Telemark Canal: Norway’s Best-Kept Travel Secret

24.08.2023 - 16:47 / forbes.com

It’s easy to assume that Norway, a country celebrated for its breathtaking fjords, northern lights, and rich Viking Age history, no longer holds any travel secrets. But with record numbers of travelers visiting popular tourist destinations throughout Scandinavia this summer, it’s time to consider some lesser-known places that are just as fascinating.

Norway’s Telemark Canal offers visitors a historic slice of the country’s rich maritime traditions, far away from better-known cruising regions such as the Norwegian fjords or the coastal voyage.

Natural stone walls and intricate lock gates stand by as wooden canal boats putter up the narrow waterway. From boarding century-old vessels that have graced these waters to overnighting in an atmospheric 19th-century wooden hotel, Telemark promises memories you won't soon forget.

Located south-west of Oslo, Norway’s Telemark region stretches from the cities of the coast through dense forest to the remote mountain plateau Hardangervidda.

Historically, Telemark’s economy was based on agriculture, mining, and forestry, while today it is a popular region for domestic tourism especially all things outdoor recreation. The region’s forestry past explains the reasons for the canal’s construction during the 19th century.

Built as a series of locks and artificial waterways that connect numerous lakes and rivers, the full 65-mile route connects the forests of Telemark at the rural village Dalen to the city of Skien and on to the Skagerrak strait and the open ocean.

Today, a voyage on the canal is like stepping into a time capsule, as it remains largely unaltered from its original state. The tall natural stone walls, charming lockmaster houses, and towering manual lock gates transport you back to an era long gone.

The best way to experience the canal is to embark one of the classic canal boats Henrik Ibsen and Victoria. These boats have sailed these waters for over a century and offer a front-row seat to the Telemark landscapes.

During the summer season, various canal tours are available, from day trips on shorter sections of the route to a complete roundtrip cruise. The 2.5-hour trip from Ulefoss to Lunde is one of the most popular shorter stretches, with an optional return bus to speed things along.

It's possible to do the roundtrip from Skien in one day by taking a canal cruise to Dalen, travelling back to Skien by bus, at a cost of approximately $255 for a couple. An optional $40 two-course onboard lunch can be added.

For longer trips, including a return canal trip, there are options for accommodation along the route including the visually stunning, 19th-century, wooden Dalen Hotel.

The hotel’s grand romantic exterior with dragon heads, towers, and spires, is