7 Incredible Winter Wonderland Activities in Norway

During the winter, Norway transforms into an enchanting Arctic wonderland, with many parts illuminated by the ethereal glow of the Northern Lights. From the rugged peaks of the Lofoten Islands and the aurora-filled skies of Alta, this stunning country offers unforgettable ways to immerse yourself in its cold-season magic.

Norway’s rugged, wintry terrain becomes a playground for wintry outdoor adventures, which invite you to immerse yourself in the destination’s natural beauty. Here, we share the best winter activities in Norway, inspired by our bespoke luxury journeys through its most enchanting regions.

1. Snowshoeing

Snowshoeing is a gentle yet rewarding way to explore snow-covered terrain, allowing you to move effortlessly across deep powder and untouched winter landscapes. Designed to distribute your weight over a larger surface area, snowshoes make otherwise inaccessible areas easy to reach.

Traditionally used across Arctic regions for travel and hunting, snowshoeing today offers a peaceful, immersive way to experience Norway’s dramatic winter scenery, from coastal viewpoints to remote mountain plateaus.

The Lofoten Islands

In the Lofoten Islands, snowshoeing provides access to remote winter viewpoints along rugged coastlines and mountain plateaus. Routes around Eggum and Flakstad reveal sweeping fjord views, jagged peaks, and pristine Arctic light. With fewer visitors in winter, the experience feels immersive and wildly atmospheric, with dramatic scenery unfolding at every turn.

We recommend a half-day snowshoeing excursion in Eggum, a quaint fishing village located on Vestvågøy island, to witness beautiful views of the ocean and mountains.

For a more strenuous, full-day snowshoeing excursion, journey to Flakstad on the north face of the Lofoten Islands. Here, you can immerse yourself in the wilderness as you ascend Mount Ryten. The peak offers some of the best vistas in the region, including views of the beautiful Kvalvika Beach.

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Alta

In Alta, snowshoeing offers a serene way to discover the High Arctic, and thanks to the region’s location directly beneath the auroral oval, it can be enjoyed under the elusive Northern Lights.

Alta’s pristine landscapes combine silent forests, wide-open tundra, and snow-covered valleys. Snowshoeing adventures here will lead you across some of the region’s wildest and untouched Arctic terrain. Follow the trail to the top of the hill, before stopping at a wilderness shelter where you can warm up by a bonfire with hot drinks.

Tromsø

Tromsø’s northern fjords are ideal for gentle snowshoe walks and more adventurous ridge treks.

Our recommended snowshoe adventure takes you out across coastal plateaus and sheltered valleys where Arctic birdlife and wide seascape views meet the mountains. You’ll have the option to toboggan down the slope or continue your snowshoeing excursion to a cozy bonfire where you can enjoy hot drinks.

2. Dog Sledding

Dog sledding is one of the Arctic’s most iconic winter activities, carried out with a team of energetic huskies pulling a sled across snowy terrain. Guided by skilled mushers, this exhilarating form of travel allows you to glide through silent forests, open tundra, and remote valleys.

Historically essential for transport, hunting, and survival in the polar regions, dog sledding today provides a thrilling glimpse into the deep bond between mushers and their dogs, and an unforgettable way to experience Norway’s frozen wilderness.

Alta

In Alta, you can choose to ride as a passenger or guide your own team of energetic Alaskan huskies across frozen rivers, forests, high plateaus, snowy woods and the open Vidda (Finnmark plateau). The journey is a sensory immersion, from the crunch of snow beneath the sled and the excited rhythm of the dogs, to the vast Arctic silence stretching all around you.

Evening departures are particularly magical, offering a chance to witness the Northern Lights swirling above the wilderness.

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3. Winter Hiking

Winter hiking reveals Norway’s landscapes at their most atmospheric, with crisp air, snow-dusted peaks, and quiet trails that feel both dramatic and serene. Hiking in winter requires sturdy footwear and proper gear, but the reward is unparalleled access to panoramic viewpoints and tranquil wilderness.

Whether climbing coastal mountains in Lofoten or traversing the high ridgelines above Bergen, winter hiking showcases Norway’s raw natural beauty at its purest.

The Lofoten Islands

One of our preferred hikes is along the Mannen mountain trailhead in the Lofoten Islands, a region known for its jagged granite peaks, which drop into icy blue water.

Considered an intermediate hike, the peak of Mannen itself is relatively small at just 1,312 feet above sea level. However, as you journey along the trail, you’ll enjoy breathtaking views over three of Lofoten Island’s most impressive beaches.

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Bergen

While in Bergen, you can embark on an exhilarating hike from Mt. Ulriken to Mt. Floyen. This iconic route is of moderate difficulty and affords stunning views over Bergen, with sight lines all the way to the Folgefonna glacier on a clear day.

We recommend taking the Ulriken Cable Car to the top of the mountain, before hiking across Vidden, the highest of Bergen’s 7 mountains. Upon reaching Mt. Fløyen, you’ll be greeted with spectacular views of the city, sea and snow-dusted forests. Here, the trails are well-kept and atmospheric, with soft light and sweeping fjord views.

4. Arctic Cod Fishing

Arctic cod fishing offers a front-row seat to one of Norway’s most extraordinary natural migrations. Fishing has shaped life in Lofoten for centuries, and winter cod season remains one of the most important and dramatic times of year.

Every winter, millions of Arctic cod (known locally as skrei) migrate from the Barents Sea to the Lofoten Islands to spawn. We recommend joining local fishermen aboard an authentic vessel and heading out into the fjords, surrounded by towering granite peaks and crisp winter air.

This experience combines natural spectacle with local heritage, offering a rare window into the fishing culture that has shaped Lofoten for generations.

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5. Snowmobiling

Snowmobiling is an exhilarating way to traverse Norway’s Arctic wilderness, allowing you to cover vast stretches of snowbound landscapes with ease. With powerful engines designed for winter terrain, snowmobiles make it possible to reach remote plateaus, frozen lakes, and sweeping tundra that would be otherwise inaccessible in deep winter.

In northern Norway, especially Alta, snowmobiling is both a practical mode of transport and a gateway to pure adventure. Riding across wide-open Arctic expanses beneath pastel winter skies, you’ll experience the raw scale and solitude of Norway’s far north like never before

In Alta, private snowmobiling adventures take you across snowy plateaus and into remote valleys with panoramic views stretching for miles.

Embark on a journey along exhilarating routes that combine speed with spectacular scenery. Evening outings heighten the drama, as you pause in the wilderness to watch the Northern Lights illuminate the night sky in vibrant ribbons of green and purple.

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6. Ice Sculpting

Ice sculpting is a unique Arctic craft that transforms frozen blocks into intricate works of art using traditional tools and precise techniques. This hands-on activity allows you to engage creatively with winter itself, carving and shaping ice harvested from the surrounding landscape.

Rooted in Arctic cultural traditions and practiced widely across Norway’s far north, ice sculpting offers a meditative and memorable way to connect with the country’s icy environment.

While exploring Alta, we recommend a unique hands-on experience with a private ice-sculpting lesson. Using blocks of crystal-clear river ice and guided by expert carvers, you’ll create your own frozen artwork.

Reindeer-led Experience

A reindeer-led sleigh ride offers one of the most authentic ways to immerse yourself in Arctic culture, bringing you into direct contact with the Indigenous Sámi people whose traditions, language, and livelihood are deeply connected to these gentle animals. This experience blends soft adventure with storytelling and heritage, set amid Norway’s tranquil, snow-covered winter landscapes.

They once served as an essential form of transportation across Sápmi, the traditional Sámi homeland that stretches across northern Norway, Sweden, Finland, and Russia’s Kola Peninsula. Today, this timeless mode of travel provides a serene way to move through the Arctic wilderness, allowing visitors to slow down, appreciate the stillness of winter, and gain a meaningful understanding of Sámi life.

Alta

Alta is one of the best regions in Norway to experience the depth and authenticity of Sámi culture. Surrounded by vast plateaus, frozen rivers, and quiet forests, the landscape is perfectly suited to traditional reindeer herding.

For a truly authentic cultural experience, enjoy a warm introduction from your Sámi host, who will share insights into their ancestral practices, distinctive clothing, and unique language. Then embark on a peaceful reindeer-led sleigh ride through the snow-covered forest, moving rhythmically behind these cherished animals as they guide you through untouched winter scenery.

After the ride, you’ll have the opportunity to feed the reindeer before gathering around the fire in a traditional lavvu (Sámi tent) to hear stories passed down through generations, including folklore, history, and joiking, the evocative Sámi style of singing. A hot meal cooked over the fire completes this warmly immersive cultural experience.

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Tromsø Region

In the Tromsø region, reindeer and Sámi culture are woven naturally into the fabric of daily life. Here, dramatic fjords and quiet coastal valleys provide an atmospheric backdrop to this meaningful encounter.

We recommend enjoying a gentle reindeer-led sleigh ride through the snowy valley, taking the time to appreciate Tromsø’s winter landscapes.

Following the ride, you’ll have the opportunity to feed the reindeer and learn more about the Sámi’s traditional herding techniques, seasonal migrations, and realities of modern life.

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