Two girls in Vigelandsparken at Frogner in Oslo, Eastern Norway
Sigurd Groven riding a downhill bike
Sigurd Groven at the hospital with his girlfriend
Sigurd Groven with his family at the hospital after the bike accident in 2015
Sigurd Groven with his Exoquad bike at Hafjell Bikepark

Inclusive travel in Norway

Top insider tips

Check out cool innovations and first hand recommendations and activities for the whole family, from three active Norwegians!

Sigurd Groven's greatest passion has always been cycling. In 2015, the father of five was at a very happy stage in his life.

But one moment changed it all forever.

Sigurd and his friends were just going for the last downhill ride of the day. Little did he know that this would be the last time he would ever walk.

Sigurd crashed into a tree at high speed and broke his neck, leaving him completely paralysed from the chest down.

“At the hospital, I thought about what life was going to be like now. I tried to see the positive side, which was that my arms still worked fine and the support and love from my family and friends.”

Sigurd Groven

But his biggest motivation was this: He WAS going back to bike in the mountains against!

He tried a lot of different wheelchairs, but non of them worked as he wished, so there was only one thing to do – make his own!

And that's how the Exoquad was born – an all-electric off-road quadricycle for people with mobility challenges.

The Exoquad was made to be a tool for reclaiming outdoor inclusion and personal freedom! Still it has a very wide use-case and can serve virtually anyone!

It provides an unsurpassed degree of autonomy and accessibility that must be experienced to be believed!

“The Exoquad makes me totally independent. I can travel around Norway a lot and have the flexibility to accompany my children, who are also keen on cycling.”

Sigurd Groven

Sigurd Groven portrait

Sigurd Groven

Sigurd (47) has a complete spinal cord injury and is paralyzed from the chest down after a mountain bike accident in 2015.

He is a father of five and has always been an active cyclist/outdoorsman. After the injury he started looking for good aids that could work to take him out into the woods and fields again, but didn't find anything he felt was good enough to meet his standards.

In 2017, he met Mattias Storvestre. His girlfriend also has a spinal cord injury. They found that they had a common passion for this terrain-related aids. They agreed to design their own product and established Exotek AS in the winter of 2020.

They recently started production of the product "Exoquad" which is an all-electric off-road quadricycle for people with mobility challenges.

What is an Exoquad?

The Exoquad is a new and revolutionary Norwegian mobility aid, developed with co-funding from Innovation Noway. The Exoquad is designed for everyone with reduced gait function, ranging from wheelchair users to people with joint pain or other mobility-related impairments.

For the moment it’s not available for tourist rental, but Sigurd and his team in Exotek is working hard to make it accessible to rent!

Sigurd's top accessible travel tips:

1. Trysil: "I think Trysil is a great place. I like to stay at the Radison Blu hotel where it's easy to take a dip in the pool or go bowling. Right next to the hotel you'll find the Gullia bike trail and downhill tracks that are very accessible for my Exoquad. Trysil has developed an amazing range of trails and I always feel welcome there."

2. Hafjell Bike Park: "Hafjell Bike Park is Norway's best spot for lift-based cycling, with 19 trails ranging from green to black in difficulty level over a total of 25 km. Here, you'll find a pump track, a bike park, and trails for downhill biking with a gondola that takes you to the top. I use a downhill version of the Exoquad called Exogravity which works better on the trails there. The gondola has to stop for a little longer when I get on, but I'm allowed to bring my Exoquad and everybody is just so nice to me there. Hafjell has also hosted the Norwegian championship in downhill biking for para-athletes!"

3. Lofoten: "The Sunnaasstiftelsen hosts a lot of events for people with mobility challenges throughout the year. They help people that are exposed to serious injury or illness - with particular attention to people with acquired spinal cord and brain damage - master their life situation and live good, active lives. I joined their Camp Spinal in Lofoten, which was an amazing experience. It was a week filled with accessible surfing, sightseeing, RIB tours, fishing boat safaris, and kayaking. We even saw eagles! The following year, they arranged the camp in Alta and Karasjok together with Sokki Adventure, which included a reindeer safari and an overnight stay at the Snorrisniva Ice Hotel." (You have to submit an application to Sunnaastiftelsen to join their events, but you can always call/email them for questions about accessible activities).

4. Lilleputthammer: "We've had a lot of fun with the whole family at Lilleputthammer in Lillehammer. It is also very accessible."

5. Geilo andHemsedal: "Both Geilo and Hemsedal have very inclusive hotels and other accommodation. You'll find fantastic trails for biking in the summer, and I can use both my handbike and my Exoquad. In the winter, it's a good place for sit skiing and para cross-country skiing. We've stayed at the Vestlia resort several times, and it's the perfect place for both adults and kids. Fyri Resort in Hemsedal is also great."

  • the bird Iver_Gisle Johnsen
    Øyer

    Hafjell Bike Park

    If you want to try downhill, Hafjell Bike Park is the leading destination for lift- accessed cycling in Norway.
    Experience Sorrisniva Igloo Hotel

    Experience Sorrisniva Igloo Hotel

    Come for a day visit to Sorrisniva! The Igloo Hotel is the place for those who want a different experiene in a unique hotel made of pure snow and ice. The hotel is surrounded by a quiet and relaxing atmosphere outside the city center – it is the perfect place for calmness and serenity. You can also buy the ticket on spot when visiting.
Photoshoot on the Opera house in Oslo, Eastern Norway
Hanne Eriksson
Girl throws leaves in Vigelandsparken in Oslo, Eastern Norway

Hanne Eriksson has embraced her new life in a wheelchair.

In 2012 she lost feeling in her feet following a knee operation. For a long time, her condition was 'a mystery' to the Norwegian healthcare system. No one knew why she couldn't move her feet. She always loved doing gymnastics, strength training, and running, but was no longer able to train like before.

That didn't stop her. Today, Hanne is on Norway's national wheelchair racing team and competes internationally!

“The sport is called wheelchair racing and uses a 3-wheeled wheelchair. Propulsion is achieved by pushing the wheels while wearing special gloves. It's not a very widespread sport in Norway, so I have been traveling a lot both here and abroad to train.”

Hanne Eriksson

In addition to competing, she also works as a teacher and is a mother of two. She's living her best life!

Picture of Hanne Eriksson

Photo: Fredrik Ahlsen / Visit Norway

Hanne Øverli Eriksson from Finnmark

Hanne is 28 years old and lives together with her husband and two children in Oslo.

She works as a teacher and competes on Norway's national wheelchair racing team.

She travels extensively for her sport, both in Norway and abroad.

Hanne's top accessible travel tips:

1. The first floor apartments in "Abra Havn" in Kristiansand Zoo and Amusement Park : "Perfect for families with children and those in a wheelchair. Tell the staff in advance and they'll arrange a shower chair, ramp etc., and remove unnecessary things from the apartment to make more space. There are a lot of hills inside the zoo and it can sometimes be challenging in a manual wheelchair. It is mostly asphalt, so with a little help you can get anywhere!"

2. Gondol up Narvikfjellet: "An absolutely beautiful trip where you get to see Narvik in Northern Norway from above. They adjust the speed of the gondola so that you can easily enter with a wheelchair, and part of the bench by the window has been removed so that you can also get close to the window and enjoy the view in a wheelchair on some of the gondolas."

3. Hunderfossen family park: "The park seems to be experienced with families with wheelchairs. There are ramps where ever there are stairs or high steps. There are separate HC toilets at the different attractions, and the staff are very helpful if you need anything!"

4. Beitostølen ski destination: "The ski destination Beitostølen is also absolutely perfect for those who want relatively easy ski slopes for cross-country skiing or nice slopes for sit skiing. The people who work there are experienced with people in wheelchairs and are happy to help!"

5. Scandic hotels: "I recommend the hotel chain Scandic hotels in general all over the country. They have spacious HC rooms, beds that can be adjusted (height, back and legs) with remote control, integrated shower chairs, and grab bars by the toilets. There aren't that many rooms in each hotel, but when you get a HC room, it's generally almost perfect!"

  • Abra Havn
    Kardemomme By

    Abra Havn Pirate village

    Abra Havn is a pirate town based hotel where you can spend the night. In 2017 and 2018 Abra Havn was voted the 6th best family hotel in the world by Tripadvisor users.
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    Beitostølen Skisenter
    Beitostølen

    Beitostølen Ski Center

    Beitostølen Ski Center is perfect for families, beginners and carving enthusiasts. There's a fun park with 15 rails and several jumps of different lengths for beginners, advanced and experienced snowboarders and twin tip skiers. The skiing center is located on the sunny side of the hill and offers a wide view over mountains and the valley. There are 12 slopes of which two are flood-lit for night skiing. The lifts start in the middle of the village center and reach up to 1100 m.a.s.l. at Søndre Knaushøgde. Among the lifts, there are two 6-seat express chairlifts, one 3-seat chair lifts and three different drag lifts - button lifts and T-bars, incl. children's and toboggan lifts. At the ski center, there is ski rental (alpine, cross-country, back country and snow board), a warmed hut and a children's area with a children's lift and a ski play area. Click here for lift opening hours and here for an updated status on the slopes and conditions. Together with Raudalen Alpinsenter on the other side of the valley, where advanced skiers find red and black runs, Beitostølen can offer 18 slopes and 8 lifts. Two skiing centers - one lift pass!
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Woman tries accessible zip line in Skien Fritidspark, Telemark
Two women going for a walk outside Skien Fritidspark in Telemark

As a child, Elin Camilla Nilsen was carried around due to having Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA).

Today, she is able to explore independently, thanks to her electric wheelchair and recent accessibility improvements in Norway.

One of her favourite places to visit is Skien Fritidspark. The entire park is accessible, including this zipline!

“I love cooking, attending concerts and festivals, and outdoor activities. My assistants (UCPA) are the solution to everything. They are key to my being able to live an active life.”

Elin Camilla Nilsen

Woman swimming in Skien Fritidspark, Telemark

Photo: Fredrik Ahlsen / Visit Norway

Meet Elin Camilla Nilsen from Porsgrunn

Elin lives together with her cats Magnus and Lucy. She has been working for Uloba, the biggest User-Controlled Personal Assistance (UCPA) in Norway, for the last 12 years.

Elin is also head of a muscular dystrophies association in Telemark in addition to being a deputy representative on its board.

She has travelled throughout Norway as part of her job, but now spends most of her time in Porsgrunn.

Elin's top accessible travel tips:

1. Skien Fritidspark: This is a park where you'll find attractions like a climbing park with a zipline, indoor climbing, curling, mini golf, bungee trampoline, and an indoor waterpark and hotel – all suitable for people with varying degrees of disability! No wonder Skien is the proud recipient of the Accessibility Award in both 2018 and 2020. Skien fritidspark has several parking areas and all the roads are paved and step free. The entire water park is barrier-free and disabled adapted. The hotel offers 32 rooms, 10 of which have integrated hoists and 5 of which have height adjustable toilets and sinks. Assistance dogs are also allowed in most areas.

2. Tretoppvegen in Fyresdal: Go for a walk ... in the treetops! The Treetop road in Hamaren activity park is a universally designed trail suitable for all user groups. The trail is located right beside Fyresvatn lake and is surrounded by beautiful pine forest by an exciting rock formation called Klokkarhamaren. There are a variety of activities on offer. Enjoy yourself in this fantastic outdoor area.

3.​ Kristiansand Zoo: Explore Nordic wilderness and wildlife, including wolves, lynxes, and moose, among many other activities. Kristiansand Zoo consists of several parks combined: a zoo and an entertainment park with different theme areas, as well as an indoor and outdoor water park, a park within the park, where you need an additional ticket to enter. It has both electric and manual wheelchairs for hire.

4. Ibsenhuset in Skien: Ibsenhuset (The Ibsen house) is Skien's cultural centre and offers a wide selection of concerts and shows throughout the year. Ibsenhuset is well equipped for wheelchair users, but if you are going to be seated at the front of Dovregubben's Hall, do contact the ticket office in advance.

5. Ælvespeilet in Porsgrunn: Kulturhuset Ælvespeilet is Porsgrunn's cultural hall for young and old. It hosts everything from a children's program to concerts in all genres. It has parking and lifts and getting around in a wheelchair in unproblematic. Row 12 is reserved for wheelchairs, but you need to book in advance.

  • Dyreparken - Kristiansand Zoo and amusement park
    Kardemomme By

    Dyreparken - Kristiansand Zoo and amusement park

    Kristiansand Zoo and amusement park- Dyreparken - is the most visited attraction for families with children in Norway. Explore Nordic wilderness and animals like wolf, lynx and moose among many other activities.
    Book now
    Fyresdal_Sommer_Rasmus Hjortshøj_Tretopp-vegen_Hammaren-157
    Fyresdal

    Hamaren

    Hamaren is a walking trail by Lake Fyresvatn that is universally designed and suitable for pedestrians, cyclists, prams and wheelchairs.
    Skien_Skien-fritidspark_rullestolbrukere-på-Curling_1000x563
    Skien

    Accessible activities at Skien fritidspark

    Skien leisure park offers various activities that are well adapted for people with varying degrees of disability.
    Kulturhuset Ælvespeilet
    Porsgrunn

    Kulturhuset Ælvespeilet

    At the Ælvespeilet culture center you can enjoy concerts, with both national and international artists, theatre, shows and performances for children.
    foto Tom Riis eksteriør 0003 OK2_mørk
    Skien

    Ibsenhuset

    Ibsenhuset is Skien's cultural center and offers a wide selection of concerts and shows throughout the year, with both national and international guests.

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