Itinerary

Day 1. July 20: Oslo

Our Norway pilgrimage begins with an exploration of the charming and historic capital of Oslo. We’ll take a boat in the picturesque port to the island of Hovedøya, site of a medieval Cistercian cloister built in the 1100s. The island’s natural beauty and historical significance make it a lovely place to begin to consider the meaning of the St. Olav pilgrimage. We visit the site of the medieval town of Oslo, seeing its ruins of Mariakirken, and St. Hallvard Kirke on Sørenga, where the first pilgrimages started.

Accommodations: SAS Radisson Scandinavia. Located in the heart of Oslo, this hotel puts you within walking distance of most tourist attractions and the business district.

Dinner: Klosteret (“The Convent”) is a charming restaurant set in the city center, and we’ll dine amid arches and brickwork and hundreds of candles.

Day 2. July 21: Hamar, Aulestad, Hundorp

We begin our pilgrimage with a short bus ride to Hamar. Here we visit the medieval cathedral at Domkirkeodden, beautifully reconstructed and enclosed in glass—a principle stop on the medieval pilgrim route between Oslo and Nidaros. We’ll visit the spectacularly refurbished museum home of Bjørnstjerne Bjørnson, and see a presentation of Norway’s Nobel Prize winners for literature, Bjørnson and Sigrid Undset. Included is a visit to Ringebu Stavkirke (stave church), a wooden and timbered church in Gudbrandsdal, built in 1630. We’ll end the day at Hundorp, the site of the new Pilgrim’s Center. Here we’ll have an introduction to the pilgrimage and the healing role of St. Olav’s sacred water. Dinner provided by the fabulous new kitchen. Light walking today.

Accommodations: At the Pilgrim’s Center

Meals: B, L, D

Day 3. July 22:  Hundorp, Oppland’s 1000 Year Place, Sør-Fron Kirke and Budsfjord Farm

A short walk near Hundorp takes us to Oppland’s 1000 Year Place—where the legend of St. Olav began. Here St. Olav challenged the old gods of Dale Gudbrand, and defeated them. Gudbrand converted and set up his farm—the most historic site in the region. We’ll have lunch at Karstugu historic hotel. Included is a visit to Sør-Fron Kirke, a church located in Hundorp and built of stone in 1792. 

Accommodations: Budsfjord, a working farm in the hills near Dovre—just as farms provided lodging to medieval pilgrims on their way to Nidaros Cathedral in Trondheim.

Meals: B, L, D

Day 4. July 23: Budsfjord to Furuhaugli – Walk through Dovrefjell, approximately 11 miles

Following the Old King’s Road, we hike up through birch woods and into the treeless and stirringly beautiful Dovre Mountains, one of Europe’s great spiritual landscapes. Many pilgrims leave stones on old cairns, a ritual whose observance is a token of reverence and remembrance of friends and family. Beautiful views of Mount Snøhetta to the west.

Accommodations: Comfortable cabins at Furuhaugli Fjellstue, where we’ll have dinner.

Meals: B, L, D.

Day 5. July 24: Furuhaugli – Hjerkinn – Walk through mountains, approximately 11 miles

Our pilgrimage takes us again into the treeless and sweeping views of the Dovrefjell, where we share companionship. The hike and the landscape stimulate private reflections as well. We come out of the highlands to walk along lakes and wooded streams, arriving at the Hjerkinn Fjellstue, where pilgrims rest for the night and where we have dinner.

Accommodations: Hjerkinn Fjellstue, a popular hotel amid the mountains.

Meals: B, L, D.

Day 6. July 25: Hjerkinn – Kongsvoll, through mountains – Walk approximately 9 miles

Following breakfast we visit Eystein’s Church, named after the king who erected the first church in the area, circa 1100 A.D. After a short pilgrim’s service, we walk across the mountain on the Pilgrim Road to Kongsvoll Fjellstue. Along the way we have spectacular views of snowy mountains, as well as the possibility of sighting moose and musk ox. We arrive at Kongsvoll, a lovely old inn with beautiful red buildings, a haven for travelers since the seventeenth century. There’s a lovely botanical garden of native mountain flowers.

Accommodations: Kongsvoll Fjellstue, a renowned and popular rural hotel, providing an excellent dinner.

Meals: B, L, D.

Day 7. July 26: Svorkmo to Skaun – Walk approximately14 miles

A bus ride will take us to Svorkmo, a small village on the banks of the river Orkla. Here we begin our walk for the day, following the footpath through woods and farmlands to Skaun, a stone church built in 1183. From here we will be driven to our hotel for our pilgrim’s rest. Our stay for the night is at a place that seems to have come out of a fairy-tale.

Accommodations: Baardshaug Herregård, Orkanger, Skaun, where we also have dinner.

Meals: B, L, D.

Day 8. July 27: Husaby to Trondheim – Walk approximately10 miles

We take a bus to Husaby, the home of Kristin Lavransdatter and her husband Erlend, in Sigird Undset’s trilogy. Kristin Lavransdatter is described as welcoming pilgrims who would stop at their farm on the way to Nidaros. After a stop at Kristin’s home, we’ll hike through birch woods on our approach to Trondheim Fjord. You’ll be moved by the experience of walking as a pilgrim into the city, guided by the spire of the medieval cathedral. Dinner in Grenaderen, one of Trondheim’s most unique restaurants from 1700.

Accommodations: Britannia Hotel, built in 1897, modernized in a classic elegant style. Located in the city center.

Meals: B, L, D.

Day 9. July 28: Trondheim

We spend the day in Trondheim, attending a special pilgrims’ mass and preparing for the St. Olav Festival. In the afternoon, we’ll join other pilgrims to walk from church to church in Trondheim. Our day concludes with a special midnight service and concert to celebrate our pilgrim journey and pilgrim souls. Dinner at Sverresborg Taverna, an eating place since 1739, serving traditional Norwegian food.

Accommodations: Britannia Hotel

Meals: B, D.

Day 10. July 29: Gudbrandsdal and Peer Gynt

We travel by bus to Gudbrandsdal, where we’ll attend one of the great cultural and dramatic events in Europe: a performance of Henrik Ibsen’s Peer Gynt—a play that epitomizes and critiques Norway’s national identity. The play is unforgettably performed along the shores of Lake Gålå, the setting of the play itself. You’ll see ships pull across the lake to bring the actors to the shoreline stage, and Peer Gynt enacts his great adventures amid these mountains with the trolls and famous reindeer.  All accompanied by Edvard Grieg’s lyrical music, this is an incomparable way to conclude our Norwegian pilgrimage, watching the play about the great Norwegian wanderer.

Accommodations: Gålå Høyfjellshotell, a charming and comfortable hotel.

Meals: B, L, D.

Day 11. July 30: Oslo

We ride our bus back to Oslo, leaving you at the hotel of your choice. Warm farewells, with promises of a reunion and sharing of photos.

Meals: B

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