Norway Arctic Safari Getaway

Comprising of the western and northernmost part of the Scandinavian Peninsula, the Svalbard archipelago and the isolated island of Jan Mayen, Norway is a collection of majestic fjords, marauding Vikings, the icy landscape of the Arctic Circle and rich mystical folklore. The country's snowy winter months offer visitors in the north the opportunity to traverse vast expanses of tundra by dogsled or catch a glimpse of the incredible aurora borealis blazing across the night sky. Summer brings with it the astonishing spectacle of the midnight sun and the chance to enjoy many outdoor adventures. Year-round visitors can enjoy boat cruises to the Svalbard Archipelago to visit seabird colonies or meander among the towering cliffs of the turquoise fjords. With a bit of luck, you may even spot a polar bear. In contrast to its picturesque natural landscapes, this fascinating country is home to a slew of appealing, cosmopolitan metropolises offering every first-world city delight.

Currency

The Norwegian currency is the krone (plural: kroner), abbreveiated to NOK. There are 100 øre in 1 krone. Bank notes are issued in denominations of 50, 100, 200, 500, and 1,000 kroner. Coins are issued in denominations of 50 øre, 1 krone, and 5, 10, and 20 kroner.

Banks offer the best rates for performing currency exchanges. Most hotels will exchange money but usually at an unfavorable rate.

Banking

Banking Hours: Monday - Wednesday and Friday 08h00 - 15h30 (15h00 in summer) and Thursday 08h15 - 17h00 

Banking hour may vary. 

PLUS, Cirrus, and other networks connecting automated teller machines (ATMs) operate throughout Norway. Look at the back of your bank card to see which network you're on, and then call or check online for ATM locations at your destination. Make sure that the PINs on your bank cards and credit cards will work in Norway. You'll need a four-digit code (six digits won't work).

Credit cards are a safe way to carry money. They also provide a convenient record of all your expenses, and they generally offer relatively good exchange rates. You can also withdraw cash advances from your credit cards at banks or ATMs.

Because of Norway's immense natural beauty, public transportation isn't merely a way to get from Point A to Point B. It also serves as an exceptional way to experience the country, perhaps more so than other places you might travel.

It's quite efficient and reliable, and various forms of public transport often work in tandem to provide seamless connections. For example, a popular unescorted tour called Norway in a Nutshell offers an independent itinerary that takes you to the fjords in one day by combining the country's best train, ferry and bus rides.

However, like just about everything in Norway, getting around isn't cheap, so it pays to plan in advance and search out deals and discounts.

Standards of hygiene, in relation to food health and safety in Norway,are generally high in hotels, restaurants, pubs and nightspots. Restaurants are subject to food safety control legislation, which is implemented by local government.  Regulations include certification and regular inspections by health inspectors to ensure hygienic standards are maintained.

It is safe to eat fresh fruit, vegetables and salads, and put ice in your drinks. Norway's fish, meat and chicken are of excellent quality, so there is no need to limit yourself when enjoying the local cuisine.

Today, Norwegians use plenty of sliced bread for almost any meal except dinner, whereas recipes for hot meals will be taken from almost anywhere in the world.

For a cheap, quick, Norwegian-style snack, look no further than the nearest grill or convenience store, which will dish up a polse sausage or kjempegrill hot dog in either a hot dog bun (brod) or wrapped in a flat potato bread (lompe). In addition to ketchup and mustard, optional toppings include pickled cucumber.

Tap water throughout Norway is safe to drink and to cook with when taken from taps in urban areas. Not all tap water in rural areas is safe for consumption, so take precautions if necessary.

Snow covers the ground at least three months a year. During the summer months the west winds cool the coast more than the inland so the warmest summers are in the inland valleys of the southeast. Average temperatures vary between -10°C in January in Spitzbergen and +16°C in July in Oslo.

Northern Norway lies in the Land of the Midnight Sun and knows continuous daylight during part of the summer. The number of days of continuous daylight increases as one goes farther north. In northernmost Norway, the sun stays above the horizon for about 2,5 months. Southern Norway never has continuous daylight, though it averages 19 hours of daylight a day in midsummer. In winter, Norway has similar periods of continuous darkness. In the northernmost areas of the country the sun never rises above the horizon for about 2 months. Southern Norway has some daylight each day, though it receives only about 6 hours of daylight a day in midwinter. The winter night sky often becomes enriched with brilliant displays of aurora borealis or northern lights.

There are three different climate zones in Norway; The southern parts have a Cfb Climate, a warm temperate humid climate with the warmest month lower than 22°C over average and four or more months above 10°C over average. The mid and northern regions have a Dfc Climate, a humid snow climate with less than four months above 10°C over average. The climate of the northern coastal areas and the mountainous regions can be classified as E Climate; an Ice climate with the warmest month under 10°C.

Whatever the season, the Norwegian weather is liable to change from day to day. So it is a good idea to bring a selection of items.

Your luggage should include some light clothes, items you can layer (that way you can add or remove layers depending on temperature), at least one warm sweater, waterproof coat and/or umbrella and comfortable walking shoes/boots/trainers.

If you go during the winter, you will need an overcoat, scarf, gloves and warm shoes/boots. In autumn and spring, you may want to bring waterproof trousers and boots. For the summer, lighten up, but remember that even summer evenings and nights can be chilly, particularly in the mountains.

Norway is well covered with mobile connectivity, but you may have trouble in certain locations in the mountains and off the coast. In general, the more sparsely populated the area is, the higher the chance of no available connection will be. Also, connections will be faster closer to the major population centres, where 4G-networks are well established. You should also expect to lose connectivity in some tunnels, both for roads and trains.

Many trains, buses, boats and airplanes have free wifi on board, but these are often of limited capacity and may require registration before use. Many hotels and eateries or coffee-shops may also offer free broadband which may relieve your communication budget somewhat.

Electrical sockets in Norway are one of two electrical socket types: Type C (CEE 7/16 Europlug) and Type F (CEE 7/4 Schuko). If your appliance's plug doesn't match the shape of these sockets, you will need a travel plug adapter in order to plug in. Travel plug adapters simply change the shape of your appliance's plug to match whatever type of socket you need to plug into. If it's crucial to be able to plug in no matter what, bring an adapter for all types.

Electrical sockets in Norway usually supply electricity at 220 volts AC. If you're plugging in an appliance that was built for 220 volt electrical input, or an appliance that is compatible with multiple voltages, then an adapter is all you need. If your appliance isn’t compatible with 220 volts, a voltage converter will be necessary.