NORWAY
Gierangerfjord, Dovrefjell N.P. , Rondane N.P.
& Jotunheimen N.P.

Our walk begins in Bergen, Norway’s second largest city. From here we drive towards the romantic Geirangerfjord. Our walk takes us to abandoned farmsteads, waterfalls and provides breathtaking views of the most romantic fjord in Norway.

We pass the spectacular mountain road, Trollvegen and follow the old King’s Road to the tiny Dovrefjell National Park. It was established to protect the dramatic highlands around Mount Snohetta and to provide a suitable habitat for Arctic foxes, wild reindeer, wolverines and musk oxen. In Norway, fossil records show that the musk ox prospered around Dovrefjell during the last Ice Age. Henrik Ibsen’s "great hunter" Peer Gynt did not fell a single deer in the entire story, but he brought to Rondane status and a place in international literature.

Following the footsteps of Peer Gynt, we walk in the amazing landscape of the Rondane National Park, surrounded by a ring of mountains. This region, 600 million years old, once rose from a lifeless sea. Through thousands of years this alpine area has provided hunters with a living, and the hunters have left their mark in the form of reindeer traps and burial mounds. Rondane’s range of fauna is diverse – from lemmings to reindeers!

The spectacular Jotunheimen National Park is "home of the giants" and the epitome of Norwegian countryside with its high peaks and mountain communities in the valleys. It offers magnificent walking through ravine-like valleys, past plunging waterfalls, deep lakes and glaciers. The view from Besseggen across the two lakes of Bessvatn and Gjende is outstanding.

On our last day we follow the famous Sognefjellet which traverses the highest mountain pass in Northern Europe and then onto the Sognefjorden before returning to the historic town of Bergen. From here it is possible to take one of the world’s finest rail journeys, passing between snowy peaks and over the bleak Hardangervidda plateau to Oslo. Don’t miss the side trip on the Flam line, which hairpins its way down the Flam valley to Aurlandsfjord, stopping midway at the thundering Kjosfossen waterfall.

Our Hotels & Cuisine

At the Geiranger Fjord we stay at the majestic Grand Hotel, one of the oldest fjord hotels along the West Coast. The modern hotel rooms are in another wing on the edge of the water with magnificent views across the fjord. In the Dovrefjell National Park we stay in a small hamlet which has been very tastefully restored. It combines modern comfort with historical authenticity.

Our hotel on the edge of the Rondane N.P. is located just above the tree line and commands excellent views of the National Park. It has very comfortable lounges and also an indoor heated swimming pool and sauna. A culinary adventure is the "koldtbord" – a buffet offering a wonderful selection of fish and seafood specialities, salads, meat dishes, breads, delicious cheeses and various desserts.

Our hotel in the picturesque village of Lom has been in the same family since 1897. It is a stately farm courtyard consisting of the main building and several historic 17th century log houses. The beautiful timber-lined lounges and sitting rooms create a wonderful atmosphere of tradition. As you relax in this charming establishment you may detect an enticing aroma originating in the kitchen luring you down into the dining room. Our internationally acclaimed Chef Arne Brimi has created what he calls “Nature’s Kitchen” using the freshest local ingredients and prepared using a long cultural and culinary tradition.