Nordic Pilgrim is a small Dutch-owned tour operator focused exclusively on the St. Olav Ways through Norway, Sweden and Finland. Founder Ruben Heijloo and his partner Sacha Kraan currently offer self-guided tours on the Olavsleden, St. Olav Waterway and Olav Path (Gudbrandsdalsleden) — all of which can be customized to your needs. Booking with Nordic Pilgrim feels more like planning a trip with a trusted friend rather than with a company and we love that! We also love that they provide links to the trail sites so you can plan your own trip — showing us that this company is more about YOU and YOUR EXPERIENCE than it is about profit margins.
Review of Nordic Pilgrim Website
Nordic Pilgrim has an easy to navigate site with excellent videos that offer a great introduction to the St. Olav Ways. Daily itineraries provide details such as significant gains/ascents, daily distances and terrain and each route includes beautiful photos, tips and personal stories. Their FAQs answer questions you may not even think to ask, such as “can I walk with a horse or dog?” Few accommodation details are given except when lodging is something other than a simple hut, which is to be expected since there are very few inns along these routes. Hiking St. Olav Ways is not about the inns — it’s about the natural splendor and history of this region.
Did we mention the videos? I’m still wiping the coffee off my laptop from spitting it out laughing while watching a Swedish Fika video under their Tips for Olavsleden!
Things to like about Nordic Pilgrim
- Helped to develop the Olavsleden route and has been assisting pilgrims ever since
- Trips include accommodations, luggage transport, most meals, digital maps and a tracking app
- Takes responsible travel seriously and operates closely with local agencies to minimize over-crowding
- Can design custom trips with extended stays or additional activities
Route Types
- Trekking
Destinations include
- Finland
- Norway
- Sweden
Great choice for
Anyone wishing to hike St. Olav Ways, especially the Waterway route through Finland.
Established in 2014
last reviewed March 30, 2023
Nordic Pilgrims is a recommended tour operator in our Camino Alternatives to Santiago Everyone Should Know.
