For those of us who aren’t content with just relaxing on holiday and need something planned that really gets the blood pumping, then a trip to Norway could help to satisfy your craving for danger.
800m high above the ground and the village of Loen in the Nordfjord region, you’ll find the floating stairway known as Stigull.
This impressive 40-metre-long, height-defying structure, almost 800 metres above the Nordfjorden fjord, offers visitors a thrilling experience and unforgettable panoramic views.
According to Per Helge Bø, chief operating officer of Loen Active – the company behind Stigull – the stairway is “not for the faint-hearted”. Helge Bø told CNN: “Most people can get a bit shaky in their legs,” referring to the thrill and adrenaline rush of climbing the structure.
The floating stairway is the latest addition to the increasingly popular adventurer scene in Loen. It is part of the village’s extensive “Via Ferrata” climbing route, which uses steel cables and fixed ladders to assist climbers in their ascent.
The stairway, with 120 steps and a 45-degree angle, can only be tackled by climbers who have already started their ascent on the Via Ferrata to the top of Mount Hoven, which reaches about 1,000 metres above sea level. This ensures that adventurers will already be quite high when they start tackling this challenging stretch.
Helge Bø explained: “If you dare to look around you, you can see the spectacular scenery of the fjords, with their glittering, majestic peaks, the huge cliff and the narrow gorge right next to you.
“This is an adventurous experience for all climbing enthusiasts. The stairway has a relatively low level of difficulty, but it feels very airy, so the sense of achievement is excellent when climbing this stage. It really feels as if people are floating on air.”
One of the highlights of the Stigull stairway experience is the reward of reaching the top of Mount Hoven, where climbers can enjoy breathtaking views of the bright blue water of the fjord, framed by majestic mountains and clouds.
As well as this, visitors will find a restaurant at the top of Mount Hoven where they can relax and enjoy a meal. They can also access a cable car that will take them back to ground level in just five minutes.
Helge Bø told CNN that he expects Stigull to become a major attraction in the northern summer of 2024. Prices for guided climbing on the Loen Via Ferrata start at NOK 1,695 (about £126.45) for adults.