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Arctic Guide 1

Last Update August 18, 2026
0 already enrolled
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About This Course

Introduction 

This course goes through the basic knowledge and skills to professionalize your work as a guide, whether you have previous experience or you’re just about to start. It offers an introduction to the most relevant subjects and can be used to complement in-house company trainings. 

Subjects are divided into 4 pillars: quality, safety, social responsibility and environmental respect. You can see the specific lectures below.

Workflow 

Before the training, registered participants will have access to digital learning materials so they can start learning on their own.

The course will take place during the given dates at the University Museum. There, participants will review their skills and knowledge. The first two days are only theoretical lectures while the third is a practical worshop. To ensure personalized atention we will have multiple dates to do this workshop. Before the course start you will be notified on which date you were asigned to attend. 

On the final day of the course there will be a theoretical exam.

Passing the exam is mandatory to receive the pre-accreditation.

Read more about the accreditation in the Certificate section.

Lectures and Workshops

Check out the curriculum section. 

Exam

A theoretical exam will allow you to demonstrate your knowledge of the subjects. You are not expected to know everything, but the most important things and where to find the details.

The exam will offer a second chance later if you fail the first attempt. It is designed to improve the participant’s skills and knowledge.

Schedule 

Day 1

8:00 Registrations 

9:00 Course starts 

16:30 course ends

Day 2 

8:30 Registration 

9:00 Course starts

16:30 Course ends

Day 3 

8:30 Registration 

9:00 Workshop starts

16:30 Workshop ends

Day 4

8:30 Registration 

9:00 Exams start

10:30 Exams ends – end of the course 

Each day, except for the last one, has a 30min pause to eat at around 13:00. Participants can bring their lunch or get something at the museum’s cafeteria. There will be toilet pauses between some lectures too. 

During the week of the course free access to the museum exhibitions during the opening hours of the museum is included to all participants. 

Prices 

Standard price 4,000kr

Price with subsidy from Fylkeskommune Troms: 2,000kr

Tromso Guideforening Member’s price: 1,000kr

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Learning Objectives

The basic knowledge and skills to work as a guide in Northern Norway, regardless of the type of tour.
The impact of tourism on nature and local communities, and how to reduce it as a guide.
Where to access information and services that you might need during the season.
How to collaborate with colleagues in the field and respect the local guidelines.

Material Includes

  • Digital reading material, book references and web sites to go in depth. It will be sent out by email 7 days before the start of the course.

Target Audience

  • Guides at the beginning of their career who want to make sure they have the absolute minimum knowledge to start guiding.
  • Guides who have guided before but want to reinforce their knowledge.
  • Any guide interested in understanding the environmental and social impact of tours and how to improve it.
  • Companies who want to complement the in-house training of their guides.

Curriculum

16 Lessons20h

Working in Norway

Get to know your general rights and obligations as a worker in Norway. Arbeidstilsynet is the public organization overseeing the fulfilment of the law regarding labour in Norway. This lecture is carried out by their senior advisors.
Working in Norway

History of Norway

Norway has a rich history that goes back thousands of years. This lecture briefly reviews the most important events, placing special emphasis on the northern region.

Norwegian Culture

Discover the core values on which Norwegian society was built and how they are reflected in Norwegian culture today. Learn what constitutes the identity of the northerners and where it can be seen in everyday life.

Weather Forecast

The Arctic weather has its own rules. Learn what to expect and how to use forecasting tools to plan your tour accordingly.

Environmental Care

All guided tours have an environmental impact; however, there can be a huge difference when the tour is responsibly guided. Learn how to lower the footprint during your tours.

Social Responsibility

Tourism can be a source of prosperity, but it can also disturb local communities. A big difference is made by the decisions a guide makes during their tour. Hear testimonies from local representatives about the effect that tourism has on their communities, and how to reduce the downsides and increase the positive impact.

Regional Geology

Learn how the fjords came to be and how the forces of nature shaped the landscapes of Northern Norway. Discover what changes are happening today.

Arctic Flora and Fauna

Animals and plants of the Arctic and their relationship with the ecosystem and humans across millennia.

Northern Lights

In this brief lecture, learn to speak accurately about the most iconic phenomenon in the north — what it is, and what it is not

The Sámi

Learn how to speak responsibly about Sámi culture as a non-Sámi guide.

Accessibility on Tour

Every guest has a different set of cognitive resources to interact with their surroundings. As a guide, it is crucial to understand these differences so we can adapt to all types of guests.

Safety on the road

All tours interact with traffic one way or another. This makes it essential to know the basic rules of these interactions, as well as recommendations to stay safe.

Emergency services

Learn about the local emergency servicies and how and when to contact them (this is not a first aid course).

Guidelines

Learn the local guideline for tour operators as well as for tourists and how they contribute to make tourism sustainable.

Guiding tools

Guiding is by far not just about knowing dates and events. All the factual information is the substance, but the way it is transmitted to guests is just as relevant as the information itself.

Group leadership

A guide is not only a storyteller but a leader of a group who needs to show authority while also showing kindness through the way they communicate at all levels.

2,000.00 kr4,000.00 kr

50% off
Level
All Levels
Duration 20 hours
Lectures
16 lectures

Material Includes

  • Digital reading material, book references and web sites to go in depth. It will be sent out by email 7 days before the start of the course.

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