Copenhagen: The Six Forgotten Giants Hunt and Nature Walk

Trolls make a fine excuse to leave the city. This four-hour outing combines Thomas Dambo’s recycled-wood giants with peaceful parks, woods, hills, and lakes beyond central Copenhagen. I like the small six-person group, and I like that a guide handles the driving and the hard-to-find locations. The main consideration is the walking: it is moderate and not especially strenuous, but it is still more than a quick stroll between city sights.

The tour meets outside the YMCA Interpoint Hostel, then takes about 25 minutes by private vehicle to the first stop. I especially appreciate the relaxed pace and the personal care shown by guide Milad Shekhzada, who is often praised for answering questions, helping with photos, offering snacks and drinks, and making sure nobody is left struggling at the back.

Key points to know before you book

• Six giant sculptures in one morning: You visit Sleeping Louis, Hilltop Trine, Oscar Under The Bridge, Thomas on the Mountain, Little Tilde, and Teddy Friendly.

• A real hunt, not a city monument circuit: The wooden figures sit among trees, on hillsides, beside water, and beneath a bridge.

• Private transport saves serious time: The giants are spread out, making independent visits awkward without a car, careful public transport planning, or plenty of time.

• Small groups feel social: The group is limited to six participants, which leaves room for questions, conversation, and individual attention.

• Plan for Danish weather: Comfortable shoes, water, snacks, rain gear, and an umbrella are sensible choices even on a promising morning.

• Best for curious walkers: You get art, fresh air, photography, and local scenery, but this is not the right pick if you need a fully accessible or mostly seated excursion.

Why these giants are worth the trip outside Copenhagen

Thomas Dambo’s giants are large wooden sculptures made from recycled materials. They are not placed in a formal gallery or a tidy sculpture garden. Instead, each one has a setting that becomes part of the artwork.

That placement changes the experience. You are not simply looking at a statue, taking one photo, and moving on. You are searching between trees, checking a hillside, or looking under a bridge. The scenery helps shape the mood of each stop, and the walk to the sculpture is part of the reward.

The six figures are connected by the idea of a treasure hunt. Their names also give each one a character. Sleeping Louis sounds peaceful and slightly dreamy. Hilltop Trine promises a view. Oscar Under The Bridge is positioned for a surprise. Thomas on the Mountain has the height advantage, while Little Tilde and Teddy Friendly bring a softer, more playful feel.

I like this kind of sightseeing because it gives you a reason to pay attention. You look at the path, the trees, and the surroundings instead of moving from one major attraction to the next with your eyes fixed on a map.

Leaving the city in a six-person van

The meeting point outside the YMCA Interpoint Hostel is practical, especially if you are staying nearby. After introductions, you ride in private transport for roughly 25 minutes before the first giant. The exact vehicle may vary, but the small-group format means you are not being moved around in a large coach.

That matters here. The six sculptures are spread across different areas, and finding them independently can take much longer than the walking itself. Several people who considered cycling or public transport found that the driving and local route knowledge made the organized tour the more sensible choice.

The drive also gives Milad time to talk about Denmark, Copenhagen, and Thomas Dambo’s work. His role is more than pointing toward the next sculpture. He has been praised for a calm manner, clear explanations, good conversation, and careful attention to the needs of the whole group.

The small size helps with that. You can ask a question without waiting for a crowd to quiet down. Milad has also been described as walking with individuals in the group so they could ask questions privately and comfortably. For solo visitors, that social side can be a real plus. The outing often feels more like spending a morning with a few friendly people than joining a standard sightseeing bus.

Stop one: Sleeping Louis and the first surprise

Sleeping Louis is likely to be your introduction to the odd charm of the hunt. The name gives you a clue, but the setting does the rest. Instead of meeting a giant in a plaza, you find a wooden figure lying in a natural area.

The first stop helps you understand the format. You leave the vehicle, walk through the surrounding scenery, and look for the sculpture. That short search gives the visit a playful edge, especially if you are traveling with children or simply enjoy finding things rather than being led straight to them.

This is also where you can settle into the walking pace. The tour is described as moderate, and the walks are generally considered manageable rather than strenuous. Still, you should wear shoes with a solid grip. Paths and ground conditions can change with rain, and Denmark’s weather has a habit of shifting during the day.

Give yourself time for photographs. The sculptures are built for scale, so a person standing near one of the giants helps show how large they are. You may also find that the surrounding trees and open areas make better backdrops than a close-up portrait alone.

Stop two: Hilltop Trine and the best views

Hilltop Trine brings the hunt onto higher ground. The appeal here is not just the figure itself, but the view around it. The name is well chosen, and this stop gives you a chance to pause and look outward.

The climb is part of the visit, so this may feel more active than the first stop. It is not described as strenuous, but you should expect some walking between the vehicle and the sculpture, with uneven or sloping ground possible. If you walk slowly, tell the guide. Milad has a reputation for keeping the group together and adjusting the pace when needed.

This is one of the places where the tour’s nature focus becomes clear. You get a break from Copenhagen’s central streets and see a quieter side of Zealand. The reward is fresh air and open scenery, with a huge wooden figure appearing in a place that feels far removed from the city.

For photographers, Hilltop Trine may be one of the more useful stops. Take a portrait with the giant, then step back and include the view. The sculpture’s position gives you a sense of how Dambo uses natural settings rather than treating nature as a plain backdrop.

Stop three: Oscar Under The Bridge

Oscar Under The Bridge changes the mood again. This giant is positioned beneath a bridge, making the discovery more unexpected and giving the stop a slightly mischievous feel.

The setting is a good reminder that the tour is not simply a series of forest walks. Each giant has its own surroundings, and the contrast between the sculpture and the built structure makes this one especially good for photographs. Look up, look around, and check the edges of the area before rushing to take the obvious picture.

The first three stops give you a varied opening run: a giant lying down, one above you on a hill, and one tucked below a bridge. That variety keeps the experience from becoming repetitive. You are also moving through different kinds of public outdoor spaces instead of following one single trail.

At this stage, you will have taken several short walks. The tour description calls for moderate walking, and one account describes plenty of walking but no difficult sections. If you have knee, balance, or mobility concerns, be realistic about your comfort before booking. The activity is listed as suitable for all age groups, but it is not designed for people who cannot manage outdoor walking.

The coffee break adds useful breathing room

After the first part of the hunt, the group takes a short coffee break. This is a small feature, but it improves the rhythm of the morning.

Milad has often provided coffee, tea, water, biscuits, or other snacks, although you should still bring your own food and drink. Meals are not included. A pause by a lake or in a park gives you a chance to sit, chat with the group, and check your photos before setting off again.

The break is also helpful if you are traveling with an older relative or anyone who needs regular rests. One person described the guide as especially accommodating to an older participant’s slower pace, while another noted that planned rest stops made the day comfortable.

Do not treat the coffee stop as a full meal. Bring snacks if you tend to get hungry, particularly if you are booking the tour early in the day. Water is important too, even when the air feels cool.

Stop four: Thomas on the Mountain

Thomas on the Mountain brings you back to height and open scenery. This giant has a fitting name and gives the tour another change of scale. You may find yourself focusing as much on the route and the view as on the sculpture.

The walks around the giants are short enough to fit into a four-hour program, but the locations are spread out. That is why the private vehicle matters. You walk at each site, then ride to the next one instead of spending the entire morning covering long connecting stretches on foot.

This stop is a good place to ask about Dambo’s methods and aims. The tour includes background about the artist and his use of recycled materials, as well as wider discussion about the environment and Danish life. You are not expected to arrive already familiar with his work.

The giant’s position also makes a point about public art. You do not need a ticket, a museum visit, or an art-history background to enjoy it. The setting makes the work approachable, and the playful design gives you an easy way into the subject.

Stop five: Little Tilde, the gentler giant

Little Tilde is described as the cutest of the six, and the name sets a softer tone. The sculpture is still enormous, but the character feels more inviting than imposing.

This stop may appeal most to families and visitors who prefer art with humor. The giants are large enough to feel magical, but they are not presented as serious monuments. You can take photographs, ask questions, and enjoy the absurdity of finding a giant wooden figure in a natural area.

The tour is also well suited to people who want something beyond palaces and museums. Copenhagen has plenty of polished cultural attractions, but this outing gives you a more informal experience. You see public art in places that many short city visits would skip.

If you are using the tour as a break from urban sightseeing, this is where the change of pace should feel most useful. You get exercise without committing to a full-day hike, and you get scenery without giving up the convenience of a vehicle.

Stop six: Teddy Friendly and the final stretch

Teddy Friendly completes the six-giant route. The name suggests a welcoming finish, and the final stop gives you one last chance to photograph the scale of the artwork and compare it with the earlier figures.

By this point, you will have spent several hours getting in and out of the vehicle and walking through different outdoor settings. Some people may find the full six-stop route just right because the giants are so spread out. Others may feel that the final two stops are less memorable than the middle section.

That is the main criticism worth considering. One participant felt that four giants were enough for one day and that the tour could have ended after the most impressive middle locations. This is not a flaw for everyone. If your goal is to see all six Forgotten Giants, completing the route is the point. If you mainly want a nature walk with unusual art, four stops might already satisfy you.

The four-hour duration is therefore sensible for a complete hunt, but it is not a quick side trip. Plan to be outdoors for much of the morning or afternoon, and do not schedule a tight appointment immediately afterward.

What $137 buys you

At $137 per person, this is not a budget outing. The value depends on what you would otherwise need to arrange.

You are paying for a guide, private transportation, a small group limited to six participants, and a coffee break. The cost also covers the practical problem of reaching six separated sculptures in one outing. Without a car, you would need to work out public transport or cycling routes, allow for transfers, and locate the giants yourself.

For a solo visitor or a couple without a rental car, that convenience can justify the price. You also gain local explanation, help with photos, and a social setting. Several people who booked alone appreciated having a small group rather than trying to organize the hunt independently.

The value is weaker if you already have a car, enjoy route planning, and have plenty of time. Dambo’s sculptures can be sought out independently, but this organized version removes much of the navigation work and helps you see all six within four hours.

Transport receives especially strong praise, with 97 percent of ratings giving it a perfect score. That suggests the vehicle, route planning, and smooth transfers are a central part of the experience, not just a minor convenience.

Weather, clothing, and walking advice

Bring comfortable walking shoes. You should also pack water, snacks, an umbrella, rain gear, and clothes suited to changeable Danish weather.

The tour runs in rain as well as sunshine. One outing included both rainy and sunny weather and still worked well because the guide kept the group comfortable. Another included a picnic-style pause by a lake despite rain. The lesson is simple: do not count on the forecast staying faithful for four hours.

Wear layers rather than one heavy item. You can adjust during the walks and the vehicle rides. Waterproof outer clothing is more useful than a flimsy umbrella alone, especially if the paths are exposed or the rain picks up.

The walking is moderate, but do not confuse that with no effort. You will walk at several stops, sometimes through woods or up toward a hilltop. Anyone with walking difficulties or physical limitations should ask themselves if repeated outdoor walks are suitable before reserving.

Unaccompanied minors are not allowed. The activity is otherwise described as suitable for all age groups, and the guide has shown care with different walking speeds and needs.

Who will enjoy this most

I would choose this tour if you want a change from central Copenhagen and like the idea of art appearing in unexpected places. It works especially well for:

• Couples who want unusual photographs and time outdoors
• Solo visitors who enjoy meeting a few fellow participants
• Families with children who like treasure hunts and oversized wooden figures
• Art fans interested in recycled materials and public sculpture
• Cruise visitors who cannot easily arrange transport to several distant sites
• Anyone without a rental car who wants to see all six giants efficiently

I would think twice if you want a purely cultural tour, dislike walking, or prefer to set your own pace at every stop. You also may not need the organized outing if you already have transport and only care about visiting one or two sculptures.

The guide is a major part of the value. Milad Shekhzada is repeatedly praised for being friendly, attentive, flexible, and well informed about Dambo’s work, Danish culture, and local life. He has also been described as providing tea, coffee, water, and snacks, offering to take pictures, and in one case dropping participants near their hotel at the end. That last service should not be treated as guaranteed, but it reflects the personal style people have experienced on the tour.

Should you book the Six Forgotten Giants Hunt?

Book it if you want six unusual works of outdoor art, a few hours of gentle exercise, and a look at Copenhagen’s quieter surroundings. The private vehicle and six-person limit solve the two biggest practical problems: distance between the giants and the difficulty of finding some of them.

I would consider the $137 worthwhile for a solo visitor, couple, or small family without a car. You get more than a ride to sculptures. You get context, conversation, photos, nature, and a guide who pays attention to the group.

Skip it if your schedule is tight, your walking is limited, or you are satisfied with a single giant that you can reach on your own. For everyone else, this is a playful and refreshing half-day outing, especially when you have already seen enough city streets and want Copenhagen to surprise you.

FAQ

Where does the tour meet?

Meet outside the YMCA Interpoint Hostel in Copenhagen.

How long does the experience last?

The experience lasts four hours. Starting times vary, so check availability when booking.

How many people are in the group?

The group is limited to six participants.

What language is the tour conducted in?

The live guide speaks English.

Which giants will I see?

The route visits Sleeping Louis, Hilltop Trine, Oscar Under The Bridge, Thomas on the Mountain, Little Tilde, and Teddy Friendly.

Is transportation included?

Yes. The tour includes private transportation, with about a 25-minute drive from Copenhagen to the first destination.

Is food included?

A coffee break is included, but meals are not. You can bring your own snacks and drinks, and the tour advises bringing water and snacks.

What should I bring?

Bring comfortable shoes, water, snacks, an umbrella, rain gear, comfortable clothing, and clothing suitable for the weather. The tour involves moderate walking.