2023
UK MILITARY NORDIC LEADER INSTRUCTORS
Due to increasing interest by UK Military Units to visit Norway in 2024, these same Units, if they are to realise their exercise, need qualified Nordic Leaders to run NF 1/2 Courses. If you are interested in furthering your teaching experience, and leading short overnight expeditions on the Hardanger Vidda, get in touch with us by email as soon as possible. We will then pass on your details to the relevant Units in question.
briandes@frisurf.no
Despite some travel restrictions in place, Destination Setesdal experienced a very satisfying winter in 2022 with several high profile expeditions following in the footsteps of the Norwegian Heavy Water Sabotuers on the Hardanger Vidda. In addition, we organised and facilitated a week of Winter skills for the Cancer Charity 40-Tude, a North South crossing of the Hardanger Vidda for the SBS Charity the SBSA, and once again, facilitated a very successful Heroes of Telemark reenactment for our longterm friends and partners Woodlore Ltd. (www.raymears.com) Destination Setesdal also facilitated a Nordic Foundation 1/2 Course for the Scots Guards finishing with a successful reenactment of the Advance to Contact route of Operation Gunnerside on the Hardanger Vidda to the Hydrogen Plant at Vemork Rjukan in Telemark.
The 2023 winter season has been even better with us facilitating 2 NF1 Courses in January followed by a reenactment of the Advance to Contact Route of the Norwegian Heavy Water Sabotuers at Rjukan Telemark for a UK Ranger Battalion. Three very successful, demanding expeditions in March, one for Prince Harry`s Invictus Foundation with Mil Vets from 5 Nations, partnered by our friends from Tribal Tracks in the UK, a 80 th Anniversary reenactment of Op Gunnersides Retreat route to Sweden and a successful NF1-2 that also included an expedition following in the footsteps of the Norwegian Sabotuers for 42 Engr Regt rounded off a very busy March. To finish off the winter season in 2023, we facilitated a visit from a large group of UK Cadets. Despite April being a month of stabile weather and sunshine, the weather conditions were to play a major role in achieving all our aims.
RAY MEARS WOODLORE Ltd
The Real Heroes of Telemark Expedition 2024
There are still places available for this trip to Southern Norway in March 2024. Are you a non-skier? Not to worry, you will be given expert instruction on Nordic skiing techniques along with winter skills that will enable you to take part in a 2 night/3 day expedition on the Hardanger Vidda Plateau following in the footsteps of the Heroes of Telemark. We finish off the week with a spectacular reenactment of the Advance to Contact route by the Sabotuers on the former Hydrogen plant at Vemork near Rjukan. If interested in joining this amazing trip, contact Woodlore direct at www.raymears.com or, Destination Setesdal at briandes@frisurf.no
Summer/Autumn 2023-4
Destination Setesdal have available dates this Autumn to lead groups on one day reenactments of Op Gunnerside (Heroes of Telemark) Advance to Contact route to the former Hydrogen Plant at Vemork near Rjukan in Telemark. There is also still time to experience the natural beauty of the Setesdal Valley with our well tried Open Canadian Canoeing expedition; see the The Viking Trail Expedition details below. Destination Setesdal supplies all the equipment you need, including Open Canadian Expedition Canoes, transport to and from start/finish locations, maps, fuel, sleeping bag hire, safety back up and much more.
Destination Setesdals manager Brian Desmond is available to lead Taylor made/bespoke Battlefield tours for groups/organisations during the Autumn of 2022. Please contact him for further information at briandes@frisurf.no
Winter 2024
81 st ANNIVERSARY OP GUNNERSIDE
Destination Setesdal will carry out a series of Op Gunnerside reenactments in 2024 to commemorate the 81 st Anniversary of this mission. There will be several expeditions for UK Military Units, expeditions for private Organisations, and a Re-enactment of the Norwegian Sabotuers including short 1 day tours starting from the Rjukan Fjellstue and Skinnarbu High Mountain Hotell near Rjukan in Telemark. More details will be given on this website and in the local press/media this Autumn.
WINTER BATTLEFIELD EXPEDITIONS
We have group booking availability for our Heroes of Telemark Battlefield tours and Expeditions during the winter of 2024 and beyond. If you are a CEO of a Charity wanting to create more funds for your Charity, a Corporate MD that feels an expedition would help develop leadership skills amongst the staff, or a Military Unit wanting to give their personel the ultimate in Force Develop skills, then contact us for more information. This expedition is much more than a winter trip to Norway in stunning pristine nature; all those taking part will be able to learn how to look after themselves in a tough winter enviroment, learn new skills, widen their knowledge about one of the most daring and successful sabotage Operations during WW2.
The latent adventurous spirit we all have will enable those attending to successfully follow in the Norwegian sabotuers footsteps to their target at the Hydrogen plant at Vemork Rjukan in Telemark; we have never failed yet in any of our 70 expeditions we have organised since 2003. Send us an email with your request. briandes@frisurf.no
THE VIKING TRAIL
Our Open Canadian expedition Canoes ready to be packed for a two, three or four day expedition in the Setesdal Valley Southern Norway
We have plenty of availability for families/groups wanting to experience our Open Canoe paddling expedition in the Setesdal region of Southern Norway during the summer of 2023-4. The mini expedition takes place mainly on the Byglandsfjord and is guided. It can also be self-led with Destination Setesdal delivering the Canoes to your start location. Or, collecting you from where you finish if starting your trip from our base at Byglandsfjord. Expeditions can be very short, just 2 days and one night; this is suitable for families with young children. Normally, it takes approx 3, or perhaps 4/5 days to paddle from the entry location of Langeid, 65 kilometers further North to the exit location at the end of the Byglandsfjord. Paddling on gentle flowing water for the first 15 kms, you will eventually enter the 40 kms long inland Byglandsfjord with spectacular mountain views either side of the fjord, plenty of beaches and small Islands to camp on.
Paddling South, those with an adventurous spirit, wilderness camping is possible on the many Islands and beaches along the way. Comfortable log cabins are also available if bad weather, or for those wanting a greater degree of comfort. We provide all the equipment you need including fuel, lightweight cooking equipment, sleeping mats, safety equipment and much more. Sleepingbags can also be hired with bag-liners. Our canoes are special expedition canoes with comfortable seats, air Flotation bags for extra safety and much more to make your trip safe and enjoyable.
Our base at Byglandsfjord is also an ideal location to start your Open Canadian Canoe adventure by just paddling on the fjord.
Transport of your Canoe (S) is possible with our canoe trailer to the expedition start location if chosing to paddle downstream/South. Or, we can collect you at a pre-determined location if chosing to start your trip from our base in Byglandsfjord.
We can supply family sized cookers/Trangia stoves for 2 persons per Canoe, Gas fuel-Sleeping mats-Tents-2 man tents, Tarps and other safety equipment as part of a package to supply all your needs for overnight expeditions on the Fjord.
OPEN CANADIAN CANOE HIRE 2023
Destination Setesdal have 8 new/modern Open Canadian Canoes for hire this summer-Autumn. The Canoes are based in Byglandsfjord, but can be delivered at extra cost to a prefered location. One day or multi day hire at reasonable cost. All Canoes are fitted with airbags for extra safety. We also have a wide selection of tents, camping equipment for hire at very low cost for those that require multi day hire.
For booking contact; briandes@frisurf.no or 0047 90140857
If interested contact briandes@frisurf.no or 004790140857 for more information about dates and conditions of booking.
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Contact details for Destination Setesdal
briandes@frisurf.no Mob. 004790140857
Facebook - Destination Setesdal
Destination Setesdal AS Postbox 246 4735 Evje Norway
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Important information
Group bookings 2024
Destination Setesdal will carry out several Op Grouse/Op Gunnerside reenactments during the winter of 2024; even though our expedition program is full nearing full capacity next winter, there is a possibility of an expedition slot being available at any time due to a cancellation. Let us know this Autumn if there is any interest to carry out this expedition and we will endeavor to facilitate your wishes.
80 th Anniversary reenactment of Op Gunnerside in 2023
