If you’ve ever dreamed of a trip that immerses you in nature, where towering peaks and glistening waterfalls seem to go on forever, Norway should be at the top of your list. From wild camping beside glacial lakes to hiking through snow-capped landscapes, this trip was one we won’t ever forget. Here's a rundown of my and Jack’s adventure…
Day 1: Arrival and the First Glimpse of the Mountains
We landed in Oslo early in the morning, buzzing with excitement - and a bit too much caffeine! After stocking up on supplies and making a side quest to a great outdoor store, we hit the road towards the mountains. The drive was stunning; winding through lush forests, alongside rushing rivers, and gradually opening up to dramatic mountain views. It was my first time driving on the ‘wrong’ side of the road which added to the sense of adventure… for both of us!
By the time we reached our first stop, we’d spent several hours looking out for moose and were in awe of the views. A steady evening hike led us to our first wild camping spot, on the shores of a beautiful glacial lake. It was one of those places where you forget you’re tired because you’re too busy soaking in the views around you. Not bad for day 1!
Day 2: Waking up to a Beautiful View (and Moose Tracks)
We woke up to a view of the lake bathing in the soft morning light. After a leisurely start sipping coffee in our sleeping bags, we hit the trail. Winding through thick pine forests and open meadows, we paused every few minutes to take photos of the scenery, it was unlike anything we’d seen before. The colours were so vibrant! The sun started to shine brightly through the clouds onto the lake, and when it did, it lit up in luminous turquoise. The colours in this spot are my favourites, turquoise, slate grey, brassy brown, olive green and shades of white.
Along the way, we stumbled across some fresh moose tracks - signs that these majestic mammals were nearby. The trail led us deeper into the national park, and before long, we rounded a bend and were greeted by a ferocious waterfall cascading down the granite cliff. One wrong move would mean falling into a powerful whirlpool.
We carefully walked past and came upon another sparkling lake, where Jack almost stepped on an adder! I yelled out “snake!” and we both watched as it slithered off into the grass. It’s the second time he’s been inches from stepping on one of these - the first was in Scotland a month earlier.
Back at the car, we began our drive to our next destination. Jack spotted a moose grazing quietly in a meadow, just 50 metres or so from the road. We pulled over and watched her for a while until she trotted off, leaping over a fence and disappearing into the woods.
After a pitstop in a town to resupply, we left the main highway and turned up a single-track road that would lead us to a beautiful spot to start the next leg of our adventure. We had dinner with a gorgeous view of the sun setting over the mountains and nestled into our tent.
Day 3: Snow, Reindeer, and an Epic Camp
On Day 3 we woke to a frosty camp but luckily we stayed toasty in our sleeping bags all night. We gobbled down some breakfast and got ready for a challenging 40-mile 2-day route that we’d mapped out. (Spoiler: we ended up cutting this in half as it took us much longer than planned!). The air was crisp, and with each step, the snow crunched beneath our shoes. As we left the track behind, any sign of civilisation quickly vanished and the trail stretched out before us. With snow covering every surface, we felt like we’d been plucked out of real life and dropped into a scene in an outdoors magazine.
We plodded up the climbs and glissaded the downhill slopes, until we saw a herd of reindeer moving gracefully across the snow. We immediately stopped in our tracks to take in the moment - it was like something out of a nature documentary, and neither of us wanted to move a muscle, in case of disturbing them.
After prising ourselves away from this encounter, the trail led us out of the valley and up to a mountain saddle, past a partially frozen waterfall. The snow bridges over the creek were six feet high. At one point, I couldn’t resist jumping into a crystal-clear fairy pool, even though the water was icy, it was just too beautiful to pass up. We then lay sunbathing for a while, just enjoying the relaxed pace of the trip.
Further up the climb, we met a fellow Atom Packer who was very excited about her backpack! We described the trail ahead as we were both going in the opposite direction to each other. We were warned about the 4 mile post-holing slog that we were about to begin! She was right, it took us a lot longer than expected to make it to our camp spot, and we were post-holing up to our thighs!
As the sun began to dip, we found the perfect spot to stop - a grassy plateau overlooking a partly frozen lake which had a very arctic feel to it. The sky lit up in hues of gold and cloaked the view in warm light. It was the perfect end to a long day of hiking and we felt very lucky to have the place all to ourselves.
Day 4: Hiking Back to the Car and Spotting More Reindeer
After packing up camp, we began our hike back to the car. The sun was shining strongly, and the warmth felt soothing in contrast to the cool morning air. We stopped to fill up our water and then came to our first proper river crossing. We took our shoes off and started to wade through the freezing snowmelt. I slipped over, whacked my knee on a rock and tore a hole in my new hiking trousers! Whoops.
The trail wound along the edge of the frozen lake we could see from camp, before climbing up to a pass with more jaw-dropping views of jagged peaks and snow-covered ridges. We encountered two more herds of reindeer, moseying over the snow patches and grazing peacefully. We took a long lunch and watched them wander through the valley - it was one of those moments when you can’t help but start planning to come back next year.
Once we reached the car, we continued toward the next part of our journey - leaving the national park and heading towards the fjords. Later that evening, we found a quiet valley to camp in. After navigating our way through a field of somewhat feisty cows, the night was peaceful, with rain softly tapping on the tent.
Day 5: A Wild Swim and Lots of Glaciers
The next morning, the clouds were still hanging low after the night’s rain. As the sky cleared, the vertical peaks surrounding the lake we were having breakfast at, began to emerge. Tempted by the pristine turquoise water, I couldn’t resist a swim. It was freezing, but the feeling of diving into such pure, blue water was beyond refreshing. This has to be one of the most incredible wild swims I’ve ever had.
After this, we drove to another national park known for its epic glaciers. We found a cute campsite at the base of the peaks, and after a desperately needed shower, we set off on a steep hike up one of the mountains. As the sun dipped lower, we pushed our way up, at one point making a wrong turn that resulted in a treacherous climb back down to the trail. We navigated up a scramble and finally made it to the foot of a glacier. The views that awaited us were absolutely mind-blowing. The peaks rose so sharply out of the valley, and the glaciers were enormous!
We shared dinner on our camp stove, watching the changing light cast shafts and shadows over the landscape. It was 9pm before we knew it, and we began a hasty hike/run down to make the most of the fading daylight. We made it back to the campsite at around midnight and were both exhausted, but felt like we’d had an adventure.
Day 6: The Camp to End All Camps
Day 6 was amazing. We drove out to a remote part of the fjords, up a dirt track and began hiking up a peak that Jack had stumbled across. It wasn’t one of Norway’s biggest or most well known, but he had a feeling it would offer some spectacular views. He was, of course, right.
I wasn’t full of beans after a few days of camping and lots of driving, but with some kind encouragement from Jack, we battled the headwind and lumbered up the steep bank. Once we reached the summit, the views were indeed mind blowing. Endless spiky mountains, jagged glaciers, thawing lakes, dense forests, and grassy meadows stretched out in every direction. It was like a dream. I honestly couldn’t conjure up a view this amazing in my mind if I tried.
We sat there trying to absorb it all - but it was impossible. When we were suitably freezing from the wind, we looked around and found a sheltered spot behind a large boulder to set up camp. We snuggled into our sleeping bags and enjoyed the last summit view of the trip. Jack woke up at 2am and told me to look out of the tent… when I unzipped the door I saw the sky was painted in vibrant shades of red - it doesn’t get dark this far north in June. Instead, the sky looks like a sunset even in the middle of the night.
Day 7: The Final Descent and the Journey Home
After one last night under the Norwegian sky, we began our descent back to civilisation. We were still buzzing from some of the most incredible few days we’d ever had, and we couldn’t help but reflect on all the beauty we’d seen.
This trip was exactly what we hoped for, and more. From the moment we arrived, we were immersed in the untamed environment, where every bend in the road revealed a new, breathtaking vista. From epic wild camps, to hiking across snowy passes, swimming in crystal clear waters and encountering reindeer, Norway has a place in our hearts forever. If you’re after an adventure that will stay with you long after the journey ends, Norway is for you.
