{"id":3666,"date":"2026-11-07T19:45:22","date_gmt":"2026-11-07T18:45:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/terran.ch\/?p=3666"},"modified":"2026-11-13T13:56:06","modified_gmt":"2026-11-13T12:56:06","slug":"the-journey-is-the-destination-how-slow-travel-unintentionally-leads-us-away-from-mass-tourism","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/terran.ch\/staging\/en\/the-journey-is-the-destination-how-slow-travel-unintentionally-leads-us-away-from-mass-tourism\/","title":{"rendered":"The Journey Is the Destination: How Slow Travel Unintentionally Leads Us Away from Mass Tourism"},"content":{"rendered":"
[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text css=»»]\"\"<\/i><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Three weeks traveling through Denmark and Norway, without flying and often without a set plan. What began as a terran trip quickly became more than just a climate-friendly alternative. Encounters on the night train, spontaneous stops along the way, conversations on ferries, unexpected overnight stays, and hikes far from the well-known hotspots suddenly become the highlights of the trip. While many tourists crowd into the same places, you discover spots along the route that aren\u2019t on anyone\u2019s bucket list. Perhaps that\u2019s precisely one of the greatest advantages of terran travel: Not only do you produce fewer emissions, but you almost automatically travel in a fairer, more local way\u2014and get closer to the people.<\/em><\/p>\n

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Night Train Instead of the Airport<\/b><\/span><\/h4>\n

We set off from Zurich. We took the overnight train to Hamburg and from there continued on to Copenhagen. Right from the start, it became clear why slow travel is so different. On the overnight train, we got to know other travelers, had fascinating conversations, and realized once again: On a plane, you\u2019re a passenger; on an overnight train, you become part of a small, temporary community.<\/p>\n

Copenhagen: HomeExchange Instead of Airbnb<\/b><\/span><\/h4>\n

In<\/span> Copenhagen<\/span>, we<\/span> used<\/span> HomeExchange<\/a>. The<\/span> concept<\/span> is<\/span> simple<\/span>: people<\/span> swap<\/span> their<\/span> homes<\/span> while<\/span> they\u2019re<\/span> away<\/span>. This<\/span> means<\/span> no<\/span> additional<\/span> vacation<\/span> rentals<\/span> are<\/span> taken<\/span> off<\/span> the<\/span> local<\/span> housing<\/span> market<\/span>.<\/p>\n

Copenhagen<\/span> itself<\/span> made<\/span> an<\/span> immediate<\/span> impression<\/span> on<\/span> us<\/span>. The<\/span> city<\/span> feels<\/span> spacious<\/span>, relaxed<\/span>, and<\/span> livable<\/span>. Everywhere<\/span> you<\/span> look<\/span>, there<\/span> are<\/span> places<\/span> to<\/span> swim<\/span>, green<\/span> spaces<\/span>, and<\/span> public<\/span> areas<\/span> where<\/span> people<\/span> can<\/span> meet<\/span>. While<\/span> searching<\/span> for<\/span> sustainable<\/span> outing<\/span> ideas<\/span>, we<\/span> came<\/span> across<\/span> Visit Copenhagen’s <\/span>sustainability guide<\/a>, which<\/span> highlights<\/span> numerous<\/span> initiatives<\/span> and<\/span> projects<\/span>. There<\/span>, we<\/span> also<\/span> discovered<\/span><\/span> CopenHill<\/a>, which is a waste-to-energy plant as well as a ski slope, a recreational area, and a climate project.<\/span> On<\/span> the<\/span> roof<\/span>, I<\/span> skied<\/span> on<\/span> artificial<\/span> turf<\/span> while<\/span> waste<\/span> was<\/span> being<\/span> processed<\/span> below<\/span>. In<\/span> addition<\/span>, the<\/span> facility<\/span> is<\/span> one<\/span> of<\/span> the<\/span> few<\/span> of<\/span> its<\/span> kind<\/span> worldwide<\/span> that<\/span> is<\/span> testing<\/span> CO<\/span>\u2082 capture<\/span> on<\/span> an<\/span> industrial<\/span> scale<\/span>. Instead<\/span> of<\/span> hiding<\/span> the<\/span> infrastructure<\/span> on<\/span> the<\/span> outskirts<\/span> of<\/span> the<\/span> city<\/span>, it<\/span> has<\/span> become<\/span> part<\/span> of<\/span> city<\/span> life<\/span>.<\/p>\n

Two Countries, One Ferry, and Many Stories<\/b><\/span><\/h4>\n

From<\/span> Copenhagen<\/span>, we<\/span> took<\/span> the<\/span><\/span> ferry<\/a><\/p>\n

on to Oslo. As we stood on deck, Sweden glided by on one side and Norway on the other. Once again, we had some wonderful encounters.<\/span> A historian spent hours telling me about the history of Scandinavia. Staff from an NGO helped us spot orcas and other marine mammals. Although no orcas showed up that day, I did see tuna and seals.<\/p>\n

What<\/span> has<\/span> only<\/span> recently<\/span> become<\/span> a<\/span> trend<\/span> in<\/span> Zurich<\/span>–Wiedikon<\/span> seems<\/span> to<\/span> have<\/span> been<\/span> a<\/span> standard<\/span> feature<\/span> on<\/span> this<\/span> ferry<\/span> for<\/span> decades<\/span>: bingo<\/span>. We<\/span> narrowly<\/span> missed<\/span> winning<\/span> a<\/span> free<\/span> ferry<\/span> ticket<\/span>, but<\/span> still<\/span> went<\/span> to<\/span> sleep<\/span> in<\/span> our<\/span> own<\/span> cabin<\/span> feeling<\/span> very<\/span> satisfied<\/span>. The<\/span> next<\/span> morning<\/span>, we<\/span> woke<\/span> up<\/span> already<\/span> in<\/span> the<\/span> Oslo<\/span> Fjord<\/span>. Island<\/span> after<\/span> island<\/span> drifted<\/span> by<\/span>, the<\/span> settlements<\/span> grew<\/span> denser<\/span>, and<\/span> finally<\/span> we<\/span> reached<\/span> Oslo<\/span>.[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_gallery interval=»3″ images=»3632,3644,3656″ img_size=»1200×1000″ css=»»][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text css=»»]\n

A<\/span> Country<\/span> That<\/span> Turns<\/span> Oil<\/span> Into<\/span> a<\/span> Future<\/span><\/b><\/span><\/h4>\n

After a brief stop in Oslo, we took the bus on to Stavanger. Apparently, the semester was just starting, because the bus was full of students with huge pieces of luggage.<\/p>\n

In Stavanger, you can\u2019t help but encounter the history of Norwegian oil. The country has invested a large portion of its revenue from oil and natural gas into a sovereign wealth fund, which is now one of the largest in the world. The idea behind this is that future generations should also be able to benefit from these resources.<\/p>\n

On<\/span> the<\/span> Road<\/span> Along<\/span> the<\/span> Lysefjord<\/span><\/b><\/span><\/h4>\n

Then began the part of the trip we\u2019d been especially looking forward to. We planned to hike around the Lysefjord for seven days. The region is best known for Preikestolen, which around 400,000 people climb each year. We decided, however, to take the longer route around the fjord.<\/p>\n

But even the journey there turned into an adventure. We had misunderstood the bus schedule and realized that there were no buses running at all that Sunday. So we grabbed a piece of cardboard and tried our luck hitchhiking. Looking back, that was probably one of the best decisions of the entire trip.<\/p>\n

Three different people gave us a ride. Two of them weren\u2019t even heading in our direction. Instead of just getting from A to B, we had conversations about life in Norway, the region, and the people here. You rarely get to know a country better than from the passenger seat of a stranger\u2019s car.<\/p>\n

The<\/span> DNT<\/span> Huts<\/span>: Trust<\/span> as<\/span> Infrastructure<\/span><\/b><\/span><\/h4>\n

Only<\/span> halfway<\/span> through<\/span> the<\/span> seven<\/span>–day<\/span> tour<\/span> was<\/span> there<\/span> a<\/span> campground<\/span> with<\/span> the<\/span> only<\/span> restaurant<\/span> on<\/span> the<\/span> route<\/span>. This<\/span> made<\/span> the<\/span> supplies<\/span> available<\/span> at<\/span> some<\/span> of<\/span> the<\/span> huts<\/span> all<\/span> the<\/span> more<\/span> important<\/span>.[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_gallery interval=»3″ images=»3655,3635,3641,3640,3639,3638,3637″ img_size=»1200×1000″ css=»»][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text css=»»]\n

Far from mass tourism<\/b><\/span><\/h4>\n

Over the course of four days, we encountered only a few people. It wasn\u2019t until we reached the end of the fjord, where there was a campground, that things got a little busier again. There, we struck up friendships with other travelers whom we later met again in Bergen. Far away from everyday life, people often come together as a community surprisingly quickly. I shared a fish I\u2019d caught myself, while others contributed fresh vegetables\u2014something we hadn\u2019t seen in days. A simple dinner turned into one of the highlights of the trip.<\/p>\n

Of course, not everything was romantic. We got thoroughly soaked by rain at times. But that\u2019s exactly when the DNT huts proved their worth. Unlike many Swiss mountain huts, they\u2019re not just places to sleep, but places to spend time. They often have large sofa areas, books, and a warm stove. Sometimes we were the only guests and spent an entire evening there while the rain lashed against the windows outside.<\/p>\n

On sunny days, on the other hand, we picked blueberries in incredible quantities. I probably covered my ten-year supply in a single day.<\/p>\n

When the Silence Ends<\/b><\/span><\/h4>\n

On the last day of our hike, we approached Preikestolen. At first, we heard voices. Then there were more. Then more and more.<\/span><\/p>\n

After a week spent almost entirely alone in nature, the place felt almost like another world. An endless stream of people came toward us. Drones buzzed overhead, selfie sticks jutted into the air, and the range of gear on display stretched from hiking boots to beach sandals.<\/span><\/p>\n

The place remains spectacular. The view over the fjord is impressive and rightly world-famous. Nevertheless, the difference between travel and tourism became particularly apparent here. Many people were here for just a few hours. They visited exactly the spot that had been recommended to them by social media, travel guides, or tour operators.<\/p>\n

Our week around the fjord, on the other hand, was marked by the many small moments that would never appear in a travel guide. By the people who gave us rides when we hitchhiked. By the evenings in the cabins. By landscapes we had all to ourselves for hours on end. That is one of the advantages of independent travel. Because<\/span> the<\/span> journey<\/span> itself<\/span> becomes<\/span> part<\/span> of<\/span> the<\/span> experience<\/span>, individual<\/span> sights<\/span> lose<\/span> some<\/span> of<\/span> their<\/span> significance<\/span>. The<\/span> trip<\/span> is<\/span> no<\/span> longer<\/span> just<\/span> a<\/span> series<\/span> of<\/span> highlights<\/span>. You<\/span> become<\/span> less<\/span> dependent<\/span> on<\/span> the<\/span> places<\/span> that<\/span> everyone<\/span> else<\/span> wants<\/span> to<\/span> visit<\/span> as<\/span> well<\/span>.<\/p>\n

Incidentally<\/span>, there<\/span> was<\/span> no<\/span> shortage<\/span> of<\/span> human<\/span> warmth<\/span> at<\/span> Preikestolen<\/span> either<\/span>. Since<\/span> there<\/span> was<\/span> once<\/span> again<\/span> no<\/span> suitable<\/span> bus<\/span> running<\/span> that<\/span> day<\/span>, an<\/span> Indian<\/span> couple<\/span> traveling<\/span> with<\/span> their<\/span> child<\/span> spontaneously<\/span> gave<\/span> us<\/span> a<\/span> ride<\/span> to<\/span> the<\/span> nearest<\/span> campground<\/span>.<\/p>\n

Bergen<\/span> and<\/span> the<\/span> Art<\/span> of<\/span> Ignoring<\/span> the<\/span> Rain<\/span><\/b><\/span><\/h4>\n

After the hike, we spent a few days in Bergen. The rainiest city in Europe certainly lived up to its reputation. What was surprising, however, was how little the people seemed to be bothered by it. It was summer. So it was summer. While we were out and about in several layers of clothing and with umbrellas, the locals were walking through the city in shorts, rubber boots, and high spirits. At the same time, a large open-air festival was taking place.<\/p>\n

A fishing camp we never planned for<\/b><\/span><\/h4>\n

Later, we stumbled upon a small fishing lodge that rented out rooms during the off-season. Places like this are exactly what slow travel is all about. They\u2019re rarely mentioned in guidebooks and would probably never be part of a package tour. Here, we found peace, nature, and a fjord right on our doorstep. We rented a small motorboat, headed out onto the water, and spent our days fishing, reading, and relaxing. Homemade bread and freshly caught fish suddenly felt like luxury enough.[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_gallery interval=»3″ images=»3652,3636,3645,3646,3642,3643,3631″ img_size=»1200×1000″ css=»»][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text css=»»]\n

Traveling Alone<\/b><\/span><\/h4>\n

After<\/span> that<\/span>, I<\/span> continued<\/span> traveling<\/span> east<\/span> on<\/span> my<\/span> own<\/span>. The<\/span> farther<\/span> I<\/span> went<\/span>, the<\/span> fewer<\/span> tourists<\/span> I<\/span> encountered<\/span>. I<\/span> often<\/span> rode<\/span> the<\/span> bus<\/span> with<\/span> schoolchildren<\/span>. In<\/span> fact<\/span>, they<\/span> were<\/span> the<\/span> main<\/span> reason<\/span> public<\/span> transportation<\/span> still<\/span> existed<\/span> at<\/span> all<\/span> in<\/span> these<\/span> remote<\/span> regions<\/span>.<\/span><\/p>\n

Here<\/span>, too<\/span>, I<\/span> was<\/span> repeatedly<\/span> met<\/span> with<\/span> an<\/span> impressive<\/span> willingness<\/span> to<\/span> help<\/span>. Once<\/span>, I<\/span> almost<\/span> missed<\/span> my<\/span> connecting<\/span> bus<\/span>. I<\/span> ran<\/span> after<\/span> the<\/span> vehicle<\/span>, which<\/span> had<\/span> already<\/span> started<\/span> moving<\/span>, and<\/span> actually<\/span> thought<\/span> the<\/span> situation<\/span> was<\/span> hopeless<\/span>. But<\/span> a<\/span> woman<\/span> driving<\/span> a<\/span> car<\/span> witnessed<\/span> the<\/span> scene<\/span>, made<\/span> a<\/span> U<\/span>–turn<\/span>, caught<\/span> up<\/span> with<\/span> the<\/span> bus<\/span>, and<\/span> informed<\/span> the<\/span> driver<\/span>. Luckily. The bus only ran once a day. A few days later, I ran into the same bus driver again. He wanted to know what I\u2019d been up to in the meantime. It\u2019s exactly these kinds of encounters that often stay with you longer than any sightseeing spot.<\/p>\n

When he asked, I told the bus driver about the salmon\u2014the animal that had accompanied me time and again during this trip.<\/p>\n

It all began with the many circular nets of the salmon farms scattered across countless fjords. The farther I traveled, the more often I encountered this theme. People told me about the salmon\u2019s impressive migrations, their economic importance to the region, but also about the challenges of salmon farming. I spoke with locals about sea lice, escaped farmed salmon, and the impact on wild populations. Others, in turn, spoke with pride about the rivers in their region and how strictly fishing is regulated.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThere\u2019s<\/span> something<\/span> about<\/span> salmon<\/span> that<\/span> makes <\/span>people<\/span> crazy<\/span> here<\/span> in<\/span> Norway<\/span>,\u201d a<\/span> railroad<\/span> employee<\/span> once<\/span> told<\/span> me<\/span>\u2014and<\/span> it\u2019s<\/span> true<\/span>. On<\/span> some<\/span> rivers<\/span>, anglers<\/span> line<\/span> up<\/span> as<\/span> early<\/span> as<\/span> 5<\/span> a.m<\/span>. to<\/span> snag<\/span> one<\/span> of<\/span> the<\/span> coveted<\/span> fishing<\/span> permits<\/span>, sometimes<\/span> days<\/span> or<\/span> weeks<\/span> in<\/span> advance<\/span>. Some<\/span> of<\/span> these<\/span> permits<\/span> are<\/span> valid<\/span> for<\/span> only<\/span> a<\/span> few<\/span> hours<\/span>, but<\/span> for<\/span> many<\/span>, the<\/span> chance<\/span> to<\/span> catch<\/span> a<\/span> wild<\/span> Atlantic<\/span> salmon<\/span> is<\/span> worth<\/span> the<\/span> effort<\/span>.<\/p>\n

The more conversations I had and the more I read about it, the more fascinated I became by the subject. By then, I\u2019d read so much that I could picture which rivers the salmon were currently waiting in, where they might be found, and why rain is sometimes more important to them than it is to people. And sure enough, at some point, I got lucky.<\/p>\n

I was able to observe several salmon in a river. They were in deeper parts of the water and seemed to be waiting for higher water levels so they could continue their journey upstream to their spawning grounds. After all the stories I\u2019d heard, that moment felt almost surreal. Suddenly, the fish I\u2019d been reading and talking about for days were swimming right in front of me.<\/span><\/p>\n

Perhaps that, too, was typical of this kind of travel. When you travel slowly, you have time to let yourself be carried along by whatever catches your interest. You follow a lead, talk to people, do some research, ask questions, and at some point realize that you\u2019ve become passionate about something that wasn\u2019t even part of the trip to begin with. In any case, the salmon wasn\u2019t on any itinerary. And that\u2019s exactly why it left such a strong impression on me.<\/p>\n

Fl\u00e5m and the Question of \u201cTrue\u201d Travel<\/b><\/span><\/h4>\n

Last<\/span> week<\/span> took<\/span> me<\/span> from<\/span> Bergen<\/span> to<\/span> Myrdal<\/span>\u2014via<\/span> public<\/span> transportation<\/span>, camping<\/span>, DNT<\/span> huts<\/span>, fishing<\/span>, and<\/span> hiking<\/span>.<\/span><\/p>\n

After<\/span> several<\/span> days<\/span> in<\/span> the<\/span> wilderness<\/span>, I<\/span> reached<\/span> a<\/span> small<\/span> train<\/span> station<\/span> on<\/span> the<\/span> famous<\/span><\/span> Fl\u00e5m railway<\/a>. In the evening, it was quiet and deserted. I pitched my tent and made coffee the next morning right next to the tracks. Then the train pulled in.<\/span><\/p>\n

Within minutes, the place was packed with people, cameras, and selfie sticks. Some even took pictures of me and my makeshift coffee spot. Shortly afterward, it was all over. The contrast couldn\u2019t have been greater.<\/p>\n

The Fl\u00e5m Railway is undoubtedly spectacular, and the landscape is exceptionally beautiful. Nevertheless, I found myself asking the same question I\u2019d asked at Preikestolen: Why does tourism focus on just a few hotspots, even though there are thousands of other beautiful places in Norway?<\/p>\n

Terrane\u2019s travels often work differently. Not because we deliberately avoid every well-known attraction, but because the journey constantly opens up new possibilities. Suddenly<\/span>, the<\/span> unplanned<\/span> stop<\/span> becomes<\/span> more<\/span> important<\/span> than<\/span> the<\/span> attraction<\/span> itself<\/span>. You<\/span> get<\/span> off<\/span> somewhere<\/span> because<\/span> the<\/span> place<\/span> looks<\/span> interesting<\/span>. You<\/span> stay<\/span> longer<\/span> because<\/span> you\u2019ve<\/span> met<\/span> an<\/span> intriguing<\/span> person<\/span>. You<\/span> discover<\/span> a<\/span> place<\/span> that<\/span> doesn\u2019t<\/span> appear<\/span> on<\/span> any<\/span> list<\/span>. The<\/span> route<\/span> itself<\/span> becomes<\/span> the<\/span> real<\/span> adventure<\/span>, often<\/span> far<\/span> removed<\/span> from<\/span> mass<\/span> tourism<\/span>.<\/p>\n

More Than Just a Trip Without a Plane<\/b><\/span><\/h4>\n

Finally, we took the ferry back to Copenhagen and traveled via Hamburg back to Zurich. It was surprisingly affordable, by the way: I paid just around 40 francs for a four-person cabin on the ferry because I booked early. For the night train or the Fl\u00e5m Railway, however, it\u2019s worth booking early, as prices can rise significantly in some cases.<\/p>\n

On the way back, I realized that what I was taking home from this trip above all else was something unexpected. The historian on the ferry. The people who gave us rides when we hitchhiked. The dinners shared with other hikers. The bus driver who wanted to know what I\u2019d experienced over the past few days. None of these memories were on a bucket list.<\/p>\n

Perhaps that is precisely the true strength of slow travel. When you travel slowly, you\u2019re not just traveling in a more climate-friendly way. You leave room for chance encounters\u2014for people, stories, and places. And perhaps that\u2019s also one of the most effective ways to avoid mass tourism\u2014not by desperately avoiding well-known spots, but by paying close attention to the journey itself. Because when you take the route seriously, you almost automatically discover the many places along the way.<\/p>\n

The route becomes the destination. And that\u2019s often where the most beautiful stories begin.<\/p>\n[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_gallery interval=»3″ images=»3654,3653,3650,3651,3633,3647,3634,3649,3657,3648″ img_size=»1200×1000″ css=»»][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text css=»»]Mathieu Gasser is a member of the board of Terran Switzerland and loves travelling with Terran because of the close connection with nature and the local people. He has already travelled with Terran to Morocco, Albania and Mongolia.[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row]\n<\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text css=»»]   Three weeks traveling through Denmark and Norway, without flying and often without a set plan. What began as a terran trip quickly became more than…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":15,"featured_media":3626,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"inline_featured_image":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[115],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-3666","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-terran-travel"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/terran.ch\/staging\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3666","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/terran.ch\/staging\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/terran.ch\/staging\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/terran.ch\/staging\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/15"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/terran.ch\/staging\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=3666"}],"version-history":[{"count":7,"href":"https:\/\/terran.ch\/staging\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3666\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":3749,"href":"https:\/\/terran.ch\/staging\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3666\/revisions\/3749"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/terran.ch\/staging\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/3626"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/terran.ch\/staging\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3666"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/terran.ch\/staging\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=3666"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/terran.ch\/staging\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=3666"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}

We<\/span> had<\/span> already<\/span> joined<\/span> the<\/span><\/span>\u00a0Norwegian<\/span> Hiking<\/span> Association<\/span><\/span> DNT<\/a> (comparable<\/span> to<\/span> the<\/span> Swiss<\/span> Alpine<\/span> Club<\/span> (SAC<\/span>)<\/span>) while in Oslo. The DNT operates a vast network of mountain huts throughout Norway. Many of them operate on a trust-based system. As a member, you gain access and can stay overnight on your own, use any available food supplies, and settle your bill via an app.<\/span> This<\/span> system<\/span> was<\/span> essential<\/span> for<\/span> our<\/span> hike<\/span> because<\/span> there<\/span> were<\/span> no<\/span> stores<\/span> along<\/span> the<\/span> way<\/span>.<\/p>\n