Scan Magazine | Special Theme | Autumn and Winter Experiences in Norway
Zen by the sea – with a crazy twist Feel like escaping everyday life? Whether you are looking for adrenaline-packed activities or inner peace, Vassdalsvik Sea Lodge offers a personal and warm experience of northern Norway’s majestic nature. By Eirik Elvevold | Photos: Vassdalsvik Sea Lodge
In 2013, Norwegian electrical engineer Fred Inge Kristensen and Swedish lawyer Helén Lindqvist fell in love while working together in Qatar. One day, while sitting on a sand dune, Helén got to see a picture of her new boyfriend’s childhood home Vassdalsvik in northern Norway. She fell in love with the picture as well, and they decided to visit. “The first boat ride from Bodø to Vassdalsvik was overwhelming and changed our lives forever,” Helén says. The couple quickly got the idea of turning a family property, once home to a fishing and farming company, into a sea lodge. “Things moved pretty fast. Vassdalsvik Sea Lodge came from a simple and genuine vision. I knew that if I got that amazed by the place, others would too,” says Helén.
Visitors and businesses from near and far now come to stay in the fully renovated Pier House to get an immediate connection with nature. How you wish to enjoy that nature, however, is entirely up to you. You can take a yoga class in the wild, go ski touring straight from a boat, watch sea eagles or just eat Lindqvist’s now-famous homemade food. “Everyone’s path is different, so it’s essential to listen. Some guests need a break, others
seek action. Regardless, we like to offer something personal and real,” Helén says. For more information, please visit: www.vassdalsviksealodge.com or www.facebook.com/ vassdalsviksealodge
Fred Inge Kristensen and Helén Lindqvist.
Pushing everyone’s boundaries What do members of the national team in cross-country skiing, a three-year-old, and an adult with a serious fear of heights have in common? You would be excused for not immediately thinking of a place, but Rypetoppen Adventurepark is indeed it. As one of Norway’s biggest and safest climbing parks, it offers a challenge or two for most. By Helene Toftner | Photos: Fotograf Eidsmo/Erlend B. Enger
Far into the woods, about one and a half hours from Trondheim, an adventure oasis appears as Rypetoppen Adventurepark has incorporated its climbing park into scenic surroundings. With numerous different trails, it offers challenges for children as well as trained professionals – even the Swedish national team in cross-country skiing. “It is meant to be a place for everyone, and active families in particular like to make their way here,” says operational manager and co-owner Stig Aasgård, adding that the park automatically encourages people to push their boundaries. “People often start out terrified of heights, to then 64 | Issue 92 | September 2016
almost jump from one track to another with a smile on their face.” The climbing park is located in a forest open to all, with stunning waterfalls and lakes inviting guests to go fishing and canoeing. “It is free to access the area, and people are welcome to bring their own picnic baskets if they wish. Many simply come here for the nice atmosphere and a good hike,” Aasgård says. Rypetoppen Adventurepark is easily reached by car from Trondheim and Værnes Airport, with international flights to places including London, Copenhagen and Amsterdam.
For more information, please visit: www.rypetoppen.no