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Up Norway launches women-only Arctic expedition

A small group snowshoes along Senja's snowy coast under clear skies during a women-only Arctic expedition.
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5 min read

Up Norway has introduced a limited seven-day women-only Arctic expedition for March 25 to April 1, 2026, guided by polar explorer Randi Skaug and Norwegian Wild founder Hege Enge Dekkerhus. The inaugural program hosts just eight travelers and blends practical winter skills with mindful wellness in coastal Nordland and on the island of Senja. The itinerary begins in Bodø, continues by boat to Skaug's Naustholmen outpost, includes an overnight segment on Norway's coastal route, then transitions to Ånderdalen National Park for snow-driven activities and Scandinavian cabin life. Entry price starts at $5,381.00 per person, double.

Key Points

  • Why it matters: A rare, small-group women's empowerment trip led by renowned Arctic practitioners.
  • Travel impact: Hands-on skills, low-impact movement, and community-led moments in Nordland and Senja.
  • What's next: After the inaugural, Up Norway plans to offer private, customizable versions year-round.
  • Hosts: Randi Skaug, first Norwegian woman to summit Everest and complete the Seven Summits; Hege Enge Dekkerhus of Norwegian Wild.
  • Capacity and price: Eight guests, $5,381.00 per person, double; limited single-room add-on available.

Snapshot

Participants gather in Bodø, then travel by boat to Naustholmen in the Steigen archipelago for two days of outdoor fundamentals with Randi Skaug, including layering, fire-building, coastal safety, and brisk sauna-and-sea sessions. Mid-itinerary, the group continues on an overnight coastal voyage, a classic way to traverse fjords while watching peaks slide by. The trip concludes on Senja at Norwegian Wild, where Hege Enge Dekkerhus centers recovery and resilience through time outdoors, reflective practice, and shared cooking. Activities may include snowshoeing in birch forests, winter kayaking in sheltered coves, ice fishing, and husky outings when conditions allow. Transfers are included, with a shared finish to Tromsø.

Background

Up Norway curates low-impact, locally anchored journeys across Norway's coast and Arctic. Skaug, who owns Naustholmen Adventure Island, is celebrated as the first Norwegian woman to summit Mount Everest and to complete the Seven Summits. Dekkerhus operates Norwegian Wild beside Ånderdalen National Park on Senja, emphasizing women's health through nature-based practices. Norway's coastal route is in the midst of a broader sustainability and community-partnership shift that travelers will recognize from recent initiatives along the fjords. For context on evolving coastal concepts, see Hurtigruten's 'Open Village' Boosts Remote Norway Travel and parallel emissions work by a competitor in Havila plans 12-day climate-neutral cruise in Norway.

Latest Developments

Booking details, hosts, and route for the women-only Arctic expedition

The inaugural "Arctic Women, Blazing Trails" runs March 25 to April 1, 2026, and is capped at eight guests. Up Norway positions the week as a skills-based, community-driven journey in two chapters. Chapter one, Naustholmen, focuses on Arctic readiness and confidence under Skaug's guidance, with coastal walks, fire-cooking, and cold-tolerance routines. Chapter two, Senja, shifts to Dekkerhus's lens on resilience and recovery, emphasizing snowshoe forays, ice fishing, and simple, intentional cabin life near Ånderdalen National Park. The package includes curated stays, selected meals, guided activities, local transfers, and an overnight coastal voyage segment. Pricing starts at $5,381.00 per person based on double occupancy, with a limited private-room supplement. Following this maiden week, Up Norway indicates the trip will be customizable for private groups on a year-round basis.

Analysis

Women-only polar travel is expanding from pure adventure to a blended model that pairs skill-building with wellbeing outcomes. Up Norway's approach reflects that shift, combining a wilderness skillset with calibrated exposure to wind, cold, and snow, then balancing it with recovery practices, shared meals, and reflection. The format reduces barriers for first-time Arctic travelers by putting trust in two hosts with deep local credibility. Skaug's Naustholmen anchors the learning; Dekkerhus's Norwegian Wild contextualizes resilience next to a national park known for quiet forests and sheltered coves.

Operationally, the overnight coastal leg adds comfort and reach without losing pace, a smart design choice for late-March weather windows when sea ice, swell, and daylight can fluctuate. Capping the group at eight supports safety, minimizes footprint, and preserves the host-to-guest dynamic that makes mentorship stick. Pricing aligns with premium, skills-forward Arctic product, especially with transfers and guided inclusions. If the year-round, private-group plan materializes, expect broader date flexibility and the option to tailor activity intensity for a wider range of fitness and comfort levels.

Final Thoughts

For travelers seeking capability, companionship, and calm in winter light, this design blends Arctic fundamentals with restorative routine, then layers in an iconic coastal segment and a protected-area backdrop on Senja. The hosts' lived experience lowers risk and raises learning value, which is essential when navigating cold water, variable snow, and short-cycle weather. With only eight spaces, the inaugural departure will likely move fast, and the promised private-group model should open timing options beyond late March. For those weighing the North next year, this women-only Arctic expedition offers a focused, confidence-building path into polar travel.

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