Ahoy there,
I’m planning a camping trip with my 10 year old kid around Norway for next summer, either July or August. We’ll fly into Oslo with our tent and other gear that can be packed and will rent a car and buy everything else there. We’ve done trips like this before, but always domestically within America; this will be our first international trip. I know there’s the concept of allemannsretten but we’re looking to stay at developed campgrounds with toilets & showers and all that.
The main things we’ll need to buy there will be a grill or griddle and fuel for it. Sleeping pads and bags. Possibly some sort of power system, like a large battery bank. A cooler. Other miscellaneous stuff. Where would be a good spot to purchase these? Maybe XXL or Obs? I’ll just donate them somewhere on our way out of the country.
What kind of grill fuel is popular there? In America one pound bottles of Propane are common, but I’m under the impression butane is usually used in Norway?
Also how does cooking at the campground usually work? In the US, you typically have a designated campsite with a picnic table and fire pit (this is an example). However most of the campgrounds I see in Norway, you just sort of set up on a large plot of grass with everyone else, with no specifically assigned spots, and without any tables. Presumably people aren’t just setting their grills and dishes and everything on the ground? Am I supposed to buy an entire table and lug it around? Kinda confused on that.
I’ve made a very rough itinerary that I’ll take feedback on. Broadly speaking, I’d like to camp at three different places, three or four nights each. Plus three or four nights in Oslo itself before heading home. So about two weeks total. I’m currently thinking about Mandal, Sogndalsfjøra, and Geiranger. Although I’m open to swapping Mandal for another fjord or more hiking oriented area. The campgrounds at Geiranger don’t take reservations and are first come first served, so that makes me a little nervous that I’d get all the way there and they’d be full. I’m open to suggestions for different towns as well. I’m looking for moderately challenging hikes, and it’s a plus if there’s other things to do nearby with kids, like zoos, museums, adventure parks, etc…
We can go anytime from early July to late August. Is there any appreciable reason to pick one end of that over the other? I assume the weather is largely the same regardless. I am a bit nervous with the weather as I know it can be very rainy, but not much I can do about that.
Some questions about camping
byu/BelethorsGeneralShit inNorway
Posted by BelethorsGeneralShit
4 Comments
for camping stuff: cheapest Biltema or Jula. a little more expensive xxl sport, premium intersport and specialty shops.
if you stay on campings, don’t spend money on burners, pans etc. about 95% of the camping sites in norway gave a kitchen that you can use. incl pans etc. best to buy your own plates and cutlery. But most of the time you can use that from the camping as well.
if you di want to buy it anyway. the most used are campingaz and primus.
We dont have designated areas for cooking, you can do that at your tent unless it is very dry and it is prohibited, but that will be clearly stated at the camping.
Be prepared that campings will not accept American Express, but Visa or Mastercard is accepted at almost all campings
about the weather, the beginning of July and the end of August can be chilly in the mountains.
July is vacationtime for Norwegians, August not.
After the 2nd eeek of August you eill not see any Norwegian children at campings since schools start again
Im not saying it`s a bad idea to fly into Oslo, but i would probably rather fly into Bergen and go from the west coast! Hardangervidden is beautiful to camp in at summer, and you can pay a modest sum to use the DNT huts for making food and taking a shower for example!
Mandal and the Kristiansand area in general isn’t the most picturesque in terms of fjords and high mountains, but with a 10 year old I’d highly recommend it. Kristiansand has usually fairly sunny summers, some of the warmest sea water (except Oslo) and Norway’s by far best zoo with some decent (but not amazing) activities as well. The archipelago around both Søgne and Lillesand is famous nationwide and a quite common place for (rather wealthy) people in the Oslo area to have a summer house.
It’s a looong drive to Sogndal from there though, but I’m sure you’re aware of that. Do drive through Odda, not Drammen even if Google tells you the latter is 45 minutes faster. If you want to split this drive in two i can highly recommend Haukeliseter Fjellstue but bear in mind that this is mountainous and can be quite abit colder than at sea level.
Edit: when in Oslo, check out the zip line from the ski jump tower if the 10 year old like some adrenalin. The view is spectacular as well.