The Kingdom of Norway, also known for high per-capita income, top rankings in human development, and lowest crime rate, is also an excellent tourism destination, with several unique features to lure tourists. Its Viking ancestry is one such marvel.
Indian tourists have not yet begun to explore Scandinavia in large numbers, but many would be able to quickly name a famous Viking movie. From the 1958 Kirk Douglas classic The Vikings to the 1999 Antonio Banderas starrer The 13th Warrior and the latest all-time favourite Chris Hemsworth’s Thor in 2011, Viking themes have played pretty well on screen for the Indian audience.
Partially thanks to the films, the interest in Vikings has been rising in India, just as across the globe. Cult films and recent Netflix serials have been key drivers of such a keen interest.
And, Norway, the home of the Vikings, has been quick to seize on the opportunities that this increased interest generates. It has put several Viking-related destinations and circuits on the global tourism map and not surprisingly, from newly discovered ships to living villages and high-tech exhibitions – Norway’s top Viking sites are now one of the most desired destinations people would want to visit, as per the social media trends.
Who were the Vikings
Vikings were tradesmen, farmers and legendary sea warriors from the Nordic countries and had dominated large parts of the western hemisphere for over 250 years from 800 AD onwards. They mounted trading expeditions and also launched much-feared raids in across Europe conquering and plundering new lands and taking the riches home.
Their famously fast and light ships could be pulled ashore thus needing no harbour. This made Viking raids sudden, unpredictable, and nearly impossible to defend against. Starting with the raid on the British monastery at Lindisfarne in 793 AD and continuing for more than 200 years, the hardy Norsemen left their mark on history.
Why experience a Viking tour
The footmarks of the Vikings are still strong in Norway, with history, museums, tours, villages and other heritage experiences in a surprisingly large number of places around the country. It takes one back in time to explore authentic ships and treasures. The Vikings had put their mark on northern Europe forever, and the many remains of their culture can transform any holiday into an adventure.
Along with time travel back to history, brand-new Viking experience centres filled with cutting-edge technology also draw the young. One can attend a Viking festival or challenge his/her inner Viking in one of the many villages that have been recreated as open-air museums throughout Norway from south to north.
Oslo Region
Norway’s newest Viking attraction, which opened doors in June is a 1600 sqm state-of-the-art interactive entertainment centre located in Oslo. With ground-breaking virtual reality technology, high-end film productions, and a 270-degree cinema, The Historical Museum in Oslo houses another new Viking exhibition, Víkingr, containing exquisite objects from the Norwegian Viking age. Another must-see is the Viking Ship Museum on the Bygdøy peninsula just outside Oslo’s city centre. Here, the three preserved Viking ships found in Norway – Oseberg, Tune and Gokstad – are exhibited and are considered to be among the world’s best-preserved vessels from the era.
Fjord Norway
The Fjords of Norway are in themselves a big draw for tourists from around the world. But now, Viking fans have another reason to visit Fjord Norway because at the brand-new Viking Museum Sagastad in Nordfjordeid, visitors can explore the 30-metre-long Myklebust ship, enjoy interactive exhibitions and learn more about the region’s proud Viking history. The Viking House, located in the heart of Stavanger, is another groundbreaking concept where, by using virtual reality technology, the museum has recreated the exciting life the Vikings from the region once lived. Only a few km from there, by the Hafrsfjord, one can witness the impressive monument Swords in Rock (Sverdifjell). This was the location where Harald Fairhair, the first king united all of Norway into one kingdom in 872.
Trøndelag
When it comes to Norwegian Viking history, one cannot forget Stiklestad in the Trøndelag county. The place is the site of the Battle of Stiklestad in 1030, where the famous Christian Viking king Olav Haraldsson – later known as St. Olav – fell at the hands of local chieftains. He later became the patron saint of Norway. The battle marked the consolidation of Norway and a definitive breakthrough for Christianity in the country.
This battle is recreated every July as an outdoor theatre event called The St. Olav Drama, coinciding with the traditional celebration of Olsok, a festival full of story-telling, concerts, food, markets, and everything else one needs to travel back in time and feel like a true Viking.
Northern Norway
Spectacular traces of Viking life are also found further north in Norway, among them the remains of the longest building discovered from the period. At Borg on the island Vestvågøya in Lofoten, the 83-metre long structure which was restored now hosts the Lofotr Viking Museum. The museum exhibits artefacts such as imported glass, gold and ceramics those suggest this was home to a wealthy and powerful clan back in the day. One can take part in a Viking feast, row a Viking ship, shoot a traditional bow and arrow or try setting up a timber frame building here. Lofotr is a living museum offering fun, interactive experiences for Viking buffs of all ages. Every year in August, Borg hosts a five-day Viking festival featuring more than 100 Vikings from near and far, a market, competitions, theatre, concerts, and more.
Modern Vikings
However, there is a lot more to the Viking culture than plunder and violence. In the old Viking country on the west coast of Norway, there are people today who live by their forebears’ values, albeit the more positive ones. Thousands of Norwegians are now working to rediscover valuable, forgotten parts of their Viking heritage. Hundreds gather at Viking markets in Gudvangen or Avaldsnes – the historic home of famed king Harald Fairhair, to reenact living as Vikings and learn their crafts and trades. At Gudvangen, the Vikings have an undisputed king: Georg Olafr Reydarson Hansen. For almost 20 years he worked to establish the permanent Viking village Njardarheimr, which finally opened in 2017.
All these experiences put together under a well-curated guided tour can make a visit of a lifetime. A recent survey by GlobalData, an international data and research agency showed that millennial tourists will lead post-pandemic travel under the new normal situation in the post-Covid-19 world. Social media influencers among whom Gen Y and Gen Z form a considerable chunk will set the trend for the upcoming leisure and holiday patterns. Current trends show that these types of unique adventure experiences are already getting a lot of eyeball attention in social media. And even during the pandemic, Visit Norway, the national tourism organisation of Norway, has kept its Viking history in people’s mind through several campaigns such as #DreamNowTravelLater. It reminds the Indian adventure seekers that there are enough good reasons for them to head to Norway, besides excellent food, cool weather and dramatic settings for enjoying an exotic Viking holiday.
Photos: Visit Norway
