Current as of: October 14, 2019 - 10:50 Valid for departures: From September 13, 2019 to December 31, 2030
Walking in Venabu Trip Notes
Destinations: Norway 8 Days Land only Trip Code: Programmes: Walking & Trekking Min age: 5 W07VB Moderate
Trip Overview
Our new 7 night guided holiday is set in Venabu in central Norway, on the edge of the Rondane National Park, looking down on the Gudbrandsdalen Valley, just north of Lillehammer. The landscape is dramatic and full of contrasts from spectacular gorges and lofty peaks to pretty fells and verdant valleys that extend as far as the eye can see. This is Norway's vast yet beautiful, untouched wilderness at its very best.
Your hosts for the week - assisted by knowledgeable local guide, Joy O'Flanagan - are the Tvete family, who have been looking after guests at the Venabu Fjellhotel for over 50 years. Birgit and Arvid Tvete built the hotel from scratch, choosing the original plot because of its tremendous views. Now run with daughter Line in charge, it has developed into a friendly, relaxing 'home from home' in a fabulous setting. The dining room - which offers a spectacular Scandinavian buffet - affords glorious panoramic views out across the mountains.
The food is all traditional Norwegian cuisine. Breakfast is a continental buffet with the highlight being the selection of tasty local cheeses. Picnic lunches, along with filed flasks, are provided daily, while dinner will either consist of an extensive hot and cold buffet or a set dinner.
At a Glance
7 Nights, single centre 6 Days walking Services of an experienced walking guide
Countries visited: Norway Trip Highlights
Visit a traditional Norwegian summer farm, historic stave churches; spot moose and reindeer Follow in the footsteps of St Olav on the Pilgrim's Road Outstanding hospitality in a 3 star family run hotel with sauna
Is This Trip for You?
Classification: Guided
Adult min age: 5 Child max age: 4
Itinerary
Land Only
Start City: Venabu End City: Venabu
Land Only Itinerary
Day 1 Arrive in Venabu Your guide will run through the week's activities before dinner.
Meals included: Dinner
Day 2 Local Peaks Today sets the scene for the rest of the week's walking. After a short transfer, we climb steadily to the summit of Dynjefjellet for superb 360-degree views of the wild yet beautiful Venabygd plateau, with the high peaks of Rondane visible in the distance. Wild reindeer have lived here since the last Ice Age and still roam freely on these untamed lands.
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Distance covered: 16 km / 10 miles
Day 3 Canyons and Waterfalls We walk past vibrant berry bushes and verdant lichen through the wilderness to the dramatic canyons of the Dora and Mya, created as the glaciers retreated millions of years ago. Admire the pure gushing waterfalls of Dorfallet and Myfallet, whose waters tumble down to the vast mountain plateau below.
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Distance covered: 18 km / 11.5 miles Day 4 Rondane National Park We start off by crossing the pretty Atna river and making our way through pine forest and past amber coloured cloudberries, to Bjornhollia in the heart of the Rondane National Park. At this traditional Norwegian cabin, we enjoy coffee and Frasvåfflor – deliciously soft, heart shaped waffles. On our way back to the hotel, there’s time to stop off at Sohlbergplassen with its magnificent and famous view of the Rondane peaks.
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Distance covered: 18 km / 11.5 miles
Day 5 The Pilgrim's Road An easier day today, we follow St Olav’s Pilgrim Road above the wide river valley of Gubrandsdalen. Scandinavian painted farmhouses dot the landscape as we climb to the remains of a 4th to 6th century hillfort, where we learn more about the life of St Olav. We end the day with a visit to one of Norway’s last remaining medieval stave churches. This evening after dinner, there is the option to join the moose safari.
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Distance covered: 8 km / 5 miles
Day 6 Traditional Summer Farm Setting off from Holterseter, savour the contrasting views of the open, lush river valley to the rocky lichen-covered peaks of Venabygdsfjellet. We reach the summer farm set in the pastures below Forbundsfjellet in time for a traditional Norwegian lunch, regaled by stories of local folklore. We return via farmland and meadows to our hotel.
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Distance covered: 17 km / 11 miles
Day 7 Finnsjovola We end the week with a fantastic walk to the crystal clear lakes of Finnsjøvola, with far reaching vistas to the Rondane massif and the graceful curves of Atnasjøen lake. We visit the unusual and delightful Sollia church before returning to the hotel for our final dinner.
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Distance covered: 16 km / 10 miles
Day 8 Leave Venabu Leave Venabu
Meals included: Breakfast
Accommodation Venabu Fjellhotel, Venabu
This traditional hotel is in a magnificent isolated location on the plateau above Ringebu. You can choose to stay in either the east wing (20 standard rooms) or the west wing (36 superior rooms) and everyone can use the hotel's saunas.
All rooms in the hotel are en-suite and are mostly twin with the traditional single beds which are end to end. There are no tea/coffee making facilities in the rooms, however, both tea and coffee are available from reception all day. Wi-Fi is available for free in the hotel although signal is best in the comfortable bar area with fireplace.
Within the main building you have a boot room, sauna, games room, TV room, traditional hand-made product shop, a large lounge area with a bar for relaxing after dinner, and two spacious sitting rooms with open fireplaces.
Where a single supplement is available, paying for a single only guarantees a room for single use. It does not always mean a twin or double room will be provided for sole occupancy.
Single supplement from $86.80 USD
Food & Transport
Eating & Drinking
All breakfasts, lunches and dinners are included.
The food is all traditional Norwegian cuisine. Breakfast is a continental buffet with the highlight being the selection of tasty local cheeses. You can have the choice of a buffet lunch with a hot meal or a picnic lunch to have while you take in the spectacular scenery.
Transportation
Airport transfers are not included (these can be prebooked from/to Oslo Gardermoen airport, inquire for details and prices for the three hour transfer to Venabu Fjellhotel).
Weather & Seasonality
Joining Instructions
Full joining instructions including local emergency numbers will be sent to you as part of our Final Joining Instructions. If you do not receive these at least a week before departure, or require them earlier please contact our office or your travel agent. Arrival Details
Tour prices do not include airport or rail station transfers. We can usually arrange pre-booked transfers for you at an additional charge (inquire for details and prices).
Nearest arrival airport: Oslo Gardermoen airport
Nearest departure airport: Oslo Gardermoen airport
Location start: Venabu Location end: Venabu
What to Take
Practical Information Passport Norway
All nationalities require a full passport that must be valid for 6 months beyond the intended length of stay. It is your responsibility to have the correct personal documents and to obtain your own visa, if one is necessary, in accordance with the regulations of the country you are to visit. The information below is primarily for US passport holders, and other nationalities should check with their travel agent or the relevant embassies. We are not responsible for the actions of local immigration and customs officials, whether at points of entry or otherwise, and any subsequent effects.
Visa Norway
No visa required for US passport holders.
For further travel advice please visit U.S. State Department at https://www.state.gov/travelers/
Visa regulations can change without notice: please check the current regulations in good time to obtain a visa if one is required.
Vaccination Norway
There are no specific health risks.
Travel health can often be something people forget about before going away, but a little preparation and knowledge can go a long way to help you stay fit and healthy while abroad.
The above information can change at short notice; as we are not qualified to answer all your questions about travel health we strongly recommend you contact your Medical Professional or a Travel Health Clinic at least 8 weeks prior to departure for up-to-date information. Please note: vaccinations that are routinely recommended to residents of North America or Australasia are not considered to form part of the travel health advice, and you should ensure these are kept up to date where necessary.
For additional information please visit: Centers for Disease Control C.D.C at https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel
Insurance - are you adequately covered?
It is a condition of joining any of our holidays that you must be fully insured against medical and personal accident risks (to include repatriation costs and air ambulance or helicopter rescue services where appropriate). On arrival in destination for your trip, you will be asked to present details to your leader or local representative of your policy.
If you are resident of the United States, we recommend the Travelex Travel Select travel insurance policy, this is specifically designed to cover all activities on your trip. If arranging your own policy please ensure that you are covered for all activities that are part of the trip, optional activities that you intend to take part in and/or on high altitude itineraries, that you are covered up to the maximum altitude of the trip.
Local Time
Norway's Timezone: Europe/Oslo CEST (GMT +02:00)
Electricity
Norway's Electricity: Standard 2 pin European plugs.
Money Norway's Currency
The national currency of Norway is the Norwegian Kroner (NOK), with an exchange rate at the time of publication of approximately 8.4 to the US$.
Exchange rates are correct at the time of publication.
ATM Availability
We advise you to take local currency with you. There are cash machines at Oslo airport which will accept Visa, Eurocard, Amex and Diner’s cards. There is also a bank at Oslo airport – ‘Kreditkassen’. It’s open Monday - Friday 6:30am-8pm, Sat 6:30am-5pm and Sun 7am-8pm. Traveller's cheques are not accepted in Norway. Cash is increasingly being used less in Norway and you might find it easier to pay with credit card (Visa or Mastercard) at the hotel. Responsible Tourism
At Breakaway we believe in the power of Responsible Travel. Every time we travel, we are part of a global movement that creates jobs, builds more sustainable societies, encourages cultural understanding and safeguards common natural and cultural heritage.
Important Information
On all guided trips
Although our leaders are well trained to deal with different capabilities, if they have any concerns about someone’s ability to safely partake in an activity, or their impact on other people’s enjoyment, we authorize them to take necessary action which, in some circumstances, may involve asking someone to miss that activity.
Although rarely enforced, by booking this trip you agree to section 5 of our Booking Conditions which clearly states that our leaders have the authority to do this. In these circumstances we will ensure anyone sitting out is safely provided for and offered alternative options where possible. Refunds will not be provided for activities missed and customers may be liable for additional costs incurred.
On all trips
In booking this trip you should be confident in your ability to participate in all activities described in these Trip Notes. If you have any doubt about your suitability you should call the Breakaway office and ask to speak to one of the experts on this itinerary. In an emergency, please contact our 24 hour out of hours service on +44 (0) 844 326 7041.
Every time that you travel abroad you should take the time to read the warnings in the essential information in the brochure.
Full joining instructions including local emergency numbers, and details of how to reach the start point, will be sent to you approximately 2 to 3 weeks prior to departure. If you do not receive these at least a week before departure, or require them earlier please contact our office or your travel agent.
The information in these Trip Notes is given in good faith. Where differences exist between the Trip Notes and our current brochure or website, the Trip Notes supersede the brochure and website. All holidays can be subject to unexpected changes; in order to enjoy them you should be prepared to be flexible where necessary. Occasionally, as stated in our brochure, it may not be possible to follow the itinerary as planned. This may be for a variety of reasons - climatic, political, physical or other. In these circumstances we will make the best possible alternative arrangements that maintain the integrity of the original itinerary.
TRAVEL AWARE –STAY SAFE & HEALTHY ABROAD
The U.S. State Department has up-to-date advice on staying safe and healthy abroad. For more on security, local laws, plus passport and visa information, see https://www.state.gov/travelers/
Keep informed of current travel health news by visiting Centers for Disease Control C.D.C at https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel
Advice can change so check regularly for updates.
For all latest travel information about your holiday, please visit our Travel Safety Advice page.
How to Book Ready to book? Please contact Breakaway Adventures on Tel: 1-800-567-6286; International Tel: +1-843-856-9771. https://www.breakaway-adventures.com