The West Coast Fjord Country - Norway - page 305

trails in all of central Norway. Having slogged our way across it three times, we
highly recommend it.
Voss also offers the best paragliding in Norway, with flights conducted daily
in summer from 11am to 5pm, costing 700NOK ($99) per person. The start-
ing point is the Voss Adventer Senter ( & 56-51-36-30 ), in the center of town.
Parasailing, water-skiing, and banana boating are possible at the Vangsvatnet,
in front of the Park Hotel Vossevangen. The season is from May to October. Para-
sailing costs 517NOK ($73), water-skiing 230NOK ($33), and banana boating
805NOK ($114). For information, call Parasailing Voss ( & 56-51-03-21 ).
River sports are big, and there are a number of outfitters, mainly the Voss
Rafting Center ( & 56-51-00-17 ), offering not only rafting, but canyoning and
river-boarding as well, at prices beginning at 575NOK ($82) per person. Their
base is near the Park Hotel, a 3-minute walk from the rail station. The season
goes from May 1 to October 1. Other outfitters include Voss Ski & Surf
( & 56-51-30-43 ), featuring river kayaking for both neophytes and more skilled
kayakers, and Nordic Ventures ( & 56-51-00-17 ), offering guided sea kayaking
through the Sognefjord, past waterfalls and mountain scenery.
The best campsite in the area is Tvinde Camping, Tvinde, N-5700 Voss
( & 56-51-69-19; fax [phone]; [e-mail]), near the E-16 highway.
It's one of the most scenic campsites in central Norway as it lies beside a water-
fall, 12km (7 1 ⁄ 2 miles) from the center of Voss. Both tent sites and cabins, the lat-
ter in a two-story building with a veranda, are rented here. The cost of the cabins
ranges from 320NOK to 450NOK ($45-$64) a night, with tent sites costing
only 100NOK ($14). The sanitary facilities are rated first class by Norwegian
camping guides, and facilities include a washing machine and dryer, along with
an on-site kiosk selling groceries. This camp is reached by public bus marked
VOSS - GUNVANGEN , leaving from the center of Voss.
Almost equally as good is Voss Camping, Prestegårdsalléen 40 N-5702 Voss
( & 56-51-15-97; www.vosscamping.no), located lakeside and convenient to the
attractions and sports of Voss. Its reception area and the campsite itself is open
May to September 8am to 10pm daily. The site is well maintained, and the
accommodations are reasonably comfortable. Decent cabins are rented for
300NOK to 420NOK ($43-$60) with tent sites going for 100NOK ($14).
On-site are washing machines and dryers. To reach the campsite, turn left after
leaving the rail station and walk along the rim of the lake, turning right onto a
little gravel road (signposted) at the local Vangskyrkja Church. Follow this road
to the campsite itself. Both the Tvinde and Voss camping sites accept only cash.
WHERE TO STAY
MODERATE
Fleischers Hotel On the lakefront beside the Voss train station, Fleis-
chers Hotel couldn't be more convenient. The gracious 1889 frame hotel has a
modern wing with 30 units, all with private showers, toilets, and terraces over-
looking the lake. In the older part of the hotel, the rooms are old-fashioned and
more spacious. The restaurant serves an a la carte menu; main courses cost
245NOK to 335NOK ($35-$48). In the summer a buffet is served for 325NOK
($46). This hotel does more than any other to cater to kids, featuring a children's
pool with many activities, including a varied schedule that ranges from activities
programs to a playground and even movies to appeal to kids (none X-rated).
Evangervegen 13, N-5700 Voss. & 56-52-05-00. Fax [phone]. www.fleischers.no. 90 units. 745NOK
($106) double; 1,020NOK ($145) suite. Rates include breakfast. AE, DC, MC, V. Free parking. Amenities:

Kids