The Cool Camino: Discovering The St Olav Ways In Norway

Published on September 29, 2025

As nan “cool” replacement to Spain’s Camino de Santiago, nan St Olav Ways proceed to get attraction from those that for illustration a quieter way that is little congested. While nan Camino has been reported to beryllium 45 degrees Celsius successful caller years, making them very basking and crowded, Norway’s St Olav Ways are arsenic cool arsenic Norway’s St Olav Ways.

An Uncrowded Path to Tranquility

While Spain’s Camino sees complete half a cardinal pilgrims annually, Norway’s St Olav Ways stay a much serene experience. The astir celebrated route, nan Gudbrandsdalen path, runs 643 km from Oslo to Trondheim, passing done forests, farmland, and nan towering Dovre mountains. Pilgrims who task present are often rewarded pinch bid and solitude, stepping amidst forests and fjords pinch fewer others successful sight. This cooler way offers a respite from nan power that has plagued Spain, pinch temperatures successful August seldom exceeding 13°C, cleanable for those who for illustration a much comfortable hiking experience.

A Pilgrimage pinch Nature and History

The Gudbrandsdalen way follows a way filled pinch Viking-era sites, including funeral mounds and ruins. Along nan way, travelers walk Ringebu Stave Church, a stunning medieval woody structure, and nan tract of nan Hamar Cathedral ruins. Pilgrims locomotion done untouched nature, wherever rivers tally acold and clear, and moss blankets nan stones on nan path. For those who bask history and earthy beauty, these ancient sites connection a unique, reflective experience.

The St Olav Ways are divided into respective routes that converge successful Trondheim, nan last destination wherever King St Olav is buried. These paths were erstwhile cardinal to medieval pilgrimages but faded aft nan Reformation. Since their revival successful nan 1990s, they person slow gained a following, pinch nan number of pilgrims expanding each year. While Spain’s Camino draws millions, nan St Olav Ways attracted less than 1,000 walkers past year, creating a consciousness of tranquility that is difficult to find connected different awesome visit routes.

The Best Time to Visit

The perfect clip for hiking nan St Olav Ways is during Norway’s summertime months, from June to September. These months connection agelong daylight hours, cleanable for agelong treks, though rainfall is ever a possibility, truthful travelers should travel prepared pinch waterproofs.

For those seeking a much manageable trek, shorter sections of nan Gudbrandsdalen route, specified arsenic nan 150 km agelong betwixt Oppdal and Trondheim, are cleanable for a 7-10 time pilgrimage. Pilgrims tin bask nan changing scenery from rolling farmlands to nan highlands, wherever nan aerial remains caller and invigorating.

Accommodation and Logistics

Pilgrims on nan St Olav Ways tin enactment successful a assortment of accommodations, from hotels and guesthouses to converted barns and accepted woody farmhouses. Though nan infrastructure is not arsenic developed arsenic nan Camino, it is growing, and booking up is advisable, peculiarly successful nan highest months of July and August. There are besides opportunities for chaotic camping, acknowledgment to Norway’s “allemannsretten” (right to roam), allowing pilgrims to slumber nether nan stars successful nan country’s pristine wilderness.

Hiking successful Norway does require a spot much self-sufficiency. Unlike nan Camino, wherever pilgrims often walk cafes and unfastened churches, galore of nan churches on nan St Olav Ways are locked, and nutrient must beryllium carried for stretches wherever accommodations are sparse. However, nan rewards of stepping done distant areas pinch fewer distractions are immense. Pilgrims tin genuinely immerse themselves successful nan landscape, listening to birdsong, enjoying nan caller air, and connecting pinch nature.

What to Bring

Hikers should travel prepared for varying upwind conditions, truthful layering is key. Along pinch waterproof cogwheel and sturdy hiking boots, pilgrims should besides transportation nutrient supplies for nan much distant sections of nan path. This is peculiarly important during longer stretches betwixt villages aliases guesthouses, wherever provisions whitethorn beryllium limited.

Food and Local Cuisine

Norwegian cuisine is elemental yet hearty, and on nan St Olav Ways, pilgrims will brushwood accepted dishes for illustration rømmegrøt, a sour pick porridge, and lamb stew. The region is besides known for its fish, including salmon and salted cod, which tin beryllium recovered connected astir menus. Wild berries for illustration blueberries and cloudberries are abundant on nan route, providing refreshing snacks during nan hike.

Preparing for nan Journey

As compared to Camino, St Olav Ways has a spot of a cool and quiet reverie, however, it involves much to prep for and is much move successful nature.
The paths are not very engaged which intends that pilgrims are much apt to person to subordinate for greater periods of clip without having to salary for different walkers, which is why it is simply a bully thought to reserve accommodation before.
The St Olav Ways, however, are designed for anyone and everyone seeking quality and serenity, and wish to delve a spot deeper into nan Norwegian Viking history, rich | and fulfilling acquisition is guaranteed.

A alternatively peaceful, solitary visit that has historical roots and debased temperatures on pinch landscapes tin beryllium attributed to nan St Olav Ways, and for this reason, I would opportunity that it is simply a visit worthy undertaking.