Norway is a beautiful country. That’s something most tourists, and definitely Norwegians, agree on. The country is rich in both nature, culture and peaceful cities which provide the perfect holiday for adventurers and young explorers. Norway ranks on the 17th place in the World Economic Forum's Travel and Tourism Competitiveness Report. Every Norwegian is known to the fact that tourism is a big industry. Even in this wealthy oil nation. One in every 15 Norwegians work either full-time or part-time in tourism. Although most people compare the climate in Norway with Siberia or even Alaska. Thus they expect the tourism to be in seasons, this is not really the reality. Even though tourism is bigger in the months between May and August, the winter months provide a beautiful opportunity to do some different things than people usually do in their daily lives. Especially if you live your life in the more southern countries of the globe.
With all the opportunities Norway provides it can be confusing for first time visitors to figure out what to do. Of course you could step up to one of those big travel companies and let them plan your trip for you. My advice would be to plan your trip by someone that has more local knowledge to Norway. You have to keep in mind that Norway in itself is an adventure. And for having a good adventure guide you need someone that has knowledge to what you as a tourist want to see, plus someone that is raised in the Norwegian wilderness.
To make it all a little bit easier for you. I’ve made a top 7 list of the Norwegians favourite holiday activities. Starting with nothing else than; hiking.
With all the opportunities Norway provides it can be confusing for first time visitors to figure out what to do. Of course you could step up to one of those big travel companies and let them plan your trip for you. My advice would be to plan your trip by someone that has more local knowledge to Norway. You have to keep in mind that Norway in itself is an adventure. And for having a good adventure guide you need someone that has knowledge to what you as a tourist want to see, plus someone that is raised in the Norwegian wilderness.
To make it all a little bit easier for you. I’ve made a top 7 list of the Norwegians favourite holiday activities. Starting with nothing else than; hiking.
1. Hiking
Norwegians just love to go hiking. It’s a big part of their
lives and cultures. In cultural Norway you’ll find that even on wedding eve,
they’ll be on a hike. Starting at first grade, they’ll already feed in the
hiking culture by spoon. Therefore, Norway is the number one place to hike. You
just have to know when and how, and you’ll be totally safe. The high mountains,
huge forests, many lakes and much more… provide the perfect playground for
adventurers. There is even a law in Norway called allemannsretten. The law allows you somewhat freedom within
exploring the rich nature of Norway.
2. Mountaineering
Mountaineering is a unique sport that is dangerous for many
obvious reasons. In Norway the highest peaks are located in Jotunheimen. The Viking
term for the world of trolls. They believed that trolls inhabited the mountains
and lived there. Therefore, it was once in history left untouched. Which is
true for a big part now as well. Only the toughest of Vikings would dare to
walk up the mountain peaks. Even crossing them for some. These mountains are
beautifully landscaped and are just a perfect harmony between nature,
landscapes and the mind. The highest peak is 2469 meters high.
3. Paddling
Ever rowed a boat before? Ever paddled a kayak or canoe before?
Well, in Norway we’ve got more than 450,000 freshwater lakes and bodies. Which
is a number higher than any other Scandinavian country. Well above most
countries in the world. The most amazing fact about those lakes is the
freshness of the water. All the lakes contain drinking water. If, of course,
you use common sense. It’s for example not advised for tourists to drink from
lakes which are inhabited with beavers.
4. Fishing
Everyone knows the fishing culture in Norway. Fish can be
found in every condition. From very well baked too dried, and even rotten… Or
that’s how some people would describe rakfisk.
For hobby fishers there are endless opportunities in both fresh and salt water.
Salt water is open to fishing for everyone. For freshwater some places require
a fiskekort or fishing permit. This
can easily be acquired by the owner or at a local gas station. Some also
provide the possibility for buying it online through your phone. Trout, salmon,
perch, pike and more… are common fish to catch in fresh water. In the sea you
can find numerous types of both fish and shells that are edible.
5. Boating
Everyone has probably heard the Norwegians and their boats.
All kind of boats can be seen all over the country. From bigger boats to
smaller. Norway has countless of boat makers all over the country. There are a
total of more than 88 types of boats. Here they’ve got more names for boats
than they have got car brands. That says a lot. The coasts are beautifully
filled with fauna and flora. Many fjords that go amazingly deep into the
country. There are a total of 239,057 registered islands. Which you can explore
freely, if they’re uninhabited.
6. Road Trip
A road trip is one of the only ways if you freely want to
explore the more than 2500 km long country. If you want to follow the coastline,
from the Swedish border to the Russian, then it’ll be about 25,000 km. Although
no road is available that perfectly follows that 25,000 km coastline, you can
still follow a touristic road with beautiful sightseeing panoramas. You’ll also
have the possibility to take many ferries over the beautiful fjords and seas. The
roads don’t present much like people know them down in Europe. The highway is
only two lanes wide. One going in each direction. That counts for most of the
country. Swingy roads, like Trollstigen,
are typical here.
7. Railroad Tour
For most people, a railroad tour sounds like a trip down in
the tubes of the subway. Busy city life. And crowded cities surrounding those
two metal tracks going lane beside lane. Well, … In Norway that’s basically the
opposite. There is about 4000 km of railroad in Norway. With only 242 km being
a double track. So you can imagine, not many trains will pass in a day. Majority
of those 4000 km runs in the Norwegian countryside. Through mountains and
forests. Train stations can be found on top of a mountain, really in the middle
of nowhere. Just so that hikers can step off, and on. Or there could of course
be a house located there. A house on a mountain top with no electricity or
public connections. Except for the railroad. The track itself feels more like a
rollercoaster, but with smiling service and comfort.
Bonus point: Skiing
Norwegians just love skiing. Everything that involves gliding and snow. Kids are more outside during winter compared to the summer. Snowboarding, slalom skiing, cross-country skiing, and igloo camping. They like it, they dream about and they are usually best at it too
Very nice article.
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