— HOME AT FIRST'S —
HARDANGERVIDDA NATIONAL PARK INN
near GEILO, NORWAY

THE ACCOMMODATIONS:
        The Hardanger Plateau National Park Inn traces its origin back more than 250 years in the remote, beautiful landscape of Norway’s interior plateau. Since 1935 the Halland family has operated the mountain hotel with a commitment to traditional Norwegian hospitality and up-to-date lodgings and services. The inn’s 43 rooms are tastefully designed with modern Scandinavian dιcor: bright colors, lots of wood in the architecture and furniture, clean, geometric shapes. All rooms have full bathrooms (with Scandinavian showers. Rooms feature furnished balconies with mountain views. Traditional Scandinavian smorgasbord breakfast and full sit-down suppers are included. The large dining hall windows present a grand vista of Norwegian mountain scenery on the edge of the Hardangervidda National Park. The inn’s modern bar and lounge invite social interaction with other guests, and provide quiet relaxation after active days in the National Park. A portion of the hotel is maintained in the traditional style of the original mountain inn, like a living museum providing guests with a glimpse of the region’s past.

THE SETTING:
       The inn is almost 3,000’ above sea level—high for these northern latitudes where tree line is only a few hundred feet above. The inn is located at the northeastern corner of the Hardangervidda National Park, Norway’s largest national park. This rocky, mountainous plateau is the rugged wilderness watershed between Norway’s west coast (at Bergen) and its east coast (at Oslo). Once a landscape that saw few visitors, the Hardangervidda has become an all-year playground for outdoorsy Norwegians.

SWING BRIDGE ON THE HARDANGER PLATEAU

LOCATION:
      The northeast corner of the Hardangervidda National Park is approximately halfway across Norway on a line between Oslo and Bergen. About 15 miles north of the inn is Geilo, the nearest town is Geilo, a regional center at the intersection of two valleys, two major roads, and the Oslo-Bergen railway. Guests who do not wish to drive in Norway can arrive in the region by train and be picked up at the Geilo station by the hotel mini-bus.

STUNNING SCENERY IN NORWAY'S HARDANGER REGION

        Those coming by car—approximately 3.5 hours west-northwest of Oslo, and about 4 hours east of Bergen—drive through some of Norway’s most spectacular scenery on little traveled roads. The inn is approximately 1 mile off a main route and easy to find. Nevertheless, winter guests need to prepare for possible challenging driving conditions brought on by sudden snowstorms. The hotel’s remote location makes it important that it have a full quality restaurant. Guests can certainly plan to find lunch elsewhere during the day, but there are few options for supper within 30 minutes of the hotel. Fortunately the hotel provides a creative kitchen that produces an excellent selection of fresh foods daily.

ACTIVITIES:
      In the summer guests come to the Hardangervidda National Park to hike, climb, fish, cycle, and raft. In the winter they come to ski—cross-country on many miles of trails, and downhill on several nearby ski mountains. Guests to the region find its raw beauty very impressive, and quite a contrast to Norway’s better known coastal and fjord landscapes. In summer, active guests can take guided hikes, go white-water rafting, fishing, or skiing. Less active guests can explore the region by car or by private mini-bus with an English-speaking guide. Full day and half-day excursions show off the geological majesty of the park and beyond—spectacular waterfalls, rushing wild rivers, dramatic sheer cliffs, and high, rocky mountains capped with glaciers. There are even guided after-dark excursions to spot moose. The Hardangervidda has a large number of moose, fox, and the largest wild reindeer population in Europe.

GUIDED DAY HIKE IN THE    
HARDANGERVIDDA NATIONAL PARK

THE WELCOME: The host family owners and managers at the Hardanger Plateau National Park Inn are proud of their region and eager to show its beauty and traditions to visitors. They will pick-up and return guests arriving at Geilo by train. They are happy to arrange guided tours and activities for guests. The owners have traveled frequently to North America, speak English fluently, and are avid collectors of antique American cars and trucks.

TRADITIONAL NORWEGIAN HOSPITALITY AT
THE HARDANGERVIDDA NATIONAL PARK INN

THE OFFER: You can include a visit at the Hardangervidda Plateau National Park Inn as part of a custom-designed Scandinavian trip built just for you. Design your own travel itinerary or use Home at First’s "Best of Norway" design as a basis for the Scandinavian trip of your dreams.

NOTE:
       Our cooperating inn at Norway's Hardangervidda National Park is one of many small, quality lodgings through Norway, Sweden, and Denmark that participate in Home at First’s Scandinavian travel program. With Home at First’s help, guests choose from among many locations to design a very personal Scandinavian travel experience.

DISCOVER THE TRADITIONS OF THE HARDANGER
IN A FAITHFULLY RESTORED SECTION OF THE INN.

AVAILABILITY: For current availability information, call Home at First at (800) 523-5842, or contact us by e-mail at:  info@homeatfirst.com

More information about Home at First's travel program to: SCANDINAVIA