Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
23 Hours of Daylight
The Norwegian summer has magnificent, long sunny days. Temperatures
often reach 86°F (30°C). Daylight on the longest days can last 23 hours,
warming the lakes and fjords for all watersports.
Borton Overseas, 5412 Lyndale Ave., Minneapolis, MN 55419 ( & 800/843-
0602 or 612/882-4640; www.bortonoverseas.com).
Our favorite place to go mountain riding is offered by Stølsheimen Fjellrid-
ning & Engjaland Farm outside the resort of Voss ( & 56-51-91-66 ). In
Panoramic fjord and mountain scenery, you'll be taken on day or weekend rides,
where everything is arranged for you, including accommodations and meals.
4 Canoeing, Sailing & Scuba Diving
CANOEING & KAYAKING Canoeing and kayaking, two increasingly pop-
ular sports, allow visitors to reach places that are otherwise almost inaccessible.
Both activities should provide you with a unique opportunity to observe Nor-
way's animals and birds without frightening them with the sound of an engine.
Some of our best experiences out on a canoe have been with the Setesdal
Rafting Center ( & 37-93-11-77 ), 7km (4 1 3 miles) north from Evje on the main
road, Route 9. The region of Setesdal, known for its mountains, rivers, and var-
ied wildlife, contains a stunning stretch of the River Otra—ideal for canoeing—
extending from the rafting center south to the village of Evje. En route you'll
pass several osprey nests and beaver lodges. The center is also the best place in
southern Norway for white-water rafting from mid-April to late October. From
late June until September, water temperatures can reach 68°F (20°C), which
makes the River Otra the warmest in Norway. Both half-day and full-day trips
can be arranged. Crossing Latitudes, 420 W. Koch St., Bozeman, MT 59715
( & 800/572-8747 or 406/585-5356; www.crossinglatitudes.com), is another
source for sea-kayaking and backpacking expeditions.
If you'd like to go rafting on the Sjoa River, billed as “the wildest in Norway,”
you can obtain full information from the Vågå Tourist office, Vågavegen 37, N-
2680 in Vågå ( & 61-23-78-80 ), which also provides information about horse-
back riding, mountain or glacier climbing, mountain biking, and canoeing.
The rivers around Voss resort, in Norway's fjord country, have some of the
finest river rafting. Voss Rafting Center ( & 56-51-05-25; www.vossrafting.no)
offers rafting and other watersports such as river-boarding and canyoning.
Overnight stays in the wild along with meals can be arranged.
SAILING Norway's long coast can be a challenge to any yachting enthusiast.
The most tranquil havens are along the southern coast. To arrange rafting trips
or boat trips, along with boat rentals and evening parasailing, contact SeaAction
( & 94-36-85-14 or 33-33-69-93; www.seaaction.com).
SCUBA DIVING Some parts of the Norwegian coast are famous for their
underwater environment. Because of the Gulf Stream, the coast is relatively
mild, and scuba diving is possible year-round. Adventurous visitors can and do
dive in the colder months, and even live to tell about it.
Excellent diving centers provide scuba-diving trips and instruction. Divers
who enjoy harpooning can catch their own dinners, with many kinds of fish to
choose from. The conditions for submarine photography are generally good,
with underwater visibility of 9 to 30m (30-100 ft.). There are a number of
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