Canoeing and kayaking, two increasingly popular sports, allow visitors to reach places that are otherwise almost inaccessible. Both activities should provide you with a unique opportunity to observe Norway's animals and birds without frightening them with the sound of an engine.
Some of our best experiences out on a canoe have been with the Setesdal Rafting Center (tel. 37-93-11-77), 7km (4 1/4 miles) north from Evje on the main road, Route 9. The region of Setesdal, known for its mountains, rivers, and varied wildlife, contains a stunning stretch of the River Otra -- ideal for canoeing -- extending from the rafting center south to the village of Evje. En route you'll pass several osprey nests and beaver lodges. The center is also the best place in southern Norway for white-water rafting from mid-April to late October. From late June until September, water temperatures can reach 68°F (20°C), which makes the River Otra the warmest in Norway. Both half-day and full-day trips can be arranged. Crossing Latitudes, 420 W. Koch St., Bozeman, MT 59715 (tel. 800/572-8747 or 406/585-5356; www.crossinglatitudes.com), is another source for sea-kayaking and backpacking expeditions.
If you'd like to go rafting on the Sjoa River, billed as "the wildest in Norway," you can obtain full information from the Vågå Tourist office, Vågavegen 37, N-2680 in Vågå (tel. 61-21-77-77), which also provides information about horseback riding, mountain or glacier climbing, mountain biking, and canoeing.
The rivers around Voss resort, in Norway's fjord country, have some of the finest river rafting. Voss Rafting Center (tel. 56-51-05-25; www.vossrafting.no) offers rafting and other watersports such as river-boarding and canyoning. Overnight stays in the wild along with meals can be arranged.
