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Frequently Asked Questions

Do you need a våttkort to rent a kayak?

Not when renting a kayak from Mad Goats, but most kayak companies in Oslo and Norway will require you to have a våttkort to rent a kayak and go paddling without a guide. At Mad Goats we allow you to rent kayak as long as one person in the group has their våttkort or equivalent experience or qualification, however we recommend that everyone has a våttkort and/or some kayaking experience. We have several kayak rental (kajakk utleie) locations along the central Oslo waterfront: Bjørvika, Tjuvholmen and Lysaker/Sollerudstranda. This means you can choose the location you want to start kayaking from, especially if their is a specific landmark you want to explore – e.g. start from Bjørvika if you want to explore Akerselva Canal and the Opera House, or start from Tjuvholmen / Akerbrygge if you want to get to Hovedøya in the quickest way possible, or start from Lysaker if you want to paddle around the Bygdøy peninsula or paddle around Fornebu.

What is a våttkort?

A våttkort is NPF’s course and certification system for paddling in Norway. NPF certified instructors can issue the relevant våttkort on completion of a kayaking or pack rafting våttkort course. (In practice you get one card and a new sticker for each course.)

How do I get a våttkort?

You will be issued a våttkort on completion of any NPF våttkort course. Most kayakers or pack rafters start with the 3-hour Sea Kayaking Introduction Course or the 5-hr Whitewater kayaking/pack rafting course. If you are planning to rent a sea kayak further north, such as in Lofoten, you will probably need a minimum of a 14-hour Sea Kayaking Basic Course (grunnkurs hav).

Are there different types of våttkorts?

Lots! All different types of paddling activities are covered, such as whitewater kayaking and packrafting, sea kayaking, flat water and canoeing, with the exception of stand up paddling, which “technically” falls under surfing due to its Hawaiian roots – so no, you do not need a våttkort to rent a SUP board from us!

I’ve lost my våttkort!

NPF can issue you a replacement. Send an email including your name and address to post@padleforbundet.no

Do you offer packrafting?

Yes, pack rafting has started to become very popular in Norway due to the pack-raft being light to carry and very stable on the water, allowing everyone to enjoy Norways amazing whitewater rivers and lakes, while feeling safe and secure – get in touch if you want to try out pack-rafting with us up in Oslo or Sjoa, Norway. Mad Goats offers both beginner packrack våttkortkurs courses and tours! We offer pack raft tours on Akerselva, which are a great option if you have young kids as they can go in one packraft with you.

Are the courses in English?

All our public courses are taught in English. If you would like to arrange a private course or tour to be taught in Norwegian, please get in touch by emailing kontakt@madgoats.no

FAQs Kayaking and Sauna Bookings

Do you cancel tours if it rains?

No! Paddling is just as fun in the rain. Bring waterproof clothes, and we promise you will have a blast! We only cancel kayaking tours, våttkortkurs kayak courses and kayak or SUP rentals if the wind speed is too strong or there is heavy lightning in the area. If the Akerselva river water-level gets to high then we do have to cancel any Akerselva kayaking tours due to safety reasons. If the Akerselva River is too high then we reserve the right to change  the tour to a kayaking tour on the Oslofjord starting from Bjørvika – you will be notified about this in advance.

We would only cancel sauna (badstue) bookings in Oslo if there was an extreme weather event in Norway or if there was need to close a sauna for repairs. We at Mad Goats are very chill and nice so if you get in touch with us in advance we are usually happy to rebook / change your sauna booking to another date and time that suits you.

FAQs About Paddling Equipment

Will you provide a wetsuit?

For most of our courses, we provide wetsuits in the summer and drysuits in the winter. The general rule is when the water temp gets over 12 degrees we make the switch, usually sometime in May.

For more advanced courses we assume you have your own kayaking equipment, but if not, you can rent from us for a small fee.

What do I need to bring?

For all rentals and tours, we provide a SUP or kayak, life vest, and paddle as a minimum. For kayak rental, we also include a spray skirts. For river tours we also provide a helmet. We always recommend dressing appropriately for the time of year and weather conditions. If you are joining our Akersleva Kayak and Packraft Tour, we recommend wearing rain pants if you do not want to get wet – water can sometimes splash into the area. You should also bring a spare change of clothes for both our Oslo Fjord Sea Kayak Tour and the Akerselva River Tour, because even though it is very unlikely, we can never guarantee you will not fall out.

Do you have double kayaks?

Yes, we have double kayaks that you can both rent and use on our sea kayak tour on Oslo Fjord. When renting a SUP or kayak, you can take a dog or small child with an adult.

Can I paddle in winter?

Yes, we love kayaking all year! You need to have a våttkort and wear a drysuit (which we include in our winter kayak rentals).

I have booked an activity that involves camping. Do I need to bring my own tent?

Yes, you need to bring all your own camping gear if you have booked an overnight experience with us! We have dry bags you can borrow if needed. The only courses which include camping is our “16hr våttkort Grunnkurs i Havkajakk” which needs to be booked privately, where we camp on an island in Sandvika, Oslo. We also provide camping, hammock and campervan overnight accommodation in Sjoa, while you are on a “elvepadling våttkort kajakkurs”, rafting trip or other whitewater activity with us in Sjoa.

FAQs About Sauna Use

What do I need to bring?

Two towels (one to sit on), lots of drinking water and swim wear. If you would like it steamy, bring extra drinking water to throw some on the stones – but please never put saltwater on the sauna oven!

Do you offer sauna memberships?

Currently Mad Goats has no saunas but instead directs people to our partners saunas in Bjørvika in central Oslo. This floating sauna community is called Oslo Fjord Sauna run by our partners Fjord CleanUP. They offer fjord cleaning events all year around and Oslo’s most affordable sauna memberships.

Ps, Mad Goats has an amazing river sauna up in Sjoa, located at our whitewater rafting base in the Heidal Valley. You can book that here.

FAQs Kayaking and Sauna Community in Oslo

I’m new to Oslo and would like people to paddle or sauna with…

We feel you. There are a lot of people in Oslo, both Norwegian and from other countries that are looking for meaningful activities and to meet new friends. Our best recommendation to remedy this would to become a member of the incredible Fjord CleanUP non-profit organisation. They run clean up events every week all year around in Oslo and also have floating saunas where you can hang out afterwards, connecting with awesome people while staying healthy and happy. You can join the fjord clean up here. 

If you are looking for kayaking specifically then we can recommend either joining the Oslo Elvesportklubb for whitewater kayaking or the Akerselva Padleklubb for sea kayaking on Oslofjord.

Sjoa Rafting – Frequently Asked Questions

1. What rafting experiences do you offer in Sjoa?

We offer the following rafting adventures:

  • Rafting Grade 3 Action Tour on the Sjoa River: A 2.5-hour thrilling journey down the famous Sjoa Playrun, known for its beautiful blue water and pristine nature.
  • Rafting Grade 2 Family Tour on the Lågen River: A 3-hour fun and relaxing adventure suitable for families and friends, characterized by beautiful green glacial water and tree-covered mountains.

2. What is the minimum age requirement for rafting?

The minimum age varies depending on the specific trip:

3. Do I need prior rafting experience?

No prior experience is necessary. Our experienced guides will provide all necessary instructions and ensure your safety throughout the trip.

4. What should I bring for the rafting trip?

We recommend bringing:

  • Swimwear: To wear under the wetsuit.
  • Towel: For drying off after the trip.
  • Woolen or synthetic underwear: For added warmth, especially in cooler weather.
  • Dry clothes: To change into after the adventure.

5. What equipment is provided?

We supply all necessary rafting equipment, including wetsuits, wetsuit shoes, helmets, and life jackets.

6. How do I book a rafting trip?

You can book your adventure through our online booking system on our website. Email us for private bookings – kontakt@madgoats.no

7. What is your cancellation policy?

Cancellations made more than 14 days before the trip will receive a full refund. For cancellations made less than 14 days before the trip, a doctor’s certificate or similar documentation is required for a refund.

8. Can trips be canceled due to weather conditions?

Yes, trips may be canceled if there are not enough participants (minimum of 3), or due to force majeure or challenging water flow/weather conditions. Participants will be notified as soon as possible, and any paid amounts will be refunded. We reserve the right to change the rafting tour to another more suitable river if the flow becomes too high to paddle the originally booked river section.

9. Is accommodation available?

Yes, we offer camping spots for tents, camper-vans, or hammocks at our base in the Heidal valley, close to the Sjoa River. We provide access to fresh water, electricity, kitchen area, and sauna and hot tub.

10. Are there any health requirements?

Participants should not suffer from diseases that can be exacerbated by stress or cold water, must be able to swim, and should not be under the influence of intoxicants or narcotics during the activity.