Luxury holidays to Southern Norway | Tailor-made

Our Southern Norway area covers the the regions of Telemark, Sorlandet and Stavanger that combine to serve as a transition between Oslo in the east, the rugged North Sea coast and the fjords in the west and combine both the mountain plateau of the Hardangervidda in the north with its rich variety of wildlife including the country’s largest herd of wild reindeer, and the southern coastline of Sorlandet, composed of pretty villages, harbours, quaysides and a haven for fishing and swimming. Between valleys and lakes, the landscape is home to ancient fairy tales and folklore, historic buildings and well-trodden pathways dating back centuries. Kristiansand in the south is an attractive town and former stronghold on the coast, there is a particularly striking stave church at Heddal, dating from the 12th Century, and along the coast are charming towns such as Risor, Grimstad and Mandal, each with clapboard houses, narrow streets and secluded beaches. At Norway’s most southerly point is Lindesnes lighthouse, and where the Skaggerak and the North Sea meet, often with great force. Stavanger itself is a vibrant university town with street art and great food. Two highlights in the Stavanger region are Sola beach and the Preikestolen (Pulpit Rock) which towers 604 metres above Lysefjord.

Frequently Asked Questions

Southern Norway brings together three regions between Oslo and the western fjords. Sørlandet is the southern coast, with whitewashed wooden towns such as Risør, Lillesand, Grimstad, Arendal and Mandal, and the city of Kristiansand. Telemark is an inland region of lakes, valleys and the Telemark Canal, extending north to the Hardangervidda plateau, home to Norway's largest herd of wild reindeer. The Stavanger region on the west coast includes the Lysefjord, Preikestolen (Pulpit Rock) and the beaches around Sola. Lindesnes lighthouse marks the mainland's most southerly point.

Southern Norway is gentler and more coastal than the dramatic fjord landscapes of Vestlandet. The Sørlandet coast is made up of skerries, sheltered harbours, small beaches and historic wooden towns, and is where many Norwegians spend their own summer holidays. Telemark adds lakes, farmland, stave churches and canal journeys, while the Stavanger region provides a first taste of fjord scenery at the Lysefjord. Many clients combine Southern Norway with Oslo or with the western fjords to see contrasting sides of the country in a single trip.

June to August is the main season for Southern Norway. This is when the days are longest, the coastal towns are at their liveliest, boats run on the Telemark Canal and ferries serve the islands. May and September are quieter and well suited to walking and touring, although some seasonal services operate reduced timetables. Summer also brings festivals, including Risør's wooden boat festival in August and music events in Kristiansand in July. In winter, the Telemark area around Vrådal offers both downhill and cross-country skiing.

Most clients fly from the UK to Oslo, and there are also direct flights to Stavanger. The Sørlandet railway runs from Oslo to Stavanger via Kongsberg and Kristiansand, and an overnight stop along the way turns a long journey into part of the holiday. Travelling to Oslo by rail via Copenhagen is also possible. A hire car gives the most freedom to explore the coast and Telemark, with car ferries part of many routes; these are not booked in advance. There is also a ferry between Kristiansand and Hirtshals in Denmark for those bringing their own car.

Yes. Preikestolen, the rock platform 604 metres above the Lysefjord, is reached from Stavanger and is one of Norway's best-known walks. The marked trail is around eight kilometres return with a steady climb over rocky ground, and most walkers allow about four hours. It is usually walked between late spring and autumn, when the path is clear of snow. Guided walks can be arranged, and a stay at Stavanger or Sola makes an early start straightforward, ahead of the busiest part of the day.

Expressions Holidays works with a selection of established hotels across the region, chosen for character and location. In Stavanger, Hotel Victoria is a harbourside hotel dating from 1900, and nearby Hotel Sola Strand has stood on Sola beach since 1914, with a Nordic spa. On the south coast, Home Hotel Grimstad sits on the town's main square, and Farsund Resort offers waterfront apartments near the beaches of Lista. Inland, Straand Hotel in Vrådal and Sølvgarden in Setesdal suit Telemark and mountain stays, while Farris Bad in Larvik provides a beachside spa hotel.

Southern Norway's cooking is built on seafood from the coast and produce from local farms. Fish restaurants with outdoor summer seating line the harbours of towns such as Arendal, while the countryside is known for artisan breads and sausages and traditional farm restaurants such as Boen Gård near Kristiansand. Near Lindesnes, Under is a restaurant set 5.5 metres below sea level, with a dining room looking directly into the sea. Reservations there are typically made well in advance, and Expressions can arrange them as part of a tailor-made itinerary.

Each Southern Norway holiday is planned around your dates, interests and preferred pace, whether you want a single base, a coastal tour or a combination with Oslo or the fjords. The Southern Norway Explorer, a 14-night fly-drive from Oslo along the Skagerrak coast to Stavanger and back through Telemark, gives an example, from £4,200 per person. One specialist consultant looks after the arrangements from first enquiry to your return. Every holiday includes a concierge service and Expressions Helpful Hints with practical local information.

Our bespoke, luxury hotel holidays can be

● Single centre or multi-centre
● Long or short stays
● Combine a number of different hotels in different regions
● Fly to Oslo and then use a mixture of transport
● Rail to Oslo via Copenhagen possible ● Mixture of transport includes flights, hire-car, trains, ferries

Our special interest holidays to Norway

● Cultural tours for individuals
● Walking holidays
● Private guided sightseeing
● City breaks
● Ski breaks - downhill and cross-country
● Family holidays
● Hiking
● Biking
● Activities on water such as kayaking, fishing
● Northern Lights hunting
● Sami culture experiences ● Stay in snow hotels

Included in all our holidays

● Concierge service
● Handcrafted helpful hints and local information provided with all our holidays
● Personal service by your sales consultant who looks after all aspects of your holiday

Call us on 01392 441245

Highlights of Southern Norway – Sorlandet, Stavanger and Telemark

Sola beach near Stavanger is renowned as one of the most beautiful beaches in Norway with five kilometres of sand and coastline for hiking. It's also good for kiters and surfers on windy days. The Preikestolen (Pulpit Rock) towers 604 metres about the Lysefjord and the trek to the rock is one of Norway's most famous mountain hikes (guided hikes also possible). Sandnes has the Kjeragbolten and the Dalsnuten mountain. Lunar landscapes of the Magma UNESCO Global Geopark. Islands of Finnoy, Rennesoy and Kvitsoy. Architectural gems of Arendal, Grimstad, Lillesand and Mandal. Small fishing villages such as Ny-Hellesund. Car-free outport of Lyngor that spans over several small islands all reached by ferry. Lindesnes lighthouse. Horizontal potholes at Brufjell created during the Ice Age. White beaches of Lista. The Telemark Canal.

Cultural highlights of Southern Norway – Sorlandet, Stavanger and Telemark

Stavanger art museum. Stavanger cathedral and the Fargegaten (the street of colours). Artisands in Risor. Flekkefjord with its street art painted on to the traditional white wooden houses. Coolart street art project in Kristiansand has converted the city into a giant outdoor gallery. Lista museum in Vanse. Knut Hamsun house in Grimstad with exhibition in summer. Maritime museum in Grimstad. Gimmle Gard manor house at Kristiansand.

Festivals of Southern Norway – Sorlandet, Stavanger and Telemark

Music festivals in Kristiansand in July, Winter festival in Arendal in February, Film festival in Grimstad in June, Salmon festival at Flekkefjord in July, Wooden boat festival in Risor in August, Farsund folk festival in August.

Gastronomy of Southern Norway – Sorlandet, Stavanger and Telemark

The food of southern Norway features both seafood and produce from the local farms. Artisan sausages and breads. Fish and chips. Flavoured marzipan sold in chunks. Under, an underwater restaurant, 5.5 metres below sea level with views into the ocean. Traditional farm restaurant Boen Gard. Arendal is home to a variety of restaurants, many specialising in seafood, and with outdoor summer seating.

Southern Norway travel information

You’ll probably arrive at Oslo if flying from the UK, although there are some direct flights to Stavanger. There is also a ferry service from Kristiansand to Hirtshals in Denmark if you are thinking of taking your own car to Norway.

By air

Oslo and Stavanger have international airports. There are some international flights arriving at Kristiansand but there are also domestic connections from Kristiansand to Bergen, Oslo, Stavanger and Trondheim for example.

By rail

There is a direct train from Oslo to Stavanger that stops in Drammen, Kongsberg, Kristiansand and Egersund. There are also indirect trains with a change in Kongsberg. You can use this route to break the journey for a night or two along the way.

By hire-car

To explore within an area or to cover parts of the country, it’s recommended to have the use of a hire-car. Roads in Norway are good, and you will need to board ferries for many routes. In fact, over 100 public roadways require cars to board a ferry. You don’t book ahead for these but you need to allow for extra time but this is part of the charm of driving yourself around Norway.

Our bespoke, luxury hotel holidays can be

Our special interest holidays to Norway

Included in all our holidays

● Concierge service
● Handcrafted helpful hints and local information provided with all our holidays
● Personal service by your sales consultant who looks after all aspects of your holiday

Call us on 01392 441245

Here you will find a map of Southern Norway showing the locations of the hotels that we offer

Our bespoke, luxury hotel holidays can be

Our special interest holidays to Norway

Included in all our holidays

● Concierge service
● Handcrafted helpful hints and local information provided with all our holidays
● Personal service by your sales consultant who looks after all aspects of your holiday