Aurdal: Winter, Fjord and Culture

Aurdal stretches from the valley floor by Aurdalsfjorden to the treeless mountain area on Aurdalsåsen. The old buildings and surrounding cultural landscape are also part of the interplay that characterises the place. When planning your trip, you can therefore focus on different things: winter sports, experiences by the fjord, routes through the landscape or culture around Aurdal Church.

Winter activities in Aurdal

Valdres Alpinsenter has five ski lifts and 14 pistes or runs of varying difficulty. In addition, 120 kilometres of cross-country ski trails are actively used in Aurdal in winter, together with the alpine centre. These offer two different options for planning your winter activities: downhill skiing at the ski resort and the longer cross-country trails. Trail conditions can change seasonally.

Aurdalsfjorden: swimming and fishing

Aurdalsfjorden lies on the valley floor in Aurdal and offers good opportunities for swimming and fishing. Those who want to fish from the shore can find fishing spots at the golf course, Sundvold Bridge, Aurdal Fjordcamping and Turmo, among other places. The fjord can therefore be enjoyed not only as part of the landscape but also as a starting point for activities on the water. If you have a specific fishing spot in mind, it is a good idea to check local access conditions in advance.

Church, architecture and Hemsingfestivalen

Aurdal Church is a typical East Norwegian wooden cruciform church and has an equally old gatehouse. It dates from 1737 and has the protected status “Automatically listed (1650–1850)”. The church also plays a role in Hemsingfestivalen: most of the concerts at the annual festival in Aurdal take place there. The festival combines music with local culinary traditions and experiences in nature. As programmes may vary, check the dates for the relevant year if you are planning a festival-related stay.

Walking and cycling routes

Valdresbanevegen follows a former railway line via Noraker and Aurdal to the old Bjørgo station. The well-signposted route is 34 kilometres long and is designated as a return trip on foot or by bicycle; it is suitable for everyone. Nearby, the hike to Vardeberget also offers a viewpoint overlooking Aurdal and Vestringsbygda. These two options differ in their routes and character: Valdresbanevegen follows a former railway line, while a visit to Vardeberget includes a viewpoint.

Nord-Aurdal as the wider destination

In the wider destination of Nord-Aurdal, Langsua National Park offers year-round opportunities for hiking, cycling and skiing. Since 2011, Nord-Aurdal Municipality has held the Sommervandring hiking event every year. The cultural landscape of Stølsvidda is also part of the wider destination of Nord-Aurdal: it lies in Vestre Slidre and Nord-Aurdal and was recognised as a selected cultural landscape in 2018. In the wider destination of Nord-Aurdal, Stølsvidda is a popular recreational area for local residents, cabin owners and visitors. In the wider destination of Nord-Aurdal, Stølsvidda’s open grazing landscape and extensive wetland complexes are associated with an unusually high density of birds, especially waterfowl.

Discover more destinations: Fagernes, Tisleidalen, Leira i Valdres, Skrautvål, Ulnes.

Back to the overview of the wider destination: Nord-Aurdal.