On the way in: Slow travel from Eastern Norway

For those who do not drive themselves, we have the option of public transport, both east and west.
If you are coming from the east, we recommend the train to Skien with an overnight stay at Thon Hotel Høyers and to experience Ibsen’s birthplace and Norwegian cultural history at Telemark Museum.
The next day, you board the canal boat in Skien and enjoy a beautiful trip on the world’s most beautiful waterway with impressive engineering and magnificent scenery.
In Kviteseid, you will be picked up by the hotel’s car and check in at the historic Straand Hotel in the afternoon.
On the way on, we drive you to Haukeliekspressen which runs from East to West.

Our cultural-historical journey, which is also a mode of travel that mainly uses public transport, allows you to experience the beautiful landscape of Telemark by train, historic boat journey on the Telemark Canal and bus.

Day 1

The train trip can start from Oslo where you take the Vestfold Line with a comfortable and short train journey directly to Skien. Here you check in at the cozy Thon Hotel Høyers and perhaps take the opportunity to experience Ibsen’s birthplace and cultural history at Telemark Museum.

Day 2

In Skien, you board one of the historic canal boats, Henrik Ibsen or Victoria and get ready for a journey on Norway’s most beautiful waterway. The Telemark Canal, referred to as the 8th wonder of the world when it opened in 1892, starts in the canal town of Skien. Experience a journey back in time with our veteran ships M/S Victoria or M/S Henrik Ibsen. This exclusive tour takes you through 7 locks, with a total of 17 lock chambers, including the magnificent Vrangfoss, the crown jewel of the Telemark Canal. Enjoy good food and drink as you watch the landscape change as it slowly flows by, from the urban city life of Skien, to the fertile areas and deep forests of Nome and on to the foothills of the mountains of Kviteseid. At Kviteseidbrygge, you get off the canal boat and are driven up to the historic Straand Hotel in Vrådal. At Straand Hotel you enjoy good home-cooked food, relax on the panoramic roof terrace with fantastic views of Lake Nisser and the surrounding mountains. Peace and quiet. Lower your shoulders and enjoy life in the heart of Telemark. For those who want to take advantage of the activities offered by the hotel and Vrådal, it may be tempting with a kayak, canoe trip, bicycle or electric bike tour and not to forget a lake cruise with M/S Fram, which starts its lock trip right at the bottom of the hotel.

Day 3

Stay as many days as you want before the hotel drives you to Brunkeberg where you board the Haukeliekspressen. You choose whether you want to travel west towards Bergen or return east towards the Oslo region. Have a good trip. Enjoy this slow cultural-historical journey.