Norway | Small Group Tours for Seniors

Q: Is tipping customary in Norway?

If you&#8217;re on an Odyssey tour, we take care of tipping so you don&#8217;t need to give it a second thought. However, in your free time, or if travelling independently, it&#8217;s essential that you tip an appropriate amount for services. Tipping is not compulsory in Norway, though tips in restaurants and bars for good service are welcomed. A 10-20% tip is expected if one is pleased with the service.

Q: What language do they speak in Norway?

English is widely spoken, though Norway&#8217;s two official languages are Norwegian and Sami, indigenous to northern Norway. Norwegian is the most widely used language, spoken by 95% of the population. There are two ways of writing Norwegian. These two written standards are known as Nynorsk (‘New’ Norwegian) and the Bokmål (Book Language, based on written Danish). Both<a href="https://www.skapago.eu/en/bokmal-nynorsk/"> Bokmål and </a><a href="https://www.skapago.eu/en/bokmal-nynorsk/">Nynorsk</a> are taught in school in Norway and generally if you understand one, you will understand the other. Norwegian is a North Germanic language that is a linguistic descendant of Old Norse. Its closest relatives are Swedish and Danish.

Norway tours for seniors.

Odyssey offers easy, convenient, and relaxed escorted small group tours across Scandinavia and beyond. We explore Norway’s world renown natural beauty, its ancient Viking heritage, National Heritage Sites, and charming Nordic cities, all with some truly spectacular scenery along the way. This and more is all waiting to be explored on one of Odyssey’s small group tours of Norway, designed for the senior traveller, and led by experienced, and enthusiastic like minded people.

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Norway Tours

Tours for Mature Aged and Senior World Travellers

Pre-guaranteed

40 days

May

Arctic circle tour

Visiting Denmark, Finland

A 40 day small group tour for senior couples and mature solo travellers interested in exploring the Arctic circle. The group with a program leader explores Greenland, Iceland, Faroe Islands of Denmark, Norway, Sweden and Finland. The tour makes use of the long summer night light for your enjoyment learning about viking history and trade and the Sami.

From A$42,895 AUD

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Pre-guaranteed

13 days

Jun, Sep

Scandinavia tours for mature travellers

Visiting Denmark, Norway

Uncover on a small group tour for couples and solo travellers, a Viking past and view of the world’s biggest fjords on this journey through Scandinavia. In low-lying Denmark our small group journey takes us to visit the Zeeland, the sea land, and our program includes the vibrant capital of Copenhagen. In Norway we travel through endless forests, skirting great fjords to Bergen.

From A$14,295 AUD

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10 days

Oct, Jan

Northern Lights Small Group tour | Visit Norway and Finland

Visiting Finland, Norway

Odyssey's small group tour following the Northern Lights allows you to experience serene snow-covered Arctic landscapes. Throughout our journey guides and specialists will outline the history of this stark region and the nature of the peoples who wrested their living from it. A unique opportunity to view this natural phenomenon travelling as part of a small group.

From A$9,625 AUD

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In 2017, Norway in Northern Europe was named the world’s happiest country according to the World Happiness Report, and it has remained towards the top of these rankings ever since. Apart from its stable economy, high standard of living, and strong welfare system, Norway is also rich in natural beauty-all of the factors contributing to a happy citizenry. Travellers taking a guided tour trip to Norway can take part in the joy of the country, viewing Norway‘s many breath-taking scenery, from rugged mountain ranges to verdant forests and spectacular glaciers and fjords. With a knowledgeable tour guide our small group tours Norway for senior or mature couples & single travelers spend time exploring and learning about the destinations of Norway.

While the Scandinavian nation Norway is known generally for its epic natural landscapes, Norway‘s fjords are simply breath-taking and most likely like nothing you have seen before. Geologically, a fjord is a long, narrow inlet with steep sides or cliffs, created when a glacier retreats creating a U-shaped sea undersea valley. Norway is home to nearly 1,200 fjords, some of which are UNESCO World Heritage-listed. Norwegian fjords worth visiting include Geirangerfjorden, Lysefjord and Sognefjord–Norway‘s longest and deepest fjord stretching 204km with a depth that reaches 1308m.

Another highlight to be seen in a small group tour are the Lofoten Islands, off the coast of Northern Norway, with its beautiful scenery, clear blue waters, and spectacular mountains. The islands are a hiker’s dream and there are unparalleled views of the surrounding Arctic waters. Dotted with idyllic villages and sheltered bays, this is one of Norway‘s most breath-taking spots.

In Oslo, visit the Vigeland Sculpture Park, the largest sculpture park in the world by a single artist, Norwegian sculptor Gustav Vigeland. Also in Oslo is the Munch Museum, dedicated to the life and work of Norwegian Modernist artist Edvard Munch, most famous for his painting The Scream .

A Norway tour for seniors is also the perfect way to witness the Northern Lights. In Northern Norway at the North Cape (and parts of central Norway) between late September and late March, you can witness this celestial wonder. There are a few areas that are deemed to be the best viewing spots but generally, weather allowing, they are easy to see in this part of the country.

Articles about Norway

13 Total Articles

Questions about Norway for senior travellers

Escorted small group tours for mature and senior travellers to Norway. Designed for couples and solo travellers who like to explore and enjoy learning about the woollen sails of the Vikings, photographing the Northern lights as they travel to Oslo, Tromso, or the arctic circle.

10 Nov 19 · 2 mins read

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The Viking's Woollen Sails

Vikings and Their Use of Wool for Sails This educational article aims to help senior travellers immerse in the world of Vikings before they take part in a memorable travel experience across Scandinavia. It helps…

15 Mar 19 · 7 mins read

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The Vikings

Vikings explored, pillaged, settled and traded their way in 300 years across the North Atlantic in the Longships to Iceland and Greenland or south through Europe/Russia to Istanbul and Persia. Learn more on a small group educational tour for senior couples and mature solo travellers interested in Viking history.

4 Oct 21 · 23 mins read

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Hanseatic League

An Article on the early trading of Germany and the Baltic states by an Antipodean travel company serving World Travellers since 1983 with small group educational tours for senior couples and mature solo travellers who are curious.

17 Nov 21 · 11 mins read

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Sami People of the Arctic

The Sámi people are the only indigenous people of the European Union and are one of the oldest living cultures of our planet. Article for senior couples and mature single travellers curious about the Samii people and Viking culture that stretches across the Faroe Islands, Norway, Sweden and Finland on a small group educational tour.

28 Oct 21 · 15 mins read

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Ale's Stones (Ales stenar), a megalithic monument in Skåne, Sweden.

Vikings-explorers, raiders, traders

Article introducing Vikings and Outhere the explorer. Learn more on a small group educational tour for senior couples and mature solo travelers going to Iceland, Greenland, the Arctic circle or the Orkney islands.

4 Oct 21 · 6 mins read

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Touring Norway

The need to know

Getting around

Odyssey travels by coach and occasionally uses local transport, including trains and ferries. Specifics are always outlined in your tour itinerary. NSB, the Norwegian State Railways, operates an extensive and well-developed rail network, while the country is well-served by domestic flight coverage. Nearly every town and city has a bus service, while passenger ferries can be an excellent way to not only get around, but also take in some wonderful scenery.

Accommodation

In major cities, Odyssey stays in centrally located 3-4 star hotels, with easy access to public transport. In smaller towns or rural areas, we usually stay in family-run hotels or guesthouses. On our longstay tours, during which you spend the length of the tour in a single location, we use serviced apartments.

Tour Guides

Odyssey always engages local guides with regional knowledge to ensure an authentic experience during which you can learn as much as possible about the history and culture of places you visit.

Geography, Environment, & Weather

Norway is the northernmost country of the Scandinavian peninsula, and faces the North Sea, North Atlantic Ocean and Barents Sea. Norway is dominated by mountains, with the country having an average elevation of 460 metres, while the country’s famous fjords punctuate the landscape. Norway has a long and rugged coastline, and has some 50,000 islands across the length of its coast.

Norway has a milder climate than other areas of the world at a similar latitude due to the moderating effects of the North Atlantic Current. However, temperatures can drop below freezing over much of the country during winter, so pack some warm clothing if travelling between November and March.

World Heritage sites

Norway has 8 UNESCO World Heritage Sites. You can view the official list of the sites here (https://whc.unesco.org/en/statesparties/no). While every site is worth a look, here are a few highlights:

Bryggen, the historic harbour district of the city of Bergen
Vegaøyan, a archipelago just south of the Arctic Circle which still features the distinctive way of life based on fishing and hunting
Rock Art of Alta, featuring engravings and paintings that date back thousands of years.

Festivals & Events

Norway has a vibrant cultural scene, and has numerous festivals and events throughout the year. The Nordlysfestivalen (Northern Lights Festival) is a music festival that has been running in the city of Tromsø for 30 years, and features and ecletic range of musicians and musical groups. Gladmat is Norway’s biggest food festival and plays host to over 200,000 foodies, travellers and chefs to the city of Stavanger for a taste of the southern Norway food scene. The Riddu Riddu Festival is held in July and celebrates the unique culture and traditions of the Sami people through music, literature and live performances.

Reading List

Moon Norway, by David Nikel
Growth of the Soil, by Knut Hamsun
Frommer’s Norway, by Roger Norum
Sophie’s World, by Jostein Gaarder

Eating & Drinking

Seafood features prominently in Norwegian cuisine, with rakfisk (preserved trout), lutefisk (preserved cod), and pickled herring all being amongst the country’s most famous dishes. Bergensk fiskesuppe (a fish soup) is another example of Norway’s seafood fare, and is often served with fish balls made from haddock, cod and pollock. Lefse, a traditional soft flatbread sweetened with butter, cinnamon and sugar, makes for a popular accompaniment to meals and is often a popular snack in its own right. If you’re in the mood for a coffee while in Norway, you’ll have come to the right place – Norwegians are the second highest consumers of coffee in the world. If you’re looking for something stronger though, akevitt might be worth a try, as might glogg or mjød (mead).

Health & Safety

Generally Norway is very safe to travel around in, though always exercise common sense while travelling.

Electrical Supply

Whenever you travel overseas, it’s always wise to take an appropriate travel adapter. The standard voltage in Norway is 230V, while the standard frequency is 50Hz. Norway uses both the Type C and Type F plug, so be sure you have an adapter handy as needed.

Highlights

The best of Norway

Urnes Stave Church

Urnes Stave Church, a 12th century wooden church that stands as a stunning example of Scandinavian wooden architecture.

Lysefjord

Lysefjord, a fjord in the Ryfylke area in southwestern Norway featuring spectacular mountain views.

Flåm

Flåm, a small village nestled in some of the most picturesque scenery in Norway.

Tour Reviews

I was impressed by the number of places we visited. It was a very full itinerary which I like. We saw things of interest every day. I see no fault with the tour.

Participant 2017

Anglo French Tour | Normandy, Brittany, Channel Islands tour

We felt safe in Turkey and found the people friendly and helpful. Prices were excellent and the food almost universally magnificent. There is so much to see in the natural and built environment and the wonderful archaeological sites. It is sad to see the ordinary people and businesses suffering from the lack of tourists. Mary B. Sep '17

Participant 2017

Small group tour of Ancient Turkey

The country was apparently calm and safe. People were friendly and helpful. Such a pity there has been such a down turn in tourism. Ros & Tony S. Sep '17

Participant 2017

Small group tour of Ancient Turkey

The geographical wonders offered by Iceland and Greenland left me in awe. The grandeur and spectacle of the countryside is breathtaking. Our leader (Rob) was excellent: well-researched, friendly, organized and good-humoured.

Participant 2017

Iceland cultural and wilderness small group tour

It is hard to believe that such a small country can contain so much dramatic scenery. Icecaps and glaciers, huge waterfalls, volcanos and hot bubbling mud, and those wonderful fjords and high mountain passes

Participant 2016

Iceland cultural and wilderness small group tour

Every day was different with so much to see and do. Volcanoes, craters (including the pseudo ones), bubbling mud pools, and the active Strokkur Geyser, the bird life, black sand beaches, and those beautiful Icelandic horses. The time flew by...

Participant 2016

Iceland cultural and wilderness small group tour

Our guide Filiz was wonderful, very well informed, historical insights very helpful, her care for our well being exceptional. Could not have wished for a better tour leader.

Participant 2017

Small group tour of Ancient Turkey

Our guide was a great ambassador for his country, wide knowledge of literature, history, customs, industry, fishing - also a perceptive and sensitive person who inter-acted so willingly with all of us!

Participant 2016

Iceland cultural and wilderness small group tour

FAQs

What is the time zone?

Norway has a single time zone, Central European Time (UTC+1). Norway observes daylight saving time from the last Sunday in March to the last Sunday in October.

Is tipping customary in Norway?

If you’re on an Odyssey tour, we take care of tipping so you don’t need to give it a second thought. However, in your free time, or if travelling independently, it’s essential that you tip an appropriate amount for services. Tipping is not compulsory in Norway, though tips in restaurants and bars for good service are welcomed. A 10-20% tip is expected if one is pleased with the service.

What language do they speak in Norway?

English is widely spoken, though Norway’s two official languages are Norwegian and Sami, indigenous to northern Norway. Norwegian is the most widely used language, spoken by 95% of the population. There are two ways of writing Norwegian. These two written standards are known as Nynorsk (‘New’ Norwegian) and the Bokmål (Book Language, based on written Danish). Both Bokmål and Nynorsk are taught in school in Norway and generally if you understand one, you will understand the other. Norwegian is a North Germanic language that is a linguistic descendant of Old Norse. Its closest relatives are Swedish and Danish.

What is the currency in Norway?

The currency in Norway is the Norwegian Krone (NOK), which is sometimes mistranslated into ‘crown’ in English. There are 100 øre in 1 krone. Although debit or credit cards are accepted at most places in Norway, it is still a good idea to have a bit of cash on you. Unlike other countries in Europe that accept the Euro, foreign currency is rarely accepted in Norway, so you do need Norwegian currency to get by.

External articles to assist you on your visit to Norway.

Vigeland: Humanity in the World’s Largest Sculpture Park (Culture Trip)
13 Photos That Will Make You Want to Visit Norway’s Lofoten Islands (CondeNast Traveler)
Munch Museum
Enjoy some of the world’s best train journeys (Visit Norway)
Fjord (Britannica)
10 Things You May Not Know About The Scream (The British Museum)

Responsible travel tips for Norway

Learn at least the local greetings to break the ice. Although many locals speak English, the more you know of the native language, the greater your experience of the country will be.
Carry a business card in your wallet or purse from your local hotel, to assist you with the return journey if you do become lost.
Always ensure that you are covered by travel insurance. If you need advice on this feel free to contact Odyssey and we’ll be able to help.
When travelling independently, make sure you check the opening hours of shops and museums so that you don’t miss out! Also be certain to check whether your trip coincides with any public holidays, so you can plan accordingly.
Before departing on your trip, contact your bank to inform them that you may be making purchases overseas. Otherwise, they may flag any activity on your account as suspicious. Also, check which ATMs and banks are compatible with your cards, to ensure you can withdraw cash with minimal fees.
Before departing, make sure you have a number of kroner in a range of denominations. You don’t want to be carrying around enormous amounts of cash, but take enough to make it easy to pay in locations that might not accept credit card. It will also help you avoid card transaction fees, and it makes tipping a breeze.