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About this trip
Explore historic Oslo, charming Bergen, and the surrounding spectacular countryside with knitters and crafters from across the US. Itinerary also includes two optional spa days at one of Norway's most highly rate properties, a 3-dimensional needle felting workshop, a day-long tour and workshop at the Hardanger Folk Museum and a trunk show and class with Oslo-based knitwear designer Sidsel Hoivik. Go behind the scenes with visits and factory store shopping at the Hillesvag yarn mill and Oleana sweater knitting company. In an effort to lighten the carbon footprint/climate impact of our tour, we are eliminating use of private motorcoach for part of the time and relying on walking and mass transit. As such, this will be a more physically active trip than some. Comfortable walking shoes and a commitment by all participants to traveling light will be important.
Meet your host and tour guide
Mary Jeanne Packer, the founder of Battenkill Textile Tours LLC, has been leading groups of knitters and fiber enthusiasts on trips around the world (and around the corner) since 2006 when she put a small ad in the national knitting magazines to see if anyone might want to come and spend a few days knitting, wine tasting, and visiting fiber farms in the Finger Lakes; and 20 people signed up! Those first 20 said they would "like to go to Ireland sometime"; and the rest is history. Mary Jeanne is the founder and co-owner of Battenkill Fibers Carding and Spinning Mill in Greenwich, NY.
Andrew Hutter is an American ex-pat who has been living and working in Oslo, Norway for most of the last 35 years. So it's an understatement to say he knows his way around. This is Battenkill Textile Tours' 4th trip with Andrew. Many of our travelers comment that having this fun-loving guy as our guide is one of the highlights of their travel experience.
What’s included
- HotelsAll four star or better. One with full spa.
- Motor coach
- English speaking guide
- All breakfasts
- Welcome dinner
- Farewell banquet
- Some other group mealsRefer to detailed itinerary for other meals included.
- WorkshopsTwo knitting classes and a 3-dimensional felting workshop
- All admissionsTo various museums and historic sites
- GratuitiesFor guides, drivers, servers, etc.
- Porter servicePorterage on one bag only.
What’s not included
- Airfare
- Airport transportation
- Meals not listedRefer to detailed itinerary
- Alcoholic beverages
Itinerary
Day 1- September 26, Thursday, Oslo
Arrive today on your own to the Thon Hotel Opera, conveniently located next to the train station and the Opera House, Oslo’s landmark building. We’ll meet this evening for a welcome dinner.
Day 2 – September 27, Friday
This morning we’ll have a behind the scenes tour of the Opera House and see where they are making the sets and costumes. Afterwards, there will be time for a walk up the marble clad sloping roof for a great view and commentary by your local guide Andrew Hutter. We then continue our tour of Oslo using our tram passes that we’ll have for the next two days. We’ll visit Oslo’s City Hall, where the Nobel Peace Prize is handed out and then on to the National Museum where we’ll see Edvard Munch’s The Scream and many other paintings along with the history of Norwegian design from the Viking era to the present. In the late afternoon, we’ll make our way to the trendy Grünerløkka area to an old community house that we’ve rented for two days of activities. First, indie dyer Tuva Hoen will have a pop-up shop and then we’ll have a dinner with lots of local specialties.
Day 3 – September 28, Saturday, Oslo
Today half the group will have a 3-hour workshop with Sidsel Høivik where you’ll do Embroidery on Knitting. Information will be provided to you before the workshop so that you can do some optional preparatory work to get the most out of your time with Sidsel. Half the group will do the workshop in the morning while the other half has free time to for sightseeing and shopping. After lunch, the group switches. Lunch today will be Norwegian style in the community house – you’ll make your own open face sandwiches with a variety of fresh breads and toppings that locals use. Dinner at our hotel.
Day 4 – September 29, Sunday, Oslo to Solstrand Hotel
This morning we take the scenic rail journey to Bergen, climbing to above the tree line and continuing past a glacier. Upon arriving in Bergen, we’ll transfer by coach to the Solstrand Hotel & Spa located on a fjord south of Bergen. This family-owned hotel is considered to be one of the best spa resort hotels in Norway and will be our base for the remainder of our tour. Dinner at our hotel.
Day 5 – September 30, Monday, Solstrand
This morning you have free time to explore the surroundings along the fjord and the nearby town of Os. You can also use the free pools and saunas or book a spa treatment at the hotel. This afternoon, we’ll make the 30-minute drive to Bergen. After a short orientation tour, you’ll have free time to explore this quaint city with its UNESCO listed Bryggen wharf area and lots of shopping opportunities. We’ll return for dinner at our hotel.
Day 6 - October 1, Tuesday, Workshop at Hardanger Folk Museum
Today you’ll get a healthy dose of fjord scenery on our full-day excursion to the Hardanger Folk Museum as we drive along the Hardanger Fjord to village of Utne, which we’ll ferry across the Fjord to reach. Here we’ll first have a tour of their Bunad collection (folk costumes) and the rest of the museum. Afterwards, we’ll have a workshop making Sjona mittens using a twinning technique. Lunch will be had during a break in the workshop and you’ll sample some local homemade lefse during a coffee break. Dinner at our hotel
Day 7 – October 2, Wednesday. Excursion to Oleana
Morning free for spa treatments and enjoying the pools and ambience at our hotel. In the afternoon we’ll drive to Oleana knitwear for a tour and time to shop at their factory. Dinner at our hotel.
Day 8 – October 3, Thursday, Excursion to Hillesvåg
This morning we drive to the Hillesvåg yarn factory, a yarn mecca for Norwegian knitters. Here we’ll have a workshop in 3 dimensional felting, a tour of the factory and (of course) plenty of time for shopping. Lunch will also be had here. Afterwards, we drive to the Øvre-Eid Farm for a tour of this family-owned farm that goes back to the 1500’s. After the tour, we’ll have a buffet farewell dinner featuring Norwegian specialties.
Day 9 – October 4, Friday
Tour ends after Breakfast.
INCLUDED
- Breakfast daily, 8 dinners and 3 lunches
- All Workshops and entrances in the itinerary
- Train journey from Oslo-Bergen and 48-hour transportation pass in Oslo
- All tips for group activities, includes guides, tour director, bus drivers and porters
- Porter service where available including 1 bag from Oslo Hotel to the Solstrand Hotel & Spa (so you won’t have to take your big bag on the train)
NOT INCLUDED
- Airfare to and from Norway
- Transportation to and from airport
- Travel insurance
ACCOMODATIONS
Thon Hotel Opera in Oslo
Solstrand Hotel & Spa (30 minutes from Bergen)