The Flying Dutch Family – The Flying Dutch Family

Traveling to Norway? This is what you should know (11 helpful tips & tricks)

Totally, absolutely, 100% love it that you are traveling to Norway or at least considering traveling to Norway. A big YAY for that! With an open mind, a heart for adventure and legs + lungs to take you places, you will have the time of your life. And I’m dead serious about this, because you really need to be ready for whatever will come your way during your trip: long distances to drive, 4 seasons in a day (or hour), high prices for food and drinks, etc. To help you prepare for your trip, I have created a list with 11 tips and tricks so you can prepare yourself as best as possible.

1 The BEST tip first:

Be prepared for beauty. Like insane gorgeousness, breathtakingness, stunningness (are these words?) and you can’t believe it’s really real. I’m talking nature here. I’m talking Mother Earth’s free gifts for humankind here. Yes, traveling to and in Norway is expensive, but the beauty you will experience will make you feel like richest person on the planet. And of course, you’ll try to photograph this or take videos. But, I’ll warn you: it is kind of impossible to capture the incredible views your eyes will witness on camera. People have tried, of course. And it is lovely to see pictures and videos, of course. But it’s so far from the real deal. The real deal is the best deal. You gotta soak it in yourself.

2. Layers are life. Literally.

Let me say it loud and clear: You. Need. Layers. Not because it’s always cold (it’s not). But because Norwegian weather has mood swings, and your own body temperature will too – especially when you’re hiking.

Example of how a hike can be/feel like:

You’ll start your hike in a bit chilly weather, wearing a hoodie and jacket. After just about 10 minutes, you’re sweating like you’re in a sauna and you can’t understand why on earth you’re wearing so many clothes. And then, when you reach the top of the mountain, you are so happy you’ve got your sweater, because now you’re feeling cold.

That is why, my dear friend, smart layering is everything.

Tips for that:

Wool or breathable base layer (bring them yourself or shop them at many many different stores here in Norway: Sport Outlet, Obs and Extra supermarket, Det Gule Hus (amazing second hand stores), Sport XXL, Extra supermarket and Cubus.
A sweater or hoodie you can zip open or take off
A rain jacket (always, even if it’s sunny when you leave – trust me on this one, because we have been in toooo many oopsie situations and our Norwegian friends laughed laughed laughed at us for always being naive or maybe to positive…!)

Our Norwegian friends never forget their rain gear. They’re pros.
We are terrible Norwegians. But we’re learning.

So please: don’t make our mistake.
Always bring a rain jacket. Even when it looks like July in the south of France.

I often get questions about what people should pack when they travel to Norway. Well, Norway is huge, so it’s impossible for me to create a packlist for someone else and especially when they travel (all) around. What I know you shouldn’t pack or don’t really need are fancy clothes or shoes. Unless you’re going to Oslo and plan to visit fancy restaurants or clubs. Or if that’s just your style and you like to spend time in nature in a cute dress.

3. Wool is your (non-itchy) best friend.

Let’s talk a bit more about wool. I honestly had no idea of how much I was going to appreciate wool before moving to Norway. But now we know and now we love.

Here, all around in Norway, people wear wool base layers all year round. Kids, adults, hikers, babies, everyone.
Merino wool is magic: it keeps you warm, cool, and (the best part) it doesn’t smell after one hike. Or five. And it dries quick.

Our favorite brands: Kari Traa (MY favorite), Bergans, Decathlon, Vikafjell, Bula, Sway, Heldre, Snjor, Northug.

Extra tip: When I take a ice cold plunge in the sea, a fjord or lake, I like to wear woolen socks. My feet are always the coldest and even start to hurt at some point, but with these socks on, it feels so much better. Still cold though, but truly so much better.

4. Respect the feet: hiking shoes are not optional.

It’s really as simpel as this: good shoes = good mood in Norway. You’ll walk a lot. Like a whole lot: on trails, rocks, moss, gravel and probably through some streams. So forget those cute little city sneakers or slippery soles, because hiking in Norway means you need a shoe upgrade.

5. The weather app lies. And Norway is kind of a weather multiverse.

Just in case you weren’t aware yet: Norwegian weather is completely unpredictable. And: This country is HUGE. That means:

Different climates across regions
Different weather even on different sides of a fjord (not kidding)
And very different temperatures on top of a mountain compared to a sunny valley

You can have 26°C sunshine and rain and hail all in one day. So yeah… don’t trust the weather app blindly and just be prepared for it all (remember the layers ;-))

Also: choose the right mindset. Just like the Norwegians:

There is no such thing as bad weather, only bad clothing.

Make sure you choose the right mindset! Don’t complain, do rely on the weather to choose a good or bad mood and just take it the way it is.

6. Don’t miss out on visiting the beaches.

We had absolutely no idea about this, because we thought Norway = fjords, forests, waterfalls and mountains… We never ever heard anyone talk about the beautiful beaches in Norway. But there are so many and at many days, you can even have them all to yourself. This is something that we are still amazed by every time we visit the beach on a warm day. As being Dutchies, we expect long lines of cars heading to the beach and having trouble finding a parking spot. But often, it’s really just us. We LOVE it.

From the white sands of Åkrasanden and Sandvesanden on Karmøy (our all-time favorites and they are not too far from our home), to the surfer’s paradise of Hoddevik, or the turquoise water of Hauklandstranda in Lofoten: Norway’s beaches are wild, quiet and absolutely stunning. We haven’t been to the south of Norway ourselves, but we have heard that the beaches are lovely.

You won’t find beach bars, sunbed rentals or boulevards near or on the beaches. Instead, you’ll find silence, clean water and sand, raw natural beauty and space… so much space!

The color of the water is insane. Go check it out yourself, because in real life it’s even prettier than on pictures… The temparture of the water is also uhhh, wellll, very uhhh… refreshing. Think warm thoughts, I would say.

So yes, bring your swimwear and also your thermos of cocoa.

7. Grocery shopping in Norway? Shop smart!

Grocery shopping in Norway can be expensive – especially if you grab snacks at gas stations or eat out every day. But with just a little planning, it’s totally doable.

Your best friend? Supermarkets! Especially these budget-friendly ones:

REMA 1000 – great prices, wide selection
KIWI – everywhere and often surprisingly cheap
(Coop) Extra – affordable version of the Coop chain
(Coop) Obs – like a Norwegian version of a hypermarket: groceries, clothes, outdoor gear, kids’ stuff – all in one place and often with great deals
Europris – not a grocery store, but great for snacks, dry goods and camping supplies

Pro tip: When you come to Norway by car, pack some (or more) of your favorite snacks from home: muesli bars, cookies, nuts, anything your kids (or you) might miss.

And if you would like te get the real Norwegian taste: let the kids explore the Norwegian candy aisle too. Smågodt (pick-and-mix candy) is practically a national treasure. It’s cheaper on Saturday, because that’s the day most Norwegian families allow their children to fill a bag with candy in the supermarket: lørdagsgodt it is!

Another true Norwegian thing to do is to bring Kvikk Lunsj (aka the Norwegian Kitkat) and a bottle of Solo on your hike. And don’t forget to grill pølse (hotdog) wherever, whenever. At many parks and on hikes you’ll find places to grill or you can bring your own ‘one time use’ grill box.

8. More shopping (in Norway) info…

During the week, most supermarkets in Norway stay open late. Often until 10 or even 11 PM. Super practical when you’re on the road or decide last-minute to grab snacks or dinner.

BUT:

On Saturdays, shops close earlier, usually around 7 or 8 PM
On Sundays, most stores are closed – so be sure to stock up in advance. There might be some smaller supermarkets open on Sunday, but they don’t have the full inventory like you would come across in ‘normal’ supermarkets. It took us quite some time to get used to the slow and quiet Sunday and even had an opinion about it. Like it’s ‘so old-fashioned’, and ‘Come on Norway, it’s 2025′. Especially after living in Vietnam for a year when it feels like shops never close and life never stops being ON. But now we really like our cozy, slow and quiet Sundays. Our neighbors even ask for permission to do garden work which will cause some noise when it’s a Sunday. We were like: ‘Uh, sure, go wild!’ But apparently, you shouldn’t make noise on Sundays. We had no idea! So apologies to all those Sundays on which we were too loud or maybe even mowed our lawn…

Keep in mind: while supermarkets are flexible, banks and public offices usually close early, often between 3 and 4 PM. So if you need anything official done: do it on a weekday, and do it early.

Important: All shops are closed on public holidays, including supermarkets, shops and many cafés. Check out if there are any Norwegian holidays when you travel to Norway. Make sure to get your shopping done before that day, or… those days! Shops also close early on the day before the public holiday, we had no clue about that first…

You can find a list of all the Norwegian holidays here

9. Silence is the vibe.

To continue with the sound of silence: Norway often feels like someone pressed the mute button and I mean that in the best possible way. People don’t fill the air with noise just to fill the air. There’s no pressure to make small talk or explain your presence. I feel like people just mind their own business and that’s so refreshing. So when people aren’t super talkative, you shouldn’t take that as rude or feel like they are keeping a distance from you. It’s just the way to go.

This doesn’t mean that everyone is like that of course. It does feel like the ‘main vibe’ here though and we LOVE it. We feel that people are so open and kind and we think we experience it this way, because we make sure to meet everyone with the same energy as they send out to us. We always have lovely conversations with strangers on hikes, on the beach or other random places. When we hear people from other countries say that Norwegians are so ‘closed’, we don’t recognize that at all. We have the kindest neigbors and colleagues who became friends so soon and we made many other lovely friends in the gym, in the park, at the pool and on the school’s playgrounds. What I said before, we think your own mindset and attitude matters so much in what kind of connections you will make and relationships you will develop.

10. Wild camping is allowed (and it’s soooo magical)

Thanks to Allemannsretten (the Right to Roam), you’re allowed to camp almost anywhere in nature – for free. Yes, really.

Just follow a few golden rules:

Stay at least 150 meters from any buildings
Maximum 2 nights in the same spot
Leave no trace. Ever

Waking up next to a lake, a fjord or a forest with nothing but birdsong around you? Just the best!!

11. Go Slow, See Mo’

It’s super funny to write this title again, since I once used it to write a blog for KLM about our friends who traveled trough Africa on their bicycles. And now I’m using it to describe traveling through Norway. This is why:

It’s tempting to make a long list: Preikestolen, Trolltunga, Lofoten, fjords, glaciers, waterfalls, gorgeous must-visit places in the North, West, East and South… There are way too many stunning hotspots to squeeze into one or two or three trips. Check out our wishlist here: we don’t know how on earth we’ll ever have time to visit all these amazing places!

It’s important to keep in mind that Norway isn’t meant to be rushed through. It is not a checklist. It is an experience to truly just be here. Anywhere. Any place is just so lovely to just be. You won’t experience it like that if you have to go from place to place to place and have no time to absorb the beauty in so many ways. So:

Give yourself permission to slow down.
Let the kids build a dam in a stream.
Drink Solo and Kvikk Lunsj on a rock.
Watch the clouds roll over the mountains.
Breathe.

The best moments are often the moments that weren’t on the agenda. Give yourself and your co-travelers the gift of noth having to rush and to feel that lovely Norwegian slow vibe.

Bonus: These websites will be your BFF when you’re (thinking about) traveling to Norway

Here is a list of websites we often use to plan our trips:

Den Norske Turistforening (to book cabins, to find wonderful hikes and more travel & hike tips)

visitnorway.com

All provinces and even parts of provinces (municipalities) have their own tourism organization that shares insider tips, local events, beautiful trails, swimming spots, family activities, museums, cozy cafés, and so much more. Wherever you are traveling, just type in Visit (.. the are you’re visiting…) and you’ll find lots of great recommendations!

For example: VisitTelemark.com

We’ve also just discovered Stikk Ut, which is an app with lots of hiking trips. We can’t say we’re hooked yet, because we thought the description of where to park was so strange. And the second part of the hike we took did not make sense at all. There was no path at all, so we just waded through water and cruised through the bushes to the top of the mountain. There were no signs or anything. We made it to the top though and it was quite an adventure, but we’re a bigger fan of the big red T’s DNT has marked on their hikes. It made us feel a bit safer and the kids always love chasing the red T’s! You can read more about our DNT trips here.

That’s it for now! Wishing you the best time ever when you’re in Norway. Allow yourself to just sit or stand still several times a day and soak all the beauty, peace and quietness in. It the greatest thing ever for your body, mind and spirit. I promise you that!

Big hugs,

Annette

9 juli 202510 juli 2025

Annette de GraafPlaats een reactie

Kamperen (met kinderen) in Noorwegen: de 20 leukste campings vind je hier

Zoals je in het Engelstalige blog van een paar weken geleden al kon lezen gaan wij deze zomer heerlijk op vakantie in ‘eigen land’. Dat klinkt alsof we op vakantie in Nederland zullen gaan, maar niets is minder waar, want we wonen al sinds juli 2021 niet meer in Nederland. Na eerst twee jaar in Noorwegen gewoond te hebben en toen bijna een jaar in Vietnam, beseften we dat Noorwegen voor ons echt het allermeest als thuis voelt. Daarom zijn we teruggekeerd naar ons huis in Aksdal en hier wonen we nu weer sinds april 2024. En alhoewel we er al wat tijd in dit land op hebben zitten, hebben we weinig vakantietijd hier doorgebracht. Meestal gaan we namelijk naar onze familie en vrienden in Nederland zodra de scholen uit zijn. Dat willen we dit jaar anders doen, want we zijn gewoon te nieuwsgierig naar wat er allemaal voor gaafs te beleven is in en om de Noorse fjorden, bergen, meren en zee. De voorpret is al keihard van start en als je er zin in hebt, dan nemen we jou daar gezellig in mee. Hier komt ons lijstje met favoriete campings in Noorwegen….

Eerst even een aardrijkskundelesje…

Aangezien we in Nederland ‘zo eventjes’ van de ene kant van het land naar de andere rijden, kunnen we ons soms niet voorstellen hoe immens Noorwegen is. Noorwegen is bijna 10 keer zo groot als Nederland en er zijn 4 provincies die ongeveer zo groot zijn als Nederland. Hier is het heel normaal om een paar uur te rijden voor een weekendje weg, terwijl in Nederland een rit van Amsterdam naar Rotterdam al voelt als een wereldreis. Alhoewel dat kan kloppen wanneer je te maken hebt met files.

Over de provincies in Noorwegen gesproken… een uitleg daarover ligt niet heel simpel, maar ik zal het toch lekker simpel voor je houden en je de laatste versie van de verdeling laten zien. De provincies zijn namelijk de afgelopen jaren een aantal keer veranderd en daarna weer en daarna weer. Sinds januari 2024 zijn er 15 provincies (fylker) in Noorwegen: Østfold · Akershus · Buskerud · Oslo · Innlandet · Vestfold · Telemark · Agder · Rogaland · Vestland · Møre og Romsdal · Trøndelag · Nordland · Troms · Finnmark. Hier zie je ze op de landkaart:

De reden dat ik je dit mini-topo-lesje geef (was trouwens mijn FAVO FAVORIET op school: TopoTour liefde!) is omdat ik je de leukste campings in Noorwegen zal laten zien in iedere provincie. Zo houdt je het lekker overzichtelijk. We gaan van het Zuiden (Agder, Rogland, Telemark, Vestfold), helemaal door naar het hoge Noorden (Nordland, Troms, Finnmark). Zin in inspiratie en voorpret? Let’s go!

De leukste campings in de Noorse provincie Agder

1 Sørlandet Feriesenter – Risør

Gelegen aan de kust met een verwarmd buitenzwembad, speeltuinen en bootverhuur. Mega veel leuke activiteiten voor het hele gezin.

2 Lomsesanden Camping – Farsund

Kamperen in het duinzand en direct aan een prachtig baaitje. Kinderen kunnen suppen naar rotseilandjes en losgaan in de speeltuin.

De leukste campings in de Noorse provincie Telemark

3 Groven Camping – Åmot

Een schaduwrijke camping waar kinderen hutten kunnen bouwen. Er is een zwemvijver met vlotten en een overdekte speelruimte voor regenachtige dagen. Deze camping staat bij ons heel hoog op ons lijstje en de kans is groot dat we hier deze zomer naar toe gaan. Het is ongeveer een uurtje rijden van Bø Sommerland: een gaaf waterpark waar onze kinderen heel heel graag naar toe willen gaan.

4 First Camp Norsjø – Akkerhaugen

Ook deze camping ziet er weer uit alsof je je hier met het hele gezin uitstekend kunt vermaken: in en om het water, bij de kids club en onwijs genieten van de prachtige natuur die de provincie Telemark te bieden heeft. Weet niet of we Telemark deze zomer gaan verlaten met alle geweldige dingen die hier te zien en doen zijn en de vele mogelijkheden tot overnachten op prachtige plekken!

5 Breiva Gjestegaard en Glamping – Bø

Eigenlijk was het plan om maar 2 campings per provincie te includeren in dit blog, maar ik kan nie stoppen nie…! Kijk deze safaritent nou bij Breiva Gjestegaard en camping! Er zijn nog meer verschillende soorten accommodaties die ze aanbieden, zoals glamping tents en verblijf in een groter vakantiehuis. De safaritent zou voor ons echt ideaal zijn, omdat er wel 6 personen in kunnen overnachten. Nog eentje dus voor het Must Visit lijstje.

6 Lystang Camping – Notodden

Super leuke en kleinschalige camping in Telemark. Eigenlijk was ik al gestopt met zoeken naar leuke campings in de provincie Telemark, maar toen popte Lystang Camping op en moest ik deze gewoon nog even toevoegen. Ziet er echt te cute uit! Hoe moeten we nou kiezen? Er staan te veel ‘must-visits’ op de lijst en dat gaat nooit lukken in een paar weken haha…!

De leukste campings in de Noorse provincie Rogaland

Dit is ‘onze’ provincie, waar we zelf wonen. Echt leuk om op onderzoek te gaan en de leukste campings hier in de buurt voor je te vinden. De eerst van dit lijstje komt trouwens niet voort uit dit onderzoek, want deze kennen we namelijk al een tijdje. Het ligt op een minuut of 10 rijden bij ons huis vandaan en is echt een mega aanrader. Dit is trouwens ook de enige camping van de hele lijst hier waar we zelf ook daadwerkelijk geweest zijn. Niet om te overnachten, maar om te zwemmen!

7 Grindafjord Feriesenter – Aksdal

Je kunt ervoor kiezen om een huisje te huren of een campingplaats voor je tent, caravan of camper. Het Grindafjord is echt prachtig en het is een feestje om hier zo dichtbij te kunnen kamperen. De sfeer op deze camping is heel knus en fijn en je krijgt vanaf het moment dat je aankomt al gelijk zo’n heerlijk vakantiegevoel. In de zomer hebben ze een enorm opblaasbare glijbaan in het fjord waar je je geweldig kunt vermaken. In het midden van de camping is een leuk zoutwaterbad waar je ook enorm veel pret kunt hebben.
In de nabije omgeving zijn heel veel leuke hikes die heel goed geschikt zijn voor kinderen. Download de app ‘Stikk UT!’ waar je heel gemakkelijk de startplaatsen en routes van de hikes vindt.

Raw Ocean Lodge – Skaarnesheimen – Karmøy

Oke, heel heel stiekem doe ik even een pareltje ertussen wat eigenlijk helemaal geen camping is, maar die ik wel keihard wil aanraden: Raw Ocean Lodge is echt een paradijsje op aarde. Heb hier twee keer een nachtje doorgebracht en dat waren verjaardagscadeautjes van zowel Jools als Pippa. Allebei kozen ze als cadeau een nachtje weg bij Raw Ocean Lodge. De vibe hier is zo zo fijn en de omgeving eromheen is een en al avontuur om lekker te banjeren, plonsen en ontdekken. Het terras is alleen in de maand juli open en in de andere maanden heb je de locatie zo goed als voor jezelf.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Annette & Family (@theflyingdutchfamily)

8 Sandhåland Camping & Hytter – Sandve – Karmøy

Oke, ik liet me een beetje meeslepen terug in de tijd, maar nu zijn we weer terug. Focus focus op de campings, de Graaf! We blijven wel op het eiland Karmøy, wat sowieso echt een onwijze aanrader is om naar toe te gaan. Het mini stadje Skudneshavn is mega cute, de stranden van Åkrahamn en Sandve zijn bizar prachtig en de Viking Village is super leuk om te bezoeken. En er zijn vast nog meer veel leuke dingen om te doen waar wij nog niet vanaf weten. Bijvoorbeeld deze camping: Sandhåland. Nog nooit van gehoord totdat ik hier dus nu onderzoek naar aan het doen was. Misschien een leuk idee voor onszelf om een panorama hytte te boeken voor het volgende verjaardagsuitje? Niet normaal mooi!

9 Sauda Fjord Camping – Sauda

De hele Sauda en Etne regio is bizar prachtig. You can’t go wrong here. Tijdens het zoeken naar leuke campings in dit gebied en kwam toen Sauda Fjord Camping tegen. Op hun website kun je allerlei tips lezen van leuke uitjes in de nabije omgeving en we kunnen je bevestigen dat die inderdaad mega leuk zijn. Vooral het zwembad in Sauda is een onwijze favoriet van onze kinderen. We zijn er laatst voor een paar uurtjes zwemplezier naar toe gereden vanaf ons huis en dat is 1 uur en 40 minuten rijden… De hele rit is gelukkig echt prachtig, dus het was zeker geen straf.

Als je in de Sauda en Etne regio graag een hytte tour (van cabin naar cabin wandelen door de bergen) wilt maken kun je dit blog lezen en de website van DNT.no checken. De hele omgeving is sprookjesachtig mooi…!

De leukste campings in de Noorse provincies Vestfold, Østfold, Akerhus en Oslo

10 Larkollen Camping – Larkollen – Østfold

We zijn zelf nog nooit in dit gebied geweest, maar we kregen tips van families die hier hebben rondgereisd en onder andere op Larkollen Camping een heerlijke tijd hebben gehad. Ziet er ook echt heel gezellig uit en er zijn allerlei soorten accommodaties om te verblijven.

11 Topcamp Bogstad – Oslo

Wanneer je Oslo ziet staan, denk je heel hoogstwaarschijnlijk aan een stad. Maar wist je dat Oslo eigenlijk helemaal niet zo groot is en dat de prachtige natuurgebieden echt op een steenworp afstand van het centrum liggen? Als je zin hebt om natuur met de ‘stad’ te combineren, dan is een camping als Topcamp Bogstad echt heel leuk. In en om Oslo is enorm veel te beleven, maar als je dan weer even bij wilt komen dan ben je ook zo weer terug op de camping.

12 Borre Familiecamping – Borre – Vestfold

De leukste campings in de Noorse provincie Vestland

Deze hele provincie is bizar mooi… De gebergtes zijn zo imponerend en eigenlijk niet waardig op beeld vast te leggen.

13 Olden Camping – Stryn

14 Jostedal Camping – Gjerde – Jostedal

15 Tvinde Camping – Voss

Oh mijn hemel, een camping bij een prachtige machtige waterval… Waar vind je dat? Nou, in Voss! Sowieso is de hele omgeving hier mega aan te raden. We zijn hier tijdens de kerstvakantie in 2021 op wintersport geweest en het is echt bizar mooi. Weer: You can’t go wrong in deze omgeving. Voss wordt ook wel de ‘adrenalinehoofdstad’ van Noorwegen genoemd, dus hier moet je zijn als je zin hebt in avontuur!
Bij Tvinde Camping kun je kamperen of een huisje of appartement huren.

16 Tjugen Camping – Loen

Oh my goodness, I really really want to go here too. Tjugen Camping is totally on top of the list! Uhhh… waarom ik opeens in het Engels aan het typen ben, geen idee! Af en toe slaat mijn hoofd op hol en zie hier wat er dan gebeurt. Maar he, ik laat het gezellig staan, want niks mis met imperfectie en een vleugje chaos toch?

Tjugen Campming ziet er dus echt heel tof uit. Combineer een riviertje met prachtige bergen en wij zijn blij.

17 Gryta Camping – Olden

Deze camping wordt door heel veel mensen aanbevolen en wordt door de ACSI geprezen als beste camping in Noorwegen. Het ziet er allemaal super verzorgd, gezellig en prachtig uit en lijkt ons geweldig om naar toe te gaan.

18 Lærdal Feriepark – Sognefjorden – Lærdal

Hoe leuk? Ze hebben hier een motoriekpark! En de bergen plus het water daaromheen zijn echt picture perfect… Denk dat iedereen in het gezin zich hier heel goed zal vermaken.
Je kunt hier kamperen of verblijven in een huisje of het (wat voordeligere) motel.

De leukste campings in de Noorse provincie Innlandet

19 Camping Nissegården – Lom

Superveel leuke activiteiten op deze camping, zoals een zwembad, een levensgroot bordspel (stigespill) veel wandelingen dichtbij en zelfs een voetbaltrucjesparcours. Je kunt overnachten op de camping of in een huisje.

20 Rondane River Lodge – Sollia

Oke, oke, officieel geen camping, maar deze plek is TE tof om niet te delen. Staat mega hoog op ons lijstje om naar toe te gaan en als je naar deze plaatjes kijkt dan begrijp je vast wel waarom!

Er zijn allerlei verschillende accommodaties waar je uit kunt kiezen om te verblijven en ze zien er stuk voor stuk echt prachtig uit. Lijkt ons te gek om bij Rondane River Lodge te verblijven en de Belgische familie die dit paradijsje op aarde runt te ontmoeten.

———————————

Voor nu is dit het even wat betreft de lijst met campings in Noorwegen. Wij staan nu op het punt om een keuze te maken waar we precies naar toe gaan. Heel hoogstwaarschijnlijk reizen we richting Telemark en zullen we daar de meeste tijd doorbrengen, maar we sluiten niet uit dat we nog een stukje noorderlijker zullen gaan. In een volgend blog laten we je zien waar we precies geweest zijn en hoe dat was.

Ben heel benieuwd of je iets aan deze tips hebt en waar jullie reis naar toe zal gaan. Mocht je in de buurt van Aksdal zijn en misschien Alvanuten gaat beklimmen, stuur gerust een berichtje en wie weet zien we elkaar!

Heel veel liefs,

Annette & familie

—————

(een lange) PS: Je kunt er natuurlijk ook voor kiezen om te gaan wildkamperen. Wij doen dat regelmatig hier in de buurt met ons pop-up tentje. Als jou dat ook super leuk lijkt, dan is het belangrijk om deze regels te kennen:

Regels voor wildkamperen in Noorwegen

In Noorwegen geldt het zogenaamde Allemannsretten (het recht van iedereen), wat inhoudt dat je vrij in de natuur mag verblijven, mits je je aan een aantal duidelijke regels houdt. Hier volgt een overzicht:

1. Locatie

Je mag kamperen op ongecultiveerd land, zoals bossen, bergen, heidevelden en langs meren of rivieren. Het is niet toegestaan om zonder toestemming te kamperen op gecultiveerd land, zoals akkers, weiden, tuinen of jonge aanplant.

2. Afstand tot bebouwing

Er moet minstens 150 meter afstand gehouden worden tot huizen, hutten en andere bewoonde gebouwen. Dit geldt ook als de plek verlaten lijkt. Respect voor de privacy van bewoners is belangrijk.

3. Maximale verblijfsduur

Je mag maximaal twee nachten op dezelfde plek kamperen. In afgelegen berggebieden of dunbevolkte gebieden mag je soms langer blijven, zolang je geen overlast veroorzaakt en de natuur niet verstoort.

4. Kampvuur en kooktoestellen

Van 15 april tot 15 september is het verboden om open vuur te maken in of nabij bosgebieden vanwege het risico op bosbranden. In sommige gevallen zijn vaste vuurplaatsen of koken op een gasbrander wel toegestaan, mits dit veilig gebeurt.

5. Laat geen sporen achter

Alle afval moet worden meegenomen. Laat de natuur achter zoals je haar aantrof. Beschadig geen bomen of planten, en maak geen diepe kuilen of andere sporen in het landschap.

6. Vissen en plukken

Vissen in meren en rivieren vereist vaak een vergunning. Het plukken van bessen, paddenstoelen en wilde bloemen voor eigen gebruik is toegestaan, zolang je de natuur niet beschadigt.

7. Regels voor campers en auto’s

De Allemannsretten geldt alleen voor kamperen te voet of met een tent. Vrij staan met een camper of auto mag soms op openbare parkeerplaatsen of rustplekken, maar dit valt onder de verkeerswet. Je mag niet zomaar overal parkeren of kamperen met een voertuig. Let op lokale borden en regels. Vaak geldt een maximale verblijfsduur van 24 tot 48 uur.

26 juni 20259 juli 2025

Annette de GraafPlaats een reactie

Come and plan (y)our Norwegian Road Trip with us!

Oh my goodness, I can’t believe we are really and FINALLY are going to do this: we’re gonna go on a road trip through Norway this summer. We have lived here in this gorgeous country for 3 years now (2+1, with an exotic break in between when we lived in Vietnam), but we have only stayed quite close to our home in Aksdal in the Rogaland province these past years. Our only big trip outside of our beloved province was our ski trip to Voss, which was absolutely fabulous. And even though we are crazy in love with ‘our own’ area, we can’t wait to travel and explore everything the country we live in has to offer. Well, and there comes the ‘problem’: Norway has so much to offer when it comes to stunning and fun places to visit. It is going to be incredibly hard to choose even in which direction we shall start driving: To the majestic North, the exciting East or the beaches of the South? We can’t drive more West, because it’s only 20 minutes until we reach the Western coastline here. In order to make up our minds, I’ll just share all interesting spot I’ve found which we think are worth visiting. Impossible to visit them all in one trip (unless you have limitless time and money), but it will be good to have a good overview and it will us to make up our minds in which direction we’ll drive this summer.

The Norwegian Southwest coast: Bergen & Stavanger

Even though this won’t be part of our summer trip (this is the area we live), you might like to see ‘what’s on offer’ here if you decide to travel to Norway and land on Bergen or Stavanger airport. Both cities are truly worth visiting, although you might have to think about your expectation of what a city means to you, since both ‘cities’ look and feel more than big towns. Very cute big towns though! We have been to Stavanger many times and we love strolling around, trying to discover cute bakeries and shops. These pictures will give you a bit of the Stavanger vibe:

The biggest town in between Bergen and Stavanger is Haugesund. There are lots of lovely spots in and around this town, but if you’re a bit short on time, I wouldn’t put Haugesund on your bucket list. There’s a nice shopping street where our favorite book store (den lille Bokbutikken) is located and a stroll along the boulevard is lovely, so you can surely have a good time here. Be aware that the shops are closed on Sunday, even the supermarkets. There are also many holidays on which shops are closed, so make sure you get all the groceries you need beforehand when this is the case. For example: Easter has 4 holidays here on which everything shuts down: Thursday, Friday, Sunday and Monday. And on Wednesday and Saturday the shops close early.

In this post you can see our favorite spots in nature here in the Tysvær, Haugesund, Karmøy and Etne/Sauda area:

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Annette & Family (@theflyingdutchfamily)

For DNT Hytte Tur inspiration, you can read this blog about our favorite places to go in the Etne and Sauda mountains.

Oh, the places we would like to go… How about driving up North?

My ultimate dream place to visit is Lofoten. Yes, I’m 100% influenced by Rachel Pohl and Helene Myhre. Following these awesome girls on Instagram is at your own risk, because chances are high you’ll want to pack your bags and travel to Lofoten asap. After doing some research, it didn’t take me long to realize we’ll have to postpone making this dream happen. Google Maps told me its a 22 hours drive to Bodø and from there, you’ll take a ferry to the most soutern point of Lofoten (Moskenes). This is another 3,5 hour trip. Even though our kids are seasoned travelers, I think I’m just gonna keep dreaming about Lofoten for now.

Maybe Telemark, Geiranger, Olden and/or Helgelandskysten?

On Instagram I requested recommendations and I have gathered + organized everything that was shared under the post and in my inbox. Thanks so much for helping us and many others who are also thinking about traveling to/through Norway to plan for a Norwegian Road Trip. Here’s a list with 18 places that were recommended by locals and people who have traveled here. If we decide to travel up north, we’ll pick a few favorites and see how far they are located from each other in order to make a proper travel plan. We want to limit the time we spend in the car to make sure we can also truly ‘slapp av’. This means letting go, or completely relaxing in Norwegian.

Ready for the list of northern Norway recommendations? Here we go!

(Information about the destinations come from our dear Instagram friends who shared their recommendations and from visitnorway.com and fjordnorway.com)

(The order of locations I’m mentioning here isn’t in travel order. Will sort out the route when we know which places we 10000% want to go.)

1. The Telemark Region

“Mountains, forests, rivers and waterparks — Telemark is where nature and fun come together.”
➤ This inland region is full of variety: you can swim, hike, paddle or just relax in the forest. It’s also home to Bø Sommarland, one of Scandinavia’s biggest waterparks — an absolute hit with kids.
➤ Stay in Gvarv for fruit farms and peaceful countryside, or head up to Lifjell for mountain cabins and hiking trails with sweeping views.
➤ For a slower pace, visit the Telemark Canal, where you can take a historic boat trip through locks and lakes — a gentle but beautiful way to see the landscape.

We saw the Top 10 Telemark Bucketlist on Visit Telemark’s website and we want to go to all these places…! Our children can’t stop talking about going to Bø Sommarland (we have to say that Thaddeus and I are big kids too and would LOVE to go to this waterpark! Last time we went to a waterpark was Christmas 2018 in Brazil, so it’s been a while…). We would also really love to experience the Sofia Moria sauna, as well as the gorgeous and famous Dalen hotel.

2. Skei i Jølster

“A peaceful village by the lake Jølstravatnet, surrounded by green mountains and known for its art, fishing, and glacier hikes.”
➤ Great spot for nature camping or renting a cozy cabin with a lake view. We fell in love with Jølstraholmen Camping & Hytter and would love to stay here!

3. Loen, Lovatnet, Briksdalbreen & Olden

“Fjord villages surrounded by mountains, waterfalls, and glacier-fed lakes — this area feels like a dream.”
➤ Ride the famous Loen Skylift to epic views, paddle on the turquoise waters of Lake Lovatnet.
➤ Just outside the village Olden, you can hike or take a “troll car” to the foot of the stunning Briksdal Glacier: an easy and unforgettable glacier experience for kids and grownups alike.

Sarah Young, from Big Adventures with Little Feet wrote a blog about 10 Amazing Things to do in Olden, which you can read here.

We received a great recommendation about where to stay in Olden: Gryta Camping. Looking at all these pictures wants me to stay there for the full 4 weeks… Doesn’t this look so amazing??

4. Stryn

“A gateway to adventure: national parks, snow even in summer (on Stryn Summer Ski), and lots of mountain lakes.”
➤ A good base for active families looking for waterfalls, kayaking or scenic drives.

5. Geiranger

“UNESCO-protected fjord with jaw-dropping views, winding roads and gorgeous waterfalls.”
➤ Take a fjord cruise or stay in a cabin with panoramic views. This place feels like a fairytale.

You can read this blog on Norway’s Best to get inspired on what to do in Geirangerfjord.

6. Havlandet – Runde Island (Fugleøya – Bird Island) – 60km south of Ålesund

“A dramatic coastal island known for its puffins, steep cliffs, and incredible seabird colonies.”
➤ Runde is a dream for nature-loving families. Between April and August, you can watch thousands of puffins, eagles and other birds nest on the island’s cliffs. There are easy trails, a cozy visitor center, and boat tours around the island. It’s a peaceful but wild place that feels like a real-life nature documentary.
➤ Perfect as a stopover between Geiranger/Loen and Ålesund — and ideal for one or two nights of slow nature travel.

7. Valldal

“Known for its juicy strawberries and peaceful valley vibe. Close to Trollstigen and Geiranger.”
➤ Great for an adventurous family vacation with awesome canyoning and rafting adventures, fruit farms, and staying in a quiet fjord-side campground.

8. Åndalsnes

“The adventure capital of Romsdal, surrounded by some of the most dramatic peaks in Norway.”
➤ Offers gondola rides, child-friendly hikes, and stunning photo opportunities along the Romsdalseggen ridge.

9. Rondane National Park (via Dombås or Høvringen)

“A wild and open mountain landscape with rivers, reindeer, and perfect family hiking trails.”
➤ You can stay in a mountain lodge, or try wild camping near a stream.

10. Helgeland Coast (Helgelandskysten)

“One of Norway’s most underrated coastal areas: white beaches, turquoise waters, and hundreds of islands.”
➤ Take the Kystriksveien route (Scenic Route Fv17) — perfect for island-hopping with kids and breathtaking scenery around every corner.

I think this video will be particularly liked by my husband, Thaddeus. He is going to run the Hardangervidda marathon in August, so this could be a good training opportunity:

11. Trondheim

“A lively historic city with colourful houses, a beautiful riverfront, and a relaxed vibe.”
➤ Ideal for a stopover with cultural sights, cosy cafes, and a nice science museum for kids (Vitensenteret).

12. Røros

“A UNESCO World Heritage town with wooden houses, mining history, and a magical wintery look (even in summer).”
➤ Great mix of history, charm, and family-friendly activities like horse carriage rides or exploring small local shops.

13. Mosjøen

“Home to one of the longest zip-lines in Northern Europe and a charming old town called Sjøgata.”
➤ Ride the gondola up the mountain and enjoy views of the valley. Then choose to take the gondola back down or go wild and choose the zipline!

14. Bodø

“A dynamic coastal town with Arctic vibes, street art, and ferry access to the Lofoten islands.”
➤ Stay by the sea, visit the aviation museum, or watch the world’s strongest tidal current at Saltstraumen.

15. Solund Archipelago (2 hours above Bergen)

“Norway’s westernmost island group — a quiet paradise of cliffs, fishing villages, and crystal-clear waters.”
➤ Take a family-friendly boat tour through the thousands of islands and islets, go kayaking, or visit the charming village of Hardbakke. The landscape feels wild and remote, yet calm and safe — perfect for slow travel, beach picnics and spotting seals.
➤ Boat trips to the legendary Utvær Lighthouse (the westernmost point in Norway) are unforgettable and suitable for kids.

So much to choose from and it kind of feels like a mission impossible. Everything looks amazing! Like many of you already wrote under our Instagram post about (y)our Norwegian Road Trip: you just can’t go wrong in Norway. It’s alllll just so pretty and breathtaking.

While working on this blog, doing all the research and reading all your recommendations, I feel like driving up north will be it for us this summer. Yes, there’s a lot of amazing places in the east and south as well, but we got to pick a specific direction for now. Gotta narrow down allll the options to just a few! We’ve got some favorite destinations and accommodations we would love to go to and stay and we might even choose to pick a certain area and stay here a bit longer (yes, Telemark, it’s you we’re thinking and talking about). In our next blog, we’ll share our more detailed travel plan and you can feel free to copy paste it!

Sending you lots of love and travel fun,

Annette & family

30 mei 2025

Annette de Graaf1 reactie

Hiking Through Etnefjellet: Our DNT Family Adventures to Storavassbua, Løkjelsvatnhytta, and Olalia Fjellstove

Is there anything better than going on a family adventure in nature in Norway, where every step brings new surprises and every view is more stunning than the last? This summer, we made one of our dreams come true: going on ‘hytte’ tours! We hiked to three amazing DNT (Den Norske Turistforening) cabins in the Sauda- and Etnefjella: Storavassbua, Olalia Fjellstove, and Løkjelsvatnhytta – all offering a perfect mix of challenge, fun, and cozy cabin vibes. We got so many positive and curious responses to our Instragram posts about these trips, which made us decide to create a full blog filled with information and inspiration. Ready to read? Let’s go!

(warming: our enthusiasm is quite contagious and can easily spread the ‘I-wanna-go-there-too’ bug)

Storavassbua: A Gorgeous Gem Near Sauda

Our first trip was to Storavassbua, right next to the stunning lake called Storavatnet. The three cabins have 34 beds that you can book in advance and 15 drop-in spots, incase you’re not quite sure about your schedule. The main cabin has two four-person rooms, and 14 beds in the loft. The smaller cabin has 10 beds in a loft. There are also two beds (bunk bed) in a mini cabin where you can stay with your dog(s). Storavassbua is a self-service cabin, fully equipped with kitchen utensils, cooking supplies, and a well-stocked provision room, so you can cook up your own meals using the cabin’s gear. Just remember to bring a sheet bag or bedding, as sleeping bags aren’t allowed.

Together with Thaddeus’ parents, we started our hike from the Skeivane parking lot. We set our GPS to ‘Trollplassen’ though, since it was easier to find on Apple Maps for us. While doing research for this blog, I found a Google Maps link to the parking lot on the UT.no website. There is a gorgeous waterfall with lovely swimming opportunities near the parking lot. We spent some time here on our way back and it felt like a magical, surreal place to be. From here it is a 5 km trek that takes about 2,5 hours, depending on your company. We were a group of 7 with people from 4-70 years old and we did not rush at all. We took lovely breaks along the way to have a picnic the scenery along the way makes it feel like you’ve stepped into another world. The last stretch felt almost tropical, with two massive waterfalls which stream towards the lake and lush green landscapes that gave an extra cool adventurous vibe. Our daughters Jools and Pippa were way ahead of us, which felt safe for us, because they had their ‘walkie talkies’ (portophones) with them so we could stay in touch. The ‘walkies talkies’ were a huge hit and our children also used them to warn grandma and grandpa for big of loose rocks along the way or to let each other know that someone wanted to take a little break/was hungry/thirsty/needed support.

Once we reached the cosy cabin, we spent the afternoon preparing food, reading and kayaking. The kayak trip to the other side of the lake, where you can find another beautiful waterfall, was so fun. We also went for a dip/swim in the lake. The water was icy cold, but felt so good and refreshing.

This trip to Storavassbua will forever hold a very special place in our hearts. The company was the best and the scenery was just picture perfect. So so so amazing being able to experience this with Thaddeus’ parents and our children.

You can find our post about our first DNT trip on Instagram by clicking here

Olalia Fjellstove: Biking, Climbing, and Berry-Picking Fun

Next up was Olalia Fjellstove, Haugesund Turistforening’s largest cabin, with 45 beds spread across a stunning complex that includes the main fjellstove, the Sikringshytte, and Olabu. For booking details and availability, check the DNT website or their Facebook page for the latest updates. The Sikringshytte and Olabu are open year-round and always unlocked, offering self-service accommodation for spontaneous adventurers.

What our children Pippa and Sol were most excited about when we started preparing for this trip, was the fact that they were going ‘cycle the hike’. The trail from the parking lot to Olalia Fjellstove is 5.5 km and super fun to take on as a cycle challenge. Our two youngest children tackled the steep hills with determination, but also needed a little push from us (Thaddeus, Jools, grandma Monique and me) when the going got tough. They loved the ride and felt so accomplished when they reached the hytte. We enjoyed waffles, coffee and hot chocolate on the terrace, overlooking the beautiful area.

While enjoying our treats, we could hear waterfalls and were curious to see if we could maybe go for a swim there. After an adventurous search, we found a spot to play in a stream right above the waterfalls, but weren’t able to fully swim. It was fun enough though! Olalia feels like an adventure hub, with even a climbing park near the cabin that’s perfect for kids (and adults!) of all ages to test their balance and bravery.

Another fun part of our trip? The kids had a blast picking wild berries along the way, snacking on nature’s free treats and staining their fingers purple. It is moments like these that remind us how wonderful it is to slow down and enjoy what is right in front of us.

Olalia Fjellstove itself is a blend of the old and the new, rebuilt in 2014 with parts of the original 1939 cabin integrated into the design. The kitchen is fully equipped, and there is a provision room stocked with basics, so you can prepare your own meals.

You can find our Instagram post about our trip to Olalia by clicking on this link.

Løkjelsvatnhytta: Making New Friends and Exploring the Fjells

Our final adventure was to Løkjelsvatnhytta, and this time it was just the five of us. This cabin, with its 32 beds (16 of which are drop-in spots), sits in dramatic yet accessible terrain, making it a great choice for families. The hike from the Skarstøl parking lot is a fun two-hour walk (some fairly easy climbing included), perfect for little legs and big imaginations. Løkjelsvatnhytta is self-service, equipped with kitchen supplies, cooking gear, and a provision room stocked with essentials. Just like the other cabins, don’t forget your sheet bag or bedding, as sleeping bags aren’t allowed.

During our visit, we met another lovely family, and the kids spent hours playing together around the cabin. From building rock towers to finding frogs and exploring the trails, it was pure joy watching them make new friends in such a beautiful setting. We also enjoyed swimming in Løkjelsvatnet. The water was super cold, but that didn’t stop us from jumping in!

You can find the post on Instagram about this third DNT adventure when you click here.

Let’s do this again!

These DNT cabins —Storavassbua, Olalia Fjellstove, and Løkjelsvatnhytta— are more than just places to stay; they are like gateways to unforgettable experiences. Whether you kayak on a crystal-clear lake, climb big boulders, bike through berry-filled trails, or simply enjoy the peace of a cozy cabin; there is something for everyone. Ever since we moved to Norway in 2021, going on a hytte tour has always been on Thaddeus’ wishlist. This summer, we got a bit of a taste of it while visiting these cabins one by one by hiking from our car to the cabins. I think we’re ready for the ‘real deal’ next time: going from the car to hytte to hytte to hytte to hytte and then back to where we parked the car.

Can’t wait…!

Hiking in Etnefjellet has truly brought us closer as a family, teaching us resilience, patience, and the pure joy of being together in nature. We would 100% recommend this to anyone who loves being active outdoors. So grab your gear (Check the PS part of this post to read more about that), follow the red T’s, and discover the magic of Norway’s fjells for yourself.

Big hugs,

Annette

PS: It is highly recommended that you use proper hiking shoes/boots, wear layers of clothes, bring rain gear and use backpacks that don’t kill your back. During our first trip to Storavassbua, I used a random regular backpack and filled it to the max with heavy stuff and I regretted this after hiking 200 meters. A couple of days after our trip, Thaddeus’ dad bought me a beautiful (yes, that’s important too, I think haha!), but more importantly supportive + high- quality backpack that’s friendly for my back and shoulders when carrying a heavy load. The one I got is called ‘Finse tursekk 60L’ from Heldre, a great Norwegian brand. You can find this one at the Heldre webshop or in one of the Sport Outlet stores across Norway. They also have webshop.

13 september 2024

Annette de Graaf3 reacties

Travel with us to… Phú Quốc Island in Vietnam

After having lived in Vietnam for 5 months, we hadn’t seen much else than the city where our home and work is (Ho Chi Minh City) yet. Pippa and I have done a little weekend trip together to Ben Tre in the Mekong Delta and stayed at Villa de Coco. That was fantastic and made us feel even more excited for a vacation for all 5 family members. With the December Break coming up, we started to look for a beautiful location in Vietnam to explore together. When I asked my Vietnamese colleagues at SNA International School, they all recommended the island Phú Quốc. So… that’s where we went! And they were right: What an amazing island to explore and relax. Phú Quốc is forever in our hearts after spending 9 days here.

Let’s take you with us on a family vacation to Phú Quốc!

Mango Beach Resort

We stayed at the wonderful Mango Beach Resort and it is located in the Northeast of Phú Quốc. We would recommend this resort 10/10! The moment we arrived here, it felt like love at first sight for all of us. What an oasis of tranquility and beauty. The lovely staff members made us feel like home and treated us with the best breakfast ever. Our children could not wait to jump into the pool and the staff had a BIG surpise for them: an inflatable swan to use as a fun boat. Every single day of our vacation, Jools, Pippa and Sol had a blast at the pool of this resort.

The pool and the lush gardens overlook the beach and the ocean, which gives the vacation vibe an amazing extra boost. Mango Beach Resort has created a lagoon separated from the sea by wave breakers and nets, which makes safe swimming possible for guests. Our children had so much fun playing and even kayaking here with the friend they made. The little beach was also the best place to find beautiful sea shells and rocks. We always love collecting them and putting them together to create nature art. One of our favorite activities on earth!

Exploring Phu Quoc by bike – from Mango Beach Resort to Sao Beach

Our resort helped us to rent scooter bikes (for 180.000 dong per day) and we enjoyed exploring the island the Vietnamese way. The roads are quite good and calm, so we felt safe while driving around on 2 scooter bikes with 2 adults and 3 children. Our favorite destination to visit was by far Sao Beach. We went here twice and loved how stunning this beach and the clea blue sea looked. The palm trees made the dream destination even more dreamy.

We were struggling to find other accessible beaches in Phú Quốc. When we asked the locals, they couldn’t really advice other beaches to us. Most beaches aren’t public, because they belong to hotels. They said we could try to just act like a guest and enter the beach through their lobby, but we did not feel like doing that 😉 Another thing we noticed is that big parts of the shore are not used as a beach, so you can’t really enter the water or hang out. We heard from other tourists that the beaches on the west side of the island (like Long Beach and Ong Lang Beach) are beautiful, but indeed most of them are only accessible if you’re a hotel guest there. You could go to the famous Starfish beach, but that’s super touristy and for us it was also too far of a drive.

Snorkelling Trip around the An Thoi Archipelago

We absolutely loved our snorkle trip around the An Thoi Archipelago, a group of 14 islands brimming with amazing deserted beaches, colorful coral reefs, colonies of diverse fish species, and amazing bird-life. Jools and Pippa were so excited to go snorkeling for their first time ever and they enjoyed every minute of our day trip. We booked our trip through ‘John Tours’ and they were super helpful canceling and rebooking our trip a couple of times, due to the weather conditions.

Hiking Núi Đá Bạc

We also enjoyed our hike to the tops of Núi Đá Bạc mountain. Our guide worked and Wildlands resort and he took us from there all the way to three different tops of the mountain. When we lived in Norway we went for multiple hikes every week and that is one thing we miss while living in Ho Chi Minh City. Getting back into the hiking vibe (on Christmas Day!) was surely one of the HIGHlights of our Phú Quốc trip. (Oh how I love corny word jokes ;-))

Dương Đông

On one of our bike trips across the island, we rode our scooter bikes to Dương Đông, which is the biggest town of Phú Quốc. We had great coffee and the kids enjoyed a Micky Mouse ice cream at Buddy Ice Cream and Info Cafe in the center of the town, visited two beautiful temples and had lunch at The Home Pizza (a bit further south of Dương Đông strip, which gives some Spanish beach town feels with all the tourists and hotels). We noticed how different the vibe on this westside of the island is with all its big hotels and many restaurants and bars. We couldn’t see the beach, because the coastline is completely blocked by buildings.

Khu du lịch Suối Tranh

On our way back, we decided to follow our curiosity and check out what the kind of story the statues we noticed on the side of the road were part of. We also noticed on Google Maps that it looked like there should be a waterfall near those statues, so we were on a mission to explore this area, which turned out to be a park called ‘Khu du lịch Suối Tranh’. ‘Khu du lịch’ means ‘tourist area’. We loved walking around the lush gardens, while telling each other cray made up stories about all the interesting colorful statues we saw and looking at the many fish at the ponds. We also followed the signs in the direction of the waterfall and suddenly entered a forest with a lovely jungle vibe. Again, there were many statues along the hike up to the waterfall, such as elphants and tigers. During this time of year (December), it was dry season, so the stream down the hill was very small. Still, we had a great time playing on the rocks and even doing a tiny bit of swimming in the stream. Very refreshing! We actuallly never made it all the way up to the waterfall, we had too much fun playing and exploring at one certain spot, which was about 10 minutes away from the waterfall. Other people said it wasn’t truly worth going up to the waterfall. They showed us a pictures and we decided to stay and play at our fun spot.

Rory’s Beach Bar

Jools, Pippa and Sol asked every single day if we could please, please, pleeeeaaaaase go to Rory’s Beach Bar. Of course we could! We loved this so much more than bar so much. The owners are gems and there is a lot to explore in the beautiful pool, fun games to play and lovely people to meet. Our favorite moment was when Rory showed us how starfish are capable to turn themselves back around when they are upside down. It’s like a meditation to watch them do it and you could turn it into a yoga exercise when you join and copy the movements of the starfish!

Can we live at Mango Beach Resort?

We could have stayed so much longer at Mango Beach Resort. We totally, absolutely, 100% had the best vacation ever here. We loved our rooms in our tree house, we loved the lovely staff members, we loved the puppies, we loved the pool, we loved the views, we loved the beautiful garden, we LOVED breakfast every day, we loved finding shells and rocks on the beach and we loved the awesome friends we met here. Our hearts are full and we have created memories that will last forever. We hope to come back to this wonderful resort one day!

If you have any questions about this travel destination, do not hesitate to shoot us a message on our Instagram account @theflyingdutchfamily.

Big hugs,

Annette

6 januari 202413 januari 2024

Annette de GraafPlaats een reactie

A lovely weekend retreat at Villa de Coco – Mekong Delta – Vietnam

When tourists visit Ho Chi Minh City, many have a trip to the Mekong Delta on their wish list. We aren’t officially tourists, because we live here, but it was definitely on our wish list as well! We heard great stories about the beauty and lovely vibe of the area, so when the right moment was there, we secured a lovely weekend retreat at Villa de Coco in Ben Tre.

Just the 2 of us

Pippa and I decided to go with the two of us to have some awesome quality time together. The fun started when we took a Grab to District 5. We ordered a cà phê dừa (coconut coffee) for me and a peach iced tea for Pippa to take with us on the bus. Villa de Coco booked our bus seats for us, so all we had to do was show up on time at the Hung Do bus station. The bus was super comfy and we enjoyed reading, knitting, drawing, listening to music and looking outside the window during the 2 hour drive.

Upon arrival, we were welcomed by the super kind staff members of Villa de Coco. We were a bit early, so our room wasn’t ready yet, but they did everything they could to make us feel comfortable. First thing we did: jump in the pool! Of course! We could have stayed in and next to the pool for weeks! What a lovely place and garden to relax.

Fun Things to Do around Villa de Coco

You don’t have to travel far to have some awesome adventures. You can use the bikes from Villa de Coco for free and cycling around the area is so much fun. They had a kids size mountain bike for Pippa and she was the happiest kid alive. There are many little places to get coffee and snacks nearby to take a little break if you want.

The staff members of Villa de Coco are happy to arrange trips for you. We went on a bicycle tour to a dock to have a lovely river tour and learned about water coconuts. Afterwards we visited a cacao and coconut farm and got to taste the delicious sweet ‘jackets’ of cacao beans + were treated with HUGE coconuts to drink from.

Goodbye, Villa de Coco!

We wished we could have stayed longer at this oasis of peace and joy. It’s a good thing it’s only a 2 hour drive away from where we live, so we can easily come back with our whole family. Pippa really wants to show Villa de Coco to Sol, Jools and her dad and go on adventures in Ben Tre together. There is one room with a double bed + bunk beds, which is fantastic for a family to stay. Pippa and I had a beautiful and spacious room for 2 people and we felt at home straight away when we walked in for the first time. It was hard to leave this cozy room!

When we returned back home in Ho Chi Minh City, Pippa and I created a Reels together and we often watch it with a big smile on our faces. Hopefully, it will bring you joy too! You can view it on our Instagram account: @theflyingdutchfamily.