Few countries in the world allow such freedom to pitch your tent for free for the night even on private land. I’ve had many incredible nights sleeping by a fjord or lake listening to the therapeutic sounds of water hitting the shore as I fall asleep. It’s a wonderful feeling of freedom and adventure that perhaps burns in us all. However, with great opportunity comes great responsibility. Wild camping in Norway is built on trust and Norwegians from an early age are educated about the need to respect the natural environment so all can continue to enjoy this freedom they are blessed with.
Wild camping in Mjølkevegen
Pro Tip - Bring a clothes line with you
Camping by Freshwater in Telemark.
Fjord view for free
Ensure you are 150m away from an inhabited house or cabin
Sometimes an open campsite with a hot shower is a better option!
Temperature Fluctuation
During the day it can be warm but very cold in the evening. If you are high up above 300-400m you may experience single-digit numbers in the night even in July. Above 1000m expect it to be very cold at night.
On the other hand, in the Arctic on a clear warm day, the sun will be shining on your tent all night and turning it into an ‘oven’ by the morning. Finding shade from the morning sun can be important.
Sun App: For 5 euros you can purchase an app that will show you where the sun will be located during the whole day so you place your tent in the right spot.
It is very common to find condensation forming on your tent from the mixture of your body heat and cold nights. Expect in many places to discover a very wet tent in the morning.
Mosquito and midges
From late June to late August there will be plenty of places where they’re present especially in forests and around lakes. We go into more detail on the FAQ page. The bottom line, bring repellent and cover your skin.
Ticks
In Norway, ticks are most abundant along the coast from Oslo up to Helgelandskysten (close to Brønnøysund). Some areas have a high abundance of ticks, while other areas have none. Ticks don’t fly or jump but they crawl up grass or twigs for example and then climb on to animals or humans passing by. Keep out of areas of dense forest or high grassland. Check yourself after wild camping. A Tick removed within 24 hours will rarely pass on any disease.
Confrontation with locals.
If you are approached by a local farmer or resident regarding your wild camping spot. Be polite and try to come to an agreement. If you are asked to move on even if you think you’re not in the wrong it’s not worth causing trouble. It’s better to move on than to annoy and cause a confrontation with local people. You won’t sleep well knowing an angry farmer is next door.
Where not to wild camp:
Every year some people think it’s cool to turn up at a very popular tourist location and illegally camp there when everyone has gone home. Preikestolen and Trolltunga are two prime examples. Other popular places such as World Heritage sites Geiranger and Aurlandfjorden are not practical for wild camping.
Lofoten is also a hot potato due to the confrontations between locals and tourists. Over the last few years, many people have camped illegally in Lofoten, leaving litter and human waste behind. As a result free camping areas have been closed down and stricter rules have been put in place. Wild camping only works when a place is not overrun with tourists. On a bike, you will pass through many quiet areas. When you reach a busy area think about your impact and consider staying in a campsite.
Illegal camping on the famous Preikestolen. There's nothing cool about this.
You may have visitors at a free shelter
Campfires are banned in many areas from 15th April to 15th September
Free and paid shelters
There are wooden shelters in many areas of rural Norway. Unfortunately, many different organizations build them, and thus getting an overview is extremely hard work. For example, you have bird watching, fishing, hiking, hunting, & tourist organizations that have all built shelters across the country. Who can use them, when, and what are the rules, are at times not straightforward. Some shelters are built for only day visits but many people will use them for overnights and how you stop or manage this is not clear.
What are the shelters like:
Some will only have three walls and no designated sleeping areas (known in Norwegian as Gapahuk). Others are old wooden cabins used back in the day for lumberjacks etc. They will have no power and just some random old furniture including a wooden bed without a mattress. Some will have a fire pit or stove and sometimes free wood may be available.
If you turn up at a shelter and people are already there it’s common to move on as the unwritten rule is first come have claim. Of course, if there’s plenty of room, you are welcome to ask, especially if it’s bad weather! Note, expect shelters to be busy during the hunting period of September.
Useful websites
A free 'Gapahuk' in the forest of eastern Norway.
A Paid DNT Cabin
A free old cabin. Simple set up, roll mat and sleeping bag required.
Cycle Norway is dedicated to making Norway, safer and more enjoyable to experience by bike and to inspire and inform a growing audience of the opportunities available.
