Fossen Friluft AS

What Fossen Friluft AS does

Fossen Friluft AS is a Norwegian nature-based tourism and outdoor experiences operator founded in 2012 and headquartered in Norway. The company operates Ringkollstua, a historic mountain lodge in Nordmarka, and structures its offering around three pillars: nature-based tourism, corporate events and teambuilding, and social entrepreneurship. Its product portfolio includes seasonal programs such as Aktiv Sommer and Aktiv Vinter, friluftscamps for children and schools, and a recurring annual Villmarksfestival launched in 2024 with approximately 250 attendees.

The company is privately held and founder-owned, with Espen Sparstad as sole proprietor since 2016. It runs a small team of approximately 8 employees, including certified Norwegian nature guides, and added its first dedicated Marketing Manager in 2024. Revenue is generated through per-experience pricing ranging from KR 450 to KR 8,650 for individuals and groups of 5 to 100 in corporate teambuilding contexts, with bookings processed via the Checkfront platform.

Enterprise clients referenced as case studies include DNV, Jotun, Norges Idrettsforbund, Umoe, Coor, Bergans, FLIR, Nets and Oslo Kommune, indicating a corporate teambuilding segment alongside consumer bookings. The company is a member of Reisegarantifondet, the Norwegian travel guarantee fund, and uses Google Analytics and Facebook Pixel for digital marketing. No AI/ML capabilities, external funding rounds or disclosed revenue figures are present in the source data.

Name

Fossen Friluft AS

Legal name

Fossen Friluft AS

Website

https://fossenfriluft.no

Company type

Private

Founded year

2012

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Fossen Friluft AS is a Norway-based nature-based tourism operator running Ringkollstua lodge in Nordmarka, delivering outdoor experiences, corporate teambuilding and social entrepreneurship programs to consumer and enterprise customers.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Outdoor Adventure Tourism

NAICS

Tour Operators (56152), Nature Parks and Other Similar Institutions (71219), RV (Recreational Vehicle) Parks and Recreational Camps (72121)

SIC

Hotels, Rooming Houses, Camps & Other Lodging Places (7000), Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)

akta.pro primary industry

Recreation & Activity Services (Hiking, Boating, Climbing, Fishing—Guided/Authorized) (THAAAGAF)

akta.pro secondary industries

National Park & Protected Area Tours (THAJAIAA), National Park & Conservancy Lodges (THAGAIAI), Wilderness & Backcountry Lodges (Remote/Off-Grid) (THAGAIAB), Campground & Overnight Facilities Operations (Campsites, Cabins, Backcountry Huts) (THAAAGAE)

Keywords

• Outdoor adventure experiences
• Nature-based tourism
• Corporate teambuilding events
• Wilderness guided tours
• Social entrepreneurship services

Headquarters

HQ city

Ringkollen, Nordmarka

HQ country

Norway

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Nature-based tourism experiences: Guided outdoor experiences for private customers including paddling, kayaking, packrafting, moose safaris, e-bike tours, snowshoe trekking, ice bathing and sauna experiences. These are sold as package experiences with varying durations and group sizes.
2. Corporate events and teambuilding: Team building activities and corporate events including signature concepts (Kamp Fossen, Operasjon Fossen, 69 Grader Nord), conferences, rappelling, and outdoor experiences for businesses. Sold to enterprise clients for group activities.
3. Venue rental and events: Rental of Ringkollstua facilities including meeting rooms, conference spaces, fireplace lounge, main hall, and venues for celebrations. Also hosts public events like concerts, lectures, and the annual Villmarksfestivalen.
4. Children's summer camps: Aktiv Sommer (Active Summer) program for children offering week-long outdoor experiences during school summer breaks.
5. Social entrepreneurship services: Alternative education arenas, respite care services, and leisure activities for children and youth with special needs. Provided through contracts with municipalities and public sector.
6. Cafe and hospitality: Cafe operations at Ringkollstua serving coffee, baked goods, waffles, buns, pizza, soup, and beverages. Also offers food for events and private gatherings.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Fossen Friluft AS operates nature-based tourism experiences and corporate events from the historic Ringkollstua mountain lodge in Nordmarka, Norway. The company offers guided outdoor adventures (paddling, kayaking, packrafting, moose safaris, e-bike tours, snowshoe trekking, ice bathing and sauna), signature corporate teambuilding concepts (Kamp Fossen, Operasjon Fossen, 69 Grader Nord), venue rental and cafe services, childrens summer camps (Aktiv Sommer), and social entrepreneurship services including alternative education and respite care through municipal contracts.

Product overview

Fossen Friluft AS operates a nature-based tourism and outdoor experiences business centered around Ringkollstua in Nordmarka, Norway. The company offers three main pillars: nature-based experiences and activities for private customers (Opplevelser), corporate events and teambuilding (Firmaevents), and social entrepreneurship services including alternative educational arenas and respite care (Sosialt entreprenørskap). Supporting offerings include guiding services, guided tours (kayak, canoe, packraft, cycling), venue rental at Ringkollstua (café, meeting rooms, events), and specialty experiences like ice bath & sauna and overnight tree tent accommodation. The company operates as a single unified service provider rather than a platform-plus-modules architecture.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Opplevelser (Outdoor Experiences) Nature-based outdoor experiences for private customers including paddling, kayaking, packrafting, snowshoe trekking, e-bike tours, moose safaris, ice bathing, sauna, and group experiences. Activities span a few hours to multi-day adventures across the Nordmarka wilderness.
• Firmaevents (Corporate Events & Teambuilding) Corporate teambuilding, courses, seminars, and custom events for businesses. Includes signature concepts (Kamp Fossen, Operasjon Fossen, 69 Grader Nord), conferences, and tailored outdoor experiences for groups of 8 to 100+ participants.
• Ringkollstua Friluftssenter (Mountain Lodge Venue) Historic mountain lodge venue offering cafe services, meeting rooms, cabin services (hytteservice), company celebrations (selskaper), and event hosting at Ringkollen in Nordmarka. Serves as the operational base for all activities.
• Sosialt entreprenørskap (Social Entrepreneurship Services) Alternative educational arenas, respite care services, and recreational activities for children and youth with special needs. Delivered through contracts with municipalities and schools.
• Ice Bath & Sauna Experience Winter Nordic experience combining ice bathing in a frozen lake with traditional sauna, served with homemade vegetable soup in a lavvo tent. Hosted for 6-20 participants at KR 2,500 per group.
• Packrafting Adventures Multi-day packrafting trips through Nordmarka's wilderness including Spålen Nature Reserve, with camping and locally-sourced meals. Designed for private adventurers seeking authentic wilderness experiences.
• Kamp Fossen (Signature Teambuilding) Competitive team-building activity with various challenges focused on cooperation and communication. Signature concept for corporate groups of 8-100 participants, lasting 2-2.5 hours.
• 69 Grader Nord (Signature Teambuilding) Team competition inspired by the 71° Nord TV show, with navigation challenges using packraft, canoe, ski, or snowshoes depending on season. 3-4 hours duration for 5-100 participants.
• Operasjon Fossen (Signature Teambuilding) Challenging mission-based team activity requiring physical and logical problem-solving skills. Designed for 10-100 corporate participants.
• Overnatting i Svevetelt (Tree Tent Accommodation) Overnight wilderness experience in suspended tree tents near Ringkollstua, with optional activities and meals. Unique forest accommodation for private travelers.
• Aktiv Sommer (Children's Summer Camp) Summer camp program for children offering 5-day outdoor experiences during school summer breaks in weeks 26, 32, and 33, at KR 2,550 per child. Activities include friluftsliv adventures at Ringkollen in Nordmarka.
• Equipment Rental (Kayak, E-bike, Canoe) Self-service rental of outdoor equipment including kayaks, canoes, and electric mountain bikes at Ringkollstua. E-bike rental priced at KR 450 per day. Equipment supplied via partnership with Glade Hjul bicycle shop.
• Gift Cards Gift cards valid for 24 months for any private Fossen Friluft experience. Minimum value KR 500, maximum value KR 3,000. Redeemable through the website booking system.

Quantifiable outcome

• First Villmarksfestival attracted nearly 250 participants
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers9 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Foreningen Ringerike FriluftslivcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Collaborated to organize the first Villmarksfestivalen at Ringkollen in late September. The festival attracted nearly 250 participants and featured activities, lectures, concerts, and outdoor experiences. The festival will be an annual event.
• Sparebank1 StiftelsenminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2024Sponsored the Villmarksfestivalen event at Ringkollen. Provided financial support for the inaugural outdoor festival that brought together outdoor enthusiasts, speakers, and performers.
• Ringerike Kommune (Ringerike Municipality)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2014In 2014, the then-mayor of Ringerike, Kjell B. Hansen, contacted Fossen Friluft to take over the operation of Ringkollstua. This was a pivotal moment that allowed the company to focus on their core mission of sharing nature experiences. The municipality retained ownership while Fossen Friluft operates the facility.
• TurlegenminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration partner listed on the website. Turlegen is a health and outdoor organization providing health-related outdoor activities and expertise.
• Reisegarantifondet (Travel Guarantee Fund)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFossen Friluft AS is a member of the Norwegian travel guarantee scheme (Reisegarantifondet), which provides coverage in the unlikely event of insolvency. Organization number: 975 421 33.
• Glade Hjul (bicycle partner)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPartnership with local bicycle shop Glade Hjul for electric mountain bike rental services. Provides equipment for the e-bike tour experiences.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Others

• Norrøna: Norwegian premium outdoor brand with adjacent guided-experience programs and content (Norrøna Hike). Comparable as a Norway-based outdoor authority but primarily an equipment/apparel brand rather than a guided-experience operator; also a Fossen Friluft logo customer, indicating an ecosystem relationship.

Regional players

• Hemsedal Aktiv: Regional outdoor activity operator based in the Hemsedal mountain area, offering guided hikes, climbing, cycling and winter experiences. Comparable because it shares the same business model (guided outdoor experiences, equipment-inclusive packages, corporate events) but serves a different Norwegian geography (Hemsedal vs Nordmarka).
• Stranda Aktiv: Regional outdoor activity provider in the Sunnmøre Alps / Stranda area offering guided hikes, climbing, glacier walks and ski touring. Comparable business model (guided outdoor experiences, certified guides, seasonal mountain product) but serving western Norway rather than the Oslo-region catchment.
• Visit Sognefjord: Regional tourism organization coordinating nature-based experience operators in the Sognefjord region. Comparable as it aggregates and markets outdoor experiences (kayaking, glacier hiking, guided fjord tours) to a similar consumer and corporate audience, but is concentrated on western Norway rather than the Oslo/Nordmarka catchment.

Broad incumbents

• Hurtigruten: Iconic Norwegian coastal voyage and experience operator with broad itineraries, onboard activities and shore excursions. Comparable as a larger incumbent selling nature-embedded experiences to international and Norwegian travelers, but operating at much greater scale and across a different geography (coastal vs mountain).

Direct peers

• Den Norske Turistforening (DNT): Norway's largest outdoor recreation organization, operating cabins, marked trails, and guided nature experiences throughout the country. Direct comparable because DNT competes for the same Norwegian friluftsliv demand (families, individuals, groups seeking authentic outdoor experiences) and overlaps with Fossen Friluft on guided hikes, paddling, and overnight wilderness stays.
• Fjord Tours: Norway's leading tour operator for nature-based experiences, offering guided fjord cruises and combined multi-modal nature packages. Comparable because it packages guided Norwegian outdoor experiences for both leisure travelers and corporate/incentive groups, addressing the same consumer and corporate teambuilding demand Fossen Friluft serves.
• Adrenalin: Norwegian adventure and outdoor experience provider focused on guided activities, rafting, and corporate events. Direct peer in nature-based tourism with similar offerings (paddling, winter activities, team challenges) and a comparable customer mix of consumers and corporate clients.

Emerging players

• Høyt og Lavt: Norwegian climbing park operator running multiple outdoor adventure parks. Comparable as an outdoor activity operator serving families and corporate groups, though focused on a single activity (climbing) rather than the diversified mix at Fossen Friluft.
• Camp Villmark: Norwegian outdoor media brand and event organizer, including a festival and content platform for the friluftsliv community. Comparable on the community-building and festival side of Fossen Friluft's business (Villmarksfestivalen), though it operates more as a media/event organizer than a guided-experience operator.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCiXouOpa5CItbGIjlp8QpLg
• Facebookfacebook.com/fossenfriluft
• Instagraminstagram.com/fossenfriluft
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/fossen-friluft-as

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Fossen Friluft AS