Led by Michon Weeks, Associate Professor of Practice in Art and Art History, and David Weeks, Pastor, Saint Peter’s Lutheran Church
Norway is a scream when you join St. Olaf Travel! Get to know the singular cities of Oslo and Bergen, and see the renowned St. Olaf Choir perform. This itinerary is custom-designed and distinctive to St. Olaf!
Educational group travel works best when it balances structured, intellectually engaging experiences with the freedom to explore — and this trip nails that mix. Here’s why you should jump at this opportunity:
The Perfect Cultural & Historical Narrative
The Fusion of Art & History: Moving from the open-air Folk Museum (which brings centuries of Nordic history to life) straight to the Munch Museum gives you a deep dive into Norway’s cultural evolution, anchored by iconic masterpieces like The Scream.
A Tale of Two Eras: You get to experience Oslo, a masterclass in modern, sustainable urban design, contrasted against Bergen’s Bryggen Wharf, a UNESCO World Heritage site that roots you right in the medieval history of the Hanseatic League.
Built-In Flexibility for All Active Levels
The “Choose Your Own Adventure” Factor: In both cities, nature is a feature, not a far-away destination. Energetic participants can take the Metro 30 minutes out of Oslo into dense forest trails or go trail hiking in Bergen’s surrounding mountains.
Relaxed Alternatives: Those of you looking for a more relaxed pace can enjoy cosmopolitan city breaks or seaside dining at the historic wharf without feeling left out.
A Stress-Free, Exclusive Social Experience
The Curated Midpoint: Instead of rushing across the country on a grueling transit day, our private motor coach transfer transforms a travel day into a highlight. Overnighting at a comfortable resort halfway across the country creates an exclusive, relaxed environment where you can actually sit back, have a glass of wine, catch up, and enjoy the St. Olaf community.
Turnkey Logistics: Navigating Norway’s fjords and mountain passes can be logistically intimidating. Handing the keys over to us means you get the ultimate scenic route with zero logistical stress.
It’s the ideal blend of high-brow culture, stunning geography, and nostalgic camaraderie. Join us!
Oslo and Bergen give you the perfect contrast of Norway’s personality. Oslo represents modern, cutting-edge Nordic culture, while Bergen offers the cozy, historic charm of the fjords and mountains.
We’ll start in Oslo, a distinctive city where you don’t have to choose between a cosmopolitan city break and an outdoor adventure; in Oslo, they are completely fused together. We’ll get a sense of Norwegian history through guided tours of the outdoor Folk Museum and the Munch Museum, featuring the iconic painting, The Scream. We’ll experience Norway’s glorious natural environment with a fjord cruise, and only 30 minutes away at the end of the Metro line lies dense forests for you to experience the active side of Norwegian culture during your free time.
Then, we’ll transfer by private motor coach to Bergen, stopping to see the sites along the way and to overnight halfway at a comfortable resort. Bergen boasts a world class harbor nestled amongst several mountains. The Bryggen Wharf is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and while the area once dominated trade in Europe, today you can enjoy its many restaurants, bars, and shops. Like in Oslo, in your free time you can enjoy urban hiking or get into those surrounding mountains for some trail hiking. Or perhaps you’d like to connect with the city’s musical history by visiting Troldhaugen, once the home of Edvard Grieg, or Lysøen, the Ole Bull House.
Your faculty leaders will deliver three talks that get to the heart of this tour’s theme:
- After the Scream: The Late Landscapes of Edvard Munch
- Field Drawing and the Practice of Attention (an outdoor session of slow looking and sketching that uses drawing as a way to experience the landscape)
- Friluftsliv: The Norwegian Art of Open Air Living
We’re finalizing the details and hoping to have registration open by mid-September. Add your name to the interest list to receive updates via email as they become available.
We’re working on the details … please check back! When it’s ready, you’ll be able to view — and download or print, if you wish — the full itinerary here.
Our intention with each tour is to provide an itinerary that introduces you to key elements related to your destination or the educational theme, while also providing some free time for you to pursue your own interests or have some down time. The balance can vary from day to day, and from tour to tour.
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.
Michon and David Weeks are experienced group leaders, of both student and adult study travel programs. In their most recent adventure they led twenty St. Olaf students on a 2020 semester-long Environmental Science program in New Zealand and Australia. In 2015 Michon was the assistant leader for a St. Olaf January interim in Italy and Germany (Catholic Rome and Lutheran Wittenberg). David and Michon have led many church youth and adult travel experiences including wilderness canoeing in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area of northern Minnesota, hiking in Absaroka-Beartooth Wilderness, Christo Rey Border Immersion in El Paso and Juarez (service and education), Common Hope in Guatemala (service and education).
Michon is Associate Professor of Practice in St. Olaf’s Department of Art and Art History, where she has been teaching since 2012. Her teaching focuses primarily on drawing, painting, and mentoring senior art majors with their final projects. She taught previously at Southwest Minnesota State University in Marshall, MN. In her own studio, Michon creates paintings and drawings of familiar objects transformed in unique ways. David has served as pastor of St. Peter’s Lutheran Church in Northfield, MN since 2013. One of his favorite ministries is “Faith on Tap”, in which church members meet at a local bar to discuss current events. He previously served as pastor at Trinity Lutheran in Watertown, St. Stephen Lutheran in Marshall, and Big Bend/West Bank Lutheran in Milan (all in Minnesota).
Michon and David both graduated from Iowa State University in 1984. Michon later earned her Master of Fine Arts at the University of Minnesota, Minneapolis and David earned his Master of Divinity from Luther Seminary in St. Paul.
Michon and David are blessed with three grown sons and three daughters-in-law, all of whom enjoy travel. Isaac and Jill relish international bicycle touring, Peter lived in Japan for four years and Christian toured Norway with the St. Olaf Choir. When traveling Michon and David especially enjoy outdoor activities, indulging in the best local ice cream and local brew, and visiting art museums. Michon and David are excited to connect actively with the world by leading this St. Olaf Alumni and Family Travel Program.
Expect to be charmed by the beauty, history, and people of Norway, and dazzled by the artistry of the St. Olaf Choir.
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, standing for two to three hours at a time, 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 of being 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 (at least three-star or better) with private baths. We look for properties that are centrally located and comfortable.
Inclusions and exclusions vary by tour, so please read the following information carefully. We try to strike a balance between nickel-and-diming you once on the tour and allowing you some freedom in your price point (for meals, for example). A variety of modes of transportation tends to be pricier than a single bus throughout the tour. Highly rated guides are essential and should command higher wages.
The tour price is PENDING.
Inclusions: discussions led by Louis Epstein; assistance by Maggie Epstein and a full time guide for the duration of the tour; accommodations, meals, entrance fees, and activities listed in the itinerary; private motor coach transfers (except airport transfers on arrival and departure); non-alcoholic beverages with meals; gratuities for all local guides, drivers, and meals; and some limited medical coverage while overseas.
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; any passport or visa fees; any recommended immunizations or vaccinations; alcoholic beverages; laundry, dry cleaning, phone charges, room service or other items of a personal nature; expenses incurred during free time or non-group activities; and any meals not specifically included on tour itinerary.
This schedule is TENTATIVE AND WILL BE 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: $450 if you cancel on or before November 14, 2026. If the deposit is made after November 14, 2026 there is no refund.
Interim payment due: $2,500 on November 15, 2026
Refund if you cancel: $1,250 if you cancel on or before March 14, 2027
Balance due: March 15, 2027
Refund if you cancel: None, unless the tour is full and your place can be resold
Cancellations must be in writing.
Read each tab in the Participant Documents (in draft stage).
Review the latest information on recommended immunizations, visit the Centers for Disease Control (CDC).
Check your passport: 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. Starting January 8, 2025, U.S. and Canadian passport holders will need an Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA) to enter or transit through the United Kingdom. The ETA is the UK’s travel authorization and pre-departure security process for screening travelers from visa-exempt countries. More information on obtaining this ETA will be provided closer to departure.
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 31-June 11, 2027. Do not book non-refundable air until we can confirm the tour is a go. Meanwhile see our tips on Booking Your Flights.
Releave and Waiver
Terms and Conditions (both are in draft stage)
This tour will need a minimum of 12 travelers by January 1, 2027 in order to go. But don’t wait until then to register – it could fill much sooner! If the minimum is met and spaces remain available, registration will close March 14, 2027.
Add your name to the interest list to receive updates via email as they become available.
Until then …
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