Wild Quest Norway

What You Will Experience

The Wild Quest creates space for personal encounters with longings, vulnerability, inner wisdom, and responsibility in relation to society and Earth. We will spend almost all of our time outdoors — sleeping in a tipi, simple wooden shelters (gapahuks), tarps, or underneath the star-filled sky. With our (usually heavy) backpacks, we are going to hike for 3-4 hours to get deeper into the mountains. On the last day we hike back the same way we came (though backpacks will be a bit lighter because they carry less ). On all other days, we have a basecamp and hiking is optional (not a group activity). All meals are prepared over the bonfire. It will be vegan, organic food. Together we form a community in which practical collaboration plays an important role. 

 

Core Elements

• Introduction to wilderness living: fire making, outdoor cooking, basic navigation (map and compass)
• Nature-based process facilitation
• Intuitive nature walks / threshold experiences
• Practices from the Work That Reconnects
• Working with ‘The Four Shields’ and other reflective tools

 

Setting & Logistics

We will spend 2 days exploring the Friluftsliv Park Helleviga and then we’ll be in the Åseral region near Bortelid for the remainder of our time.

 

Group & Requirements

To keep the group close-knit and supportive of personal growth, we limit participation to 13 people. No prior experience is required, but you should be fit enough for a 3–4 hour hike with a backpack at the beginning and end of the trip. Openness and psychological resilience are important; if you are currently facing significant mental health challenges, we recommend seeking professional support before joining. 

What to Bring

• A big backpack (min. 60 L)
• Sleeping mat and sleeping bag (comfort rating ~0°C)
• Personal snacks (e.g., nuts, dried fruit, tofu, bread)

A detailed packing list will be provided after registration.

Travel & Meeting Point

Travel to Norway is by bus and ferry via Hirtshals and Kristiansand.
There are two available pick-up spots: Hamburg (Germany) and Aarhus (Denmark).
1) Hamburg: Friday, 25 July at 04:00 AM at the Institute for Movement Sciences (Turmweg 2, 20148 Hamburg).
2) Aarhus: Friday, 25 July at 08:00 AM (exact location still to be determined)

Return times are Sunday, 3 August around 10pm in Aarhus and for Hamburg around 2am Monday 4 August (very early morning). If you need local transport after arrival in Hamburg, there is an option to stay overnight at the institute before continuing your journey home. 

Carbon Offset

We estimate about 40–45 kg CO₂ per person for this travel. To compensate, we support Rettet die Naturvölker e.V., an organization that protects indigenous homelands and forests. We use a CO₂ price of €200 per ton, in line with recommendations from the German Environment Agency — much higher than standard offset rates. 

Facilitators

Bijan Ghaffari-Tabrizi
Bijan is an experienced guide for nature-based programmes centred around the search for purpose and meaning in life. He is a Psychotherapist (Gestalt Therapy) and a trained Vision Quest guide in the tradition of School of Lost Borders. Trained as a guide in Joanna Macy’s Work That Reconnects to hold space for people longing to create a more sustainable planet and society.

Anna Nyksov Irgens-Møller
Anna is a wild gatherer of people, and a weaver of human and other-than-human communities. Anna is trained in anthropology, outdoor education (friluftsliv), nature-based rites of passage (School of Lost Borders), Ways of Council (circle work), and has worked for School of All Relations and Kaospilot. Mostly though, they have their learnings from experiences of love and loss and connection and disconnection and from engaging deeply with communities, relationships and the natural world. www.wildbeing.dk

 

Alex Kölln — Musical facilitator encouraging group resonance and voice exploration. 

 

Costs & Pricing

To make participation accessible and encourage solidarity, we offer a sliding scale:

• Standard: Travel & accommodation €350 • Food €110 • Seminar €800
• Reduced: Travel & accommodation €350 • Food €110 • Seminar €650
• Supporter: Travel & accommodation €350 • Food €110 • Seminar €950

If none of these options fit your financial situation, please contact us — we are open to further reductions on request. 

Registration

Cancellations within 6 weeks of departure incur the full seminar fee.
To confirm your spot, please send a 500 € deposit to our host association: Institut für Naturorientierung und Lebensstil e.V.

Before the journey, we will hold an online meet-and-greet — date and access details will be shared after registration. 

Contact

Please feel free to contact us, if you have any further questions. We are also happy to arrange a brief phone call, as we value personal contact and believe it is important to connect directly and clarify any open points.
bijan@openvision.earth