Boasting a pristine coastline, plenty of rivers, and three national parks, Namdalen is a natural hub for outdoor activities.
The district of Namdalen is located in Trøndelag in the middle of Norway. The “capital” is Namsos, better known as the “cradle of Trøndelag rock music.” Here you can learn about the region’s music history and create your own tunes at Rock city.
Enjoy the ocean breeze in fishing villages like Sør-Gjæslingan, try kayaking or get your adrenaline pumping when you go rafting or bungee jumping. And you simply cannot visit Namdalen without trying your luck at fishing. The region is wildly known for its salmon rivers, and Namsen is by many anglers considered one of the best salmon rivers in Europe.
Along the coast, you can rent boats and fishing equipment and stay in charming fisherman’s shack. To get a taste of the rich coastal heritage, visit Nordveg, a centre for coastal culture and industry in Rørvik.
If you want to spend more time in the wilderness, the region offers no less than three national parks: Lierne, Blåfjella-Skjækerfjella, and Børgefjell. If you stop by Namsskogan family park, you can also observe animals like moose, bears, lynxes, and wolves – and try zip lining!
Find more inspiration on Namdalen’s official website.
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Top things to do
Don't miss these highlights.
NamsosNamdal Museum
Want to learn more about Namdal’s eventful cultural history? The Namdal Museum is situated just outside of Namsos town centre, and consists of 24 buildings and over 13,000 exhibits and photographs. As a museum of cultural history, Namdal Museum presents a range of exhibits divided among a number of different themes. The main emphasis of the collection is on the old farming culture, the history of the forests and outlying districts and the history of the hospital. At Namdal Museum you can take part in a range of exciting and educational activities, like the culture market (kulturmartna), the Christmas market and several theatre performances.
AbelværKayaking in the Namdal archipelago - Explore Ytre Namdal
Would you like to go kayaking in magnificent surroundings in Ytre Namdal ? Join us and explore the archipelago around Abelvær by kayak. Here, you will find numerous islets and skerries, white sandy beaches and a rich bird life. You can take on Folla’s powerful swells or paddle in calmer waters depending on which challenges you are seeking. Introduction course: from NOK 690 per person. Price: 4-hour tour: from NOK 690 per person. Price: 8-hour tour: from NOK 790 per person. Included in price: – Required equipment and safety equipment. – On 8-hour tour: Basic meals. Booking: Contact Christian at +47 95997811 /[email protected] For more info: www.exploreyn.no Join us on a kayaking excursion Together with Explore Ytre Namdal, you will paddle your kayak in the area around Abelvær and Tviberg. There are many alternative routes, depending on wind and weather as well as which challenges you are seeking. There are also ample opportunities for hanging out and enjoying the beach. At the top of Tviberg (ca. 120 m.a.s.l), there are panorama views in all directions. There are also possibilities for fishing along the way. What tastes better than fresh fish in warm fish soup, which is all the more delicious when enjoyed at a spot with a splendid view out toward Gjæslingan and Folla.
Book nowNordliLierne National Park Visitor Centre
Lierne National Park visitor center is located between tree nationalparks, Blåfjella-Skjækerfjella National Park, Lierne National Park and Børgefjell National Park. The center is the visitor center for both Lierne and Blåfjella-Skjækerfjella Nationa Park. They work with environmental preservation, information about the national parks and also facilitate nature guides. At the visitorcenter you will find information where to go in the parks and what to do. There you will also find an exhibition where you will learn about local culture. You can also listen to audio guides about different historical events.
RørvikKystmuseet Norveg - Coastal Museum
Kystmuseet Norveg (The Rørvik Coastal Museum) is in Vikna. The museum is divided into three departments: Rørvik with the coastal culture centre of Norveg, Berggården trading post with boathouses and the quay; the listed cultural environment of the Sør-Gjæslingan fishing village, and Vågsenget farm area - the birthplace of the founder of the museum. The coastal museum does extensive informational work through permanent and temporary exhibitions. The museum has used drama as an important tool in the informational storytelling with theatre productions, a wandering theatre performance and storytelling events. The museum works closely with local and regional theatre groups. In the Sør-Gjæslingan fishing village you can live in a real rorbu – a traditional fisherman’s cabin – in the nationally listed and protected cultural environment. You can also go on a day trip with public express boat (ultimo may – ultimo august), or join M/S Sunniva from Norveg (ultimo June – primo august). Sør-Gjæslingan was awarded the Norwegian Cultural Heritage “Olavsrosa” (Olav’s Rose). Visitour website for the updated programme for the museum, and all tour offers. Norveg 15.juni - 15.august Museum ticket for two days. The ticket includes access to the coastal culture centre Norveg, the land based aquaculture exhibitions, Berggården old trading post and the quayside area. Café Norveg is open daily from 10:00 – 17:00. A unique journey through the history of seafood The tour « A Unique journey through the history of seafood” includes guided tours of the aquaculture salmon farm at Bondøya, and the historical fishing village of Sør-Gjæslingan. You can buy tickets for the whole tour, including guiding and a local food lunch with salmon. The tour starts in Norveg at 10:30 on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays during the summer. The tour takes 4 hours. Tourist information and exhibitions in Norveg: The museum and tourist information at Norveg is open every day from 10:00-17:00 from June 15th to August 15th. Outside of the summer season the museum is open Tuesday-Saturday from 11:00-15:00 for individual guests. The museum is open on request all year around for groups.
Book nowRørvikSalmon Center Rørvik
Do you want to experience the fantastic Namdalen coastline with it’s stunning scenery, small islands and learn something new at the same time? SalMar's exhibition centre in Rørvik is housed in the Norveg Coastal Museum, one of the coast's most striking landmark buildings. Here you can immerse yourself in the Norwegian aquaculture industry through our interactive viewing center, which opened in a new look in 2023. With high-tech installations, competent communicators and viewing trips out to the edge of the cage, you will be able to explore and form your own image of the Norwegian aquaculture industry. In the summer, Salmon Center Rørvik, in collaboration with the Norwegian Coastal Museum Norveg, offers the package "A unique time travel in seafood history", which is an adventurous boat trip where you can experience the salmon up close. The trip goes from Norveg, via the fish farming locality Bondøya, to the protected fishing village of Sør-Gjæslingan. Upon arrival in Sør-Gjæslingan, you will hear the stories from the fishing village's heyday, and the trip will not be complete until you are served a warm salmon package in absolutely fantastic surroundings. These tours run from mid-june to mid-august with departures from Kystmuseet Norveg every Tuesday, Thursday and Friday. It is also possible to join viewing trips outside of these departures. See Salmon Center Rørvik's website for more information: https://salmarcenter.no/
Popular hikes
Check out some of the best and most scenic hikes in Namdalen.
GrongHiking: Storhusfjellet 490 masl.
This round trip is a challenging 12,8 km walk, with 387 meters of elevation. From the road barrier: walk on the gravel path and keep going straight passed the junction. The hike to the top is 4,75 km. You can also walk straight to Storhusfjellet summit, or walk to Mediåsetra and Stortuva for an 8,8 km long round trip. You get a good view from the top. Read about the Mediå-legend on grong.kommune.no/kultur-og-fritid/kulturvern/mediasegnet/ Directions: Drive Fv 392 from Mediå bridge in the centre of Grong. Turn off this road next to Hydro, then take a right, driving to the gravel road and road barrier. Park at the barrier and start the trip. You can also start from Hallgotto or Litjå. Sleep, eat, see and do: Langnes Camping (langnescamping.no), Namsentunet (namsentunet.no), Rønningen på Veium, Jørem – opplevelser ved Namsen (jorem.no), several eateries in Grong and Harran. Download and print trail description:Storhusfjellet.
LimingenHiking: Dærga / Jillie Daerka 1108 masl.
A hike to the summit of Dærga/Jillie Daerka in Røyrvik municipality/Raarvihken tjïelte is a steep trip, suitable for the whole family. Maybe not suitable for those who fear heights. The top is 1108 masl and a very distinct mountain near the centre of Røyrvik. The path is signposted according to the national standard. You can also summit Dærga in wintertime, local providers offer guided tours. Directions: From E6 road follow signs at Brekkvasselv or Namsskogan towards Børgefjell, driving along Fv 733. Keep following signs to Børgefjell after Fv 361. On the road towards Namsvatnet there is a parkering area. Start your hike here. Sleep, eat, see and do: Røyrvik Gjestegård (www.limingen.no), Visit Børgefjell (visitborgefjell.com), Tundra Tours (tundratours.no). Download and print trail description: Dærga.
GutvikHiking Suggestion: Støypet and Ørnerovet on Leka Island
The story about Ørnerovet, the eagle incident, put Leka on the map in 1932. Three year old Svanhild was taken by an eagle and flown away. Just like with fairy tales however, this story also ends well. The girl was found alive on a mountain ledge after 7 hours. The trail to Støypet and to Ørnerovposten starts in a large parking area in Kvaløya on Leka. Signposted parking with a picnic area and binoculars. The trail is marked and after a while it divides into two trails, one towards Støypet and one to Ørnerovposten. The rounds stones at Støypet have many different shapes and fascinating colours. The trail towards Ørnerovposten can entail some scrambling, but the view from the end of the trail is lovely. On Leka you walk among colourful rocks from the deepest part of the ancient seabed. There is both gold and platinum in the thin, black stripes in the yellow rock. For more hiking suggestions in Leka visit www.visitleka.no
NordliLierne/Lijre National Park
Lierne/Lijre National Park and its adjacent protected areas in Sweden makes up a large continuous wilderness area. Landscape: The landscape in the park is one large exhibition of how the ice age changed and affected the area thousands of years ago. It is unique in Norway with thick moraine deposits, many different types of soil, rogen moraine, drumlins and more. The National Park is mostly made up of lowland areas, with the exception of the Hestkjølen massif with peaks as high as 1300 masl. There are some marshland and forested areas. Because of its varied landscape this is a good area for birds, especially wetland birds. Here you can observe ducks, waders, the Eurasian Dotterel, red-necked phalarope and long-tailed jaeger, to mention a few. In the vast wilderness area there are also wolverines, lynx and bears. Some Arctic Foxes also find their way into this national park. Lierne National Park is also a very important area for reindeer husbandry and the local Sami population. Facts: Lierne National Park (Lijre in South Sami language) is a Norwegian national park in Trøndelag, along the Swedish border. The entire national park is within Lierne Municipality. The protected area is 333 square kilometers. Hiking, fishing and hunting: Lierne National Park is well-suited to hiking, hunting and fishing and picking mushrooms and berries, but there are only a few marked trails and open cabins. Lierne fjellstyre (mountain authority) offers cabins and boats for hire both in and outside the national park.
SørliBlåfjella-Skjækerfjella/ Låarte-Skæhkere National Park
Blåfjella-Skjækerfjella/Låarte-Skæhkere National Park is one of the largest national parks in Norway. The protected area is a combination of lowland forest areas and highland areas 1000 masl and above. The landscape is varied with coniferous forests, birch forests, marshes, valleys and mountains. There are traces from the ice age in the landscape. Blåfjella-Skjækerfjella has vast areas of untouched nature and as such it has a rich plant and wildlife, with many vulnerable species. For example, Arctic Fox, bears, wolverine and lynx. The national park is also home to many different species of bird. Cultural Heritage: There are many cultural heritage areas and points of interest in Blåfjella-Skjækerfjella National Park, particularly related to Sami culture. This includes burial sites, sacred places, settlement areas and places for social gatherings. There has been reindeer husbandry in the area for more than 500 years. Hunting, fishing and gathering has beem important in region since the stone age. Facts: Blåfjella-Skjækerfjella National Park (Låarte-Skæhkere vaarjelimmiedajve in the South Sami language) is the 4th largest national park in Norway, located in the east in Trøndelag county, along the border to Sweden. The area was protected on the 17th of December 2004 to protect mountainous areas with ancient forests and varied wildlife. It covers 1 924 square kilometers. Lierne National Park was opened the same day, to the north east. Hiking, fishing and hunting in the national park: The park has little to no marked trails, but is excellent for wilderness hiking, trout or char fishing and hunting. You need a fishing or hunting license to participate in such activities. Berrypicking is free for everyone. Experience Blåfjella-Skjækerfjella: We recommend experiencing the national park by hiking to the National Park Monument Stone,. Contact Lierne National Park Visitors Centre for more information.
Where to stay
Book comfy hotels or cosy cabins. Find your home away from home.
NamsskoganVertshuset Nams-inn
HasvågHasvåg Fritid
Book nowNamsosNamsos Camping
SalsbruketSetran Adventure Farm
Book nowOverhallaFru Opdal Gårdshotell
Food and drink
Taste delicious local food and book a table at a fine restaurant.
Getting here and around
Plan your trip to Namdalen with Entur, Norway's official travel planner.
By plane
Namsos Airport has direct flights to and from Bodø, Mosjøen, Rørvik, and Trondheim.
Rørvik Airport has direct flights to and from Mo i Rana, Namsos, and Trondheim.
Trondheim Airport offers flight connections to Norway and much of Europe.
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By car
The main motorway through Norway, the E6, practically runs straight through Namdalen, which makes the region easy to reach by car.
The Norwegian Scenic Route Helgelandskysten from Steinkjer to Bodø runs through Namsos and Rørvik.
Plan your route, check traffic alerts, ferry information and more on the Norwegian Roads Administration website.
By bus
You can travel by express bus to Namdalen from many destinations in Norway.
There are several local bus services within the Namdalen area as well.
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By boat
You can travel from Namsos on the M/S Namdalingen to places such as Rørvik and Leka.
The Norwegian Coastal Express Hurtigruten calls daily at Rørvik.
By train
Daily train services between Trondheim and Bodø serve many destinations in Namdalen, including Snåsa, Grong, Harran, Lassemoen, and Namsskogan.
Experience it for yourself!
From forests and salmon rivers to fishing villages and coastal culture – this is Namdalen.
Namdalen
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