09 Jun Here’s why we built the world’s most epic outdoor toilet
On a steep mountainside facing Geirangerfjord, an adventurous Norwegian sits on a box while taking in a gorgeous sunset. That man is Alexander Raknes, co-founder of Campanyon, and he’s not just sitting. Alex is relieving himself on a compost toilet that Campanyon made. Here’s why we built the world’s most epic outdoor toilet.
The compost toilet we’re referring to is located on the Geirangerfjord, one of the most beautiful fjords in the world and listed as UNESCO World Heritage. The narrow, deep-blue fjord is surrounded by some of Norway’s steepest mountains and home to tall waterfalls, precipitous trails – and an outdoor toilet overlooking it all. So why did Campanyon build it?
Toilets help getting more people out in the wild
For Alex, spending time outdoors is essential to his happiness. In fact, Friluftsliv (free-loofts-liv), the concept of open-air living and unwinding in the outdoors, has always been rooted in Norwegian culture.
“In Norway, ‘the right to roam act‘ is a huge enabler to this lifestyle, as nature becomes accessible for anyone to roam or stay overnight in the most epic landscapes. I noticed how many people have the same interests to explore nature but find it hard to know where to start due to different regulations for ownership of land and sleeping in nature.
When Alexander Raknes and Kristian Qwist quit their jobs at Google at the height of the pandemic, their idea was to build a travel company that could make camping, glamping and other nature stays more accessible for people in an environmentally friendly way.
“We want more people to experience the magic of overnight stays in nature, but know that the lack of toilet facilities can be a barrier for many”, Alex said.
Campanyon recently conducted a survey to map Norwegians’ habits on trips. Almost half of the population (48%) have stated that it is important to have access to a toilet when they are out in nature. In addition, 3/4 believe that it is important to have peace when they are on the toilet.
“Whether the world’s most epic outdoor toilet motivates people to go camping this summer is hard to say, but I think the stunt will probably make more people open their eyes to the combination of beautiful nature and comfortable facilities. I‘ve tried the toilet myself and can tell you it’s a fantastic view,” shared Raknes, who also announced that the toilet will be in operation all summer.
Outdoor toilets make responsible campers
The idea of setting up the world’s most beautiful baptismal experience as a starting point for their first campaign came when the founders read about tourists who relieved themselves in pristine nature during the pandemic. That littering is partly due to the lack of toilet facilities or outdoor toilets when ‘nature calls’.
“After seeing how much waste was to be seen around in nature we wanted to come up with a solution that could help fix the issue. We wanted people to still have authentic camping experiences where they could connect with nature while leaving minimal environmental footprints”, commented Alex.
When landowners open their land to campers, they provide facilities for campers to enjoy nature responsibly and in an environmentally friendly manner. But that isn’t the only thing – it reduces mass tourism too, creating new local experiences and ways for people to connect with each other through nature.
Nature calls – the campaign
Want to see the toilet in use? Above you can play the video we have of Alex doing his duty when nature called. The Campanyon team used the clip to promote the outdoor toilet for their campaign.
FINDING THE RIGHT LOCATION
The campaign is more than just a video – it was a whole process. After they had the idea, Alex and Kristian went through their platform looking for potential locations for an epic toilet visit. Quite a few places looked the part, but it was the campsite overlooking the Geirangerfjord that ticked all the boxes, including epic views, tourist popularity, and passionate hosts.
What Alex found was an old family farm in Ljøbakken with fantastic views of the Korsfjord, Sunnylsfjord, and Geirangerfjord. The owners were happy to invite people to their land as part of the campaign and promote responsible practices. Elsa and Erling Ljøen offer a campsite, RV spots, and a few cabins –– all with fjord views and access to the epic toilet, of course.
Actually building the toilet
When it came to who would be building an outdoor toilet, nobody was a better fit than Mads Pusserop. An outdoorsman and DIY-builder, he took the idea and turned it into a weather and foolproof compost toilet.
To meet the demands of a busy season at the fjord and create a both comfortable and rugged toilet, Mads built the outer box out of weatherproof materials that can withstand the sometimes harsh conditions in Norway. He included a hatch for emptying and a sealed box for toilet paper (don’t want that to get soggy!). A craftsman with an eye for detail, he carved the Campanyon logo and name into the toilet lid and put up a hand-painted sign. The result? Quite likely the world’s most epic outdoor toilet.
Get out there. Nature calls.
Want to go for an epic toilet visit yourself? Campanyon and our hosts would like to invite you to the Geirangerfjord to experience first-hand how it is to relieve yourself overlooking a breathtaking natural site. If we have to believe Alex, you’ll leave the toilet feeling like a new person.
