Eco-Tourism in Norway

The Global Ecotourism Conference was held in Oslo in 2007 and as you can probably expect, that would need to be a city that upholds green travel and ecotourism ideals.

Norway is an excellent vacation destination for eco-friendly travelers for this very reason. Its gorgeous landscapes and environmentally focused vacation and activity options makes Norway an ecotourism favorite. Perhaps what people most commonly think of when they think about Norway ecotourism are the Fjords.

Norway’s fjords are long and narrow inlets carved throughout its western valleys. The gorgeous scenery alongside the thousands of fjords in Norway include untouched nature, green hillsides, mountains, glaciers, waterfalls, rivers, extensive wildlife and lakes. As perfect as the fjords are for quiet kayaking or relaxing boat tours they are equally as perfect for some of the greatest adventure tours in Scandinavia. As such, tourists and green travelers flock to Norway each summer for summer skiing, river rafting and cruises within the inlets of the Norwegian countryside. Because of how famous the beauty within Norway’s fjords has become, the country has taken an active role in preserving it for future generations. It has done so well in fact, that the World Heritage Convention ranked Norway’s “West Fjords” as one of the best preserved sites within its list of 830 other ecotourism destinations around the world. Norwegians it seems are adamant about conserving the beauty of their countryside and managing its natural resources correctly. For ecotourism efforts in this regard and the cultural sensitivity to traditional farms and cultures near and around its many Fjords, Norway gets four stars.

Bryggen, Bergen another of Norway’s ecotourism destinations is also high on the World Heritage Conventions list of well-preserved eco-destinations. Bryggen is a row of medieval timber houses known for their beauty and how well they blend in within the fjords nearby and the Norwegian hillside. Although less popular than the variety of activity offered by the fjords, it is yet another example of how Norway has remained close to green travel ideals.

Additionally Norway’s major cities offer a variety of green options for visitors. Bike tours, and inexpensive bike rentals are popular in Oslo with an enormous number of parks, museums, boutiques, restaurants, cafes, pubs, organic food fairs and historical sites accessible through bikes and pedestrian paths. City efforts to reduce emissions and make green travel easier for visitors and residents makes Norway a premier green city.

Norway Ecotourism Resources

Fjords.com
Fjord Norway
Norway Embassy Environmental News
Round Spitsbergen
Visit Norway

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