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Wild camping in Norway | Tips and what you need to know in advance

Do you want to sleep next to waterfalls, wake up between the mountains, see sunsets on the fjords and breathe the fresh and clean Norwegian air? Then I would advise you to camp in the wild Norway.

The country has such vast areas of rugged, untouched nature and that is why there are countless beautiful and unique places where you can pitch your tent. Set up your tent and enjoy the great nature: mountains, fjords, rivers, waterfalls, beaches, valleys, you will find everything in this phenomenal country. It is a Valhalla for wild campers! The country is counting on our arrival, because it is already equipped with all kinds of conveniences for campers. In this blog I will tell you more about this and give you some tips. 

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1. You can stand anywhere with your tent  

A piece of history about the origin of everyone's right to camp wild in Norway is as follows: the Vikings used to explore the country to look for the beauty of the fjords and mountains. In the 'roots' of Norway there is already a bit of camping urge. It is part of the culture and the Norwegians believe that everyone can use their land. You don't have to look for campsites, because you can set up your tent anywhere (free of charge), under a few logical conditions:

  • Place your tent or camper wherever you want, but at an appropriate distance from buildings and houses. The rule is that there must be 150 meters between them.  
  • If you want to stay somewhere for more than two nights, you will have to ask permission from the owner of the land.  
  • You are not allowed to camp on a farm or industrial estate.  
Wild camping in Norway
Wild camping in Norway

2. Campfire ban from April 15 to 15 August

Outside the high season you are allowed to make campfires. Are you going to travel in the somewhat colder months? Then you can make a fire almost everywhere and many camping spots are also equipped with a fire pit, so that this is easier. It is forbidden in high season, because the many fires can endanger the beautiful nature. And there are so many tourists that you would see remnants of campfires everywhere…  

Campfire Ban | Wild camping in Norway
Campfire Ban | Wild camping in Norway

3. Alternate between camping and wild camping

Of course you can completely immerse yourself and spend all your nights in the wild nature, but we liked being able to use a normal toilet and shower every now and then!

Norway is an expensive country, but campsites are relatively cheap. In the high season you pay about 20 euros for a camping spot (so if you are with two about 10 euros per person. We usually camped two days in nature and one day at a campsite.

What we have also done when we went camping in the wild for more than 2 days, is to buy a shower coin at a campsite that we happened to pass by. The camping staff are not the weirdest. They had to laugh a bit, but certainly let us take a shower! Then you can at least get back on the road fresh.

The last tip: buy naturally degradable shampoo and wash yourself in a fjord / lake. Cold, so this tip is for the die-hards! 

Campsites in Norway
Campsites in Norway

4. Use roadside toilets  

If you are traveling by car, use the sanitary facilities along the way. Norway is a clean country and the toilets were usually super hygienic! With wild camping you can't always avoid going into nature, but we tried to stop along the road as much as possible. Because with your butt between the insects in the evening is not always a nice idea...  

5. Camping spots along the road  

If you are passing through and don't have the time to walk into nature with all the stuff, or look for a place in the middle of a forest by car, just drive on the road. Special camping spots have been created next to almost all roads in Norway. Super handy!

The disadvantage is that you sleep on a road, so you can wake up from the sound of cars. The advantages are that the Norwegians take good care of you and there is often a clean toilet and benches, trash cans and sometimes even showers.

In addition, the camping spots along the road are special enough to stop. Often it is located on beautiful lakes, along fjords or near a beach. We have used this option a lot, because it is very easy to quickly find a place in the evening.  

Camping spots along the road | Norway
Camping spots along the road | Norway

5. Apps for wild campers  

Download the apps as: 'iOverlander'And'Norcamp'. Especially the first one was really our hero during camping! You can of course look for places to set up the tent yourself, which is nice if this works out, but of course you don't know in advance where the hidden gems, the hidden spot, can be found.

Campers share beautiful camping spots via this app, so that you can also use them. This is really a great invention, because by following this system we have found the most amazing camping spots. Next to a waterfall, for example, or on a flowing river.

Tip: keep a close eye on when the camping spot has been put online and whether reviews have been written. Only go by the places that received feedback up to a year ago. This way you can be sure that you will not end up in a dead end.  

6. Treat Norwegian nature with respect 

Norway is proud of its nature. It is one of the few countries where so little nature has been adapted and affected to human life. Roads have been built for traffic and train tracks cut through nature, but little has been stolen. The Norwegians want to preserve the beauty of their country as much as possible, which is why land ownership among the population is low on average.

For miles you will only find forests, fjords, waters, etcetera. Somehow you feel this when you enter the country. The air is clean and fresh. It feels different, better. The inhabitants of Norway treat their country with respect and you can see that they are proud of it. There is little waste on the street, everything is well maintained. People ensure that the waters and roads are not polluted. 

As a wild camper you don't leave any waste behind, you clean up everything neatly. In return, Norway offers facilities for you as a camper and you can claim a piece of land for a night. When you leave again, you leave everything as it was. Also no leftover food and the like…

River in the nature of Norway
River in the nature of Norway

7. What stuff do you bring?  

Invest in a good sleeping mat 

You don't feel like inflating an air mattress every day. However, you do not always sleep well outside because the surface is sometimes not completely flat. We had an air mattress with us during our first night, which immediately started leaking. Then we bought the cheapest sleeping mats somewhere, which we later regretted. They were very thin. My advice is: buy one in advance sleeping mat blowing itself up. Wild camping is quite intensive, so you need a good night's sleep.

LED lamp

Handy to have is an LED lamp that you can hang in the tent. In the middle of nature it is often pitch dark, so you don't always have light from lampposts. A flashlight on the phone does not point in all directions and is not as practical as an LED lamp. Moreover, that is also nicer light for the tent.  

Gadflies and anti-mosquito spray  

Wet your chest for hordes of flies around you. I found out in Norway that I was allergic to mosquitoes and walked around with my legs full of big bumps. There are a lot of gadflies and they grab every bit of skin they can get.

Buy the anti-mosquito spray in Norway itself. The insects there are very different, so the spray sold in the Netherlands is not strong enough. We bought a super good one in a drugstore in Norway. It cost 35 euros, but I was no longer stung.

Waterfall in Norway nature
Waterfall in Norway nature

Plan your holiday to Scandinavia here

Ilse

Hi! I'm Ilse, 23 years old. Since a backpacking trip through Scandinavia, my love for travel has grown and so has my bucket list! I fell in love with Norway and have since returned to the beautiful country twice. I have already seen many places in Europe. In September and October I will travel to Indonesia and Thailand, and in March next year I will explore Central America.

0 comments

  • Maximum 2 nights in one place.
    Human fecal matter can be deadly to dogs. So bury it well, deep hole, or collect it in a bag and throw it away neatly in the trash.
    A fire ban can also apply outside the periods, depending on drought.
    Dogs must be on a leash at all times from April 1 to August 20 (some municipalities even November 1).
    Live in Norway yourself

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