Wilderness Vision AS Reviews 19

The whole experience was amazing, from the organization and the support, the beautiful land welcoming our quest to the wonderful human beings accompanying and guiding us on our quest. The guides' experience, ethics, and skills helped me feel safe and created space for a profound experience. This moment they offered, guided, supported was one of the most meaningful experience of my life.

I took part in the Vision Quest 2026 with Manuel. It was a highly valuable experience from beginning to end. I was initially drawn to the program because of its unique offering and the stunning natural setting where Wilderness Vision operates. From the very first moments, the connection with Manuel felt warm, genuine, and deeply reassuring.
The environment and the quest site are truly breathtaking. Nestled between Jotunheimen National Park—with its majestic mountain views—and the vast landscapes of Rondane, Breheimen, and Reinheimen, the location is an incredibly powerful area, rich in energy and history—an ideal place to embark on a vision quest.
The guidance throughout the process was highly conscious, attentive, and always focused on protecting the integrity of the quest. What stood out most to me was the personal, individual approach of the protectors. There was a consistent invitation to go inward and fully engage with your own process.
We were constantly offered meaningful reflections, which deepened the experience further. It gently yet firmly encouraged us to search within for answers to our quest questions—or to allow those answers to unfold in their own time. This approach fostered a deep sense of inner calm and helped me to connect more with my own personal energy.
The four days of solitude were incredibly powerful, creating the perfect conditions for profound self-reflection and for grounding oneself deeply in connection with the potent energies of Norwegian nature.
This is a unique and transformative journey—one that, in hindsight, proves to be even more valuable than you can fully grasp in the moment itself.
Thank you, Manuel, for this unforgettable life experience.

Back now for a few days in normal life. The contrast with a week earlier is stark. Manuel's Wilderness Vision shows you that you can still live a slow pace, back to the bare basics life in 2026.

No phone (sealed in an envelop, only the weak will break it open ;-), not even a watch (you got the sun to tell you, no? - in the end, yes).

No electricity, no central heating - but plenty of candles, firewood and a gas stove in a cozy hut with a killer view.

Days are planned but have some flex. A must when dealing with weather and group dynamics. Our weather was not a tough as i thought. Pretty great actually. But the snow conditions suffered under the sun. This made cross country trekking on spartan wooden.. i'm going to go with 'skis'. Pretty challenging at times. I was unimpressed with them initially but came to admire them as the week progressed.

We trekked with backpacks and sleds through the wilderness. Like - through- the wilderness. No path, ploughing with sled and between and around trees and over bushes (useful to scrape the sticky now from under your skis). Down, but also up! These wooden miracles can do it all!

Food was proper, fresh and local. Trout, moose (yes!), reindeer, and veggie options.

Manuel knows his stuff, he's the real deal. His bio is no joke. And a nice and open guy too. He let us make mistakes and correct them, was patient and knowledgable (just needs to work on his knots explanation analogies though.. "snakes diving into pools, chasing worms" haha).

If you want to learn how to survive in harsh conditions, see a proper starry night, sleep outside, tie knots, build camps, learn map and compass reading and digital detox and not see any other people then your group for a bit? Do this! Worth every euro.

It was out of this world! We were in wilderness that is in the winter untouched by a human. All covered under heavy snow. The only way you can move around is on the skis or snow shoes as the snow is too deep and there are no paths. You start your day with sunrise and finish with sunset, in between you have no notion of time. We learned to tell the time by “reading” the sun. We navigated through landscape- lakes, mountains, forests just using map and compass, learned about potential dangerous terrains and how to spot them. Learned about different shelters, when to use them, how to build them and how to sleep in them. If you want to be warm you need to collect wood and start your own fire, melt snow to have water. Days flow differently, nothing is given, you need to work for your comfort. No contact with modern world. It felt very freeing being away from the modern world.

I brought back home last bits of water that come from the snow where we camped during our multi-day expedition. It tastes like a forest and a fire! Something I have been sharing with my friends as a way to bring them closer to what my world was at that time.

Reason why it felt so special is because our guide Manu created space that felt safe. Safe to try, safe to dare, safe to share.

Thank you for giving us this memory!

I've attended the mid March Wilderness Course and the experience was incredible. After we met the group we immediately put on our ski's and trekked to a beautiful cabin in the mountains. This cabin would be the base camp for our trip. It's basic but extremely cozy and has all necessary facilities including a large fireplace to keep us warm. From there we did multiple day trips combining crossing the beautiful Norwegian mountains and lakes by ski and learning a new survival skill (i.e. making shelter, making fire, navigation). After spending the full day outdoor we would come back to the cabin and make a fire, cook dinner, have nice talks and sometimes if we would not be too tired Manuel (our guide) would learn us additional theory about surviving in harsh outdoor conditions. This all would prepare us for our overnight trip where we would go deep into the Norwegian mountains, search for a good place to setup camp and sleep outside underneath the stars. This is definetely an experience you would take with you for the rest of your life and will give you perspective on a lot of things. Even being completely offline (no phone for a week) is by itself a unique experience. One tip for if you decide to go: take the packing instructions seriously. The Norwegian outdoors are beautiful but also harsh and the right equipment can really make a difference.

I joined the winter wilderness course in January 2026. The course was guided by Manuel, Marie and Leon.

It's tough to describe my experience in a review, because there is so much to say! In a few words, the course was an intense and very special experience, that I will be looking back on fondly for some time to come.

The course was structured roughly as follows: we stayed inside a cabin for 4 nights (or just outside, the nights we felt brave enough), then we went out into the wilderness for 2 nights, returned, and slept 1 more night in the cabin.

In the three full days we had in the hut, we had a lecture by Manuel in the morning and went out in the afternoon to experience some of what we had learned. An example: one of the days, we learned all about shelter types in different winter circumstances. In the afternoon, we went out to build two different types of snow shelters. Manuel is a knowledgeable and enthusiastic teacher, and the lectures were both interesting and fun. Combining what we learned with actually experiencing it out in the winter landscape worked incredibly well, and is without exaggeration one of the most lively and fun experiences I've had learning anything.

After our time in the hut, we went out to experience the winter wilderness for two nights. I found it both tough and rewarding. Our days learning in the hut had prepared us well, but staying out at temperatures of -20°, without the warmth and safety of a hut to return to, was still no easy feat! Though it was a real adventure, Marie and Leon were always there with a calm and kind word. And though there was room to try, fail and learn, their guidance and care made me feel safe, and gave us the opportunity to experience the winter forest around us more fully.

Before the course, I had been a bit anxious about being so close with a group of strangers for a week. I would describe myself as introverted, and though I don't dislike meeting new people, I was afraid that being together so much would be awkward and draining. I'm happy to say that this was not the case at all. Manuel, Marie and Leon were great at shaping a welcoming, familial and trusting atmosphere, and it was clear from the beginning that everyone in the group was considerate and looking out for each other. There was a lot of joy and laughter, and a whole bunch of little heartwarming moments that put a smile on my face when I think of them.

There is still much I could say about the course, but this is probably more than enough already. Let me end with this: Did you know that there is a weather condition called 'diamond dust'? It can be described as a mist of tiny ice crystals, and generally forms at clear skies at temperatures well below zero. The day we went up the mountain by the cabin, it made the very air seem to quiver and shimmer in the pale yellow sunlight.

The winter wilderness survival course was a physical, mental, educational, emotional and in many ways a spiritual journey where I learnt winter-craft and also how to work in a team.

We pushed our limits but never felt unsafe or in danger and learnt how to work and survive as a team in -25°c temperatures, and we learnt how embrace what the nature has to offer us, from the extreme cold, to the solutions and resources that are available to keep us warm (including building various shelters, open fires from available material, sleeping in cold etc.).
Not having the phone/watch was also a unique experience as I felt more present to what is happening around me and enjoy the unadulterated presence of others around me.

Witnessing leadership from Manuel, Marie and Leon was inspiring and they provided us the right training and guidance and ensure we never felt unsafe. The team/guides are also very environmentally conscious and dedicatedly adhere to sustainable travel, enjoyment and 'Leave No Trace' principles.

Needless to say the nature was spectacular.

It was one of the best holiday experience for me and I highly recommend it to anyone who is fit enough to participate.

My time in the forest with Marie as a guide and mentor was a really special experience, and one that will stay with me. Marie is an amazing guide, and her ability to create a space of trust, calm and belonging had a huge impact on me. Her natural abilities in holding space gave me the opportunity to foster a deeper connection with myself, whilst being immersed in nature. Letting go of daily distractions such as having a phone, constantly knowing the time, or having a tight schedule was such a fulfilling experience, one that we don't often have the possibility for in a busy life.

The process ahead of the retreat was also gentle, and intentional. The guidance was clear and I was able to prepare both my mind and body, without feeling any pressure. I had 24 hour solo time including fasting during the retreat, something which was completely new for me. But all throughout, I felt safe, and emerged from the whole experience feeling profoundly peaceful and with a simple happiness within me.

For anyone seeking something different, or longing for a deeper connection to the self, I would absolutely recommend Wilderness Vision with Marie and Manuel. Their retreats are really designed with intention and care from the beginning to the end.

Thank you x

The Human-Nature-Quest guided by Manuel and Thoralf is a very unique experience. It deeply brings together the harmony of nature, the values of community and the space for inner self reflection. In the process this week provided we went through many layers, I myself felt myself going deeper into my layers each day. It is a beautiful way to come closer to yourself, to truly see where you stand in life and what is holding you back. A lot of time and space is created for this. This quest takes your through your depths and then uplifts your essence to a new inspired light. At the end of the week I felt renewed, in deep connection with myself, the nature and the people I shared the week with. I thank the commitment of Manuel and Thoralf to guide participants through this process, and find it most inspiring to see the guides share and participate in this process as deeply as we participants did.

My experience with Manuel & Suzanne facilitating my Vision Quest was outstanding, deep and full of awareness and great facilitation starting with the intake, the Quest itself and the aftercare. They made it possible to create an experience with my heart, an experience and learning about the nature and about life and feeling what it means to be alive and sowing seeds, which became possible next steps in my relationship(s) and my consciousness in life and work.

Manuel is a very grounded man, caring for the people in the process with his heart, head and hands, a great listener and a very independent leader. He helped me in all the ways needed to step into this experience as prepared as could be. Susanne was great in holding the space, putting ends together after introducing and 'lecturing' about what it could be to experience this Quest and give her perspective on things after the Quest.

If you are looking for a profound trajectory of self-development, based on old wisdom and tools, I highly recommend you to contact Manuel to feel and understand what a Vision Quest could mean for you.

After I met Manuel in 2010 for the first time in my life we used the payoff Welcome Home. This goes for my whole experience, within myself, and for the heartfelt and innate great facilitation of my Quest.

I had an initial call with Manuel to discuss whether the Vision Quest was something for me. This early focus on my goals and meeting with Manuel set the tone for my commitment over the following months culminating in the Quest itself. I decided quickly this was the right thing for me at this stage in my life and with acceptance on the Quest, materials followed which spoke to my heart and mind demanding courage and commitment which already provided a new momentum in my life.

Manuel is grounded, caring and independent. It was always my Quest … which he supported through advice on preparations in the lead up, sharing of skills at base camp with the four of us ‘questing’ before providing more context and tools on our return. The Quest was exactly the test and opportunity I was looking to introduce into my life. Sharing his own experiences with questing in his deeply personal, no nonsense and humourful way, Manuel was a courageous, respectful guide who we were all glad to have in the background protecting our individual adventures.

I would certainly recommend discussing with Manuel if you are wondering what a Vision Quest is or already know and are looking for the right set up. An early discussion and commitment was good for me so I had time to focus on and deal with different aspects. The four day fast was surprisingly easy (I think we were well-prepared finally at base camp for that); the cold was a challenge which I think supported my process by giving a clear (!) structure to the 4 days in the wilderness; the nature in Norway and particularly where we were is beautiful. After the 8 days, I spent a night in Lillehammer and two in Oslo which seemed like the perfect amount of time to adjust. Oslo was a good mix of nature and busyness and I got lucky with beautiful spring weather.

I would highly recommend a Vision Quest with Manuel.

Both Manuel and Marie are excellent guides that teach and live unique natural outdoor skills. The winter course teaches such a broad array of winter and outdoor skills, while you are also diving into a wilderness experience. They are great hosts and experienced in guiding participants through the process of such a course.

I had an unforgettable experience on an expedition in Sjodalen, Norway, with WildernessVision. Spending three nights in a bivouac camp at temperatures as low as -25°C was extreme but absolutely incredible. Our guide Manu was not only highly professional but also incredibly kind and supportive, making the experience both safe and enjoyable. He provided expert guidance, and I learned so much about survival and the outdoors. It was a truly unique adventure that pushed my limits in the best way possible.

This winter course was a truly unique experience. Without a phone, watch, electricity, or internet, but with breathtaking landscapes, a small group, delicious food, and a pair of wooden skis, we had the opportunity to learn a lot about winter in Norway and experience everything firsthand. Everything we needed as a group was provided, and anything that wasn’t, we simply didn’t need.

I would recommend the courses to anyone with a basic level of fitness. No special prior knowledge or expensive equipment is required for the trip.

Amazing company that ran the winter course Jan 2025 that I attended. The Instructors were brilliant at providing a safe yet challenging environment that allowed me to fully enjoy a truly unique winter bushcraft experience. They could not have been more helpful and encouraging. I would 100% recommend to anyone interested.

The location is magnificent, the course is very well prepared and led by people who truly believe in what they, all material is available and there is room for getting information and training on specific topics which you are more interested in.

As a Norwegian with long experience for outdoor living, I do really recommend this Company for their wilderness courses. They have a high standard on their lectures, mixed with good support and much friendly atmosphere. And the food serving was also great, everything carefully prepared for us. I look forward to the next course!