Norway tours & travel

Norwegian culture is highly progressive, even by European standards. Equality is highly valued, as Norwegians generally consider all people to be equal. Women hold equal standing to men in the workplace and the culture doesn’t rely on traditional gender roles in the home. Many couples live together without getting married, and only about one in five consider themselves religious. That said, most of the traditional folk customs revolve around religious holidays, and many Norwegians still participate in folk customs from time to time. 

Norway is on the northernmost portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula, just above Sweden. It also shares borders with Finland and Russia in the east. It has a long northern coastline which is carved into fjords and countless small islands. It’s a mostly mountainous country, with glaciers and pristine lakes. Norway’s deepest fjord is the Sognefjorden, and it’s deepest lake, the Hornindalsvatnet, is the deepest lake in Europe. Norway experiences a colder climate than most parts of Europe. In some parts of the country, the sun doesn’t set in summer and doesn’t rise in winter. 

Viking Festival

The small town of Karmoy is home to a reconstructed Viking settlement and hosts a special festival one a year. It involves music from Norway’s Viking days, arts and crafts, retelling of sagas and archery lessons.

Oslo Jazz Festival

This six-day event brings both local and international artists to the country’s capital. See performances in some of the cities finest venues.

National Day

The event commemorates the establishment of the modern state of Norway in 1814. Major towns and cities fill with processions and the people hit the streets to celebrate. 

Traditionally, food in Norway is based on seafood and game, as well as foods that can be easily preserved to survive the long winters. Rokt laks (smoked salmon), sild (pickled herring) and fiskesuppe (fish soup) are popular seafood dishes. Game meat includes duck, goose and fowl, even moose and reindeer, often served with a side of raspeballer (boiled potato balls). It’s not uncommon for Norwegians to eat seafood for breakfast with accompanying lefse (flat bread), open sandwiches with cold meat for lunch, and even the odd dinner of whale from time to time. 

• The Ice Palace by Tarjei Vesaas
• The Snowman by Jo Nesbo
• Pan by Knut Hamsun          
• Mysteries by Knut Hamsun
• The Castle in the Pyrenees by Jostein Gaarder
• The Real Heroes of Telemark by Ray Mears