assess together.
It helps if you have stood on skis before, but it is not a requirement.
We wont be skiing classical down hill (steep down hills) but much more use the skis to hike/ walk the terrain (without skis you cant go anywhere as you sink hip deep into the snow). The best way to prepare for Nordic Skiing is to try some Cross-Country Skiing, it is similar but also different (The skis are also heel open, but with cross country skiing you ski on groomed tracks and in our courses we go through the deep snow off tracks and with wider skis that provide more lift).
Safety, Emergency & Medical Preparedness
To conduct our courses safely, we implement multiple practices that mitigate risks while preserving the wilderness, adventure, and fun aspects of our trips.
1. Experienced Leadership
- Course leaders have multi-year training in wilderness guiding, trips, and skills.
- Course assistants typically have local experience and are pursuing multi-year education in relevant fields.
- Leaders are Wilderness First Responders with regular recertification (every 2–3 years minimum), while assistants are certified in wilderness first aid.
2. Safety Planning
- We prepare a comprehensive safety plan for each course. Winter expedition plans can be around 10 A4 pages, detailing routes, activities, risks, risk mitigation, environmental hazards, weather information, equipment lists, emergency contacts, evacuation plans, and group rules. The plan is carried on all trips, and participants know where to access it if needed.
- Our course locations are near the edge of wilderness areas, balancing the expedition experience with the possibility of swift evacuation if necessary.
3. Local Knowledge & Weather Monitoring
- We have extensive knowledge of the areas we work in and maintain a strong local support network.
- Leaders monitor weather forecasts closely and adjust the program to ensure trips remain safe, educational, and fun. Lessons are often adapted to current conditions (e.g., strong winds provide a practical opportunity to teach sheltering techniques).
4. Avalanche Awareness
- Our courses do not focus on avalanche terrain. Leaders have knowledge and experience with avalanches, but we avoid avalanche-prone areas entirely. Participants do not need to carry avalanche transponders. We do, however, teach how to identify avalanche-prone terrain and plan safe routes.
5. Participant Screening & Briefings
- Participants complete an intake form/questionnaire and take part in an info call before the course to review equipment and safety.
- Each course begins with a safety briefing. If there are doubts about a participant’s fitness or suitability, we ask additional questions to match them with an appropriate experience.
- For fitness requirements, see the “Tap” section above.
6. Emergency Preparedness & Response
- We carry cell phones, emergency transponders, locator beacons, and radios where relevant.
- Typical medical emergency response includes: stabilising patients, setting up emergency shelter, insulating from cold, signalling for help, activating emergency beacons, and evacuating to the nearest cabin if needed.
- Our locations are typically at least 2 hours by car from the nearest hospital. Helicopter transport can be faster in high-priority cases, but leaders are trained to manage emergencies for extended periods if necessary.
7. Equipment & Safety Gear
- General winter safety equipment carried on trips includes: fire-lighting equipment, spare clothing, sleeping mats and bags, tarp/shelter/tent, hot water in thermos, high-energy food, knife, saw, repair kit, first aid kit, shovels, throw ropes, ice self-rescue equipment, phones, transponders, and handheld radios.
- When crossing frozen water, we use throw ropes, ice self-rescue devices, maintain distance between participants, and carry spare clothing and warm water.
8. Group Size & Ratios
- We work with small groups (up to 12 participants) with a typical leader/assistant-to-participant ratio of 1:5.
9. Insurance & Liability
- Wilderness Vision AS holds liability insurance. Participants must have valid medical insurance and are encouraged to have travel and cancellation insurance.
- Search, rescue, and evacuation in Norway are state-funded and free for locals and tourists.
- Participants sign a release of liability waiver and general terms and conditions. These documents explain risks, responsibilities, and the importance of personal preparedness and teamwork.
10. Adapting to Conditions
- Courses may be adjusted, postponed, or rarely canceled in extreme weather to ensure safety. Backup plans are in place. This has not happened so far.
- Over the past five years, no critical incidents threatening life have occurred. Minor adjustments have included weather-based program changes, evacuating participants for minor medical issues, and providing spare clothing for unprepared participants.
How you will sleep & the standard of the basecamp cabin
- The cabin where we will set up our base camp is beautiful and simple, without running water or electricity. Wood stoves and an open fire provide warmth and light. There are no individual rooms, and the dry toilet is outside the hut (20 meters) and non-heated. We improvise a small washing station in a shed where you can take some heated water if you wish. In the basecamp cabin, we melt the snow and cook the food both on the wood stoves and a gas kitchen.
- Everyone sleeps in the same room, without much privacy and possibly close together. For those who wish more own space, there is a tent setup outside and a small loft above the kitchen.The course leaders have their own small cabin next to the main cabin.
- When we are on the multi day trip, or when we sleep outside you are usually sharing either a tarp, a windshelter or a wind-blocker with 2-3 others. In very harsh weather we might bring a tent for the whole group.
- It’s good to bring a small towel, earplugs and a sleeping mask (buff), as well as a head-lamp with red light to manage those days close together well! Additionally we recommend some warm hut shoes for the basecamp cabin.
- There is very limited phone coverage and there are no electrical outlets anywhere during the course.
Travel & how to get to the meeting point
- The meeting point is in Vågåmo 2680 (Vågå municipality), Norway at the rutebilstasjon bus stop, 13hrs
(The courses end on the last day at 12:15hrs in Vågåmo centrum) - Vågå/ Vågåmo is located half way between Oslo and Trondheim. It takes about 4 hours from the Airport to get to the meeting point. There are limited connections, especially on weekends (entur / vy for timetables and tickets)
- Most participants fly to Olso Gardermoen Airport and take the train F6 towards Trondheim and change to a bus in Otta (30m from Vågå) or bus in Lillehammer (2hrs from Vågå).
- A good option is to take a late afternoon/ early evening flight to Oslo and then take the 2 hours train ride to Lillehammer and spend the night there in a affordable hostel/ hotel at the train station before continuing the journey the next day onwards (2 more hours).
- There is a night-bus from the Airport straight to Vågåmo (ca. 11PM-3.30AM)and from Vågåmo to the Airport (ca. 1:30AM-6AM) and also from Vågåmo to the Airport.
- More detailed info will follow once you sign up
On the food, Diets and Menu
- Menu & Meals & Cooking
We provide ingredients and recipes for the all meals during the course. The cooking/ preparing is done by participants with our instructions upfront and assistance. (Everyone gets to cook, and never alone.)
A typical menu day could look like:
Breakfast: Oats with nuts, seeds and fruit toppings
Lunch: Home-baked sourdough bread with spreads, cheese, local salami, pickles, peanut butter
Dinner: Vegetable stew with dear or moose meat (or tofu) with rice - Food preferences and dietary requirements
Some meals we provide contain fish and meat. However, it is possible to eat vegetarian or even vegan (or/ and gluten free), please let us know well in advance and we make sure you are well taken care of.
In a questionnaire we send you upfront, we will also ask you about requirements and preferences around food. Please tell us any food allergies there too. - Local, Organic and Wild Foods
Where possible we buy local, organic ingredients. We also source and collect some wild foods such as game, fish, berries, herbs and plants that we conserve/ preserve and integrate in our menus. - First and Last Meal & Snacks
The first meal is Dinner on day one and the last one is usually breakfast (long course) or lunch (short course).
We ask everyone to bring their own snacks for in between.
Being out in the winter asks for much more calories than you are usually eating, and its good to prepare for that with high-energy snacks that can bridge the time between meals.
Due to the nature of our courses, meals might be at different times every day although we try to keep a routine in eating times. It’s good to always have some snacks on you, especially on (day)-trips.
What to Bring & Packing List
- You can download a typical packing list for winter (with tips) here.(PDF)
Upon registration, you will receive this also in your email. Always rely on the version we send by email as there might be slight variations depending on the course, season, length and we frequently work in updates. - You will likely need to invest in some clothing and equipment. But this does not need to new and expensive! The most important items are good winter boots (hiking shoes are generally not enough), warm sleeping bag(s), wollen base-layer clothing, as well as a windproof jacket/anorak and good gloves. One tip: There is a lot of really good (used and new) winter equipment available in Norway for prices that are often lower than what you would pay elsewhere in Europe. The reason for this is that Norwegians are buying a lot of (new) gear, are very outdoorsy and that the type of equipment and clothing needed is widely used here but not else where in (central/ southern) Europe.
- We rent out some equipment such as sleeping bags, bivy bags, insulate pads, reindeer hides, anoraks and more. You will get more information upon registration
.
Group Living & Phone Free Time
- In this course, we will all pitch in together, whether it’s cooking, transporting equipment, keeping watch over the fire, collecting wood, or melting snow. Especially in winter, it’s important that we work together as a team, not least because it keeps us all warm.
Of course, there will also be time to rest and enjoy the enchanting landscape. - You should be willing to actively contribute to daily tasks in the hut and camp. You should also be ready to face challenges together with your group and support each other.
- We invite you to a media- and clock-free time. We want to do without phones during these days together, even though they will be with us in our luggage for safety reasons. Course leaders carry phones and satellite emergency transmitter, and take care of photography.
- On the first day everyone will be invited to seal their phones and watches turned off in seal bags.
Time until the next course starts:
0Months0Days
What is included / What is extra
Pre-Course
✓ Preparation video call with group upfront
✓ Detailed packing & gear list, tips & tricks
✓ Document on arrival & tips on the area
✓ Availability for questions on gear & arrival
During the Course & Multi-Day Trip
✓ Full board: breakfast, lunch, dinner
✓ Local & organic food where possible
✓ 5 days stay in a cozy simple log cabin
✓ Ski, staves rental (& pulka, snowshoes)
✓ Group gear; tarps, axes, cooking gear, etc
✓ Safety gear; ice-pigs, transponder, etc.
✓ Licenses and permits, e.g. wood
✓ 8/ 12 (short/ long course) learning modules
✓ Two experienced nature mentors/ leaders
After the Course
✓ We send you the pictures/ videos we took
What is not included/ extra:
✗ Travel to and from Vågå, Norway
✗ Individual gear, e.g. sleeping bag, winter boots
✗ Personal insurance, e.g. health, cancellation, etc.
✗ Special rental options, e.g. reindeer hide
✗ Extra option after course: Sauna on frozen lake
Note: We rent out gear such as sleeping bags, sleeping mats, anoraks, bivy bags, gaiters and more. Take contact.
Impressions & Highlights of Previous Courses
Course Location & Area
“I joined the course because I have always wanted to experience skiing through a wild winter environment and to camp and sleep under the stars. Brilliant course overall which delivers all and more than it promises.”
Francis
Mid-Winter Wilderness Course 2025
“As a Norwegian with long experience in outdoor living, I do really recommend this company for their wilderness courses. They have a high standard on their lectures, mixed with good support and much friendly atmosphere. And the food was also great, everything carefully prepared for us. I look forward to the next course!”
Kari Anna
Mid-Winter Wilderness Course 2025
Meet the Main Course Leaders
Marie Eckart
Guide in Natural Outdoor Life, Crafts & Leadership
Marie has a degree in Natural outdoor living, craft and leadership and has additional training in primitive survival skills all year round. Additionally she is further a NOLS Wilderness First Responder. Marie has been hosting winter courses in Scandinavia since 2019.
She loves to create things herself such as wooden skis, canoes, her winter sleeping bags and winter tent. She also has been working for a traditional leather tannery sewing high end outdoor clothing from reindeer leather.
She lives in Norway in a small log cabin and is also a mother of a child.
Marie speaks German, English, Swedish, Norwegian and Spanish.
Manuel Sturm
Guide in Natural Outdoor Life, Crafts & Leadership
Manuel has a degree in Natural Outdoor Living, Crafts and Leadership and has done additional courses in primitive outdoor living. He is also a NOLS Wilderness First Responder.
During his studies, Manuel has been living outside for two years, one year in a Tipi tent on an island in a lake, and the other year in a treehouse.
Manuel has been hosting winter courses and been guiding groups in winter since 2019 in Scandinavia. He is the founder of wildernessvision.no and lives in Norway in a small log cabin with his family.
Manuel speaks German, English, Dutch, Swedish and Norwegian.
Booking Options
Reserve with a deposit of 250 EUR — the remaining amount is due 6 weeks before
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