Magic of Norway August 2026

SUMMARY

Dates: Saturday August 22nd to Saturday August 29th 2026 7 nights/8 days

Guide: Wenche, our local Norwegian Guide

Walking Grade: 2 Goats with options of rest days and more stretching walks to climb the higher peaks to experience breathtaking views. Expect to be out all day with walks between 4 – 6 hours. You need to be fit for mountain walking. There will be plenty of stops for cuppa breaks and lunch. Maybe even mountain lake swimming. You walk from the door of your hotel which makes this extra special – no need for transport!

Maximum distance ; 13km

Maximum ascent/descent: 600m

Terrain: good paths but can be very wet underfoot if rain. Bring waterproof shoes/boots and walking poles if you use them. There are some pairs to rent.

Highlights:

• Expansive,uncrowded stunning rolling mountains
• Walking directly from the hotel door
• The Norwegian hospitality that is the family run Dalseter hotel

Base: Dalseter Mountain Hotel – 3.5 hours from Oslo Gardermoen Airport.Transport will be arranged or it is possible to travel by train from Oslo via Lillehammer and on to Dalseter.

Arrival: Our airport transfer will leave Oslo Gardermoen airport at 15:00 on Saturday 30th August . Please book flights to arrive by 14:00.

Departure: Leave the hotel after breakfast on the 30th to arrive at the airport at 12 noon. Please book flights to depart after 14:00.

We can also advise if you would like a stopover in Lillehammer before or after your trip.

Price: £1,500 per person fully inclusive:

• Ensuite bedroom with a stunning view from your room.
• Breakfast and dinner at the hotel. Picnic lunches made by guests from breakfast. Please bring thermos flasks for tea/coffee/hot juice and sandwich wraps or boxes for salads, sandwiches
• Welcome drinks
• Use of pool and sauna
• Local english speaking guiding
• Group Airport transfer by coach from Oslo
• The WalkingWomen personal service to help with your travels

Not included:

• Travel to Norway
• Additional  drinks from the bar

If you bring a friend/partner and share a room there is a discount of £100 per person. Price per person is £1,400

DETAILS

Words sometimes cannot capture the beauty of a place but we think this video by Laura does – watch and see for yourself.

Norway is proving very popular – perhaps because of the lovely climate for summer and autumn hiking and to experience the wide open spaces and the uncrowded mountains. It is said that there is nothing better than a holiday in the Norwegian mountains. We are usually the only ones walking in wonderful solitary landscapes – a very special experience.

The highest point is Ruten at 1517 m above sea level. We will hike here to see the fabulous mountain views across the Jotunheimen and Rondane National Parks.

Walks will be from 4-6 hours a day with plenty of rests.

There are also opportunities to get closer to the lake and swim. To swim in the mountain lakes is exhilarating!

If you are a beer lover there is a local brewery in the neighbouring hotel. To sit and drink beer made of alpine herbs and mountain water is something that you cannot do anywhere else in the world. This beer is not exported so you can only drink it here.

What many of our guests loved is arriving back at the hotel to be able to have a swim and sauna in the hotel pool. Or maybe to sit with a cold, refreshing drink and watch the incredible skies as the sunsets.

ITINERARY

The itinerary is proposed walks and may change depending on the weather and at the discretion of our local guide. We always say Trust Your Guide as she will know the best walks for the weather. There are options to take rest days or to do shorter walks as we mostly walk from the door of the hotel.

Day 1 Arrival and settle in 
​19:00 Dinner served.
This evening we will meet after dinner for the holiday briefing.

You can expect to do a selection of the following hikes depending on the weather. You have a briefing each evening to discuss options. This range of walks is to give examples of what you can expect.

RUNDHØ 1.268 m
Ca. 7 km – 350 m ascent and descent.
From the hotel we head up to an open area before entering the birch forest going towards the Ruten. Right before crossing the stream we turn left at the fallen pine tree to a narrow trail marked with yellow ribbons. This trail is actually made from the sheep that are free in the mountains during the summer and fall season. We follow this trail until we are above the tree line and continues into open mountain terrain. When out of the forest we have a clear view of where we are heading. The peak is right in front of us. The last ascent is a little steeper towards the final top but we will be rewarded with a fantastic view to the 2 national parks Jotunheimen and Rondane.

BINGSBU 1.179 m & LOHAUGEN
Ca. 11-12 km – 250 m ascent and descent.
This hike takes you to one of the winter warming huts the hotel runs together with their neighbor Ruten Mountain Lodge. We walk through the forest and cross small streams as we make our way up to the open mountain terrain before we reach the warming hut right next to the beautiful scenic Bingstjønna lake and the peak of Sprenpiggen. On our way down we pass by a viewpoint with an amazing view over the Espedalen valley with lakes at the bottom and mountains as the background.

ESPEFOSSEN WATERFALL CIRCUIT with the MOOSE TOWER
Ca. 8 km – 250m ascent/descent
Did you know that the Espedalen valley is the area where one of Europe’s largest and most unique moose migrations take place every year? That is why we have a very unique tower where you sleep for a night. It is of course called the Moose Tower. On this hike we pass by the neighbor Ruten Mountain lodge right before we take a turn into a small path down through the forest and gets to the Moose Tower. We take a look at the tower before we move on towards the Olstappen lake and walk next to the Espa river where we will find our way to the beautiful waterfall Espefossen. To get back to Dalseter we walk through the forest before we cross the lake and begin our ascent to reach the hotel. (This hike can also be done the other way around)

BREIDSJØEN CIRCUIT
Historical walk 13 km total, 300 m ascent and descent
This day we mostly stay in the lower areas and hike around Breidsjøen the lake below from the hotel. Unlikely of what you might think now this hike starts with a little ascent from where we continue down through dense forest. We get closer to local history as we take a look at Verksodden, where we see Espedalen mountain church (1974), the unique graveyard and the remains from the mining period (1850 – 1870’s). As we move on to the other side of the lake Breidsjøen we can begin to spot the hotel on the opposite side. This is a funny new perspective. To get back to Dalseter we walk through the forest before we cross the lake and begin our ascent to reach the hotel.

LANGTJØNNA + HØGSTJØNNA
Ca. 8,5 km – 130m ascent/descent
This is an easy beautiful route through the forest with a minimum of elevation. At first, we walk by the Øvre Dalseter summer farm and as we move on, we will pass another warming hut Hulderbu which is a very popular warming hut for families with small children especially during the ski season. If you look inside you will find various guest books filled with drawings and greetings from previous visitors. This is a tradition and you should definitely write a greeting yourself. Outside Hulderbu you will also have a good view to the Heidalsmuen mountain. From here we continue forward to the Langtjønna lake which we go around anti-clockwise and continuing around the neighbor lake Høgstjønna. Two beautiful lakes in lower area surrounded by calm forest. Same way back or pass Ruten Mountain Lodge.

ELDBJØRGSHAUGEN 959 m
Ca. 5 km – 100m ascent/descent
To prevent too much walking on the car road we will start this hike with a 5-minute drive. From where we are dropped off, we go into the airy forest as we begin the ascent to the peak of Eldbjørgshaugen. At first, it’s an easy walk through forest and a few open areas and then right before the top it gets steep but only for a few hundred meters before reaching the top. From here you can see the hotel and has an amazing view over the lakes and mountains in the valley. Heading home partly via the car road and a trail in the forest passing the neighbor Mountain Lodge before reaching Dalseter again. An easy way to an amazing view and a short day of hiking.

VINSTERFOSSEN
Ca. 9 km – 300m ascent/descent
Today starts with a 30-minute drive from Dalseter. We will be dropped off close to the Vinsterfossen waterfall and hike our way home. From the drop-off point we enter the forest and cross the Vinstra river and turn right to get to the trail. We walk along the river through coniferous forest on an easy trail. Right before the waterfall there’s a little steep ascent but after that we reach the point from where you have a spectacular view to the waterfall. After seeing this wonder, we continue through the forest until we come to the Olstappen lake which we will go along for some time. On our way we will pass various small wild campsites right next to the shore where you can set up a tent or hang a hammock and lit a bonfire. In Norway, the right to roam – known as allemannsretten – is a long-established and legally protected right that gives everyone the freedom to enjoy the outdoors regardless of land ownership. As we head back to Dalseter we pass the unique Moose Tower.

SKARDFJELLET
Ca. 3,5 km – 150m ascent/descent
Skardfjellet is an easy-to-reach peak with amazing views. From the top, you can see mountains in Jotunheimen, Rondane and Langsua national parks, as well as local peaks like Heidalsmuen, Saukampen, Ruten and Skag. A large cairn on top shows the names and directions of the surrounding mountains. The terrain is gentle and it taks just about 30 minutes to hike from Holslåseter summer farm – or around an hour from the center of Skåbu.

Day 8 departure after breakfast for flights after 14:00