Norway, with its rich diversity of landscape and climate, offers all sorts of active holidays in the summer and the winter. Expressions Holidays offers luxury holidays to hotels and resorts, both single centre stays and touring holidays, where you can be as active as you like and enjoy a sport that is important to you or learn a new one. Activities include water sports such as sea kayaking and fishing or land activities in summer such as hiking and biking and in winter such as Northern Lights chasing, ice fishing, snowshoe walking, and even sea kayaking too. Downhill skiing is a great attraction, often at resorts in southern and eastern Norway within easy reach of Oslo. Cross-country skiing is usually offered at these downhill resorts but also at other places throughout the country. Other activities can include wildlife safaris to see whales, dolphins, sea eagles and even moose (but for these you should be accompanied by a local guide). Cultural activities, too, can be arranged including visits to local Sami families where you can learn about the Sami culture and take part in feeding the reindeer. Our active holidays to luxury hotels in Norway combine travel by air, rail and car and are completely tailor-made to suit your interests and requirements.
Activity holiday centres in Norway
Norway has a wonderful choice of authentic resort hotels, some quite small, but which offer a wide array of summer and winter sports activities on land and on water. These might include hiking, mountain biking, sea kayaking, fishing and RIB safaris in summer or Northern Lights chasing, ice fishing, snowshoe walking and dog sledding in winter. Also possible is downhill skiing and cross-country skiing. We recommend being based at one of these activity hotels for between five and seven nights.
Wildlife activities
There are plenty of wildlife activities too that we can arrange for you in advance both for private arrangements or as part of a local group: whales, dolphins, sea eagles and moose. Guided wildlife safaris bring you into a unique animal kingdom in Norway and introduce you to whales, musk oxen, moose, puffins, and birds of prey. Please note that polar bears cannot be found in mainland Norway, only in Svalbard. Wildlife safaris undertaken by professional locals can bring you into the natural habitat of these species in a safe and controlled way. Whale safaris take place in winter in Tromsø, and whales can be spotted along the Vesterålen coast all year round. The Dovrefjell mountains are where you can spot the musk oxen (you maintain a distance of at least 200 metres) that weigh between 225 and 400 kilos but can move at a speed of up to 60 kms per hour. Birdwatching safaris are possible around the country with white-tailed eagles to be found along the coast, puffins in the Lofoten islands, and the eider around the Varangerfjord. The UNESCO listed Vega islands offer more than 230 species of birds to spot. Moose can be seen under the northern lights in Vesterålen. Local safari operators advertise in most major places and you can pre-book your tour. Some hotels will also offer you these experiences
Walking and hiking
Norway is an important hiking destination, with popular marked trails as well as wild and challenging landscapes. Terrain varies from glaciers to mountain stairways, 47 national parks, mountains, coasts, heathland, fjords, and forests. The most popular mountain hikes are HM Queen Sonja’s panoramic hiking trail, Gaustatoppen, Trolltunga, Aurlandsdalen and Besseggen Ridge in Jotunheimen. You should check carefully your level of experience and fitness before attempting a mountain hike. Wherever you are based in Norway, there will be hikes available that can be done on your own with a map or with a local guide.
Cycling and mountain biking
There is a great variety of cycle and mountain bike routes available in Norway. There are routes that are not just mountainous, and many tracks are available throughout the country. Many of the winter ski areas will have dedicated mountain biking tracks and circuits too for the summer. Mountain bikes and e-bikes can be hired in many places.
Fishing
Norway is a paradise for fishermen. The country offers freshwater and deep sea fishing. A myriad of lakes, rivers and streams offer wild trout, salmon, grayling, pike, powan and arctic char. Off the coast Norwegian waters have an abundant stock of many fish and shellfish, including cod, haddock, plaice, pollack, redfish, ling, tusk, halibut, mackerel and saithe. We recommend that you hire the services of a local fisher-guide who knows the waters and local conditions. Combine your passion for fishing with a stay in one of the Norwegian fishing villages.
Kayaking
Explore the Norwegian fjords and coastal scenery close up from a kayak or canoe. Canoes and kayaks can be rented all over the country, both for individual use (if you have a wet card certification) or as part of a supervised group or with a guide. Courses are available in many places. Southern Norway offers cosy fishing villages, harbours and thousands of islands and skerries. Norway’s fjords such as the Sognefjord, the Hardangerfjord and the UNESCO-protected Geirangerfjord all offer kayaking opportunities at all levels. Closer to the open sea you can paddle from island to island. In Northern Norway, Lofoten and Senja offer kayaking but due to the cold waters and local conditions, you should be accompanied by a professional guide. These services can be arranged locally in advance. Kayaking is also possible in Oslo, Bergen, Stavanger, Trondheim and Ålesund. Whitewater kayaking is possible between the national parks of Jotunheimen and Rondane but this should be undertaken only with professional instruction.
Ski-ing
Downhill ski-ing and cross-country ski-ing are both possible in Norway. The best developed downhill ski-ing is in the region around Lillehammer to the north of Oslo in the winter, with some summer ski-ing on glaciers too. Cross-country ski-ing takes place almost anywhere but several of the country’s most popular cross-country destinations are in the mountains of Eastern Norway in Lillehammer and the Gudbrandsdalen valley.
Dog sledding
Dog sledding in winter is an authentic, local activity that combines spectacularly with the Northern Lights. We can offer you dog sledding at our northern Norway hotels at Malangen and the Snowhotel Kirkenes.
Our activity holidays in Norway include
● Travel arrangements with flights, ferry, rail, transfers or car-hire as required● Flexible durations and multi-centre stays
● Accommodation in personally selected authentic local resorts
● Touring holidays
● Stay-put holidays
● Pre-booked lessons and activities
Included in all our holidays
● Concierge service● Handcrafted helpful hints and local information provided with all our holidays
● Personal service by your sales consultant who looks after all aspects of your holiday
● Full financial protection with our ATOL (3076) for all holidays including a flight and our ABTOT for all non-air holidays
