Valleys

Gudbrandsdalen Valley

The Gudbrand valley offers a myriad of cultural experiences and activities in an area of outstanding natural beauty. Here you will get an insight into Norwegian history, culture and local food traditions. Travelling from Lillehammer in the south to Rondane National Park in the north, you will drive through a vibrant cultural landscape with farms clinging to the mountain sides and picturesque villages along the way. Gudbrand valley is situated in the heart of Norway, only 2 hours by car (180 km) north of Oslo, the capital. 

The city of Lillehammer is considered to be the "gateway to Gudbrand valley". The city is well known for the winter Olympic Games in 1994 and the Youth Olympic Games in 2016, and offers a charming shopping street with old, historical wooden houses. In the city centre you can experience several great cultural attractions.

In Gudbrandsdalen, people live in harmony with the nature that inspired Henrik Ibsen's Peer Gynt. Other renowned authors, such as Sigrid Undset and Bjørnstjerne Bjørnson, also found inspiration for their literature and poetry in Lillehammer and Gudbrandsdalen. Furthermore, this beautiful landscape has been a popular motif for many renowned Norwegian painters. 

Heidal valley and Sjoa river

Heidal Valley is just a few minutes from Gudbrandsdalen. From this central position between the National Parks; Jotunheimen and Rondane, you have easy access to combine rafting i the Sjoa River with hikes of all difficulties in beautiful mountains. 

Sjoa is known as one of the world's best and most popular rivers for rafting. From May to October swarm around Sjoa and Heidal of happy riverine peoples on rafting, paddle kayaks or swim down Sjoa riverboarding.