Central Norway - Norway - page 370

Information

Geilo tourist office ( 32 09 59 00; www.geilo.no ; 8.30am-6pm Mon-Fri,

9am-3pm Sat & Sun Jul-mid-Aug, shorter hr mid-Aug-Jun)

Getting There & Away

Most visitors arrive on the train between Oslo (Nkr459, 3½ hours, five daily) and Bergen
(Nkr413, three hours).

Finse

Heading west from Geilo, the railway line climbs 600m through a tundra-like landscape of
lakes and snowy peaks to Finse, lying at 1222m near the Hardangerjøkulen icecap. This
region offers nordic skiing in winter and hiking in summer, not to mention what could be
Norway's steepest mountain-bike ride.
East of Finse station, the Finse Navvies Museum (Rallarmuseet Finse; adult/child
Nkr75/30; 10am-8pm Jul-Sep) traces the history of the Oslo-Bergen railway and the
15,000 people who built this hard-won line in 2.5 million worker days.

RALLARVEGEN

The Rallarvegen, or Navvies' Rd, was constructed as a supply route for Oslo-Bergen
railway workers (the railway opened on 27 November 1909). Nowadays, this 83km
route of asphalt and gravel extends from Haugastøl through Finse and all the way
down to Flåm, and is open only to bicycle and foot traffic; the distance from Finse to
Flåm is 56km. Following this route down to Flåm means that you get the best of the
stunning scenery of the Flåmsbana railway ( Click here ), with the additional benefit
of being able to stop whenever you like to enjoy the view. The popular stretch
between Vatnahalsen and Flåm descends 865m in 29km. Brakes on bikes usually
have to be changed after just one descent!
Cyclists and hikers will find optimum conditions between mid-July and mid-
September. To rent bikes (Nkr490 to Nkr850 depending on the date and type of bike)
ready for the Rallarvegen challenge, contact Finse 1222 ( 56 52 71 00;