What to do and see in Eastern Norway, Eastern Norway: The Best Hiking Trails

This roundtrip is one of the best skiing experiences at Skeikampen. When the weather is good, climb to the highest point and enjoy some gentle downhill skiing back to Skei.

THE CULTURAL HERITAGE TRAIL starts in the centre of Fyresdal by the museum in oyskogen. You can choose whether to do the entire trail (Folkestadbyen + the circuit via Saukro and Bryggjeparken) or just one of the loops. The whole trip takes just under one hour at a leisurely pace. No special footwear or level of fitness is required – the tour is suitable for both families with children and elderly people. Most of the trail is suitable for wheelchair users.

Program day by day Meeting point: Bardola Hoyfjellshotel, N 3580 GEILO Thursday: Arrival in Geilo Transfer to Geilo and check-in at Bardola Hotel. Dinner. Join the group coming from Hallingdal in the hotel. The guide will inform about the program. Friday: Train to Finse – hike across Hallingskarvet, 5,5 – 6,5 hrs The program starts with the train from Geilo to Finse. Hiking from Finse up and across St.Paul (1.690m), and then to the DNT-lodge Geiterygghytta, and follow the old road to the west end of tunnel. Good paths, but it can be snow some parts. Pick-up by hotel bus to osterbo Fjellstove for 2 nights. Dinner Saturday: Aurlandsdalen – upper part, 3-4 hrs From osterbo we take the local bus back to the west entrance of tunnel, and hike above the road tunnel and get down to the lodge Steinbergdalen. The last part will also have some uphill before we descend to osterbo Fjellstove. Possible to go back by bus from Steinbergdalen. Dinner. Sunday: Aurlandsdalen – lower part, 6-7 hrs The most spectacular hiking part will be the narrow valley from osterbo to Vassbygdi. You are practically alone in the nature. Local bus brings us to Aurland Fjord Hotel. Dinner. Monday: Basic tour ends after breakfast. (Alternative to include the train return to Geilo)

Easy walking (no climbing or scrambling) ascent. Nice and wide view. Tour description Length: ca. 7 km one way Duration: ca. 1,5 hrs up Hight difference: ca. 160 meters Suitable for children: recommended from ca. 8 yrs. This walk is very easy but maybe a bit boring for smaller children. Well suited for child carriers. From the old ski slope, a path leads up to Lake Fraeningen (picnic area and bathing place) and further on to the right towards Storstolsknatten 1124 m, first along the lake, later up and down into the birch forest. From Storstolsknatten the path continues southeastwards past Kringlestolen to the top of Bjorgovarden. Nice views in all directions. The return first leads west-, then northwestwards around Lake Langevatnet back to Kringlestolen and from here it follows the same way back. Alternatively follow the path to the left towards Storstolstjernet and the gravel road back to Danebu Markings Clear path and blue markings on rock. Equipment Standard clothing for light mountain walks: light hiking shoes, wind- and waterproof outer layer. No special equipment required.

Hemsedal has many beautiful hiking tours for all levels. The hikes are well marked and signed and you can buy a very good hiking map for Hemsedal were you have all hiking paths. One of the tours we recommend is Veslehodn 1300 masl. Veslehodn is a spectacular hike with great scenery and heights. The trip can be combined with a trip to Hydnefossen that has a waterfall of 140 meters, or visit the older brother Storehodn 1482 masl. Velsehodn is a trip for the whole family or for the more active persons. The trip takes about 5 hours up and down and is a total 4.2 km. Every Tuesday and Friday at 10:00 am from 5. of June, there is guided tour to Velsehodn. The starting point is outside of Hemsedal Tourist Office . The trip is part of Topp20 program to Hemsedal, which means that the trip is well marked and signposted. Have a great experience in our beautifull nature! Please do not litter!

Activities Worth seeing Events Accomondation Transport Eat and drink Useful information Jotunheimen> National tourist routes> Sognefjell Explore the region Click the map to visit the regions Select region Sognefjell - Across the roof of Norway In majestic surroundings, high in the mountains past blue ice, jagged peaks and emerald lakes, the Sognefjell Road runs between Sognefjord, the world’s longest fjord, and the Gudbrandsdal valley. The Sognefjell Road was designated Norway’s first tourist route in 1997 and has just been upgraded to a National tourist route in 2003. The Sognefjell Road has carried traffic since time immemorial. Fish and salt from the west and butter, hides, iron and tar from the east were carried by people on their shoulders or on horseback. The cairns helped travellers find the way in all kinds of weather. The Sognefjell Road gives you access to Jotunheimen National Park, with Galdhopiggen, Norway’s highest mountain, and several of the other of the highest peaks in Norway, and to Jostedalsbreen, Norway’s largest glacier. Here your can poke about on your own among soaring peaks, take a tour over glaciers and mountain tops with experienced guides, and go skiing all year round. The route between the inland valley, high mountains and fjord offers breathtaking contrasts in climate and topography and a variety of plant and animal life, from lower elevations with farms, pine forests and the conditions for human settlement to the alpine terrain approx. 1,000 metres above sea level. Up here you’ll find bare rock with clear traces of the last Ice Age, with grass, moss, lichen interspersed with juniper and willow. Here you’ll also find hardy polar plants such as arctic buttercup, with mountain birch here and there. Wild as well as tame reindeer live on Sognefjell, and down towards the valleys there are moose and deer. In the high mountains, eagles and rough-legged buzzards thrive. In eastern regions there may be bears, lynx and wolverines, though they are few and very shy. For more informaton on the touristroutes

Moderately demanding walking (no climbing or scrambling) ascent. Highly rewarding view from the summit towards Jotunheimen and Valdres. Tour description Length: approx. 6 km one way Duration: approx. 2.5–3 hrs. up Altitude difference: ca. 750 meters Suitable for children: from 8 yrs. From Beitostolen, drive to Beito and follow the signs towards Slettefjellvegen. Drive past the toll station (NOK 50 in 2010), continue past Fleinsendin and turn left at the intersection. Parking area on the left side of the road, near Mugnestolen, approx. 3.5 km from the toll station. The path starts on the opposite side of the road and is marked with cairns and white V’s. It leads gently uphill to Mugnebottjernet (pond) and then climbs steeper up into a col. From here you have two options. The steeper and more demanding route (recommended uphill only) turns right, while the main route, which is still steep but less demanding, continues straight ahead for another 300 meters and then turns to the right and uphill, too. The last bit leads through rocky terrain to the summit with a stunning, highly rewarding view towards Jotunheimen and Valdres. Equipment Standard clothing for high mountain walks: solid hiking boots, wind- and waterproof outer layer, warm sweater, hat, mittens, daypack. No special equipment required. Tip: Stay overnight at Gronolen Fjellgard and take a bike to the trail head. This way you get a varied full day tour.

This is the family's own favourite trip. Here you can enjoy a break by the water, go swimming, rent a kanoo or visit the Lauvsjo farm. This trip is suitable for everyone that can handle their own bike. You can park your car by the Lake Lauvsjoen (there is parking along the Golsfjellveien). The easiest way to Lauvsjoen is to follow the sign to Golsfjellet Vest from the town center. From the parking you go a couple of meters in the direction of the city center (to the right), then you follow the carriage-path towards the lakes of Vesletjernet/Lauvsjoen. After about one kilometer you get to the lakes where there is a smaller road going to the swimming and the rest stop. The road will continue to the only hill, about 300 meters long. Halfway up the hill you can go fishing or rent a kanoo at the mountainfarm Lauvsjostolen. This mountainfarm is also open for visits every Wednesday and Thursday from July 1st until August 13th. Continue on the road back to the Golsfjellsvegen and the parking. Difficulty: Easy Ability for biketrolley: No Lowest/highest point: 905/948 m. Total rise: 85 m. Have a nice trip!