Alta

Alta is the largest town in Norway’s northernmost county and lies at the inner reaches of the Altafjord. Although located far north, Alta is fairly easy to reach by plane or by road. The area offers forests, mountain plateaus, and coastal landscapes, and you have numerous opportunities to spend the days – and nights – outdoors and go hiking, biking and fishing.

Alta is in the process of being certified as a Sustainable Destination, a seal of approval given to destinations that work systematically to reduce the negative impact of tourism. In addition to providing visitors with enjoyable experiences, Alta wishes to preserve the local nature, culture and environment, strengthen social values, and be economically viable. The municipality and the travel industry cooperate closely to assure that the destination is a great place both to live in and to visit.

In the summer you can visit the rock carvings in Hjemmeluft, which bear the traces of a settlement dating from around 4,200 to 500 BC. The rock art constitutes the most important piece of evidence documenting the existence of human activity on the fringes of the Far North in prehistoric times – hence its status as a UNESCO world heritage site.