Education
July 28, 2025 2026-09-14 13:50Education
Guide Training in Tromso
We believe professionalizing the work of guides will contribute to making tourism more sustainable. Our education program gives guides the knowledge to deliver more responsible, high-quality tours, and at the same time it creates a space for dialogue with academia, authorities, and the local community.
Arctic Guide 1
The foundation course for all guides: quality, safety, social responsibility and environmental respect over 4 days.
– 6th to 9th Oct 2026 –
Whale Watching 1
Review the basics, get updated on the local research, and connect with the guiding community along with other whale watching experts.
– 13th to 16th Oct 2026 –
Northern lights 1
Dive into the science, the myths, and the weather forecasting for chasers. Clarify the driving and parking rules with local authorities and other field experts.
– 20th to 23rd Oct 2026 –
Piloted in Autumn 2025, the official program is being launched in 2026 with three courses of 15 to 20 hours of in-person sessions.
The courses are designed to establish a regional standard on which more can be built, eventually leading to the future Guide Certification.
The three courses were chosen for their relevance in the region and designed with input from guides, operators, field experts, and the Norwegian Guide Federation. We recommend all three for any kind of guide, whether or not they already have guiding experience.
Their content covers the most relevant topics, but given their short length, we encourage guides to complement them with other trainings. See our recommendations on this further down this page.
Information Meetings
We will host information online meetings to explain the courses and solve any doubts.
Dates of these meetings:
September 11th, 18th and 25th – 10:00AM
What This Program Aims To Do
Tromsø Guideforening is in an early reactivation phase, working to build a strong professional framework for guides in Northern Norway.
Our current focus is on creating a shared foundation for knowledge, skills and cooperation within the guiding community.
Establish A Shared Standard For Guide Training
By defining the minimum topics every guide in the region should be trained in.
Complement Internal Company Training
By adding to the training each company already provides to its own guides.
Give Access To Field Experts And Materials
By connecting guides with subject experts and reliable study materials.
Connect Guides & Tourism Stakeholders
By creating a meeting point between guides, academia, authorities, local representatives and companies.
What Comes Next
2025
Pilot stage
2026
3 courses launched
2027
More in depth courses
2028
Guide Certification
Over the next two years we will expand the course offering with longer and more in-depth courses until we reach the guide certification.
Part of the content of this year’s courses, as well as future ones, will be revalidated toward the guide certification. This means that a guide who takes a course this year won’t have to go through that content when pursuing the certificate.
It is a collaborative project
This project has been launched thanks to the collaboration of companies, guides, and authorities, and it intends to continue relying on them in order to keep growing. If you would like to contribute, the best way is by taking part in the training with enthusiasm and commitment, and by spreading the word so that as many guides as possible take it.
Partners
This project has been funded by Troms Fylkeskommune, and has the support of Visit Tromsø and all the experts who have personally contributed their time and experience.
Recommendations to complement your training
- Review the study references provided for the courses and practice implementing the knowledge during tours. Hearing it once during the course is far from enough. (Expect to invest at least the same amount of time on this as the duration of the lectures.)
- Complete any in-house training your company may offer. This usually covers at least internal procedures.
- Accompany more experienced guides on tours to become familiar with the field work. 2 to 3 tours if you have previous experience as a guide, 4 or more if you are just starting out.
- Guide tours under the supervision of a more experienced guide once or twice if it’s your first time guiding.
- Practice procedures for emerging situations — for example, in case of an accident, or how to handle a difficult guest.
- Each company can add more content to the training. The more conscientiously it is practiced, the better the resulting work will be.
- Stay tuned for more courses organized or referred by TGF.
