Women only kayaking and hiking weekend in Norway
Beginner kayaking holiday - no previous experience required
Hike to the peaks of mountains to take in the incredible views of the fjord
Connect with nature in this wild and beautiful location
Meet new friends, adventures created for solo travellers
The Adventure
Join Gutsy Girls for our women-only Hike and Kayaking Weekend Adventure on the Fjords of Norway. Over 4 days and 3 nights we’ll be exploring Lysefjord by kayak, we’ll hike beautiful mountain trails and camp on the water's edge in wild and remote locations.
This kayaking weekend is perfect for beginners, no previous experience is required. Led by passionate and qualified instructors, you’ll learn paddling skills and build your confidence over the 2 days of kayaking.
Never camped before? No problem, we provide a tent and sleeping mat and we’ll help you pitch your tent and share the joys of camping with new friends.
location
Lysefjord, at 42 km long, is Norway's largest fjord, with the surrounding mountains reaching over 1000m high. With awe-inspiring waterfalls, mountain goats and incredible hiking trails, it’s the perfect place for a long weekend adventure, reconnecting with nature and learning new skills.
Kayaking
For two days of this adventure, we’ll be kayaking on Lysefjord. There’s no need for any previous kayaking experience, we’ll be paddling in stable kayaks and our instructors will build your paddling skills and confidence while we explore this beautiful location.
We’ll paddle for around six hours each day at a relaxed pace with plenty of breaks to take in the beautiful surroundings.
HIKING
We’ll hike through lush forests that follow the edge of the fjord, then climbing up several hundred metres above sea level reaching the peaks of Skyjeruvet and Fantahålå before our final viewpoint Fantapytten, Lysefjord’s “infinity pool” taking a dip in it is completely optional!
It’s a full-day hike covering 9km!
Scrambling
For sections on our long day hike you’ll do some basic scrambling.
Scrambling is a method of ascending rocky faces and ridges that is a blend of hiking and climbing, typically requiring the use of both hands and feet. It's less technical than climbing but more challenging than hiking, often involving navigating steep, rocky sections where ropes aren't usually necessary.
There is a ladder to climb on this adventure.
What to Expect
This active adventure offers the opportunity to explore one of Norway’s most beautiful fjords while learning how to kayak.
We have rated this adventure as moderate. 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 weekend.
Activity Duration: Each day on this holiday involves 6 to 8 hours of activity.
Kayaking Distances: We'll be covering distances of 14-18km each day in double kayaks.
Kayaking Considerations: Adjusting to the kayak's seating may feel unusual at first, but it becomes more comfortable with time.
Hiking: We will have 9km with ascents up to 600m - This is a full-day hike taking up to 8 hours (with breaks)
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 week is action-packed and can be quite demanding.
Weather Considerations: While we hope for sunny days, the weather in the Fjords can change rapidly. Come prepared with appropriate clothing for hiking in various weather conditions, including rain.
Camping: The first night is in a very simple, hostel style cabin, and after that you'll have 2 nights in small, lightweight 1 or 2 man tents. Sleeping arrangements on this trip aren't luxurious!
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.
You can choose to have your own tent for a supplement or share to lighten the load of your kayak.
We provide a sleeping mat, you can also hire a sleeping bag from us!
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.
Why Gutsy Girls?
We create super fun, welcoming and supportive spaces for our guests to try new sports, challenge themselves with new wild experiences and connect you with likeminded new friends.
A Gutsy Girls host will join you on this adventure, along with an excellent kayaking guide to ensure you have the best possible experience!
THE PLAN
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Our guides will meet us at Stavanger Airport and transfer us to a lovely cabin overlooking Hølefjorden for our first night.
We’ll get to know each other over a welcome dinner prepared by our guides and we'll have a briefing on what to expect for the next few days of adventure!
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We’ll start our day with a hearty breakfast and coffee overlooking the water, followed by packing our belongings into dry bags and loading up our kayaks for two nights in the wild.
Our instructors will give us a lesson before we get on the water. We’ll spend the morning learning paddling techniques as we explore the fjord.
We’ll stop for a lunch on the water's edge before continuing on to our wild camping spot for the night.
Together we’ll set up camp, giving each other a hand with pitching tents.
There’s a chance for a wild swim and walk, before enjoying dinner and spending the rest of the evening around the campfire, enjoying the remote location
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Sunrise wild swim for the early risers or maybe a coffee on the watersedge!
Today we’ll hike! At first, our trail will run close to the fjord, eventually climbing to several hundred metres above sea level where the trail winds along mountain cliffs and gorges, including the peaks of Skjerajuvet and Fantahålå – through stunning landscapes and countless panoramic viewpoints. Eventually we’ll find the legendary Fantapytten – Lysefjord’s own “infinity pool”.
Returning to our camp spot, we’ll enjoy a hearty dinner around the campfire.
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Starting the day with breakfast, we’ll pack up our camp and load up our kayaks for another day of kayaking on the fjord. On today’s route, we’ll see beautiful waterfalls, an abundance of wildlife and we’ll paddle below Pulpit Rock, where we hiked the previous day.
We’ll have lunch on the water and paddle back to our starting point to be dropped back to Stavanger airport.
PRICE £730
+ £25 for an individual tent
Dates
Mon 10 June - Thu 13 June
Mon 15 July - Thu 18 July
Mon 26 Aug - Thu 29 August
Mon 9 Sep - Thu 12 September ⚡️ 50% FULL
What’s Included
2 days kayaking with a qualified guide
1 day guided hike
Small and personal group experience
Kayak equipment and safety kit
Tent and sleeping mat
3 breakfasts, 3 lunches and 2 dinners
Gutsy Girls host
Gutsy Girls goody bag
Airport transport for recommended flight times.
WHAT’S NOT INCLUDED
Flights
Personal travel insurance
Personal gear
Camping pillow
Sleeping bag (see packing list) - Available to hire for £20.
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This active adventure offers the opportunity to explore one of Norway’s most beautiful fjords while learning how to kayak!
We have rated this trip as moderate. 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 trip.
Activity Duration: Each day on this holiday involves 6 to 8 hours of activity.
Kayaking Distances: We'll be covering distances of 14-18km each day in double kayaks.
Kayaking Considerations: Adjusting to the kayak's seating may feel unusual at first, but it becomes more comfortable with time.
Hiking: We will have 9km with ascents up to 600m - This is a full day hike taking up to 8 hours (with breaks)
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 week is action-packed and can be quite demanding.
Weather Considerations: While we hope for sunny days, the weather in the Fjords can change rapidly. Come prepared with appropriate clothing for hiking in various weather conditions, including rain.
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The Gutsy Girls community is filled with bold and badass women from 18-70+ years old, we never ask your age, just that you are up for an adventure!
As a rough guide, most Gutsy Girls guests are 24-60 years olds, with around 60% in their 30s-40s.
We can’t stress enough that your age doesn’t matter for our adventures! You’ll leave our trips with a group of great new friends, whatever your age.
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Over 95% of our guests join our trips solo. With activity-filled days and group dinners you’ll be in great company throughout the trip.
Once you’ve booked your spot, you’ll be invited to a WhatsApp group, and many guests arrange to meet at the airport before flying to us, some choose to share a hotel at the airport.
If you book a twin room, you’ll be sharing with another Gutsy Girl.
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This trip has a maximum of 7 guests. You’ll have a highly experienced kayak guide and Gutsy Girl host leading this trip.
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Flights aren’t included in this adventure. The nearest airport is Stavanger.
We provide transfers from and to Stavanger at the following times.
ALL TRIPS RUNNING IN JUNE:Arrival day pickup 3:45pm
Departure day drop off: 5pm
Recommended flights
Norwegian | London Gatwick to Stavanger
Arrival: Norwegian DY1335 | LGW 12:15 ✈ 14:55 SVG
Departure: Norwegian DY1336 | SVG 19:30 ✈ 20:35 LGW
ALL TRIPS RUNNING BETWEEN 1ST JULY - 15TH AUGUST :
Arrival day pickup 2:30pm
Departure day drop off: 5pm
Recommended flights
Norwegian | London Gatwick to Stavanger
Arrival: Norwegian DY1335 | LGW 11:00 ✈ 13:40 SVG
Departure: Norwegian DY1336 | SVG 19:30 ✈ 20:35 LGW
ALL TRIPS RUNNING BETWEEN 26TH AUGUST- 26TH SEPTEMBER:
Arrival day pickup 3:45pm
Departure day drop off: 5pm
Recommended flights
Norwegian | London Gatwick to Stavanger
Arrival: Norwegian DY1335 | LGW 12:15 ✈ 14:55 SVG
Departure: Norwegian DY1336 | SVG 19:30 ✈ 20:35 LGW
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Full payment is required at the time of booking.
We do not offer payment plans.
Questions?
You can secure your spot on this adventure here
For quick answers, visit our FAQs. If you don't find what you need, send us a message below. We'll respond within 48 hours, Monday to Friday.
PACKING LIST
Below you’ll find the minimum gear required for this trip. You will need to pack your equipment in smaller dry bags (provided) in the kayak.
You shouldn’t bring more than you can fit in a 60 litre backpack (you don’t need a 60l backpack, this is just a guide as to the maximum space you’ll have), as we will also need space for common equipment in the kayaks (tents, food, water, cooking equipment, etc.).
During this trip you are likely to get wet and unless it’s unusually warm your clothing will take some time to dry. Please take the weather forecast into account when deciding what to pack! You can find the weather forecast here.
WE PROVIDE
Dry trousers / pants (these are waterproof trousers made of breathable fabric, with built in feet that allow them to be used like flexible, lightweight waders. They have jacket compatible waist bands to create a two-piece drysuit)
Paddling cag / jacket (compatible with the dry pants)
Neoprene wetsuit boots (worn on top of the built in feet of the dry pants to protect them)
Buoyancy aid
Spray skirt - a spray skirt is a flexible waterproof cover for a kayak with a hole for the paddler's waist. They are used to prevent water from entering the kayak.
Lunch box
Mug
Tent (shared with another Gutsy Girl unless you choose to upgrade to a private tent)
Sleeping mat
Dry bags
YOU WILL NEED
Personal
Water bottles - at least 1x2l or 2x1l, if you drink a lot bring 3l capacity
Purification tablets if you feel necessary (water top-ups will be from fresh streams) (optional)
Toiletries
Personal medication
Personal toilet kit (toilet paper and hand-sanitizer - we recommend keeping these in a zip lock bag to keep dry)
Daypack for storing lunch and water during the hikes
Sunscreen (waterproof)
Insect repellent
Bite cream
Head torch with red light
Powerbank (optional - you could go phone-free while out on expedition! Note there will not be electricity on the wild camp sites)
Camera (optional but recommended)
Sunglasses & a floating strap
Thermos for hot drinks (optional for summer trips, essential in September and October)
Sleeping bag (3-season) & compression sack (OR you can rent one from us for £20 - add this option when you book or send us an email if you’ve already booked)
Inflatable/camping pillow (optional)
Sitting pad (optional but recommended)
Credit/debit card and some cash (most Norwegians like contactless, but you might want a little cash in NOK)
Sleep mask and ear plugs (optional)
Waterproof phone case (and attached strap)
Flip flops or sliders - for use around the cabin and getting to/from the kit room
Compeed/blister plasters and sports tape/kinesiology tape in case your boots rub
Clothes
Hiking Essential:
Hiking boots (mandatory)
Hiking socks
Hardshell jacket (waterproof)
Hiking trousers - lightweight and fast drying
T-shirts / base layers (weather / temperature dependent) - lightweight and fast drying
Wool / fleece mid-layers
Underwear
Hiking Recommended:
Waterproof trousers for hiking (particularly recommended if your week is looking wet!)
Hiking shorts - lightweight and fast drying (if you have a warm week!)
Kayaking Essential (please see FAQs below for more detail):
Quick-drying clothes - lightweight t-shirts, base layers, mid-layers
At least two sets of thermal/wool long johns and long sleeved baselayer top (not cotton). You will wear these under your dry suit.
Mid layer - fleece or similar
Socks (wool is warmest) - you’ll wear these inside your dry suit while kayaking
Travel towel
Underwear
Kayaking Recommended:
Extra underwear (you may get wet and may take some time to dry - spares advised!)
Swimwear
Recommended for both hiking and kayaking :
Buff
Lightweight down / insulated jacket for chilly mornings & evenings (weather dependent - please check forecast)
Cap or sun hat (summer months)
Beanie (weather dependent - please check forecast)
Essential for fjord swimming (optional activity):
Swimwear - two sets may be useful if you intend to swim multiple times
Recommended/optional for fjord swimming:
Neoprene socks or booties & neoprene gloves
Goggles
Swim cap