WalkingWomen and Shackleton – a Polar Adventure 2027

SUMMARY

Date: Friday March 12th to Friday March 19th 2027 8 days/7 nights 

Guide: Amelia with WalkingWomen Support 

You will be guided by Shackleton’s Expeditions Manager and lead guide, Amelia Rudd, who in 2020 was the ninth woman in history to ski solo and unsupported to the South Pole.

Walking Grade: Goat 4 and beyond: this is a one off special challenge for WalkingWomen. The distance’s are not long but you need to be fit for a polar experience in sub-zero temperatures. You will be learning Telemark expedition skiing.

The price of this trip includes a foundation training programme, access to a Doctor to advise and a kit specialist to discuss exact needs for the trip. This is for women who want a challenge and want to experience majestic Norwegian polar landscapes.  We have space for just 6 women and each one of you will be enrolled on a world-class expedition preparation programme before we set off. Your can read more about the programme here Expedition Preparation Programme

This trip is to give you a taste of the expedition led by Shackleton. You don’t need experience just enthusiasm and curiosity and with the fitness to give it a go! You can be a novice adventurer.

Highlights:

• Being part of the first WalkingWomen/Shackleton Polar Expedition – the first women only!
• Time in Oslo to begin our adventure together – visit the Fram Polar Exploration Museum
• Travel on Norway’s most scenic train from Oslo to Finse
• Experiencing life on the plateau where Shackleton came to train for his Antarctica Expedition
• A night camping on the ice
• A final night in Finse 1222 hotel
• Learning Telemark skiing

Base:  we stay in a mix of hotels, huts and one night in a tent on the frozen lake – the full expedition experience.

Arrivals: MEETING POINT OSLO AIRPORT FOR 14.00 ON FRIDAY 12TH MARCH

Departures: FRIDAY MARCH 19TH – timing dependent on onward destination. We will plan with you.

Price: £6,200 per person for this fully inclusive expedition programme:

Included:

• Expert guiding by Amelia
• Foundations Expedition Preparation Programme starting 6 months before departure ( September 2026) includes the Royal Geographical Society Shackleton private archive viewing)
• Kit consultation
• Nutrition advice and access to Team Expedition Doctor
• Accommodation ( 2 nights Thon Opera,Oslo , 3 nights Finsehytta , 1 night expedition tent on the ice, I night in Hotel Finse ) Single rooms in the Thon Hotel and Hotel Finse. Other accommodation is shared.
• All meals
• All kit,equipment and boot hire ( includes loans of suits and down jackets required)
• Train Travel Oslo to Finse (this is one way as you might want to travel on to Bergen after our trip)
• Shackleton and WalkingWomen support throughout

Not included:

• Travel to Oslo and return travel
• Any additional activities in Oslo
• Personal clothing (we will send a suggested kit list once booked)
• Personal Travel Insurance
• Additional food or drinks

DETAILS

We are looking for women who feel they want a challenge , they want to try something new and they want to be supported and encouraged to just do it! We are excited to have found Shackleton.

We discovered Shackleton as we were walking past their flagship store on Piccadilly, London. We saw images of incredible places on their shop walls – it felt inspiring and intriguing. Curious we stepped in.

“Is this for women we asked” a young woman working there immediately responded with “ yes “ and she showed us the photos on the wall of Alexandra Shackleton, the granddaughter of Shackleton,who is involved, plus some of the women guides.

This is how our collaboration began as we talked with the Shackleton team to plot our first women only polar challenge with their expedition guide Amelia. She was a novice only a few years ago and in 2020 completed a 42 -day solo, unsupported and unassisted expedition to the South Pole (only the 7th woman in history to do so and the only mother ever )

Shackleton is excited to be partnering with us to create the first all-women’s Shackleton Challenge. Shackleton’s brand purpose is to Inspire, Enable and Equip people to Live Courageously. They are determined to inspire women, as well as men, to live adventurously, embrace the great outdoors and experience a true expedition.

Finse, located on the edge of Norway’s Hardangervidda National Park, is steeped in polar history and is a truly magical place, perfect for our polar experience.

We at WalkingWomen believe in living with courage too as we keep active , stay full of life and keep on learning as we tread courageously into our third act.

If you want to learn more about Shackleton watch this short video..

About Shackleton Challenges

ITINERARY

The detailed itinerary will be shared with those who book

You can expect a challenge that embodies the spirit of Shackleton – to adventure and be challenged as a team.

We begin together in Oslo where we spend 2 days getting to know each other and exploring Oslo. We will visit the Polar Exploration Museum Fram Museum

On Sunday we travel by train from Oslo to Finse 4 hours 30 minutes north – known as one of the most spectacular scenic train rides in Europe.

Sunday to Friday – our adventure begins and we will have a hands on experience of all elements of what an expedition entails. We are where Shackleton,Scott and Amundsen all trained for their Antarctica expeditions.

We will be on expedition skis as we walk on the frozen lake exploring the area on our telemark ski’s.

During our 6 month preparation programme we will learn about what to expect and get prepared.

At the end of your trip you may want to return to Oslo or perhaps travel on to Bergen. We have left onward travel flexible so you are free to explore more – we can help you plan.