FAQs

Norway Kayak, Hike and Camp | 3 Nights

Travel

  • Stavanger Airport

    Arrival day pick up: 3:45pm
    Departure day drop off: 5pm

  • Norwegian | London Gatwick to Stavanger

    Arrival: Norwegian DY1335 | LGW 12:15 ✈ 14:55 SVG
    Departure: Norwegian DY1336 | SVG 19:30 ✈ 20:35 LGW

    We aren’t able to collect from Stavanger city centre, if you arrive a day before you’ll need to catch a bus to the airport in time for the transfer.

  • There are numerous flights available to Stavanger Airport that you can book. However, please make sure your flight schedule aligns with our transfer times.

  • We will connect you with others on the trip via WhatsApp, so you may be able to arrange travel together. 

Accommodation

  • On night 1, we’ll stay in a traditional Norwegian hostel-style cabin overlooking the fjord in shared bunk rooms.

    On nights 2 and 3, we’ll be camping on the water’s edge.

  • On the first night you will stay in small cabin on the edge of the fjord!

    It's simple, comfortable and functional!

    There are 2 communal areas, one downstairs and one upstairs.

    There are 3 private bedrooms and 2 twin rooms.

    There are 2 bathrooms shared between 8 of you (7 guests and 1 host)

  • The tents we provide are of high quality and are specifically chosen to be suitable for this trip and compatible with the size of the drybags and other equipment we provide, so we do recommend using our tents. 

    If you would like to use your own tent, please send us an email so we can check its suitability. 

  • You can choose to share a tent or to have your own (£25 single tent upgrade)

  • We will be wild camping along the water’s edge of our route. There will be very basic toilet facilities at these camps, so it is important that you bring a toilet roll and hand sanitizer. 

    There are showers at the cabin on the first night.

Food

  • Food
    Breakfast, lunch and dinner are provided. Simple but hearty meals will be provided to fuel you for this adventure, including dinners cooked over a campfire together. You will have the chance to taste local specialities. If you have any food restrictions (vegetarian, vegan, gluten intolerance etc) please make us aware of this; we can cater for most dietary requirements.

    Water
    We recommend taking between two and three litres of water. Your guide can give you advice on where to get water each day. This is often likely to be from a fresh stream, so please bring purification tablets if you feel it necessary. It is important to carry enough water and stay hydrated!

  • We can cater for most dietary requirements and we will request information prior to your arrival. 

  • You can have a drink in the evenings, but must be sober for all activities.

    It's best to buy any alcohol you might want to drink at the airport on arrival in Norway.

  • Not at all! If you want or need it, there'll be training and guidance on pitching tents and camp craft from our highly qualified guides.

Activities

  • You don't need any kayaking experience to enjoy this adventure - our guides are great at making it enjoyable & safe for all abilities.

    You'll need a moderate level of fitness. The kayak trip includes 6 hours (up to 16 km) of relaxed paddling each day, with plenty of breaks along the way.

    We use the “Boreal Design Esperanto” double kayaks. The kayaks are stable and fast, perfect for anyone on a kayak trip in Norway.

    Gutsy Girls is all about getting out of your comfort zone, but for your safety and enjoyment, we do ask that you are realistic in your fitness level for this adventure.  

  • Absolutely! This week is great for complete beginners through to intermediate paddlers.

    You'll receive excellent coaching for your level to develop your skills and get the most out of your time on the water.

  • Absolutely! 

    You do not need to have any kayaking experience (See “Do I need previous kayaking experience?”) but we ask that you have a reasonable base level of stamina. 

    The camping equipment and route and all the details necessary for a great few nights wild camping is all planned out for you by our experienced guides, so this is a great introduction to multi day expeditions!

  • You'll be learning to kayak in stable double kayak that is suitable for beginners. It is quite unlikely to capsize!

  • We provide dry bags for you to use on this adventure!

  • You need to be able to swim 100 metres in open water.  

    You will be asked to complete and sign a waiver stating that you can swim when you attend the trip.

  • We will provide you with the following:

    Long john wetsuit
    Paddling jacket
    Sprayskirt
    Neoprene boots
    Neoprene gloves if needed
    Buoyancy aid
    Paddle & kayak

    Underneath the paddling jacket and wetsuit, we recommend wearing a swimsuit (warmer weather) or base layer of thermals / merino wool (colder weather).

    We do not recommend wearing anything of cotton, as this cools you down when wet. Make sure you have enough layers and changes of clothes to keep you warm and dry. It can be cold even in the summer.

  • We will supply neoprene boots for paddling. Bring an extra pair of wool socks to use inside the neoprene boots to keep your feet warm (these will get wet).

  • Yes. It's always nice to have a refreshing swim in the fjord! Please make sure you are aware of the risks of cold water swimming.

    You will have an opportunity to swim each morning and night from our cabin on the watersedge and some days during our breaks when kayaking.

  • Here are the things we recommend you pack for fjord swimming:

    Swimwear - two costumes may be useful
    Neoprene socks or booties
    Goggles (optional)
    Swim cap (optional)

  • You will need sturdy and warm walking boots for our hikes and for the evenings off the water - preferably waterproof in case it rains.

    You cannot do this hike in trainers.

  • You can hire a sleeping bag from our providers for this trip (£20). Please make sure you book this on our system when you book the trip.

    If you want to hire a sleeping bag after you've booked, please email us at bookings@gutsygirls.co.uk.

    You are welcome to bring your own sleeping bag. You will need a 3 season sleeping bag, which ideally packs down fairly small.

  • Yes, we will provide a self inflating mattress, with a thickness of at least 2.5 cm.

  • Yes – you can store luggage on the van which will remain at the start/end point throughout the trip, at your own risk.

  • The hike is quite steep to start, with a total altitude gain of 600m, and a total distance of 14km. The hike is suitable for anyone in normal good physical shape and with some prior hiking experience.

    You'll need hiking boots or hiking shoes with good grip and ankle support. You cannot do this hike in trainers.

    Don't worry though, there is no rush to get to the top and you can take it at your own pace.

    Gutsy Girls is all about getting out of your comfort zone, but for your safety and enjoyment, we do ask that you are realistic in your fitness level for this adventure.

  • You can stay at camp if you would rather relax for the day, but you won't be able to kayak instead.

  • Most of the areas we paddle in are quite protected and beautiful. We try to avoid head-winds and wavy conditions where possible.

    Shoulder (Apr – May & Oct)
    Temperatures in Stavanger can vary at this time of year with lows of minus 5 degrees Celsius and highs of 10 degrees Celsius. There can be some chance of rain, with May turning very green.

    High Season (Jun – Sep)
    June to Sept can be comparable to British summer, with daytime temperatures ranging from 8 – 25 degrees Celsius. There can be some rain. The weather in the mountains (and the fjords) can be quite unpredictable and the weather can change very quickly. It is necessary to be prepared for changeable weather!

  • There may be access to longdrop toilets during the days kayaking and hiking, however the majority of the time you'll likely need to go in the wild!

  • You'll need a moderate level of fitness for this adventure as we'll be paddling for approx 6 hours each day.

    You don't need to be particularly strong, as once you learn good technique you'll find paddling less demanding on your upper body and arms.

  • This active adventure offers the opportunity to explore one of Norway’s most beautiful fjords while learning how to kayak! You don’t need to be an elite athlete to join us, however, you’ll need a good fitness level to enjoy all the activities of the week.

    Activity Duration: Each day on this holiday involves 6 to 8 hours of activity.

    Kayaking Distances: We'll be covering distances of 10-15km each day by kayak.

    Kayaking Considerations: Adjusting to the kayak's seating may feel unusual at first, but it becomes more comfortable with time.

    Hiking: Our hikes range from 5-10km, with ascents up to 600m, with one long day hike of up to 8 hours. The hikes are rated as moderate.

    Scrambling: Some parts of the hike will involve scrambling, which requires using your hands and feet to navigate the terrain, including climbing a 2m metal ladder attached to rocks, though it's not in an exposed area.

    Heights: Some sections of the hike can feel exposed and lofty, so a head for heights is a must!

    Consecutive Activity: Prepare for 3 days of back-to-back activities. The trip is action-packed and can be quite demanding.  

  • Yes, you can find out packing list here.

Other

  • There may be a few opportunities to buy drinks and snacks. Norway almost entirely accepts contactless card payments.

  • Whenever possible we use female instructors and guides on our day events and trips, however we cannot always guarantee this, simply because there are fewer female instructors available!

    Our first priority is to work with the most highly experienced and considerate instructors and guides, who are patient, friendly and as passionate as we are about building women’s confidence in the outdoors.

    Simply due to the ratio of men to women in the outdoors industry, sometimes this means our guides and instructors are male.

    We keep a close eye on the feedback our guides receive from our guests as we believe that overall this is more important than their gender. We sincerely hope that as more women are introduced to adventure sports and activities, the amount of female guides and instructors in our industry will increase.

  • Yes! We encourage you to book in solo!

    Over 95% of our guests join our holidays on their own.

    Our aim is to connect you with like-minded new friends! We are a very friendly bunch, come as you are, we can’t wait to meet you!

  • The Gutsy Girls community is filled with fun, friendly and supportive women from 18-70+. We never ask your age, just that you are up for an adventure!

    As a rough guide, most Gutsy Girls guests are 24-65 years old, with around 60% in their 30s-40s. After a day learning to surf, mountain biking over the hills, hiking to peaks for incredible views or exploring remote locations by paddleboard, age becomes irrelevant as we are all connected by our experiences.

  • There is no upper age limit for our adventures - we have women up to 70 years old join us.