Location

Finse, Norway

The Open Polar Training Course is based in the remote Norwegian mountain village of Finse. Classes are held in the hotel, Finse 1222, accommodation is in houses and apartments in the village.

The village of Finse is located at the highest point along the Bergen Railway, at 1222 meters above sea level. The hotel opened in 1909, at the same time as the Bergen Railway was completed. Finse is only reachable by train, bicycle, or foot, and is located two hours east of Bergen and just over four hours west of Oslo. The hotel is found directly on the platform overlooking the stunning glacier Hardangerjøkulen and is surrounded by a scenic and beautiful mountain region. 

Finse has long been associated with preparation for polar expeditions. Polar explorer and hero Ernest Shackleton trained at Finse before he set out on his Imperial Trans-Antarctic Expedition.