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Norway
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Oslo
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Tours & Activities
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Oslo Nature Walks: Island hopping
4 h
Instant confirmation
About this activity
Leaving the shop at 12:00, the local guide will lead the group to the near-by ferry terminal, where the tour really gets going with a quick ferry ride to the main island of Oslo, Hovedøya. Inhabited nearly 1000 years ago by English monks looking to Christianize post-Viking Norway, this island has some of the city's most captivating history, which comes to life as we walk through the well-preserved ruins and visit the various chambers and towers of the abbey. A quick walk through a sheep pasture and a birch forest, and the tour continues to offer surprising history, with a visit to the 19th century ramparts and cannons protecting the city since the Napoleonic wars. Perched high on the sea cliffs, this is the perfect time to grab a photo of the city, hills and fjord in one shot!
Hop on another ferry, enjoy the breathtaking views, and soon the tour arrives on a island known for its charming summer village, full of brightly painted wooden homes with picture-perfect gardens. Flowers abound and the sea views amaze, especially from the summit of the island, a small nature preserve with a 360 degree panorama. A picnic lunch is well deserved -- either bring your own or stop to by provisions at the island's local food market. With a local guide, it is easy to find a quiet beach or cove perfect for a peaceful lunch.
A third ferry ride leads to the nature preserve of Gressholmen, an island which amazes with its variety of untouched landscapes: sandy beaches, sea cliffs, forest, pastures and rocky coastline. There is time for a quick swim, with waters generally between 18-24 degrees (66-78 Fahrenheit). Don't forget swim wear and a towel!
Finally, the last ferry ride winds through the islands and returns to downtown Oslo, with a majestic entrance to the harbor past the medieval and Renaissance fortress of Akershus Festning, perched high above the port. Exiting the ferry, the tour is over but the rest of Oslo awaits as the tour ends right in the heart of the city center.
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Hop on another ferry, enjoy the breathtaking views, and soon the tour arrives on a island known for its charming summer village, full of brightly painted wooden homes with picture-perfect gardens. Flowers abound and the sea views amaze, especially from the summit of the island, a small nature preserve with a 360 degree panorama. A picnic lunch is well deserved -- either bring your own or stop to by provisions at the island's local food market. With a local guide, it is easy to find a quiet beach or cove perfect for a peaceful lunch.
A third ferry ride leads to the nature preserve of Gressholmen, an island which amazes with its variety of untouched landscapes: sandy beaches, sea cliffs, forest, pastures and rocky coastline. There is time for a quick swim, with waters generally between 18-24 degrees (66-78 Fahrenheit). Don't forget swim wear and a towel!
Finally, the last ferry ride winds through the islands and returns to downtown Oslo, with a majestic entrance to the harbor past the medieval and Renaissance fortress of Akershus Festning, perched high above the port. Exiting the ferry, the tour is over but the rest of Oslo awaits as the tour ends right in the heart of the city center.
Included
- Guided tour
Not included
- Lunch (picnic lunch stop during the tour, so participants can either bring their own lunch or purchase at a local food market)
- Transportation to/from attractions (public transport ticket required, available for purchase at beginning of tour from the guide if needed)
Additional
- Confirmation will be received at time of booking
- Not recommended for child under 10 years of age
Features
Tourism
75%
Adrenaline
35%
Cultural
35%
Sport
30%
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Our trip was very relaxing but informative. Really lovely way to see the islands and get a taste before returning to explore some more.
This was a nice way to spend the afternoon. We met at the shop and then walked over to the ferry. From there we got on the ferry and went to three different islands. You could easily do the tour on your own by purchasing a ferry ticket and going between the islands yourself. However, doing it with the tour does give you the advantage of hearing about the history of the islands and learning about the Norwegian way of life. Some tips for you:You will need a ferry ticket. This can be purchased at the tour shop, which is nice. But they almost forgot to ask us if we needed one and we wouldn’t have known to buy one. So make sure to ask about that. Bring a lunch. The tour description says there are shops where you can purchase food. On the island where we were given time to eat, there was a convenient store with a very minimal selection of food as it was end of season. If you just bring a snack to tide you over, there are cafes on the other two islands where you can eat. We would have liked to have more time to explore each of the islands. The tour limited our time to walk around in our own. However, your ferry ticket is good for the whole day, so after the tour ends, you can go back to any of the islands and explore on your own.
We spent a wonderful day seeing a part of Oslo that most tourists do not see. The highlight for me was the ruins of the monastery. The trip was made great by our outstanding guide, He took us on walks through the islands on paths that were not easily found. We enjoyed a picnic beside the water. We learned a lot about the culture of the people of Oslo. I will sign up to repeat this tour if I get back to Oslo!
EXCELLENT and knowledgeable tour guides. The best!!!!!!
Our family of four had a great time. Great hikes and beautiful sites! Ferries were easy and quick The guides were friendly and helpful and both speak perfect English. I would recommend you pick up your transportation tickets ahead of time if you have children as they only sell the adult tickets.