FAQ

St. Olavsleden is a pilgrimage route from the Middle Ages – from the Swedish east coast to the Norwegian city of Trondheim – which has been reopened in 2013. The route is part of a whole network of pilgrim hikes going to Trondheim. More information can be found on the page ‘About St. Olav’ and on the official website of the route, www.stolavsleden.com.

After measurements with GPS equipment, it seems that the route is 580 kilometers. However, some hostels and sights do not directly lie along the road, so chances are that you will have walked more than 580 kilometers after doing the complete St. Olavsleden.

After Munkeby in Norway there are two options to reach Trondheim: the usual route and the coastal route. The last stage of the coastal route is by boat – and because this boat leaves on just 3 days during 3 months of summer, good planning is required. The coastal route is a bit shorter, but the accommodation is more expensive than the regular route.

On St. Olavsleden you walk on paved and unpaved roads and forest trails. Some stages are more difficult than others: some days you walk uphill – although no real climbing is involved. But overall the pilgrim’s route is very doable for trained hikers. Good equipment and planning are however required. It can be pretty tough to walk the complete route – you should be in good physical shape and have good hiking equipment. And mentally: you will not meet many other hikers and the route crosses sparsely populated areas, so you will be on your own long stretches of time.

Even though the route crosses the mountains between Sweden and Norway, the height differences are not extreme. These are not the Alps! Juanma González made the very cool drawing below: St. Olavsleden compared to the Camino in Spain. Click on the picture for a larger version.

St. Olavsleden is accessible from May to late September. During other periods the risk of snow in the mountains is considerable. It is possible to walk the lower parts of the route offseason. Would you like to know which parts are currently accessible? Please contact us.

You will have to book the journey to/ and from Sweden/Norway yourself. These costs are excluded in our prices.

There are several possibilities to travel to Sweden. It can be a puzzle to find the best or cheapest trip. We are happy to help you find the best option.

You can also start your own puzzle by visiting these websites:

• SAS (Scandinavian Airlines)
• Norwegian Airlines
• SJ (train in Sweden)
• Norrtåg (train in Sweden)
• Vy (train in Norway)

No need for assistance? Do you want to plan everything yourself? That is possible. There are some great guide books out there and there is information to be found on www.stolavsleden.com. But if you need help with planning or booking, please contact us.

Yes. On www.stolavsleden.com are maps available for both cyclists as people who would like to do St. Olavsleden on horseback.

Many pilgrims choose to travel with their best four-legged friend: their dog. This is possible: most accommodations accept dogs – just be sure to check beforehand. However: special rules apply for entering Sweden and Norway with your dog. Norway has different rules than Sweden and you will have to see a veterinarian before crossing the border. Norway also has certain breeds that are not allowed in to the country. At the moment that applies to the following breeds: Pit bull terrier, American Staffordshire terrier, Fila Brasilerio, Toso Inu, Dogo Argentino and Ceskoslovenský vlciak.

• More info about Sweden
• More info about Norway

The accommodation along the route varies from simple huts to pilgrim cabins and small hostels and hotels. That is what also makes walking a pilgrimage route so unique. Nordic Pilgrim chooses all accommodation with care. However, the standard varies a lot per accommodation – this is because there is not yet much available, as the route is relatively new. A hotel room with private bathroom is simply no available for most nights along the trail.

Sleeping bag and/or bed linen, thermos/water bottle, backpack, rain gear, (warm) clothing and equipment, good walking shoes (preferably waterproof), first aid supplies and blister plasters; passport. Trekking poles can be a great tool. Also make sure you are insured.