Gålå: Peer Gynt, Cross-Country Skiing and Gålåvatnet

Gålå combines striking mountain scenery with cultural history and special experiences on Gålåvatnet. Here, you can choose from a wide range of ways to spend your holiday: Peer Gynt under the open sky, a guided hike with stories about life on a mountain summer farm, cross-country skiing or activities on the water. Which of these aspects you want to focus on can also shape your choice of holiday apartment in Gålå.

Culture and Flavours Around Solbråsetra

Peer Gynt has been performed on the shores of Gålåvatnet every year since 1989. The production is regarded as Norway’s largest open-air theatre. Those interested in culture and Norwegian traditions will also find a special connection to local history at Solbråsetra: this protected cultural site has been mentioned in written sources since 1668 and is considered the birthplace of Gudbrandsdalsost cheese.

At Solbråsetra, guests can meet the dairymaid and sample freshly made Gudbrandsdalen cheese. Rauost is also part of the area’s history: on a guided hike to Valsfjell, you visit Solbråsetra, where the first rauost was made in 1863. The hike features mountain scenery and stories about life on a mountain summer farm. This experience therefore combines nature with insights into a local tradition, rather than limiting the visit to a single viewpoint.

Cross-Country Skiing, Trails and Excursions

Gålå offers an extensive network of cross-country ski trails. The Gålå Skiarena hosts major cross-country skiing competitions every year. If you are interested in cross-country skiing, you can make these trails and the annual competition key parts of your trip planning. The Gålå Skistadion is a separate facility, with a paved trail built specifically for roller skiing.

Beyond cross-country skiing, Gålå also offers ways to experience the landscape actively. In summer and autumn, the mountain scenery invites you to hike and cycle. Excursions along gravel roads and mountain summer farm trails combine scenic views with cultural and nature experiences along the way. Near Gålå, the Peer Gynt Trail runs from the hotel area along the mountain summer farm trails towards Gålåvatnet. In Gålå, it is signposted to and from the Gålå Høgfjellshotell and Wadahl Høgfjellshotell hotels.

The Peer Gynt vegen is also relevant if you are travelling by car: it includes the toll road between Skeikampen and Gålå. Factor in the toll if you choose this route for your trip.

Experiences on Gålåvatnet and in the Outdoors

On Gålåvatnet, you can go canoeing, kayaking, stand-up paddleboarding or rowing. At the far end of the lake, there are two small wood-fired saunas available to rent. You can combine a sauna visit with a refreshing swim in Gålåvatnet. If you would rather explore on horseback, rides in Gålå are available for all riding levels.

The options range from activities on the water to walking and cycling excursions, as well as cross-country skiing, roller skiing and horseback riding.

Discover More Places

If you would also like to explore other places, here are some more destinations: Tofte, Harpefoss, Sør-Fron and Hundorp.

Back to the main travel overview: Sør-Fron.