Top Ten Scandinavia Off-the-Beaten-Path Adventures

Tucked into central Norway, outside the hamlet of Dombes, is one of the four places in the world where the Arctic musk ox can be viewed in the wild. Summer walking safaris are organized from late June to late August to see these unkempt, half-ton beasts. These safaris last approximately six hours, and guests are virtually guaranteed an encounter with the shaggy arctic creatures—a seeming cross between a sheep and an untidy ox. The musk ox is named for the special secretion gland on their foreheads that emits a strong scent when they rub their muzzle against something. The nearest town, Dombes, can be reached by road or rail—a reasonable drive north from Lillehammer and Gudbrandsdalen.