Whilst searching for more information on the Svalbard nomination I found this Norwegian government paper which contains statements about progress on a number of Norwegian T List sites.
"TILDELINGSBREV 2013 FOR RIK SANTIKVAREN" ("AWARD LETTER 2013 FOR Cultural Heritage"). This document is described as "a one-year contract between the ministry and agency" -presumably the "Agency" is a non ministerial organisational unit charged with pursuing various Heritage matters of which UNESCO World Heritage is a part. The original PDF (in Norwegain of course) is here
http://www.regjeringen.no/pages/38227184/RA_Tildelingsbrev_2013.pdf

Pages 12/13 includes these paras (translated from Norwegian by Google!)
"28. Follow the schedules for each project in the work of the Norwegian nomination applications to UNESCO. .........
29. Promote increased technical cooperation through bilateral funds in heritage programs where the RA's partner program and other cultural programs in RA subjects under the EEA Grants.
30. Continue work on the nomination of Rjukan / Notodden and Odda / Tyssedal so that the application process can be promoted as a serial nomination and divided into two phases:
Phase I: complete and submit / promote application of Rjukan / Notodden to UNESCO in January 2014
Phase II: continue working on enlargement of nomination to include Odda / Tyssedal with submission to UNESCO in January 2016.
31 After further order from DN MD assist in the nomination process Svalbard world as it is planned to start in 2013.
32. After further order from DN MD assist in efforts Lofoten nomination as World if it becomes necessary to resume the nomination process in 2013.

Missions List 2013
Missions - documents to be sent to the Ministry of Environment Schedule
Report: Arctic heritage sites of exceptional international significance on 01/05/2013
Complete the work on the nomination of "Vikingsarv" for UNESCO in collaboration with the other partners."

From this I gather that
a. It is planned to nominate Rjukan/Notodden in Jan 2014 (so for the 2015 WHC) and then follow on with Odda/Tyssedal (the second part of this single T List entry) in Jan 2016 (for the 2017 WHC) - a rather strange approach which I might have thought ICOMOS might not be happy with? It would appear however that this is likely to be Norway's next nomination?
b. Work on the Svalbard nomination only really started this year (2013) despite earlier indications that it would be prepared in time for the 2014 WHC. See discussion and background under "2014 WHC " http://www.worldheritagesite.org/forums/index.php?action=vthread&forum=8&topic=1543&p age=7
Interestingly NO target date is given for this nomination!!
c. The Lofoten T List site is being actively worked upon but, again with no target identified
d. Norway's part of the "Viking Monuments and Sites" transnational nomination is nearing completion -but no date given.

Holdup on the Viking Serial Nomination. Perhaps, because of Sweden's lack of support?

http://theforeigner.no/pages/news/swedish-viking-heritage-withdrawal-stymies-norway-e fforts/

Quote from the link provided above by winterkjm (The report also indicates problems with another "active" Norwegain T List site "Norway's new contenders for the World Heritage List, industry places Rjukan/Notodden and Odda/Tyssedal, are also postponed due to complex conservation issues in both, especially in Odda").

"Sweden has dropped out because the candidate was trading center Birka, which is already on the World Heritage List."
How remarkably "unhelpful" of Sweden! Those Forum contributors who are non-native English speakers might not know the (slightly passé) English colloquialism which seems appropriate here - "I'm alright Jack!".

But it does raise a new Connection possibility!!
"Transnational sites which are extensions from a single National inscription"
Frontiers of the Roman Empire - Originally Hadrian's Wall (UK)
High Coast/Kvarken Archipelago - Originally High Coast (Sweden) - so Sweden can help out a neighbour!
Belfries of Belgium and France - Originally Flemish Belfries (Belgium)
Mt Nimba - originally only Guinea

There may be others! It will have required a degree of willingness to assist a neighbour and identification with the true aims of the "World Heritage" scheme for a country to "lose" its own identifiable WHS and allow it to be subsumed within a wider entity. The same point doesn't of course apply to sites inscribed as "Transnational" from the start since they are presumably improving their chances by joining together - Slovakia for instance originally tried to "go it alone" on its beech forests but was only successful when it joined with Ukraine having been told by IUCN that it should do so!

That such actions are not that common is shown by the number of sites which could/should have been joined together as single transnational sites but whose countries refuse/are apparently incapable of doing so (since it also requires a degree of continuing cooperation on joint management etc). See some among http://www.worldheritagesite.org/tag.php?id=59

While we're cleaning the T Lists, the disappearance of the Swedish Viking Site of Birka (would have been a renomination anyway) came to my attention again.

I found this document that describes WHY Sweden pulled out:
http://www.google.nl/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=13&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=0CC 4QFjACOAo&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.raa.se%2Fapp%2Fuploads%2F2013%2F02%2FText-om-serienomi neringen-English.doc&ei=y4AEVd78D4nwUPyog6AD&usg=AFQjCNGonKu1AEi7H9N00m9Tb0qZFBkalg&s ig2=UZydQVjQDv2wGb_xWBCwOw

"we see crucial problems in nominating a culture or a period for the World Heritage List. The sites are unique but together they do not give a representative picture of Viking Age culture, either geographically, socially, culturally or economically. We are also anxious to contribute to Unesco's global strategy for better geographical balance and to keep administrative expenses low."

Pretty difficult to inscribe a representative "picture of the Viking Age" when they primarily built with wood and thatch more than 1,000 years ago.

There is a fuller explanation of this aspect of the decision here -
"In addition to this, there is a heavy geographical imbalance in the World Heritage List, where Europe, for example, is greatly over-represented. Unesco has adopted a global strategy for a more balanced and representative World Heritage List. If the nomination were to be successful, this imbalance would be further reinforced, which is not compatible either with Unesco's global strategy or with the position of the Swedish government on this issue. "

I note that the decision to withdraw from support of the "Viking Age" transnational nomination was made in Sep 2012, just under 3 months after Sweden gained inscription for its "Decorated Farmhouses of Hälsingland" site!! I presume also that we won't be seeing Sweden's only T List site ("The Rise of systematic biology") being progressed.

Another argument used was the extra cost of setting up a "coordinated" trans-boundary administration system. Perhaps Sweden has seen problems/costs in trying to administer its existing 2 transnational sites Struve Arc and High Coast? The argument seems rather "thin".

Which leaves the 3rd argument - ie the fact that the collection of sites has no other connection than the fact that they are all "Viking" in some way. This alone does seem to have some validity to me. On this forum we have previously criticised the growing tendency to pull together sites, whether from one country or more, on what appears to be a "more the merrier" basis. On the other hand it is also true that the Viking culture is not as well represented as it might be (L'Anse Aux Meadows, Jelling, Birka/Hovgarden, Thnigvellir ......?). The "Viking monuments and sites" T List entry does seem to be rather too "all encompassing" - perhaps it does need to be pared down a bit and targeted at a particular aspect of Viking culture?

I think what they meant with extra administrative cost is the additional expenses linked to the new transnational nomination whereby the same sites are already inscribed. This by the way is a strong argument.

That's what i thought they meant too - "If the serial nomination were successful it would have administrative and economic consequences. It would entail increased administration and higher costs" - Can it be that large? A mere fleabite if they had wanted to be "communautaire" with their fellow Nordic countries sharing a Viking past!! I don't remember UK saying to Germany "We don't want to join you with our already inscribed Hadrian's Wall for you to add the Roman Limes as it will make our administrative costs higher if it becomes transnational" !!!

It seems Norway will lift its travel restrictions next week. And I started to have a look at my summer excursion :) Would appreciate feedback.

Friday 14.08.2020: Hamburg - Trondheim
What: N/A
Transport: Flight via Amsterdam (KLM)

Saturday: Trondheim - Roros - Trondheim (Train)
What: Roros
Transport: Train connection mentioned in Els' review still seems to hold. https://www.vy.no/en.

Sunday: Trondheim- Bronnoysund
What: Morning in Trondheim. Afternoon in Bronnoysund.
Transport: Flight Wideroe 14:55 -15:40

Monday: Bronnoysund
What: Vega Archipelago.
Transport: Ferry from/to Bronnoysund

Tuesday: Bronnoysund - Bodo - Lofoten
What: Transit to Lofoten islands.
Transport Option 1: Morning flight Bodo (10h), Ferry Lofoten (13h).
Transport Option 2: Afternoon flight Bronnoysund - Bodo - Leknes.
Questions: Option 1 or Option 2? Bodo any interesting? Ferry ride worthwhile?

Wednesday: Lofoten
What: Island site seeing
Transport: ?

Thursday: Lofoten - Tromso
What: Island site seeing.
Transport: Evening flight to Tromso.

Friday: Tromso - Alta - Oslo
What: Alta Rock Art, Maybe Stuve
Transport: Morning flight to Alta. Evening flight to Oslo.

Saturday: Oslo / Rjukan
What: Rjukan / Notodden
Transport: Bus Oslo <> Notodden.

Sunday: Olso - Hamburg
What: Some siteseeing Oslo. Return
Transport: Flight

Comments:
* Flight schedules are terrible. Really had to tinker to find the proper ordering of the visit. And I still have a lost day on Tuesday.
* Transport options on Saturday are non existing.

Questions:
* Any risks re getting to the core zone/in?
* Any recommendations along the way? Special sites to see?
* What part of the Lofoten would be inscribed?

When I realized just recently, I could not believe I had not reviewed Lofoten Islands on this site, one of my favorite places on earth, where I have been twice, in summer 2002 and winter 2007. I have been to Norway 6 times and travelled from Kristiansand in the south to Nordkapp in the north and visited all WHSs, so I know a few things about Norway.

You seem to like to fly around, but in my case I have traveled within Norway only by bus, train and ferry (Furtigruten). Oh, once I rented a car for 24 hours in Gällivare, Sweden, and drove all the way to Alta, just to finish off Norway.

I still remember clearly, struck in awe in fact, when the first sight of Lofoten Islands came into my eyes, the sharp mountains rising several hundred meters straight out of water, when the ferry was traveling from Bodø (not much to see) to Stamsund. But now I'm curious what Lofoten looks like from the sky. It can be totally awesome, too.

In 2002 I based myself in Svolvær and in 2007 in Stamsund.

Lofoten Islands has pretty good bus system, and I have taken a bus all the way down to Ã… and all the way up to Narvik. If you are basing yourself in Lenkes and have a limited time I would recommend this bus ride to Ã…. Along the way you see just about everything, including a white sand beach and Reine, supposed to be the most photographed town in Norway. What you can't see can be seen only by hiking, I would say. You can also go to the viking museum north of Leknes by bus.

I myself wanted to go back to Norway this summer to finish off my planned second half of hiking across Jotunheimen National Park (the first part was done in 2018.) but have decided against the plan because after a few months of lockdown/confinement I'm physically out of shape. So I'm jealous of anyone going to Norway this summer.

Hi Nan
First: there is an app called Entur. It's a good journeyplanner. It combines train and different buses, and maybe ferries too.
I didn't check, but how much time does the ferry gives you at Vega?
Vega: you should visit the museum, vega verdensarvsenter. There are also newly build stairs up to a viewpoint, supposed to be very nice. Called vegatrappa.
Further on. Option #1: take the ferry From Bodø to Moskenes. Thea you can travel from Å, at the end, to Svolvær. I have been to Lofoten three times and find the outer part most interesting, more dramatic nature. We visited Lofoten a few days ago and stayed at Sakrisøy/Reine. Recommended. The bus runs all the way to Å. We went hiking up Reinebringen, fantastic view. Lofoten deserves more days. Lofoten is the area from Raftsundet to the tip. If it's inscribed I think the "whole package". The outer tip is now a national park.
Depending on how many hours you got in Alta, you might have time to visit the rock art only.
You will probably need a taxi to get to the starting point for the hike to Lille Raipas. We used about 1 1/2 in total for the hike to Struve. If the weather is nice, it's a nice walk and a great view.
If you are in Oslo on Saturday, we might escort you to Rjukan. We also have an extra bed, if you like😊. Norwegian hospitality is world known🤪
In Brønnøysund, the famous landmark is Torghatten. It is a outside Brønnøysund, dont know if there is a bus service there. But it's an easy walk up and through the hole.
It's doable , but thight, specially in Lofoten.

Last time I stayed in Lofoten I stayed in Svolvær. I did a RIB tour to the beautiful Trollfjorden. We saw several eagles on the trip. Fun trip, but expensive

I just digged up a National Geographic article I remembered seeing soon after my last visit to Lofoten Islands in 2007. The article is also from 2007.

https://www.nationalgeographic.com/traveler/pdf/nd07placesratedislands.pdf

This is a survey on sustainability of island destinations rated by 522 "experts."

In this rating Lofoten Islands lost against Faroe Islands, but at number 3 it's still way up there, and it also says, "In excellent shape, relatively unspoiled, and likely to remain so." So it's probably still unspoiled today.

I don't think Lofoten has anything spectacularly beautiful (perhaps with the exception of Trollfjord sandwiched by snow-capped edges), but to think about it, the exact reason I liked it so much was because it was so unspoiled...in other words its "authenticity." :)

For this reason I almost wish Lofoten would never be inscribed because it could get spoiled.

During the same search I also came up with this article from 2006.

https://www.nationalgeographic.com/traveler/pdf/nd06worldheritageplacesrated.pdf

This is a survey on sustainability of 94 selected World Heritage Sites rated by 419 "experts." Maybe some of us have been already seen this article. Norway came on top in this one. There should be much newer surveys on the same topic somewhere.

Travel times without flying (or rental car) are too high, thanks to all those pesky fjords and mountains. The ferry is extremely expensive and the schedules don't really work for me.


Will do some hiking on the island. Probably the full day will be spend hiking. The departure day will be spend busing :)


Ran into Entur already. And some other sites. Will try if Entur works for the whole of Norway. Was under the impression it only covers parts of it.


Enough: 10:00 to 16:00h. Island doesn't seem to be that big, so should be fine. Actually, this was one bottle neck in my plans. There is a flight out of town in the afternoon, but felt way too risky to plan with a ferry, a transit and an airport.


Not sure if you know the prices in Norway... Staying for extended periods is not an option budget wise :D And it's not a WHS (yet). The allotted time will have to do. And maybe I come back, who knows.


Is the Rockart free entry or are there opening hours? Time, will see. One more Stuve could be nice, but need to check.


Much appreciated. Will contact you on Whatsapp. One disclaimer: I cant bring a duty free gift, as you will be my last, not my first stop.

Alta rock art is not free, but Struve is. Opening times from 9-18. And I do know the prices in Norway 😂. We have been traveling around this summer. Lofoten is probably one of the most expensive places...
For a hike, I still recommend Reinebringen. Easy to reach from Reine and the bus.