Walking in Norway's Rondane

Fly to Oslo, then transfer to Venabu, which takes around three hours with a stop off at Brumunddal. Arrive at the hotel for a welcome meeting and briefing with the guides (depending on arrival times).

Today’s walks on Venabygdsfjellet will help us get our bearings and provide wonderful views across Rondane National Park.

Option 1 – Holtersætra loop to Lundes

Distance: 6.2 miles (10km)

Ascent: 820 feet (250m)

A short transfer by minibus takes us to the start of our walk at Holtersætra, a summer farm with an infamous past. We'll hike up over the craggy peak of Svartfjellet for extensive views over Venabygdsfjellet and beyond. Our walk is a loop which brings us along Flaksjøen, the largest lake in the area, ending at the shop at Lundes where there is the opportunity to look around or have well-deserved coffee and waffles, before we continue back to our hotel.

Option 2 – Venabu circular

Distance: 8.5 miles (14 km)

Ascent: 1246 feet (380m)

Our harder walk today follows the same itinerary as the easier option, however, we continue with a longer loop around the pretty Flaksjøen lake, before heading back to our hotel. Please note: If weather conditions are too wet to go around Flaksjøen, we will take a slightly longer route from the summit, under the crags of Svartfjellet, to join the path back to Venabu – this would be ascent 890 feet (270m) / distance 9 miles (15km).

Discover Norway’s Peer Gynt country, the setting for Ibsen’s best-known play. This is a landscape of mountains and traditional summer farms. UNESCO recently added Norway’s traditional mountain farming culture (seterkultur) to its list of Intangible Cultural Heritage, and you’ll have a glimpse of that here.

Option 1- Peer Gynt Trail

Distance:  6.5 miles (10.5 km)

Ascent: 640 feet (195m)

We’ll walk along the Peer Gynt Trail through a gentle, open mountain landscape with extensive views to the Rondane, Dovrefjell, and Jotunheimen national parks. We pass the beautiful lake Storrøgna, with its idyllic fishing cabin before returning on the Peer Gynt Trail.

Option 2 - Gråkampen

Distance: 8.7 miles (14km)

Ascent: 1246 feet (380m)

This circular route takes in the top, Gråkampen, with views south towards Kvitfjell and beyond. This circular route takes in the top, Gråkampen, with views south towards Kvitfjell and beyond - this is the highest point of 1212 metres that we reach on this programme. On our return, we’ll visit the peaceful lake of Storrøgna and head along the Peer Gynt Trail. You can also add the bonus top of Dørdalsknappen, an extra 100m ascent and 2km.

Option 1 – Myfallet waterfall to the summer farm, Lykkjesetra

Distance: 5.5 miles (9 km)

Ascent: 1181 feet (360m ascent, 460m descent)

We start at the hotel and walk to the impressive Myfallet waterfall, passing the summer farm of Mysætrin. The path leads us on into the forest and down to the bridge at Døramota. From there, we head up to Venabu’s summer farm, Lykkjesetra. Here, the “Budeia” welcomes us with a traditional lunch and shares stories about life on the summer farm and mountain folktales. UNESCO has recognized this Norwegian summer farming culture as an important intangible heritage. After lunch, we return to the hotel with a short transfer.

Option 2 – Myfallet waterfall and Kyrkjegardsfjellet
Distance: 10.7 miles (17.2km)

Ascent: 2230feet (680m)

We leave the hotel and visit the Myfallet waterfall, walking down into the forest and onwards to the bridge at Døramota. Next, we climb and pass through hay meadows, to arrive at Venabu’s summer farm, Lykkjesetra. The “Budeia” welcomes us with a traditional lunch and shares stories about summer farm life and mountain folktales. UNESCO has recognized this Norwegian summer farming culture as an important intangible heritage. After lunch, we hike up the small peak of Kyrkjegardsfjellet, then
cross the pretty river Freska as we head back to the hotel.

Another day exploring the local area, with both walks taking in the surrounding nature with its lakes and waterfalls.

Option 1 – Veslefjellet and Myfallet waterfall

Distance: 5.5 miles (9 km)

Ascent: 1180 feet (360m)

Descent: 1500m (460m)

From the hotel, we’ll walk out to the impressive Myfallet waterfall, passing the summer farm of Mysætrin. Our route then takes us over the small peak of Veslefjellet, which gives us great views of the Venabygdsfjellet plateau and surrounding hills. We’ll visit the DNT (Norwegian Trekking Association) cabin, Veslefjellbua, on our way back for a short transfer back to the hotel.

Option 2 – Kyrkjegardsfjellet and Myfallet waterfall                            

Distance: 10.5 miles (17km)

Ascent: 2230 feet (680m)

Setting out from the hotel, we cross the pretty river Freska before visiting the small peak of Kyrkjegardsfjellet, with stunning views all around before descending into the forest and down to the bridge at Døramota. We continue, taking in the waterfall at Myfallet, as we walk back to the hotel.

One of the oldest National Parks in Norway.

Option 1: Søre Vola, Atnabrua, and Sohlbergplassen

Distance: 6 miles (9.5km)

Ascent: 950 feet (290m) (this walk can easily be extended to Midtvola, adding 4km and 60m ascent)

This walk takes us to Søre Vola for magnificent views of the peaks in the Rondane National Park. We’ll walk through Scots pine forest, passing pretty lakes, and up onto a grassy top with fantastic views over Atnasjøen and the Rondane. From there we’ll descend to Atnabrua where there are restored water-workings on Atnabrufossen. We can visit Sohlbergplassen, the classic viewpoint for the Rondane and the inspiration for Harald Sohlberg’s “Winter Night in the Rondane”, one of Norway’s most loved paintings.

Option 2 - Bjørnhollia DNT cabin and Sohlbergplassen

Distance: 9 miles (14.5 km)

Ascent: 1312 feet (400m)

We’ll walk from Straumbu through the pine forest to the picturesque DNT cabin of Bjørnhollia where we can stop for refreshments. We’ll continue along a track under Langluppdalen before plunging once more into the forest and returning to our starting point. There are a lot of moose in this area and you might be lucky enough to catch sight of one.

We round off the week of walking by exploring more of the beautiful Venabygdsfjellet plateau. Both walks reveal wild, unspoilt landscapes.

Option 1 - Svarthammaren and Flaksjølia

Distance: 6.5 miles (10.5km)

Ascent: 790 feet (240m)

From Spidsbergseter, a steady ascent takes us past summer farms and up onto Svarthammaren where the views out towards the Rondane peaks are stunning. We’ll walk past small mountain lakes to the top of Flaksjølihøgda for views over the largest lake on the plateau, Flaksjøen. From here we’ll descend into rocky Kvandalen before a short climb gives us further views of Svartfjell and the Jotunheimen in the far distance. We’ll return above the lake shore through more summer farms.

Option 2 - Muvatnet to Spidsbergseter via Svarthammaren and Flaksjølihøgda

Distance: 9.3 miles (15km)

Ascent: 850 feet (260m)

A short transfer takes us out to Muvatnet and the start of our hike. Walking above the lake, we’ll head into a rocky pass to visit ancient reindeer traps. These prehistoric pitfalls were built by the hunters who followed animals into the mountains after the last ice age. Our walk then continues above Bølvatnet and up onto Svarthammaren where spectacular views open out. We’ll then join the route taken by the day’s shorter hike.

Depart Venabu via private transfer to Oslo Gardermoen and connecting international flights.