Explore Norway Sustainably: 4 Tips for Eco-Friendly Adventures

4 Sustainable Ways to Explore Norway: Tips for Eco-Friendly Experiences

Home is good, but away is best; Norway is undoubtedly one of the most beautiful places to vacation, offering a natural playground for eco-friendly experiences. This is especially true when the weather gods are on your side. There are few countries that can offer so many outdoor experiences among mountains, fjords, forests, and fields. Find out how you can explore Norway with sustainability in mind!

Glamping in Natural Settings

Glamping is a sustainable way to travel. The great thing about glamping is that it leaves a minimal footprint in nature and is often designed to harmonize with the surroundings. Glamping experiences are small-scale, which is good for the environment while allowing you to explore nature without damaging it. You can enjoy the silence alone, take your significant other on a romantic getaway, introduce your children to outdoor life without sacrificing comfort, or have a slightly different experience with your friends. The best part about glamping is that even the most demanding can survive a glamping trip while forming a fantastic relationship with the pristine nature found in Norway.

Camping has been popular for years, and with the right of public access and lush landscapes, Norway is a paradise for camping. Glamping has made camping easy and opened the door for those who previously could not travel sustainably. You don’t need heavy luggage or worry about rain dripping into your tent. At the same time, you ensure that the surroundings are minimally affected, allowing future generations to experience beautiful nature. Many glamping sites focus on being environmentally friendly while allowing you to indulge in extra luxury in nature. They have ensured the little extras, such as food boxes from local farms or a natural hot tub—again, things that cultivate sustainability.

Out on a Trip, Never Grumpy

A mountain hike is both free and environmentally friendly, as long as you make sure not to leave trash in the mountains. Thanks to the right of public access, Norwegians can explore and move in nature, and the best part is that it doesn’t cost the wallet or our planet. We are lucky to live in a country with countless hiking opportunities, and there is a hike for everyone. In addition to getting close to nature, Norwegians find that stress and stiff shoulders disappear when they get out in the fresh mountain air.

There are more than 300 mountain peaks in Norway that are over 2000 meters high and thousands of other smaller mountain peaks. For those who do not want to climb many meters, there are also extensive forests and a long coastline where hiking is ideal. No matter where you live in the country, it is never far to the nearest hiking opportunity, whether you want to walk with shoes or skis on your feet. Exercise and fresh air are fantastic for both body and soul, and nature welcomes us as long as we take care of it.

Outdoor Activities with an Adrenaline Rush

There are many exciting activities for those who want an extra kick when they are out in nature. Some of these are canyoning, kayaking, SUP, canoeing, and surfing. Norway’s nature is a playground for both big and small, and it is up to each individual how far they want to stretch the limit (literally, as bungee jumping is also available in several places in the country!) when they want to try something new. Many of these activities ensure to take care of nature, so you can experience nature with sustainability in mind.

Canyoning

Canyoning is also called gorge walking or canyoning. This is a fun experience for those who seek to get close to the elements at high speed. Get ready to rush down natural water slides to fall into plunge pools, jump down narrow gorges that give you a real stomach drop, or climb up a waterfall.

Surfing

Even though Norway is not a tropical destination, we have some of the world’s best surf beaches. The most famous surfing spots are Jæren, Lofoten, Stadt, and Milde, but there are also many other ideal beaches along the coast. Surfing first came to the beautiful Jær beaches in the 80s, but these days many international surfers say that Lofoten offers the best surfing waves.

Canoe or Kayak

If you do not want too high a pulse, a canoe trip or kayaking may be ideal. There are both seas, fjords, lakes, and rivers where you can paddle among outstanding nature. You can choose to go on a trip yourself or join organized courses or paddle trips with groups.

SUP Board

SUP provides a bit more exercise than a canoe or kayak, while you do not need to be a surfing expert to master the paddleboard. A SUP board can be taken to the beach, lake, or fjord, and you decide yourself how big waves you want to master. The great thing about SUP is that you do not depend on waves – they can also be paddled on when the water is completely still. If you want that little extra, you can join SUP yoga to challenge your balance!

Choose Local Food and Drink

Food with a low environmental footprint is often synonymous with locally sourced food. With increasing awareness for both health and sustainability, both Norwegians and foreign tourists want to experience culinary delicacies from the place they visit. Many restaurants and farm shops have specialized in reducing food waste while serving locally sourced food from local farms or nearby nature. This is a great initiative to reduce the environmental footprint while visitors are served more sustainable food.

When exploring Norway, it would be smart to choose both local food and drink. We already know that Norway has clean and tasty water, but there is also freshly pressed apple juice, raspberry juice, or beer from microbreweries that can tantalize the taste buds. A reindeer burger with lingonberry sauce is not served everywhere, so be sure to always seek local specialties to cultivate the culture within locally sourced food. It is good for the body and the environment.

Travel sustainably: it’s simple

It is easy to travel sustainably in Norway. With eco-friendly accommodation options, locally sourced food, and wonderful nature waiting to be discovered, the possibilities are many. Remember to follow the outdoor code to take care of nature when you are out, so your environmental footprint is as low as possible. Have a good sustainable trip!