Nobel Center, Photo: VisitOSLO/Nancy Bundt

No doubt the Norwegian capital city of Oslo has green ambitions. With 343 lakes inside the city borders and over half of its municipality covered by forests and parks, Oslo truly is a green city; Its politicians are set on making it not just naturally green, but an environmentally conscious one too: A hugely popular city bike scheme means that you can make your way around Oslo at your own speed and leisure, without worrying about traffic jams or congestion charges.  Oslo was one of the finalists for the 2010 and 2011 EU Green City Award (only narrowly beaten by Stockholm and Hamburg).

So-called ‘green roofs’ are popping up all around the capital, including half of the much publicized “barcode” buildings near the central station. Green roofs – made by hoisting several tonnes of earth onto the city roofs and planting them with grass and other greeneries – will save the city massively in energy expenditure, as they help reduce heating of the buildings in the summer, and isolate buildings during the winter.

Oslo’s efficient public transportation system will get you almost anywhere within the city borders in less time than a car, but if you find yourself in need of a set of wheels, Oslo recently welcomed its first electric car rental company, and opened up its bus lanes to the zippy little cars.

What to do in Oslo

Photo: VisitOSLO/Nancy Bundt

Join the locals tobogganing (winter)

Oslo is a great city for being outdoors, both in the summer and winter. During wintertime, a popular pastime activity for the locals is to take their sleds, plastic bags, mattresses (or pretty much anything that will slide well on snow) and head to korketrekkeren for some tobogganing. The run is 2 km long, and takes between 8 and 10 minutes from the starting point at the Frognerseteren subway station and the finish at Midstuen. It is free fun if you’ve got a subway day pass or an Oslo Pass anyway, and you’ll have to look far for a more genuine Oslo experience. If you don’t have your own sled you can rent one at the bottom of the hill from the Norwegian toboggan society, Akeforeningen. Helmet rentals are free.

Photo: VisitOSLO/Nancy Bundt

Hone your cross-country skiing skills (winter)

Another popular winter activity for Norwegians is cross-country skiing, its national sport, and what most Norwegians will refer to as “real” skiing. All sunny weekends, no matter the temperature, they’ll jump on the line 3 to Sognsvann or line 1 to Holmenkollen with their equipment, no matter how low the temperature drops. Within 10 minutes from the city centre you’ll be up in the forests, where an intricate network of prepared, and evening-lit, tracks, complete with serviced Skiforeningen cabins every few kilometres, where you can relax with a hot cup of coffee or “solbærtoddy”, the unofficial Norwegian skiing drink.

If you’ve never done cross-country skiing before, Skiglede ski school offers lessons in cross-country skiing as well as in Telemark skiing.

Take a guided walk down Akerselva (summer and winter)

Oslo Guidebureau arranges guided walks down Akerselva, the river that has been important/seminal to Oslo’s history, and separated the richer west side from the poorer east side.

Photo: VisitOSLO/Nancy Bundt

Go swimming (Summer AND winter)

If you’re into extreme experiences, you can join Norwegians for some Ice Swimming at Aker Brygge on selected days during the winter, check out Underskog for dates and times. This is not recommended for novices: yes, it’s as cold as it looks!

During the summer, there are better options; Oslo is at the end of the Oslo fjord, and has several good beaches in and around the city where you can go for a swim or picknick. Many locals also head to one of the over 300 lakes; Sognsvann being the most popular.

All Norwegian beaches are voluntary topless beaches, and there is even a nudist beach (Huk Beach) at Bygdøy, not far from the Vikingship and Kon-Tiki Museums. To get there, take the 30A bus line to Bygdøy, and get off at the last stop. There is also a great ferry network to some of the 40 islands in the fjord, many of which you can get to free with the subway card.

Join in on beach volleyball, kayaking or off-road biking (summer)

Photo: VisitOSLO/Nancy Bundt

Just south of Oslo, at Langøyene islands, three beach volleyball courts are set up and freely available for everybody to use; You’ll need to bring your own volleyball though, or join in on a game already in play. The Oslo fjord is also great to explore from the water, Oslofjord Kajakk has  kayaks for rent near Bygdøy. You can rent a mountain bike (with helmet) at Voksenkollen subway station, for a great trip into the forest. Many of the cabins in the forest are open during the summer (Ullevålsseter, Kikut and Rustadsaga) and serve coffee, pastries and other refreshments. Free bicycle maps can be picked up from the Tourist Information offices, or printed from www.oslosykkelkart.no

Visit the Environmental Festival (summer)

Once a year, downtown Oslo (“Spikersuppa”, in front of the Parliament building) turns into a hub of eco-centred information, where politicians and interest groups, as well as sports organizations and organic food vendors put up there booths and stands to tell you about the environment and related issues. In 2010 the event is being held on the first weekend in June (4th – 6th of June)

Alternative sightseeing in Oslo

Besides the obvious tourist attractions such as the Opera, the Much Museum, the Vigeland Park, the Vikingships and the Royal Palace, a few places that are not getting the attention they deserve.

If you’re looking for something a little out-of-the-ordinary, we recommend you take a trip to the Mini-bottle gallery, an ode to the little bottles that normally end up in hotel-room trash cans. The museum is open Saturdays and Sundays between 12.00 and 16.00 and is owned by Christian Ringnes, who has declared himself “the King of Mini Bottles” also runs the Ekeberg restaurant.

The International Museum of Children’s Art aims to be as meeting place between adults and children, championing the artistic and historic value of children’s art for generations to come. The museum shows art made by children from all over the world, and also hosts discussions on the subject of children’s rights.

For a bit of magic, visit the unlikely Norwegian Museum of Magic at Aker Brygge. The museum opened its doors in 2001 and is one of Norway’s smallest museums. Here you’ll find all sorts of magic equipment, and curiosities as well as information about the history of magic in Norway over the last 100 years. Every Sunday, a magician comes around and puts on a show to entertain the children.

No responsible visit to Oslo is complete without a visit to the Nobel Peace Center, where you can read the remarkable story of Alfred Nobel and all the previous Peace Prize Laureates. The museum also puts on exhibitions related to peace and current affairs throughout the year.

Photo: VisitOSLO/Nancy Bundt

Getting Around in Oslo

Public Transportation

Getting around in Oslo is fairly simple as the public transportation system is well-developed, and able to get you almost anywhere in town at least as quick as a car would. The Oslo Card, which can be purchased from the tourist information offices, gives you free access to the city’s tram-, subway-, ferry and bus network as well as free entry to many of the tourist attractions and museums. Alternatively, you can buy single, day or weekly passes at any of the subway stations. Single tickets are valid for an hour. If you’ve visiting during the winter, you may find that the new Italian carriages they introduced on the subway lines struggle to cope with large amounts of snow; The municipality of Oslo has a guarantee, however, which means that if you are more than 30 minutes late, they will cover your taxi bill. It takes a while to get your refund, and the forms are in Norwegian, but you could always pair up with one or more of your fellow passengers. For traffic and route information stop by Trafikanten, inside the big clock tower in front of the central station, or call them on 177.

City Bikes

During the summer you can pick up a city bike from over 90 docking stations around town. You can hold on to a bike for up to 3 hours, after which you need to check the bike back into any of the docking stations. You can pick up a new one immediately, but the time limit it means there’s not much point in taking out of the city centre for a trip into the forest outside of town, in which case you’re better off renting a mountain bike anyway. The city bike scheme is also eco-certified (eco-lighthouse certification) which means all aspects of its practices are green, and you can check their website to check the real-time bike availability at your nearest station. Pick up your day pass to the city bikes from Trafikanten (inside the big clock tower in front of the central train station) or in one of the tourist information offices for kr. 80,- .

Responsible eating and drinking in Oslo

In the recent years a whole host of organic bakeries and local-food eateries have cropped up around the city. For a truly traditional experience though, visit Oslo’s oldest wine bar, Dr Kneipp’s Vinbar, named after the German doctor who invented the “kneipp” bread, and who described it as having a “preventative effect on the sex drive of young boys”; Kneipp bread has nonetheless been synonymous with Norwegian breakfasts and lunch for decades.

To appreciate Norwegians love of – and reliance upon – bread, visit Blings (Norwegian slang for a sandwich) for some organic bread and handmade dishes, changing daily depending on local availability of ingredients.

Blings gets their organic bread from the Åpent Bakeri organic bakeries, which bases its production on old-style baking traditions and simple ingredients; Its bakers work night and day to produce truly fresh and authentic Norwegian bread. The original bakery opened in the inconspicuously named “Incognito Terrace”, a small back alley behind the castle where you can sit outside in the summer and enjoy a cup of fair-trade coffee and pastries. It is a testament to the bakery and the quality of food and drink they serve that people make a detour just to find it.  If you decide to visit, bring a map.

Recently opened Food Story in Grunerløkka makes food with a story. The use primarily locally produced and organic ingredients, and pride themselves on knowing the story of where the rhubarb juice had been hand pressed, and how and when the Indian fair-trade coffee has been hit a monsoon. Food has it’s own story, one that deserves to be appreciated and told, and this is what food story is all about: healthier eating and a richer food experience. In short: food that gives good karma.

Oslo Spiseforretning is a bit more up-scale, and a popular pre-opera dining place. The owners tout it as the place where the past and the future meet: The beautiful old building has been home to a series of restaurants since 1876, and mixes modern technology and innovation with traditional Norwegian food. Its chef is particularly proud of using local, seasonal ingredients from small scale Norwegian producers in his dishes.

A good vegetarian option is the Vega Fair Food, serving “food that is fair to the environment, our fellow inhabitants of the earth, your own body, your mind and your soul”. They serve food that is GM-free, has minimal impact on the environment and is fair-trade.

If you’re in the mood for a day outside of Oslo, visit Hellviktangen Green Gourmet on the Nesodden peninsula. The restaurant is run by __ who calls herself a “food artist”, and is also home to a charming art gallery in picturesque surroundings. It is a little hard to get there though, after the half-hour ferry ride from Aker Brygge you’ve got about a 45-minute walk along the accurately named Kyststien (or ‘coastal track’ in Norwegian) to the gallery. Alternatively, you can jump on the bus to Hellvik, which will be waiting when the ferry arrives.

Black Gold on Grunerløkka is a fair-trade coffee bar serving small dishes with local and organic ingredients. Calls itself Norway’s “only and cleanest fair-frade coffee bar”.

Other bakeries to visit include Korn Bygdøy, an organic bakery, shop and coffee shop near the vikingship museum, or Vårt Daglige Brød (Our Daily Bread) in the Old Town, which sells organic baked goods and juice from small-scale local producers. Godt Brød, another organic bakery chain, has four locations across town.

If you want to try out some authentic, small-scale-produced delicacies, a series of farmers markets – Bondens Marked – are held regularly all across the country. For a list of dates and times, see their website.

Where to stay in Oslo

Photo: VisitOSLO/Nancy Bundt

There are several eco-certified hotels around town. Of these, the Rica Park Holmenkollen Hotel would be our pick – it has not only sound environmental policies, but has a long and rich history. One part of the hotel dates back all the way to 1894, and looks part fairy tale castle and part Viking ship.  The view from the restaurant is fantastic.

All of the Scandic Hotels in Norway are also eco-certified (swan label), and are working towards halving fossil carbon dioxide emissions by 2011 and ensuring zero fossil CO2 emissions by 2025. With bottled water being a huge problem worldwide (see a great little animated feature on the problem with bottled water here), the Scandic hotels no longer serve bottled water, but filter their own water, which they expect will reduce annual CO2 emissions from the hotels by 160 tonnes per year.

If you want to stay somewhere other than a hotel, then Overnatting Oslo rents out rooms in Grunerløkka part of town. They are not eco-certified, but at least your money does not go to a big chain-hotel.

Saga Bed & Breakfast is also a nice non-chain alternative. The hotel is in a nineteenth-century building behind the royal palace in the Majorstua part of town, near the Vigeland Park  Not eco-certified.

Recently all of the Thon and Radisson hotels have also been eco-certified.

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In the recent years a whole host of organic bakeries and local-food eateries have cropped up around the city. Here are our recommendations, along with a map of where to find them in Oslo.

For a truly traditional experience though, visit Oslo’s oldest wine bar, Dr Kneipp’s Vinbar, named after the German doctor who invented the “kneipp” bread, and who described it as having a “preventative effect on the sex drive of young boys”; Kneipp bread has nonetheless been synonymous with Norwegian breakfasts and lunch for decades.

To appreciate Norwegians love of – and reliance upon – bread, visit Blings (Norwegian slang for a sandwich) for some organic bread and handmade dishes, changing daily depending on local availability of ingredients. 

Blings gets their organic bread from the Åpent Bakeri organic bakeries, which bases its production on old-style baking traditions and simple ingredients; Its bakers work night and day to produce truly fresh and authentic Norwegian bread. The original bakery opened in the inconspicuously named “Incognito Terrace”, a small back alley behind the castle where you can sit outside in the summer and enjoy a cup of fair-trade coffee and pastries. It is a testament to the bakery and the quality of food and drink they serve that people make a detour just to find it.  If you decide to visit, bring a map.

 Recently opened Food Story in Grunerløkka makes food with a story. The use primarily locally produced and organic ingredients, and pride themselves on knowing the story of where the rhubarb juice had been hand pressed, and how and when the Indian fair-trade coffee has been hit a monsoon. Food has it’s own story, one that deserves to be appreciated and told, and this is what food story is all about: healthier eating and a richer food experience. In short: food that gives good karma.  

Oslo Spiseforretning is a bit more up-scale, and a popular pre-opera dining place. The owners tout it as the place where the past and the future meet: The beautiful old building has been home to a series of restaurants since 1876, and mixes modern technology and innovation with traditional Norwegian food. Its chef is particularly proud of using local, seasonal ingredients from small scale Norwegian producers in his dishes.

A good vegetarian option is the Vega Fair Food, serving “food that is fair to the environment, our fellow inhabitants of the earth, your own body, your mind and your soul”. They serve food that is GM-free, has minimal impact on the environment and is fair-trade.

If you’re in the mood for a day outside of Oslo, visit Hellviktangen Green Gourmet on the Nesodden peninsula. The restaurant is run by Bente Westergaard, who calls herself a “food artist”, and is also home to a charming art gallery in picturesque surroundings. It is a little hard to get there though, after the half-hour ferry ride from Aker Brygge you’ve got about a 45-minute walk along the accurately named Kyststien (or ‘coastal track’ in Norwegian) to the gallery. Alternatively, you can jump on the bus to Hellvik, which will be waiting when the ferry arrives.

Black Gold on Grunerløkka is a fair-trade coffee bar serving small dishes with local and organic ingredients. Calls itself Norway’s “only and cleanest fair-frade coffee bar”.

Other bakeries to visit include Korn Bygdøy, an organic bakery, shop and coffee shop near the vikingship museum, or Vårt Daglige Brød (Our Daily Bread) in the Old Town, which sells organic baked goods and juice from small-scale local producers. Godt Brød, another organic bakery chain, has four locations across town. 

If you want to try out some authentic, small-scale-produced delicacies, a series of farmers markets - Bondens Marked – are held regularly all across the country. For a list of dates and times, see their website. 

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I recently came across a site called www.skepticalscience.com through an article in the New York Times. Skeptical Science is run by Australian John Cook, takes a refreshingly skeptical view on the climate skeptics. Perhaps the most useful feature is the list of science-based responses to the most popular assertions made by climate skeptics. According to Cook,

"A common skeptic refrain is that "the science isn't settled", meaning there are still uncertainties in climate science and therefore action to cut CO2 emissions is premature. This line of argument betrays a fundamental misunderstanding of the nature of science. Firstly, it presumes science exists in a binary state – that science isn't settled until it crosses some imaginary line after which it's finally settled. On the contrary, science by its very nature… never reaches 100% certainty. This is the domain of mathematics and logic. Science is about improving our understanding by narrowing uncertainty." 

Cook continues on by providing the scientific responses to the 10 most common climate skeptic arguments. You can also read the interview with John Cook in this New York Times article.

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What once was a fishing factory has been transformed into a hotspot for the local islanders as well as for the tourists, kayak-curious and seasoned kayakers who take the opportunity to see one of the most beautiful parts of Norway the way it should be explored – by sea. Just off the mainland coast of Norway, between Trondheim and Lofoten, is a part of Norway that has been largely overlooked by tourists: Here, over 12.000 islands, isles and skerries are scattered about, and although many of them are interconnected by a series of bridges, the only way to get here from the mainland is by boat.

Many islanders have left over the years, but a few have also made it their new home: Inge and Bent Skauen came here on their honeymoon, fell in love with the region and bought an old fishing factory which they transformed into the modern kayak centre it is today: complete with a massive deck (ideal for taking in those long Norwegian summer nights), and a workshop where Bent makes kayaks and his special Greenland-style oars.

Inge and Bent provide guided kayak trips, beginners courses, or simply kayak rental for those who want to explore the islands on their own.

EVALUATION

Overall

Overall, the Sea Nomad scores high on its commitment to sustainable practices: Notably, the wood on the deck and on the outside walls of the building is left to age naturally without the use of lacquers or paints on the wall; Recycled materials and objects have been given new life both inside and outside. Inge and Bent are passionate about kayaking and sustainability, and have created a meeting place for fellow kayakers (as well as for the kayak-curious) that is quite unlike anywhere else in the country.

Environment

The Sea Nomad is a certified ecotourism operator in Norway, which means they adhere to strict guidelines when it comes to CO2 emissions, energy management and taking care of the natural environment. Their operation is based entirely around non-motorized activities: Kayaking in all forms, which is their passion.

Knowledge

Both Inge and Bent know a lot about the region and the natural environment along the coast, and are happy to share their knowledge. Upstairs in the guest kitchen you’ll find a big book with all kinds of information about the area.

Community

Ever since Bent and Inge arrived and set up the Sea Nomad, the local islanders have had a new (and only) meeting place away from home. Every week they gather at the pub for a beer, a drink and friendly chatter.

Getting there

You can get there by taking the ferry from Sandnessjøen. You can get to Sandnessjøen by bus. Or you can contact Inge and Bent and they will help you out with the information if you can’t read Norwegian.

Telephone:            (+47) 907 27 161 /  913 84 288

Email:                      bent@havnomaden.no

Website:                  www.havnomaden.no

Season:                 All-year

Activities:               Kayaking: Guided tours, rentals, beginner’s courses

Accommodation:   Yes

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EVALUATION

Overall

Vidar is a very knowledgeable tour guide, and the small groups (there are a maximum of 12 participants on any given trip) gave a feeling of intimacy, as if we were on a secret mission into the interior, jungle-like brush, and sharing a small secret with the other participants. Vidar’s interests are more along the lines of local nature than global climate issues, but his operation is environmentally sound. In short, this is a very low-impact tourism option for those who are looking for an experience of Norwegian nature quite unlike most nature trips around the country.

Environment

Romsdal Aktiv is a Norwegian Certified Ecotourism operator. This means that they adhere to fairly strict guidelines when it comes to environmental protection and CO2 emissions. Their activities are all non-motorized, although they do need to transport the canoes by car. Fortunately, because the river meanders back and forth, the 3-hour canoe journey ends and starts pretty much in the same place.

Community

Although the family lives in Åndalsnes, a small town nearby, the day-to-day management of the operation takes too much time for the family to engage in any out-of-the-ordinary community activities. The fact that they live in the community means that the community does benefit from the business: Pretty much all of the profits from the business is being spent here as they go about their daily lives.

Knowledge

Vidar knows a lot about canoeing, and is more than happy to talk about it. In fact, his trips are so information-intensive that after going on one of his trips you receive a canoeing licence. Vidar has a wealth of information about the history of canoeing as well as about local wildlife and nature, which makes him an entertaining and fascinating guide all the way down the river.

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There are a lot of terms used for different 'types' of tourism, and it's easy to get confused. That's why we've published this no-nonsense guide to the different types of tourism. We hope this helps making everything a little bit clearer!

Geo-tourism

Geo-tourism was developed by the National Geographic Society and is a form of tourism that sustains or even enhances the geographical character of a place – its environment, heritage, aesthetics, culture, and the well-being of its residents. Geo-tourism includes all the elements of ecotourism and sustainable tourism, but is more encompassing. But since it does not have a global support network or a broad base of proponents, the term has not become as widely used as some of the others. 

Nature-based tourism

Nature-based tourism is any form of tourism that relies primarily on the natural environment for its attractions or settings. Since it is largely for the purpose of experiencing nature, it therefore, does not incorporate the cultural or economic aspects of ecotourism.

Responsible tourism

Responsible tourism is “tourism that maximises the benefits to local communities, minimizes negative social or environmental impacts, and helps local people conserve fragile cultures, habitats, and species.”

Responsible tourism and ecotourism are often used interchangeably, or in combination (as in “responsible ecotourism”). They share most elements, but responsible tourism “does not only take place in protected natural environments – Any tourism business, whether located in a thriving metropolis, a desert, rural village, sub-tropical island, medieval town – can be a Responsible Tourism operation”. (Wikipedia)

Sustainable tourism

Sustainable tourism is tourism that “meets the needs of present tourist and host regions, while protecting and enhancing opportunities for the future”. Essentially, the focus of sustainable tourism is on the local community’s ability to continue as a tourist destination over time. Therefore, taking good care of the natural environment is often a key element, especially in countries like Norway where nature is consistently cited as the number one reason to visit

Adventure tourism

Adventure tourism is a form of tourism that incorporates an element of risk, higher levels of physical exertion, and the need for specialized skill. It usually involves ‘unusual’ tourism activities that often take place in a remote area. Typical adventure tourism activities include rafting, mountaineering, and rock climbing.

Pro-poor tourism

Just as nature-based tourism focuses on the ‘nature’ aspect of travelling, pro-poor tourism focuses on improving the situation for poor people. This could include involving poor people in the tourism industry (for example, as employees) or ensuring that the profits benefit the poor in the community. Pro-poor tourism is not a niche tourism sector but rather an approach aiming to increase the net benefit for the poor people. You can read more about pro-poor tourism on http://www.propoortourism.org.uk/what_is_ppt.html

Mass tourism

When speaking of ‘mass tourism’, we usually mean large-scale tourism, of the kind that is typically associated with ’sea, sand, sun’ resorts and package tours. Common characteristics of mass tourism are transnational ownership, and therefore, minimal direct economic benefit to destination communities. 

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Rendalen is the place you’ll love if you like the non-tourist experience. Unlike the larger tourism destinations (like the nearby town of Trysil), Rendalen prides itself on being a collection of local, small-scale tourism operators who each bring their own activities and specialties, but who collectively provide a completely genuine Norwegian experience.

Setting the pace, and taking the lead is Spydspissen Wilderness Experiences, which was started in 2006 by Karin Wiik and Oddvar Olsen, who fell in love and left corporate life in the city to nurse their common passion of dogsledding – one of the many activities Spydspissen offers. With 20 huskies and 4 horses, and their partners in the ‘Rendalen Naturally’ network, they can arrange accommodation, local food and entertainment as well as a genuine learning experience: Karin Wiik is a wealth of information about the history of the area, the nature and its traditions. 

EVALUATION

Overall

Although they are relatively new in the area, they have an impressive knowledge of the local area, the environment and the traditions: Karin has even written a research paper on the region.

Spydspissen is actively involved with the community, both politically as well as socially: Oddvar volunteers as a local support person to troubled youth, and both are actively involved in community politics. They also contribute to the local business community by spearheading the network 'Rendalen Naturally' with the other local, small-scale operators. 

On a larger scale, they have been closely involved in the development one of the Norwegian Ecotourism certification scheme, and are both knowledgeable and interested in national and global environmental issues. 

Environment

Being a certified Norwegian Ecotourism Operator, Spydspissen adheres to strict environmental requirements of the certification programme, including offsetting all energy use with CO2 quotas and not using motorized vehicles in any of the activities.

Karin and Oddvar, who own and run Spydspissen, were part of the original group of businesses that helped set up the ecotourism certification program in Norway. They are both passionate about protecting the local environment and interested in global environmental issues, which translates into an effort to similarly influence other local tourist businesses. 

Spydspissen also donates 3% of its annual profits to the Rainforest Fund.

Knowledge

Oddvar and Karin have an impressive knowledge of the local area, the environment and the traditions: Karin has even written a research paper on the region, and is happy to talk at length about almost any topic.

Additionally, Spydspissen works closely with other local residents who provide local guide services for tourists, such as the local guide Jens Tore Løken, who knows everything there is to know about Fiskvollen, the country's first and only inland fishing community, and Gudrun and Ole Karl Romenstad, local farmers who, in addition to being a wealth of information about ancient and traditional hunting practices, also provide accommodation and traditional regional food. For a touch of contemporary community flavor, Oddveig and Steinar Otnes should not be missed. The couple also provide horse and carriage rides over the mountain, and – if you're lucky – the occasional accordion concert.

Community

Although Karin and Oddvar relatively new to the Rendalen (they moved there in 2005), they are actively involved in developing the local community. In addition to being politically engaged, they are developing a network of small, local producers and tourism operators in the area. Keep an eye out for their website, www.rendalennaturligvis.no, which will be up and running soon. 

Oddvar also acts as support person for local kids in need of an adult role model, and works with the elderly in the community. 

Getting there

You can get there either by bus or by train. Spydspissen can arrange for you to be picked up from one of the two nearby train stations.

Contact details

Telephone:               (+47) 948 38 802  or  (+47) 905 48 863

Email:                         post@spydspissen.no                   

Website:                     www.spydspissen.no            

Season:                      All year 

Activities:                    Dogsledding, fishing, riding, canoeing

Accommodation:      Can be arranged

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Hardangervidda Fjellguiding is, as many of the ecotourism operators are, a small one-(wo)man seasonal venture. Her main seasons are summer and winter, when she arranges treks in the mountains for small groups: On foot during the summer, and on cross-country skis and ‘truger’ (Norwegian snow shoes) during the winter.

EVALUATION

Overall, Hardagervidda Fjellguiding is a small, but solid one-woman-ecotourism venture, run by Turid Lindseth, who does not even own a car. As a certified Ecotourism operator she adheres to strict guidelines of the certification program. Notably, Turid is so enthusiastic about the nature, and such a wealth of information about the local flora and fauna that we came back from our trip refreshed and optimistic, when otherwise thinking and talking about environmental issues sometimes can leave you feeling a little down. We think she focuses perhaps more on the local environment than on global environmental issues, but she is clearly passionate, interested and dedicated to taking care of the mountains!

Environment

Being a Certified Ecotourism Operator, Hardangervidda Fjellguiding adheres to strict environmental requirements of the certification programme, including offsetting all energy use with CO2 quotas and not using motorized vehicles in any of the activities.

Whereas some of the ecotourism certified operators use vehicles to transport their gear to the starting location, Hardangervidda Fjellguiding is a one-woman mountain hiking venture, and she does not even own a car. Still, the starting point for the trips are several kilometers from the train station at Geilo, so car-pools need to be arranged to get there, which Turid (our guide and owner) handles with great enthusiasm and efficiency! Because she doesn’t have a car, she’s likely to get in with you if you brought one.

During one of her trips she is likely to talk a lot about caring for the environment, point out the fantastic nature, and the ecological philosophy of our Norwegian ‘eco-philosopher’ Arne Næss. She knows a lot about the environment in the mountains and is happy to share the knowledge and inspire enthusiasm about recycling, not littering etc.

Information

Turid is a wealth of information, and she seems to love talking almost as much as walking. On our trip we were richly informed about the mountains and its vegetation, the seasonal differences, the role of recycling and the importance of not littering.

Unlike many of the ecotourism operators she does not have written material available – which makes sense as this really is a walking activity, not the time when you want to bury your head in a book.

Community

Hardangervidda Fjellguiding is a small – and no doubt enthusiastic – part of the community in the small mountain town of Geilo. Geilo is really first and foremost a tourism and holiday destination, both for Norwegians as well as international visitors. As she lives and works in the area, the profits from her venture indirectly benefits the local community.

Hardangervidda Fjellguiding is otherwise not – to our knowledge –  engaged in organizing or funding local community programs.

Of course, energizing people is her job not only during the tourist season, but also during the rest of the year, when she works as a gym teacher at a local school.

Geilo is easily accessible by train.

Telephone:               (+47) 975 41 860

Email:                        post@fjellguiding.no

Website:                    www.fjellguiding.no

Season:                    Summer and winter

Activities:             Guided trips in the mountain plains of Hardangervidda, themed tours including a philosophy tour, a viking tour and a tour for families. Can alsoarrange special tours for groups.

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Globally there are over 80 different programmes that aim to encourage good environmental practices and resource management. There are certifications schemes available for almost any industry, not just the tourism industry, so keep an eye out for the products and services that don one of the symbols. In Norway, you are likely to come across the following five major certification programmes:

Norsk Økoturisme

‘Norwegian Ecotourism’ is the official Norwegian ecotourism certification. The programme is run by the Norwegian Tourist Board, ‘Innovation Norway’, the organisation that is responsible for promoting Norway as a tourist destination. The Norwegian ecotourism certification programme imposes very strict requirements on those operators that are certified, including requirements such as complete non-reliance on motorized vehicles.  http://www.grip.no/okoturisme/

Miljøfyrtårnet

The ‘Environmental lighthouse’ is an official Norwegian environmental certification programme for Norwegian businesses. There are different requirements for different industries, but essentially it is a certification programme that is open to any company or organization that wishes to join. In order to become certified, the companies must adhere to a set of requirements, which includes training the company’s staff in environmental practices, an environmental purchasing policy, reduced energy consumption, and annual reporting on the company’s progress by an appointed company environment officer.      www.miljofyrtarn.no/

EU-Blomsten

The EU-Flower is the official European environmental label for products. Most of the ‘EU Flower’ certified products in Norway are textiles, paints and children’s clothing. The Norwegian Ecotourism and the Environmental Lighthouse certifications (above), require their certified companies to have a purchasing policy that prioritizes eco-labelled products such as the EU Flower or the Swan (below). In order to become certified, the products must meet a series of tough, concrete and measurable requirements, and only the best products on the market are awarded the certification.    http://www.ecolabel.no/

Svanemerket  

The ‘Swan Label’ is the official Norwegian environmental label, equivalent to the EU-Flower label, but only available to Norwegian products. It also spans more categories, with certified products ranging from paint, paper and detergents to furniture, hotels and grocery stores. Just like the requirements for the EU-flower, the products must satisfy a series of strict requirements, and is only awarded to the best of the products. http://www.ecolabel.no/

Blått Flagg

The ‘Blue flag’ is the environmental certification for beaches and marinas. It is a global certification scheme that has become a highly recognized and has strict requirements in the areas of environment, safety, service, information and water quality. The qualification must be renewed every year, and over 3200 beaches and marinas in 36 countries around the world are currently certified.    

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