Tel. +44 (0)1273 600030 (UK)
We start this trip with a train journey from Oslo and then use local transport to reach Tuva Turisthytte. Accommodation on the first night is in Tuva, a small mountain hut owned by a local couple. On the second night we stay in Krækkja, a hut currently using a generator, but they are trialing the use of micro-hydro electricity generation to provide power. As many of the walking cabins in Norway rely on diesel generators this is will save between 15,000-20,000 litres of diesel per year in one cabin alone!
Hein Seter is a small private hut which was formerly a summer farm. This allows guest to experience the traditional mountain life and gain an insight into the history and culture of the region. Hein Seter has rooms for hikers providing 20-40 beds and employs a local manager as well as staff from the local area. Rauhellern, also one of our huts, runs it’s electricity supply on a generator but this is limited as much as possible to reduce fuel consumption and noise pollution. The manager of this hut keeps a pig during the warmer summer month which means that all food waste is recycled!
We take the bus from Oslo on this trip to travel to Tyinstølen. The cabin was formerly a summer farm and as such provides a great deal of the produce for our guests and gives them an insight into the history and culture of the region. It also means that guests can enjoy local produce and learn about a more traditional way of mountain life.
Tomashelleren is a self-service cabin and is only ten years old. Built with local materials and using local trades-people this cabin has helped to bring in a vital source of income into an area where people are very much dependent on tourism.
Our goal is for all its activities to be nature-friendly. Consequently, we have environmentally certified many of our cabins as well as our office operations. Environmental certification leads to tangible environmental improvements that lessen the burden of our activities on nature.
All of our cabins have been approved by the government to be environmentally friendly. There is a complicated system at the cabins to separate all waste that can be recycled which is then collected and taken away. There is very little food waste so this is not an issue. All water is fresh mountain water from local lakes.
We try to ensure all food is locally sourced in order to minimize food miles and provide fresh local produce. All of our cabins do not have heating in them and bathrooms are communal. Research has been carried out which shows that our cabins use 75% less energy per customer compared to local hotels in Norway.
Roughly 7 out of our 20 cabins have grass roofs which improves thermal efficiency as well as having the important benefit of making the cabins blend into the landscape. Our member associations specialize in tours. Accordingly, they train and qualify leaders for both summer and winter tours. Each year, more than 4000 tours, courses and other activities draw more than 100,000 participants. We lead the country in offering mountain sports and adventure activities and each year arranges courses in mountaineering and glacier hiking.
In our Oslo office we recycle everything possible. We turn off the heating or air conditioning at 4pm and ensure that all lights and appliances are turned off when not in use. When travelling we try and use public transport wherever possible.
We invite every traveller who books a holiday via us to send in a review. Because we don't run the holidays they're completely independent and unedited... remember to read between the lines though, as two people on the same holiday can have different views!
