Modern Luxury in the Realm of Norwegian Folklore

Pick-up your rental car on arrival at Oslo Airport, turn the Up Norway playlist on, and set direction for Finnskogen. Feel the switch to holiday mode as you get deeper into the countryside, and finally reach PAN Treetop Cabins hidden among the towering pines deep in the forest less than two hours from Oslo. Perched above the forest floor, these striking architectural cabins blend modern design with the quiet wisdom of the wild. Founders Kristian and Christine created PAN as a place to reconnect: with nature, with loved ones, and with the stillness we too often forget.

Halfway to Skåbu, you will pass the former olympic city Lillehammer in Gudbrandsdalen valley; the cradle of Norwegian art history. Here we invite you to visit either the Lillehammer Art Museum or the Maihaugen Open-Air Museum. Peek through the doors to historical rural houses and experience life in 1700 including an exhibition of folk art, the world’s oldest revolver and the large steam locomotive at the town railway station. Lunch recommendations will be available in your digital itinerary.

Continue on to Skåbu – Norway’s oldest village (and the highest settlement in Northern Europe). Hosts Jannicke and Henrik made the same journey in 2018 and never went back. Together they transformed the local grocery store into an incredible family mountain lodge which now prides itself on its excellent kitchen, warm atmosphere and modern facilities.

Skåbu is the perfect launchpad for the myriad activities in Jotunheimen National Park. While in the mountains, we recommend a visit to the giant potholes of Helvete (‘Hell’), to see up close how the forces of nature during the last ice age shaped Northern-Europe’s largest potholes.

If you are after a more active experience, cycle on the road named after the legend of Peer Gynt. Experience the essence of the Gudbrandsdalen valley landscape which some have coined ‘the most Norwegian experience of all things norwegian’. There are several great lakes for fishing or canoeing in the area, as well as the Sjoa river; one of our best locations for river rafting.

Before crossing the mountains, stop to visit a biodynamic farm dating back to the Viking age that bears the same name as another Norwegian folk hero; Aukrust Farm at the foot of the Lomseggen mountain. Located in Northern Europe's driest climate the farmers here used to say: “If Our Lord wants to give us sun, we will provide water ourselves' '. The winter darkness even inspired several philosophical and creative poets and painters. Despite the hardness of the past, the farm is currently in full bloom with a romantic herb garden, a cherry tree and a shop offering the country's largest selection of tea and coffee.

Now you are ready to zoom over one of the highest mountain passes in Northern Europe on Scenic Route Sognefjellet. This road is closed during winter time, but becomes accessible again every year around the 1st of May.

The 50-minute drive to Fjærland is a scenic glide through lush valleys, fjord views, and glacier-carved landscapes. Framed by glacier, fjord and towering peaks, Fjærland is a place where nature tells stories that stay with you. This small village is one of the few in the world where you can witness the turquoise fjord, ancient ice and dramatic mountain slopes in one catch of an eye.

At the Norwegian Glacier Museum, you’ll gain insight into how the glaciers have shaped this land for millennia, and how their retreat today is a powerful reminder of our changing climate.

Driving through Norway rarely gets boring! In the rural outskirts of Hadeland, we’ll arrange a final stop at Kistefos, where a local art curator will introduce you to cutting edge art. In 2020, Kistefos was named a “must-see cultural destination” by the New York Times. Why? Built on the grounds of a historical pulp mill, Kistefos offers world-class architecture, an Industrial Museum, two art galleries, and an impressive outdoor sculpture park with sculptures in scenic surroundings. The Twist is a gallery, a bridge and a sculpture all in one, and has won several awards for its signature design.

Our capital has always been a city close to nature, and since the new Snøhetta designed opera House put us on the world’s architectural radar in 2008, the city has continued to become increasingly interesting for both green and urban visitors with recent additions such as the futurist Deichman Library and the new Munch museum along the fjord line.

Today, we invite you out for a city walk with a local insider who will give you a rather different introduction to Oslo than that of the average tourist. With a focus on sustainable architecture and design, and through real examples, you will gain insight in why architecture and design is important when you create a capital. Your walk will include a guided tour of the brand new National Museum.