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'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 and Hemsedal: "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."

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!

Photo: Fredrik Ahlsen / Visit Norway

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 hotelsin 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!"

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

Photo: Fredrik Ahlsen / Visit Norway

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.

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