Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Getting There & Away
Most visitors arrive on the train between Oslo (Nkr508, 3½ hours, five daily) and Bergen
(Nkr460, three hours).
Finse
Finse, which lies at 1222m near the Hardangerjøkulen icecap, is accessible only by train,
bike or foot, and is
the
place in central Norway for a wild, Arctic-like wilderness experien-
ce. Its bleak and remote lakeside setting is addictive, whether seen sparkling under blue
skies with a fresh coat of snow or on a cold, grey day when the winds lash across the tun-
dra and glaciers.
You only need walk a few minutes away from the tiny train station to find total silence,
but if you prefer your rest time to be more adrenaline-filled then the countryside surround-
ing Finse offers nordic skiing in winter and hiking in summer, not to mention what could
be Norway's steepest mountain-bike ride.
Activities
Finse is the starting point for some exceptional treks, including the popular four-hour trek
to the Blåisen glacier tip of Hardangerjøkulen. It's a stunning walk, but no matter how
tempting it looks do
not
ever attempt to walk on the glacier unless on a guided glacier
walk led by an expert. Adding interest to your hike is the fact that scenes set on the planet
Hof in
The Empire Strikes Back
were filmed around the glacier.
It's also possible to walk around the glacier and down to Vøringfoss. The wonderful
three- or four-day Finse-Aurland trek follows Aurlandsdalen down to Aurlandsfjorden and
has a series of DNT and private mountain huts a day's walk apart.
Glacier Walk
WALKING
( 99 33 12 22;
www.joklagutane.no
;
per person Nkr550)
Well-run, highly exhilarating glacier walks lasting roughly seven hours (with around two
hours spent actually on the glacier) take you onto the edge of the ice-sheet to peer down
into crevices and possibly clamber into an ice-cave, as well as climb right up onto the vast
domed icecap summit. Tours leave from the train station at 11.30am. Book in advance.
