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Guided walking programme
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Saturday: Ringebu Stave |
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Monday: Canyons and waterfalls
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Tuesday: Summer farm
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Wednesday:
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Thursday: The peak of
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Friday: The wild reindeer walk |
Day by Day
Saturday: Arrival in time for dinner at the hotel.
We have a short introduction walk before lunch, to get acquainted
to the area. Lunch at the hotel and an excursion with mini-bus on a
small road with a nice view to see Ringebu stave church, a beautiful
wooden church from beginning of 1200 and the old vicarage with
different kind of exhibitions. The stave churches in Norway
are the oldest wooden buildings in the world. Lars will show his
slides and tell about Venabu and the area. Afterwards you will meet
your tour leaders for the week and have further information.
Monday: Canyons and waterfalls
On the plateau where Venabu is situated, it
looks rather flat with about
30 smaller and bigger peaks raising.
But there are surprises in this landscape. 3kms from Venabu you
will find 3 connecting waterfalls with a height of more than 100
metres, and a little further on you will find a canyon with walls of
a height of up to 100 metres! There are several routes to see these
two attractions, so we will find the best ones to lead you through
open plateaux as well as down in the canyons.
The summer farm programme is fixed to Tuesday and leads you over small mountains in the southern part of the plateau and through peaceful summer farm areas, with a beautiful view over the mountain ranges and the main valley of Gudbrandsdalen, the longest valley in Norway. This day you will see how the area has changed from a pasture area to a recreation site with private cabins.
The wild reindeer we find in the mountains around Venabu are
protected under international law, since they are direct descendants
from the ancient tundra reindeer of Europe, not mixed with the tame
reindeer you find in other places in the country. These beautiful
animals are very shy, and we have a responsibility not to disturb
them. We walk through the Rondane National park and will see
traces of the old hunting culture, the homeland for the wild
reindeer from old times. Some times we see the reindeer, they are
following the same routes as they have done for thousands of
years.
Norwegian Buffet
On Wednesday evening there is a special buffet with
traditional food and local products. We give you an introduction
to Norwegian food, among other things the very special "rakefisk"(known
from Viking times).
You will also have a chance to taste dishes of
moose and reindeer, Norwegian cheeses and lovely desserts. Several
hot dishes and a rich choice of cold meat and fish, and of course
something for the vegetarians. This meal is excellent to try out the
Norwegian aquavit, and otherwise we recommend the fresh water from
the hotel's own source. After the meal, the hostess will show
you her close up pictures of the local mountain flora.
The big challenge—a spectacular, but steep path leads up the top, 2114m .a.sl. with a fabulous view over the lake Atnsjøen below and the other high peaks in the Rondane massif. Height difference for Høgronden is approx. 1.400 m and require good physics, and also good weather. If the weather isn't good enough, a good alternative is the peak of Gravskardshøgda on the opposite side of the valley.
The option for an easier tour starts in the same area and heads for Bjørnhollia, a beautifully located and very popular mountain refuge in the national park surrounded by the high mountains. Terraces and "dead ice" landscape from the ice age form a very special landscape, mostly covered by lichen and some scattered pine trees. The light yellow/green colour of the lichen gives a very special light.
This day is reserved for a walk in a landscape where we have the
best chances to see the wild reindeer. The landscape here was formed
in a desert climate 50 millions years ago and the walkers roam on
the vast plateau covered with lichen and moss and inhabited by wild
reindeer, with possibilities to climb small peaks and also take a
little swim in a refreshing mountain lake. The end of the tour is a
descent to the 18C church at Sollia, and a guided tour around one of
the best preserved baroque churches in Norway. This little church is
built in a remote valley, and is a very peaceful place to visit.
In August you may be lucky and find some of the precious
cloudberries.
In the evening there is an aperitif before the
farewell buffet.
Our musician will play for
entertainment and dancing every evening except Sunday.
For prices and more information call us, fill out a
price query form or send
us an e-mail.
If you want to book from the UK look at the
Headwater
Holidays on line brochure.
For tour operators in other countries
see our links page.
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| www.venabu.no is managed by Lars Tvete. | Updated: 23.02.2010 | |||||
