Norway is an incredible country to explore for everyone who loves being outdoors and active. The scenery will captivate you with its grandeur and diversity. There are stunning seascapes, immense mountains, glaciers, lakes, forests, and deep fjords all awaiting discovery on foot, by bike or kayak.
Our Latest Norway Articles
- Self-Book A Norwegian Adventure. Compare With The Best Tours
We’ve researched the most popular, best value adventure holidays to the Norwegian fjords and compared them to our freely available Norwegian Adventure Holiday that you can self-book. We look at all the pros and cons between the tours, and the huge savings that can be achieved by booking yourself. - The Best Activity Holiday Itinerary In The Norwegian Fjords
This article gives you all the information needed to easily plan and book your own activity holiday in the Norwegian fjords for one third of the cost of joining an organised tour. Norway is an ideal country for self-booking because there aren’t many organised tours and those that do exist are very expensive. Booking yourself… - Kayaking Norway’s Most Beautiful Fjord – A Trip Report
There’s no better way to experience the majesty of Norway’s fjords than by kayaking. Being so close to the water makes you feel at one with the environment. You become a part of it, rather than a mere observer. This trip report details a guided kayak trip which took us along the Nærøyfjord, UNESCO listed… - Cycling The Rallarvegen: The Most Complete Guide
Welcome to the most breathtaking Norwegian cycling experience – The Rallarvegen. It’s located amidst the stunning landscapes of Norway, and is an iconic cycling route. It takes you from the high mountain plateau down to the picturesque Aurlandsfjord. The route combines history, incredible scenery, and exhilarating terrain.
Weather
The weather in Norway is usually good in July, August, and early September, which is the best time for our Norwegian Fjord Activity Holiday, Kayak Trip and Rallarvegen Cycle.
You can expect highs of 22C and lows of 13C, along the Rallarvegen you are higher up so expect highs of 13C and lows of 6C. You’ll need warm clothing if you do a glacier hike. Plan for a mix of rain and sunshine.
Costs
Norway is an expensive country, but NOK (Norwegian Kroner) hit historic lows in 2023 against USD, GBP and EUR making it less expensive than it was.
One of the biggest ways to save money in Norway is to buy some of your food from supermarkets and local shops. You’ll never be short of great picnic spots. We ate well enjoying fresh bread, local cheese, fruit, honey, pastries and yoghurt for breakfast and lunch, everything tastes good outdoors.
A main course in an average restaurant costs around £25. 0.5l of beer costs £3 in a supermarket, £7.50 in a bar. A cappuccino costs £4.50.
Bring a water bottle to save money and reduce plastic waste.
Camping for part of the trip will make significant savings. With a short summer season, accommodation has high demand. You could even justify buying a new tent with the savings you’ll make!
Food and Drink
Many Norwegian restaurants focus on fresh, local produce and of course fish and seafood feature heavily. Dietary requirements including gluten free, vegetarian and vegan are very well catered for. Most hotels have a separate gluten free section for breakfast buffets offering bread, muesli and cereals in addition to plenty of naturally gluten free foods such as meat, fish, eggs and fresh fruit. Dairy free milk and spreads are almost always available.
Every town has a supermarket, and they always have a ‘free from’ section. We found gluten free waffle mix for quick and delicious camp breakfasts. We bought our food for camping and picnic lunches from supermarkets and ate out when we were in towns and villages. There are often roadside stalls selling fresh cheese, honey and berries.
Wild Camping
You can wild camp responsibly almost anywhere in Norway if you follow some simple rules which include staying at least 150m away from the nearest house or cabin. We prefer camping well out of sight of any habitation and this was easy here. This ‘Allermansland’, or All Man’s Land gives you the right to roam and enabled us to enjoy some magical camping spots.
Is Norway Safe?
Norway is a very safe country, so much so, that people don’t even lock their bikes.
The people are friendly, inclusive and almost everyone speaks English. It’s essential to have Travel insurance for any trip. When purchasing, make sure that it covers you for any activities that you plan to do.
Norway is a wonderful destination, have a look at our articles on Norway for inspiration on what to do.
Getting Here and Transport
Bergen airport is the best place to arrive if you are following our Norwegian Fjord Adventure Holiday. It’s well connected with frequent flights to most major European airports. If it’s easier for you to fly to Oslo, start your journey with the scenic train ride to Bergen, or get off halfway at Haugastøl to jump straight into our three-day Rallarvegen cycling and wild camping adventure.
There are two good options for getting from Bergen Airport to the city centre:
| Transport | Time from Airport to Centre | Price per Person | Frequency |
| Airport Bus ‘Flybussen’ | 30 minutes | NOK149 online NOK179 on bus | Every 20-30 mins |
| Bergen Light Rail ‘Bybanen’ | 45 minutes | NOK40 | Every 5-15 mins |
The airport isn’t far from the city centre so there’s no need to take more expensive taxis or private transfers.
The airport bus, Flybussen, departs from directly outside the arrival’s terminal at stop A5, there are ticket machines here. All upcoming stops are displayed on the bus. Your accommodation confirmation will usually tell you the nearest stop.
The light rail, Bybanen line 1, is a bit slower but cheaper. It departs from the airport terminal and is well signposted.
Car rental from the airports in Norway can be very expensive so we recommend using public transport where possible then hiring a car from a smaller town for a few days. We recommend Hertz in Voss.
If you do hire from an airport Discover Cars offer the most choice and best prices.
We don’t always seek the cheapest option, but we do like value for money. We’ll usually suggest different options to suit different budgets. This is particularly relevant for accommodation, as where you stay often has the biggest impact on trip costs.
Rental Insurance. We never take out the extra insurance offered by car rental companies as you can get this far cheaper by booking with a specialist company before you travel.
Useful Links
Explore the World with Us
Low Cost Car Hire
Car hire can be expensive, so we recommend Discover Cars for providing the best price in almost every location.
Amazing Tours
Get your Guide provides an excellent array of creative tours. They are recommended by us and many other travel specialists.
Easy Accommodation
We find that Hotels.com provides excellent flexibility for fast changing itineraries, and the widest selection of places to stay.
Ideal Flights
We recommend SkyScanner for the best availability of low cost flights.
Reliable Equipment
You can’t afford to have your equipment let you down, and so we recommend Cotswold Outdoor for their clarity, selection and focus on quality
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