Raw escapes
Take a soul-soothing timeout
Did you know that bad weather can actually be good for you?
Research shows that the sound of waves and rivers gives a sense of calm and peace which has a counteractive effect on stress and anxiety.
Leave your thoughts at home and go for a unique escape on the Norwegian coast, fjords and islands in the autumn and winter!
Here are 9 unique escapes to achieve the perfect calm:
1. Storm watching
Feel the forces of nature! The fjord coast is raw and rough, but it does something to you. It sharpens you. Makes you see things more clearly.
Go storm watching – watch the waves crash against rocks and spray foam high into the air.
Be sure to observe from a safe spot!
Norwegian lighthouses provide the perfect getaway for storm watching.
Watch the stormy sea beating against the shore and listen to the rain drumming on the roof.
2. Fjord escapes
Absorb the quiet and tranquil nature all around you on a fjord cruise.
Float slowly through the contrasts in a serene landscape formed by glaciers, waves and the wind over millions of years.
The steep mountains and frozen waterfalls are a mind (and hair) blowing sight!
3. Unique stays
Watch the forces of nature rage outside while you snuggle up inside.
Feel inner calm and let go of attachments and reactions to life’s events, giving you a sense of peace and clarity.
Some studies have shown that enjoying the sights and sounds of the rain pouring down outside your window can counteract stress and anxiety.
Norwegians love to use rough weather as an excuse to snuggle up in bed or in front of the fireplace with a cup of hot chocolate. It's a key part of what we call kos.
A perfect getaway for one (or two). Nothing is more romantic than lighting candles and listening to slow music on a stormy night.
4. Wildlife safaris
The low season is also perfect for wildlife safaris.
Get your camera ready for a giant whale tail!
5. Seafood
Did you know that the cold weather enhances the flavour of seafood, especially shellfish and prawns?
The cold temperatures keep them fresher for longer.
Enjoy an unforgettable seafood meal five metres below the surface at Under, one of the world's biggest underwater restaurants.
6. Cruise the coast
Travel with Hurtigruten or Havila along the classic coastal voyage, Kystruta, between Bergen and Kirkenes!
Cruise comfortably in autumn past colourful trees reflected in the fjords along the coast. And in winter, as the evenings grow darker, you may even spot the northern lights dancing across the sky.
7. Saunas in the rain
Bad weather means good sauna sessions!
Feel alive when jumping into the ocean in the pouring rain before quickly heating up in a sauna surrounded by pristine nature.
8. Spa breaks
How about relaxing in a heated outdoor swimming pool, breathing in fresh, clear air?
It's not hard to feel a sense of zen here.
9. Traditional wooden house towns
Hard to fall asleep? Go somewhere sleepy!
Visit one of the cosy small towns full of traditional white wooden houses, called Trehusbyene, that dot the coast of Southern Norway.
In low season, the only noise comes from seagulls screeching and the ocean waves crashing on the shore.
Are you ready?
PS: autumn and winter also have a lot of sunny days, too!