Hovden offers excellent cross-country trails and a large alpine ski resort. It is located at the northernmost part of Agder. Cross-country skis, alpine equipment, and snowboards can be rented at reasonable prices in Hovden if you don’t bring your own, or borrowed for free from Bua. Most study programs visit Hovden during the school year, and you can expect some differences between the trips depending on the program. However, what they all have in common is a great atmosphere, cozy cabin life with a fire in the fireplace, and board games around the table!
What do the different classes do at Hovden?
Film class
Of course, we focus mainly on creating intense films during our trips to Hovden. You can expect long evenings and nights filled with filming — often within genres like horror. There’s also visits to the water park, movie nights, board games, and friendships that last a lifetime.
- 2 trips – autumn and winter
- Filmmaking in focus
- Socializing, cozy hangouts, and the opportunity for winter sports for those who want.
Outdoor Life and Photography
At the cabin, we enjoy late evenings with board games, food chosen by the class, and great conversations. From the cabin, we have panoramic views of the ski slopes and surrounding mountains. It’s only a short distance to cross-country trails, a water park, skating rink, shops, and the Hovden Ski Resort.
- Cross-country or alpine skiing — the choice is yours.
- Snow cave trip — if conditions allow.
- Hovden Water Park
- Taco night at the cabin is a must.
- Action shots of each other on the ski slopes.
Biology
Autumn Trip to Hovden
At Hovden, we’ll learn about mountain ecology and how different species adapt to life in the highlands. You’ll get to know the plants and animals that live in the birch forest zone and up on the windswept mountain plateaus. We’ll cook delicious food, enjoy cozy campfires, and go on mountain hikes where we might encounter angry lemmings, camouflaged ptarmigans, and majestic buzzards.
There will be time for idyllic swims in crystal-clear mountain lakes – or perhaps a soak in the jacuzzi at the local water park. Of course, we’ll also enjoy cabin life with heaps of candy and cocoa, a crackling fireplace, and a grand autumn harvest celebration where we decorate the cabin in fall colors and cook meals using berries and mushrooms we’ve gathered ourselves.
We’ll also explore how autumn is a time of transition in nature — a season for slowing down, for mystery, and for reflection — and learn how different cultures have celebrated and honored this time of year.
Travel – Outdoor Adventure
Vi bruker skolens hytte som base for langrenn, alpint, snøhuletur og Hovden badeland. Hovden byr blandt annet på flotte langrennsløyper og et stort alpinanlegg. Langrennski, alpint, og snowboard kan leies rimelig på Hovden eller vi kan låne på Bua i Kristiansand dersom du ikke har dette med hjemmefra. På kveldene koser vi oss med taco, pizza og brettspill og lader opp til neste dag
- Cross-country or Alpine Skiing.
- If conditions allow, we’ll build and sleep in snow caves — a true Arctic adventure
- Hovden Water Park
Global Development
At the cabin, we let the world spin on while we relax and find peace in the heart of the Norwegian mountains.
Here, there’s time to simply be. We cook delicious meals together, fill the candy bowls to the brim, and settle in for real conversations — the kind that only happen when phones are charging and laughter flows freely.
During the day, we strap on our skis and head out — whether you want to speed down the slopes, glide through the mountains, or splash around at the water park, your days are yours to enjoy as you wish.
Norwegian Language & Culture
Trip to our own Agder folkehøgskole cabin, through the Setesdal valley and up into the village named Hovden. It is approximately 3-4 hours to drive with our minibus and many cultural spots on the way to visit. Our own cabin consists of 16 beds at 5 bedrooms, 1 bathroom with shower and a toilet, an additional toilet, kitchen and a large living room. Large terrace outside and a great view to Hovden.10 minutes’ walk from our parking place.
During this trip, there will a whole day where you rent skis and will practise cross country skiing. For those who are more experienced, you can go downhill or snowboard at the skiing centre. One of the days you will also have the possibility to go to Hovden spa & Aqualand for a chill day in warm water.
The Agder cabin is a loved place and often used more than just one time by the international class. There are great hiking areas around here and Hovden is a middle spot on the way from the south to the west part of Norway. A beautiful place to visit all around the year.
Travel and Development
Traditionally, we visit the school’s cabin at the winter sports resort Hovden twice during the school year.
The first trip usually takes place around the autumn break, often the week right after the holiday, and the second trip happens when the snow has settled on the slopes and trails.
