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NORWAY

Thousands of little islands, peaceful majestic fjords cutting their way into a jugged coastline and glorious glittering glaciers making their way to the shores - Norway's landscape is stunningly beautiful and makes for a wonderful setting for outdoor activities.

A wide range of outdoor adventures can be pretty much enjoyed all year long. If you are looking for endless summer sun or the magical Northern lights occurring over the winter months, Norway offers you just the right possibility to get active and close to nature no matter the season. If you wish to explore the Western fjords, discover the beautiful Lofoten islands or venture off to the North Cape, you will be met with a wonderful scenery and welcoming people no matter where you go. Further, you will find some of the most beautiful villages and stylish cities buzzing with vibrant cultural life around heritage, arts, music and food.

Adventure Holidays Destinations

ABOUT NORWAY

Adventure Holidays Destinations

Norway is the most Western of the Scandinavian countries in Europe and it is also the country in Europe which stretches the furthest up North. The country borders on Sweden in the East and Finland and Russia in the Northeast. In the South, Norway meets with the Northern sea at the Skagerrak while the Norwegian sea lies to the West and the Barents Sea to the North. Overall, Norway has a size of 385,199 km2, which includes Bear Island, Svalbard and Jan Mayen in the northern Barents Sea, the Bouvet Peter I islands in the South Atlantic and the Queen Maud mountains in Antarctica. Mainland Norway’s coastline alone is nearly as long as half of the equator and from North to South, the country stretches over around 1,800km.
From the Cape Nordkinn, the most northern point in Europe, to the Pysen in Lindesnes, the most Southern point, Norway has of the longest and most rugged coastlines in the world. Most of the country is shaped by rock and water and only 3% of Norwegian land can be used for agriculture. Mountain ranges rise behind the coast, whose peaks are often covered in snow and ice, also over the summer months. Much of the countryside does not carry any vegetation at all. Most of the more than 1,700 Norwegian glaciers are quite young and only formed around 500BC due to a change in climate.
Norway is divided into five main areas - Sørlandet in the South, Vestlandet in the West, Östlandet in the East, Tröndelag around the Trondheimsfjord and Nord-Norge in Northern Norway. Around half of the country’s population lives in Östlandet, taking up a third of Norway. The highest peak of Norway, Jotunheimen with an elevation of 2,469m, can be found in Westland. Forests and agricultural land shape most of the countryside while alpine vegetation is typical in higher areas over 1,000m and in Northern Norway, where agriculture is hardly possible.
The coastline is dominated by fjords deeply carving their way into the land. The western fjords area between Stavanger and Molde is home to the most impressive fjords, often reaching considerable depth and framed by high, steep rock walls. The Sognefjord with a length of 183km and a depth of 1,308m is the biggest fjord in Norway. “Fjell”, a bare high plateau with lakes and rocks formed during the Ice Age, is another Norwegian characteristic landscape. Hardangervidda National Park between Oslo and Bergen is considered to be the most distinctive fjell in Norway.

Adventure Holidays Destinations

Adventure Holidays Destinations

ADVENTURES, ACTIVITIES AND MORE

Adventure Holidays Destinations

If you are looking to be blown away by the sheer beauty of nature and enjoy the great outdoors to the fullest, Norway is the right destination for you. Blessed with majestic fjords, impressive glaciers and stunning valleys, Norway offers a huge variety of outdoor activities of any kind. Poke through our selection of exciting activities, authentic experiences and family fun that will make your trip to Norway an adventure to remember for a lifetime.

REGIONS OF NORWAY

Adventure Holidays Destinations

Southern Norway - Sørlandet
The Sørlandet region is made off the province of Aust-Agder and Vest-Adger. With just 16,500km2, Sørlandet is the smallest region in Norway. The summers tend to be warm with long days and the villages and towns along the Skaggerrak are a popular destination for summer holidays. The idyllic Southern coastline is characterized by small rocky islands while the landscape is getting harsher and rugged as you move further Northwest. Wide sandy and rocky beaches are typical for the Jaeren region South of Stavanger.
Norway's South with it's beautiful archipelago made from thousands of islands and thesmall quirky fishing villages is a famous summer destination with plenty of water and fun activities waiting and the sandy beaches make this region of Norway a perfect family holiday spot.

Western Norway - Vestlandet
Western Norway stretches along the Western fjords from Stavanger to Kristiansund. The area is dominated by the impressive fjords that carved their way into the coast and formed a unique, stunning landscape. From naked rock regions to lush forests and green meadows, the landscape here is very varied and makes for an incredible road-trip adventure. The cosmopolitan towns of Stavanger and Bergen are the main centers in the region and both can be reached directly by plane.
Due to it's high mountains set between the calm, deep fjords, Western Norway is made for any kind of outdoor adventures. From hiking, cycling, kayaking, canoeing, rafting, glacier hiking, fishing and much more, this part of Norway will have you spoiled for choice with it's National Parks, majestic peaks, rugged coastline with fascinating little islands, wild glaciers, thundering waterfalls and impressive fjords.
Some of Norway's most iconic natural and man-made landmarks - including Preikestolen, the "Pulpit Rock" hanging above Lysefjorden, Trolltunga rock formation jutting out over the Ringedalsvatnet lake or the impressive Trollstigen serpentine road in Romsdal - all have their home in the Western fjord region of Norway. Further, you will find hundreds of fjords,from the UNESCO listed Geirangerfjord and Nærøyfjord to the Hardangerfjord and Sognefjord and the lesser known smaller fjords, which give this part of Norway their unrivalled characteristics and are waiting to be explored by kayak or a boat trip.
It is also a great way to discover Western Norway by train, with the Flåm Railway between Bergen and Oslo and the Rauma Railway in Romsdal being named among the most scenic railway journeys in Europe.
It takes time to travel the Western fjords of Norway, so plan to stay for a few weeks or focus on one part of the region to allow for plenty of time to discover, experience and explore.

Mid Norway - Trøndelag.
The Trøndelag region is the very heart of Norway with Trondheim as its centerpiece. While the cosmopolitan city boasts with student life and pretty waterfront bars and restaurants against the historic setting, the countryside is characterized by soft rolling hills and farmlands full of wheat and barley. The small settlements stretching along the coast are worth exploring and lakes and incised fjords are plentiful in this area.
With Trondheim as a foodie epi-centre, Trøndelag has been given the status of European region of Gastronomy in 2022. The region is renowned for it's world-class seafood and is a driving force behind Norway's local food boom. Especially in Trondheim, you will find Michelin starred restaurants and the annual food festival Trøndersk Matfestival. Or visit one of the monasteries or farms in the region which have specialized in the traditional production of local Norwegian cheeses. The UNESCO listed old mining town of Røros is also famous for it's world-class local food.
Norway's "Golden Road" will take you along rolling hillside terrain and calm fjords and it's an experience to discover this part of Norway with its history and traditions by bike. Further North, you can follow the coastal road Kystriksveien, which runs all the way to Bodø in Northern Norway. The extremely scenic route takes you 650km along the coast through divine nature and cute traditional fishing villages.
Trøndelag is home to seven National Parks, including Dovrefjell National Park, the only place in Europe where you can observe the mighty musk oxen in their natural habitat.

Eastern Norway - Østlandet
Østlandet combines eight provinces and is the most populated are in Norway. In fact, around a third of the Norwegian population lives in this area and Østlandet is also home to the Norwegian capital Oslo. The region is characterized by mountain ranges and is a popular area for hiking over the summer and for skiing over the winter months. Wide forests and large lakes are spread over the region, making it a popular destination for walking, fishing and swimming.
Much thanks to the Norwegian capital, this part of Norway is very much known for it's vibrant culture and art scene with many museums, galleries, concert halls and heritage sites to be found in the area, not only in Oslo.
Several of Norway's national parks are located in this area of Norway - including Jotunheimen, Norway's largest national park and home to Norway's highest peaks, or Gaustatoppen, the "roof of Norway" located in the Southern Telemark region - making the region a paradise for outdoor enthusiasts and offering plenty of options for thrilling activities including mountain biking, hiking, zip-lining, rafting, skiing, climbing or canyoning.
The small villages along the Eastern and Western coastline along the Oslo fjord are easily explored from Oslo and they are also a great destination to travel back in time with some of the best Viking experiences in Norway to be found in this area.
Eastern Norway also offers great options to explore the area at a slower pace - for example by taking a cruise on a traditional boat along the historic Telemark Canal or on any of the smaller lakes and waterways in the region.

Northern Norway - Nord-Norge
The Northern region of Norway runs along the Northwestern coast from Helgeland at its South to the Northern Cape at the Northern end of the European continent. While the interior is characterized by bizarre mountain structures and colorful rock formations, the coastline of Northern Norway is rugged with many fjords and flat lowlands with white sandy beaches. Small islands with steep mountains and a rugged coastline are typical for the area all the way up to Northern Norway's cool capital Tromsø with the Lofoten, Vesterålen being the largest and most spectacular ones. The coastal road Kystriksveien continues along the coastline of Northern Norway, passing the little islands along the Helgeland coast and scenic spots like the UNESCO listed Vega islands!
It is no surprise that Northern Norway is a great destination for watersports - including kayaking, sailing or surfing. During the winter months, you can embrace the snow and go ski touring or dog sledding.
Half way up to Northern Norway, you will cross the Arctic Circle and the closer you get to the North Cape, the more surreal the landscape becomes. The population of the area is scarce with just 4,1 people per square kilometer and most of the 463,000 people living in Northern Norway are in the bigger centers like Tromsø, Bodø or Vadsø. The Northern area is also home to the indigenous Sami culture, which encompasses the Northern parts of Norway, Sweden, Finland and the Kola peninsula in Russia.
Thanks to it's far North location, there is no question that Northern Norway is among the best places in the country to admire the Northern lights during the darker months. On the other hand, here you will also be able to experience the never setting midnight sun over the summer months.
Whale's a popular and frequent residents of Northern Norway and specialized RIP and whale safari tours take you to the open waters to observe the gentle giants of the Atlantic ocean in their natural habitat.
Northern Norway also comes with its very own style of Norwegian local cuisine. Fishing is great all year round no matter the season, but if you visit over the winter months, you might be lucky to witness the Atlantic cod migration or to encounter king crabs! Besides, you will also widely find unique meat dishes on the menus - like reindeer meat!

Adventure Holidays Destinations

TRAVEL INFORMATION

Adventure Holidays Destinations

Practical tips on traveling to Norway, festivities, events - all gathered here for you.

TRAVEL BONANZA

Adventure Holidays Destinations

Visit our travel bonanza for stories, adventure inspiration, facts and all kinds of stuff about Norway.

Adventure Holidays Destinations

Adventure  Holidays Destinations

Image by Sander Lenaerts

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