Hosted by Innovation Norway and Amazing Fjords, this 4 day educational showcased how this Scandinavian wonderland can offer diverse, sustainable events.
Starting in Oslo, known as the 2019 European Green Capital, this thriving city offers everything from trendy bars to incredible historical museums and buildings. We visit the newly opened Munch Museum, in legacy of Edvard Munch of The Scream fame. This unique venue has 11 galleries, restaurant, café, bar, concert halls and a cinema. A modern, unique building located on the water’s edge available to hire for all kinds of events. Our accommodation was hosted at the HUB, Oslo’s leading business hotel. With 22 meeting rooms, and a capacity of up to 2,000 delegates, 810 modern bedrooms, beautifully designed bars and restaurants, this sustainable hotel is centrally located in the heart of Oslo next to the central station.
An early rise the following morning saw us take a 40 minute spectacular flight to the Fjords. After a short bus journey we arrived at the quaint and homely historic boutique hotel Fjaerland Fjordhotel. Offering 14 individual bedrooms on the edge of the Fjord, this hotel is a perfect size for a total buyout for small incentives. With organic meals, kayaking, bikes and a floating sauna this is a place where you can check in and breathe out!
After some fun kayaking and a rather refreshing dip in the fjords, we were kitted out in our dry suits, goggles and gloves and boarded a RIB to start our breath-taking journey up the fjord to Balestrand where we visited the Kviknes Hotel. Built in 1752 this historic waterfront hotels offers 190 bedrooms showcasing an extensive collection of artworks and antiques.
Our next stop was an overnight stay at the Myrkdalen Hotel located in Vos, the largest ski resort on the West Coast of Norway. With 120 rooms, this hotel has a real focus on nature, activities and the outdoors. The hotel has modern conference facilities, 2 bars and 3 restaurants. Vos is known as the extreme sports capital of Norway so whether its skydiving, rafting, mountain biking, skiing, dog sledging or horse sledging, this is a superb venue for an incentive or sporting event.
Next on the agenda was a visit to the Viking Village Gudvangen placed in the heart of the UNESCO area of Naeroyfjord. The village brings to life the history of the Viking Age. Visitors can participate in Viking games like axe-throwing or bow and arrows followed by a typical Viking lunch in the chieftains house. You may even bump into Greg the Viking from Pensford who thought the Viking life offered him more than my hometown of Bristol.
We departed the Viking village trussed up again in our dry-suits, goggles and gloves to keep out the bitter wind and embarked on RIB on a UNESCO fjord safari on the Naeroyfjord. This spectacular fjord is surrounded by steep valleys, thundering waterfalls and picturesque villages and is said to be on the of the most beautiful landscapes in the world and I can certainly see why. Truly breath-taking!
Our final night was spent in Flam at the Freitheim Hotel. This historical hotel is located within walking distance of all Flam has to offer. With stunning views over the Fjord, the hotel has a brand new conference centre and can accommodate up to 170 guests. It has also been accredited as an Eco Hotel.
The final return journey back to Oslo was the most beautiful journey I have ever travelled. Taking the iconic Flam Railway from the fjords up the mountains, climbing hairpin curves, this railway journey was voted “The Worlds Most Beautiful Train Journey” by Lonely Planet. Passing through snow-capped mountains, frozen lakes and stunning waterfalls, this really was the most spectacular scenery I have seen.
Norway really is a wonderful destination offering warm hospitality, incredible culture and remarkable contrast. It really has so much to offer groups and incentives and focuses so much on sustainability and “green events”.
Thank you to our wonderful hosts Amazing Fjords and Innovation Norway for a trip of lifetime. I can’t wait to return.
