I'd like to take the train from Oslo to Otta and rent a car there, to do some hiking in Jotunheimen and Rondane national parks. However.... I can find an automatic transmission car at the Oslo Airport, but none of the car rentals in Otta or nearby seem to have automatics. Any suggestions, or do I just have to rent in Oslo and drive up? Thanks!
Posted by
Sweden
6434 posts
You should be able to rent an electric car in Otta which would solve your problem. (Technically they have a fixed transmission and not automatic but the difference for the driver is negligible)
Posted by
Medford, OR, USA
5836 posts
Look into bus service from Otta.
Jotunheimen: https://www.visitjotunheimen.com/shopping-and-service/transport-and-services
Bus: You can reach the Jotunheimen area by daily express buses from Oslo, Bergen and Trondheim. During summer time, local buses takes you the starting point for the most popular hiking areas.
Take the bus to the mountains this summer!
Here are some of the routes:
(Otta) - Lom - Galdesand - Juvasshytta
Other non-rental car option are taxi and car services. We have stayed at Smuksjoseter Fjellstue ( Høvringen - northern gateway to the Rondane) several times and used their car service for an Otta pickup.
Posted by
Medford, OR, USA
5836 posts
An information resource for hiking (and skiing) in Norway is the DNT - Norwegian Trekking Association:
https://english.dnt.no/
The DNT store in Oslo (st Stogata 3 iin downton Oslo when we last vsited) carries maps, guidbooks and offers local knowlege.
https://www.dntoslo.no/turinfo/
The tour center is a tour shop that offers both outdoor equipment and
good tour guidance. Here in the shop we can show both DNT cabins,
trails and routes and hiking areas.We have a nationwide selection of various maps, we have books and
encyclopedias about outdoor life as well as the DNT key. At
Tursenteret you can get everything you need for the trip in the field
and complete mountain clothing including a backpack and other
equipment that you need for the mountain trip, whether you are going
on a trip in the summer or in the winter. We also have our own
products that are specially made for and tested by DNT.
For overnight trekking, consider the DNT mountain huts:
https://english.dnt.no/routes-and-cabins/
The local member associations operate 550 cabins across the country,
mark routes and ski tracks. Together they maintain a network of about
22,000 km of marked foot trails and about 7000 km of branch-marked ski
tracks. DNT members are given discounts on accomodation at all cabins
and on served meals at the staffed cabins. DNT activities are based on
extensive volunteer work.
I have also participated in DNT led multi-day tours of the Jotunhimen and Hardagervidda and used Rondane DNT cabins.