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[] CONTENTS
NORWAY IN BRIEF
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OUR TOP PICKS
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WHEN TO TRAVEL
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PASSPORT & VISA
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ARRIVING IN NORWAY
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VACCINATION & TRAVEL INSURANCE
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MISCELLANEOUS
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NORWAY IN BRIEF
Norway is definitely more than its fjords, its celestial ballet of lights and the midnight sun. With one of the most gorgeous landscapes on any terrain, it is a once-in-alifetime experience, well-worth what your wallet shells out. It doesn’t matter whether you choose to visit Norway’s captivating capital city Oslo or its cluster of cosmopolitan cities, or seek out its laidback and less known places. It’s going to be innumerable
breathtaking vistas, insatiable adventures and the most amazing of wide open spaces. Norway is blessed with more nature packed into its panorama than any other country in the world. And in addition to that, brilliant celestial lights, steep fjords, fresh mountain air, river valleys, forests, glaciers, icefields, rugged coasts, tiny fishing hamlets, rocky coastal islands and mountainsides dotted
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with charismatic wildlife. The diversity of Norway’s animal and bird kingdom is something that deserves special mention. Where else in the world can you watch whales, reindeer, puffins, polar bears, walruses, elks, arctic foxes and migratory seabirds in their natural habitat within one country?
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OUR TOP PICKS
Take your time to get to know the hyperactive huskies as they prepare to pull you and your sled across glorious arctic landscapes while you keep Across the Arctic lookout for the indigenous Norway wilderness. Make your own path along the trackless northern Norway with the uniquely wonderful arctic winter light Wilderness as your backdrop.
Dog-sledding
Gliding your way to heights of about 875m for a lavish view of the Tromso
Snowmobile area, try your hand at a bit of ice fishing at the top of the mountain. No Safari in Tromso matter what you are yet to see, this tour promises to be one which you will reminisce for years to come.
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Hurtigruten Cruise to the Snow Hotel
Northern Lights
This iconic cruise takes you through amazing fjords and connects you to isolated villages that are inaccessible by road. After a tour of Norway’s glorious coast, spend a night or two in the wondrously quirky snow hotel where everything you can imagine and more is made of ice.
An experience that largely rides on your luck, it is one which will leave you awestruck and stay with you forever. A mesmerising show of multiple colours sprayed across the black sky, this is a natural phenomenon which is nothing short of magic.
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WHEN TO TRAVEL Jan Feb Mar April May June July Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Norway is commonly considered remote and cold. So the best time to visit Norway for most travellers is early summer, especially in the months of June and July. It is also the peak tourism season so all the sights and attractions will be open. This is also the time of Midnight Sun when the day becomes longer, the further you go north and the sun is continually visible at Nordkapp till July-end. There are certain advantages to travelling during the long, dark winters of Norway. During this time of the year, Norway transforms into a winter wonderland with excellent skiing, dog-sledding, ice fishing and snowmobiling opportunities. Ensure to wrap up warm and head to witness the phenomenal Northern lights brightening up the skies. The prices of flights and hotels also get cheaper. Mid- May can be delightful, a brief springtime with cascading waterfalls and melting snow. September is the season of autumn with soft sunshine but it gets bitterly colder from the late September onwards, especially in the North.
Best Weather
Best Time To Visit
June - July
May - July
$
High Season
%
Low Season
June - July
November - February
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PASSPORT & VISA
Norway is a part of the Schengen area. It consists of 26 member countries and out of that 22 countries are a member of the European Union (EU). A visa for any one of the Schengen countries is valid for a stay in all the other Schengen countries during the period for which the visa is valid. A visitor’s visa allows you to stay in Norway or other countries in the Schengen area for up to 90 days over a period of 180 days. Schengen Visa applications can be done with VFS Global Services Pvt. Ltd. One requesting a Schengen visa will have to appear in person to provide biometric data (fingerprints and digital photography). Contact the nearest Embassy of Norway for information on what things you may require visiting Norway. HOW TO APPLY: The process of getting a visa is not that complex. Get to vfsglobal.com. Fill out the application form by providing your personal information that matches the information on your passport. Enter passport information followed by contact and travel details. Follow the steps as directed on the site. Fill out the online visa application form (VAF),
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sign it and affix your photograph. Pay online fees and you will receive a Cover letter at your E-mail id provided. Signed Cover letter and Payment receipt need to be submitted at the time of submitting your application. You can collect your passport from the Visa Application Centre or wait for courier delivery. WHAT TO SUBMIT: • Passport, valid at least 3 months beyond intended travel, issued within the previous 10 years, and containing at least two blank pages. • Applicant’s Passport photo (white background) not older than six months (3540 mm). • Signed Cover letter from the Online Application Portal. • Copy of bank account for the last 6 months. • Certificate of the travel agency confirming the booking and itinerary of an organized trip or any other appropriate document indicating the envisaged travel plans. • If travelling independently, a detailed plan/ schedule is required. • Confirmation of payment from the travel agent when going on a cruise or any other package tour. • Confirmed booking (travel itinerary) of round-trip air ticket, with fixed travel dates of maximum 90 days. • Confirmation of accommodation in Norway. • Valid travel/health insurance for the entire journey in the Schengen Area with a minimum coverage of EURO 30,000. • Travel health/accident insurance. • Proof of sufficient funds (bank statements for the last three months) According to Schengen regulations (Visa Code), visa applications shall (as the main rule) be decided on within 15 calendar days from the day the embassy receives the application. Applications can be
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lodged three months before the start of the intended visit. The application fee can be paid electronically (by credit/debit card) on the secure Application Portal after filling in the application form online. Applicants (/sponsors, etc.) may pay by Visa or MasterCard. Once your application has been successfully processed, VFS Global shall issue you a payment receipt with your application reference number and details. Note that if the applicant avail the SMS service (optional) the applicant will receive an automated confirmation feedback message to the applicant’s mobile phone and email at various stages of the visa application lifecycle. E-Tickets are acceptable when accompanied by your original passport (which has at least 9 months of validity). Getting through airport security is a smooth ride if you are dressed smartly and aren’t carrying any prohibited material or anything in excess of the stipulated quantity. Domestic Flights allow 32 kilograms of luggage per person. This is why, even if your international flight allows you excess baggage, you would need to consider the domestic limit if you have an intra-country flight.
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ARRIVING IN NORWAY
Norway customs regulations afford visitors to the country the opportunity to bring in certain goods without incurring duties and Value Added Tax (VAT). These are limited in quantity and value. On arrival, you can take the green ‘nothing to declare’ channel if you stick to these allowances: • Personal effects. • New or used goods not exceeding NOK 3,000 (additional goods, new or used, exceeding the value limit will incur a duty charge of 25%). • Wine not exceeding 1.5 litres (2 bottles) per person over the age of 18. • Spirits and alcohol not exceeding 1 litre per person over the age of 18. • Cigarettes not exceeding 200 units and cigars not exceeding 20 units per person over the age of 18. • 250g of cigarette tobacco or pipe tobacco per person over the age of 18. If you have goods in excess of these
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allowances, take the red channel and declare your items. Here you will be billed at the applicable rates. Customs in Norway further stipulates that individual travellers are entitled to a duty-free allowance of NOK 6,000 per person, where no duties or VAT apply. These allowances may not be pooled and only apply on per person basis. Official languages in Norway are Norwegian (BokmĂĽl and Nynorsk), Sami and Kven. Other spoken languages are Romani, Swedish, Finnish and Russian language. Majority of people can converse in English (about 80%)
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VACCINATION & TRAVEL INSURANCE There are no compulsory vaccinations for Norway required for travellers from Western Europe to gain entry. However, a Yellow Fever vaccination certificate can be required for travellers coming from some endemic zones in Africa and the Americas. Travellers on scheduled airlines whose flights have originated outside the areas regarded as infected (or who are only in transit through these areas) are not required to possess a certificate. If the flight originated from within a Yellow fever endemic area, a certificate may then be required. Furthermore, for the short-term traveller, the recommended vaccinations for Norway usually consist of cover against Tetanus and Diphtheria, Hepatitis A and Typhoid. For trekking holidays or extended visits, Rabies and Hepatitis B may need to be considered. Most travellers to Norway should start their vaccines at least 4 to 6 weeks before departure. Travel insurance to cover theft and illness is essential. Although health risks are few and most visitors are likely to suffer nothing more than insect bites or blisters while hiking in summer. Standard of healthcare is high but expensive so insurance is a must! Travellers must ensure that they are covered fully with their medical insurance while on their trip. Chemist shops are called ‘apotek’ and can be found on every high street. In case of emergency, you can get treatment in the nearest public hospital for free. Dial 113 toll-free for ambulance. Most operators speak fluent English.
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MISCELLANEOUS
THINGS TO PACK • ID documents: Passport, driver’s licence, visa. • Money, credit cards. • Appropriate seasonal clothing and undergarments. • Bathing suit, sunscreen. • Sunglasses, hat. • Basic toiletries. • Cameras, batteries. • Laptop, cell phone, chargers. • Power outlet adaptor. • Insect repellent. • Anti-malaria medication, if desired.
PERSONAL SECURITY Crime levels are low, but there’s a risk of petty theft, particularly in airports and railway stations in and around Oslo. Take sensible precautions to protect your belongings, particularly your passport, money and credit cards. Remain alert when walking home alone at night, and stick to main roads and well lit areas. Avoid shortcuts and quiet roads with no other pedestrians. There has been an increase in avalanche activity. Follow the local advice and ski only in recommended areas. To contact the Norwegian emergency services, call 110 (fire), 112 (police) or 113 (ambulance).
MONEY The major banks have branches as well as mini-banks (Norwegian word for ATMs) in most of the large towns – and all over the cities. ATMs are linked to all major international networks, and it is possible to draw currency from them. They accept Cirrus or Maestro cards as well as all major credit and debit cards. You will not be charged any fees over and above those levied by your own bank. All major credit cards can be used in Norway, with American Express and Diners Club enjoying less universal acceptance than MasterCard and Visa. If you have a so-called “chip card”, you will be required to enter a pin code. Pin-based debit cards are often accepted too. Remember to notify your bank in advance that you will be travelling. To exchange cheques for cash at foreign exchange dealers, you must present a valid passport.
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TELEPHONES & EMAIL You can use your mobile phone from home via roaming in Norway or you can opt for a local SIM card. Getting a Norwegian mobile connection will cost you considerably less. The two main mobile companies are Telenor and Netcom. Regarding internet and fax connections, most international hotels offer wireless connections in guest rooms, business centers or restaurants, and internet cafes are to be found in most business locations and shopping malls. Some Norway restaurants also offer WiFi access.
YOUR HEALTH • Stay alert to changing weather conditions and adjust your plans if necessary. Prepare for activities by wearing the right clothes and packing protective items, such as bug spray, sunscreen, and a basic first aid kit. Very cold temperatures can be dangerous. Dress in layers and cover heads, hands, and feet properly if you are visiting a cold location. • Tap water is safe to drink however, drinking directly from streams or rivers isn’t recommended as even most clear-looking water could harbor parasites. Bottled water is readily available.
SHOPPING IN NORWAY Large shopping centres are to be found across Norway, where everything from giant chain stores to small speciality boutiques sells all you could possibly want. Plenty of shops sell traditional Norwegian handicrafts such as Fair Isle knits, silverwork and woodcarvings. VAT known as MOMS is levied at 25% on most goods but you can obtain tax-free cheques from nearly 3000 shops with sticker ‘tax-free for tourists’.
FOOD IN NORWAY Fish along with meat and potato are the staple food. Polse, a type of sausage is the favourite Norwegian snack. Roadside food joint is a good choice if you want to taste traditional food. Breakfast options are enormous with a variety of meats, fishes and cheese served buffet-style. Lunch often include a sandwich topped with meat, fish and salad. Dinner is the most important meal of the day that includes meatballs (kjottboller or karbonader) with boiled potatoes and bacalao (spiced dried cod stew). Some of the special dishes of Norway are Lutefisk (baked preserved cod), Grot (a kind of porridge) and Roast wild elk or reindeer.
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