2025 Norway

Cebrate St. Olaf College’s 150th Anniversary with a trip to our founders’ homeland — Norway! Attend performances by the St. Olaf Orchestra and experience the splendor of Norway through its arts, culture, and natural beauty. Participants will explore historic and contemporary Norwegian art, craft, and architecture and their influences on St. Olaf College.

Starting in the vibrant city of Oslo, our trip begins with performances by the St. Olaf Orchestra and a ballet or opera. We will examine traditional building and design principles at the Norsk Folkemuseum, then take in contemporary architecture at the Oslo Opera House and Munch Museum. (Have you heard about the Munch Mystery in the St. Olaf art collection? We’ll dive deep!) 

We will then travel to central Norway to visit the historic Ringebu Stave Church and explore the magnificent beauty of the Geirangerfjord region with a boat tour, kayaking trip, and hikes along the fjords. Our trip continues north to the city of Trondheim to visit the medieval Nidaros Cathedral, the Stiklestad National Culture Center, and the site where King Olav — the patron saint of Norway and namesake of St. Olaf College — was defeated in the Battle of Stiklestad in 1030.

Throughout the journey, we will enjoy Norway’s thrilling culinary offerings. From traditional dishes to sophisticated contemporary cuisine, fresh and local ingredients are central to Scandinavian cuisine and early summer is the perfect season to enjoy them. Our trip concludes with a final performance by the St. Olaf Orchestra, followed by a reception with members of the ensemble and its director, Dr. Chung Park.

Prior to departure participants are invited to a private tour of St. Olaf’s Flaten Art Museum collection, led by museum director and this tour’s faculty co-leader, Jane Becker Nelson. The Flaten Art Museum is home to many significant works of art by Norwegian artists, including Edvard Munch, Christian Skredsvig, and Dagfin Werenskiold, as well as traditional crafts and objects of material culture. This optional pre-departure experience is a unique way to experience St. Olaf’s outstanding art collection, and will lay groundwork for the art and culture we’ll study together in context. 

See more details below and use the Register Now button above to join us.

We’ll start in Oslo, head north through the Geiranger Fjords, and finish in Trondheim, including a visit to Stiklestad, where King Olav was martyred in battle.

You’ll get the most out of study travel if you research what to do during your free time. This allows you to reap the benefits of group travel, while also customizing the tour to your interests and activity level. Read more about How to Be an Independent Group Traveler.

You can view and print the most up-to-date itinerary here.

Jane Becker Nelson is the Director and Curator of the Flaten Art Museum at St. Olaf College. She oversees the museum’s collections and exhibitions and is a passionate advocate for object-based teaching and learning. Jane has worked in museums and galleries across the U.S. and Canada, serving as curator, educator, gallery manager, and fundraiser. When she’s not in the gallery or visiting artists’ studios, you can find Jane playing pickleball, tennis, cross-country skiing, swimming, gardening, or scheming about her family’s next trip. In 2019, Jane traveled to Norway to investigate the provenance of a painting attributed to Edvard Munch, held in the Flaten Art Museum’s collection. She looks forward to returning to Oslo and is especially excited to visit the new Munchmuseet, which opened in 2021.

Peter Nelson is an Associate Professor of New Media Art, Co-Chair of the Department of Art and Art History at St. Olaf College, and an award-winning interdisciplinary artist and filmmaker. Drawing from the personal narratives of friends and family, his work critically examines the nuances of race, gender roles, relationships, aging, and loss. His latest stop-motion animated film, titled Whiteness at Work, is currently screening at film festivals throughout the United States. In addition to a passion for art and education, Peter loves to play music, compete on the basketball and pickleball courts, and be super silly with his kids. Peter is looking forward to seeking out quality coffee shops, new food and wine experiences, and family heritage sites in Norway.

Expect to revel in St. Olaf’s heritage and enjoy a cosmopolitan society!

Movement between cities will be by air-conditioned private motor coach. Movement within each city and at cultural/historic sites will be on foot, requiring a lot of walking and standing, often over uneven ground. You should be capable of walking a mile or more at a time and up to five to seven miles per day, often over uneven terrain, of climbing stairs that may not have handrails, of climbing in and out of various types of transportation, of keeping pace with an active group of travelers on long days of traveling,of dealing with the emotional highs and lows that can occur when experiencing different cultures, and be a considerate member of the group (prompt, courteous and flexible).

Any participant who has demonstrated an inability, in the opinion of the tour leader, of keeping up with the group or of safely participating in program activities may be prohibited from participating in certain activities.

You will be responsible for carrying your own luggage throughout the tour. Traveling lightly is highly recommended.

Hotels will be tourist class (four-star or superior rating) with private baths, air conditioning, and English-speaking staff.

The tour price is $5,984 per person, based on double occupancy. A supplement of $800 applies for single occupancy.

Inclusions and exclusions vary by tour, so please read the following information carefully.

Inclusions: discussions led by Jane and Peter Becker Nelson, a full-time guide, accommodations, breakfast daily and group meals as listed on the itinerary, admissions for group activities, ground transportation during the tour (except initial and final airport transfers), gratuities to group guides, drivers, and meal servers, and some limited travel insurance.

Exclusions: Airfare to and from Norway is not included. Participants are solely responsible for all expenses not specifically included in the tour fee. Examples of excluded expenses are: international airfare, airport transfers if you are not on the recommended flights, any passport and visa fees, any recommended immunizations or vaccinations, baggage and trip cancellation insurance, alcoholic beverages, including at group meals, laundry, dry cleaning, phone charges, room service or other items of a personal nature, expenses incurred during free time or non-group activities, lunch and dinner, unless specifically included on tour itinerary.

This schedule is based on payments St. Olaf College must make to tour vendors to guarantee group rates. We highly recommend that you purchase additional trip cancellation insurance at the time of registration to recover your payments should you need to withdraw from the tour.

Deposit due:                          $500 upon registration
Refund if you cancel:          $300 until November 30, 2024. If the deposit is made after November 30, 2024 there is no refund.

Interim payment due:        $2,500 on December 1, 2024
Refund if you cancel:          $1,200 if you cancel before March 1, 2025

Balance due:                         March 1, 2025
Refund if you cancel:          None, unless the tour is full and your place can be resold

Cancellations must be in writing.

Read the Terms & Conditions and Release & Waiver.

Review the latest information on recommended immunizations: visit the Centers for Disease Control (CDC).

Check your passport: no visa is required for Norway for stays of 90 days or less. However, you should look at your passport now and ensure that it has at least 6 months’ validity past the program return date. Should you need to renew, visit the U.S. Department of State for instructions.

Take time to prepare for your adventure by checking out a variety of resources, including frequently asked questions, general health information, included travel insurance, safety overview, and more.

Hold the dates of May 26–June 8, 2025, but do not book non-refundable airfare until we can call the tour a go. Meanwhile, take a look at some tips on Booking Your Flights.