Dalen, Norway
Retreat Schedule
DAY 1
Welcome to the retreat!
It is important to plan your arrival at Oslo central train station well before 9:00 am so you don’t miss the coach to Lunde, followed by the Henrik Ibsen boat to Dalen.
You will be picked up from Oslo Central Station at 9:00 am by a private coach for the approximately three-hour journey to Lunde.
There, we will board the Henrik Ibsen and experience one of Norway’s most distinctive waterways, passing historic locks and narrow stretches where the landscape comes close before reaching the open waters of Lake Bandak.
* Please note food and drinks during the boat trip are not included in the retreat package.
We will arrive at the historic, luxurious ‘fairytale’ Dalen Hotel around 6:30 pm, where we’ll celebrate the start of our retreat with a welcome dinner at the stunning Bandak Restaurant, preserved in its original late-19th-century condition.
DAY 2
Enjoy a leisurely morning walk around the grounds or a quiet knit overlooking Lake Bandak, followed by a delicious à la carte breakfast and additional buffet.
After breakfast, the knitters among us will come together for our first workshops with either Linda or Sidsel (click for workshop details).
Following the workshop, we’ll take a break to enjoy a leisurely lunch.
In the afternoon, the knitters will enjoy a second workshop.
Finally, we’ll gather for a gourmet dinner, followed by an optional knit & chat in the grand hall with soft piano music. Before bed, we’ll meet by the fireplace to hear stories of the hotel’s history, architecture, and evolution since 1894.
DAY 3
We’ll begin with an optional early morning walk along the lake’s nature trails, followed by a hearty Norwegian breakfast.
After breakfast, knitters will gather for a presentation and lecture by Annemor Sundbø on her life’s work. More details here.
Following a delicious lunch, we’ll enjoy a further lecture on the history of Norwegian knitting, including Setesdal sweaters and Selbu mittens, with examples from Annemor’s extensive collection to see and explore.
Finally, we’ll return to the stunning Bandak Restaurant for a gourmet dinner, followed by an evening of knitting, good conversation and piano music.
DAY 4
After an early breakfast, we’ll hop on a private coach for a fun day out!
We’ll enjoy a guided tour of Vest-Telemark Museum Eidsborg, exploring the region’s cultural heritage, including an exhibition on Norwegian knitwear designer Irene Haugland, the 12th-century Eidsborg Stave Church, and Stålekleivloftet, one of the world’s oldest wooden buildings, dating to 1167. More details here.
After a buffet lunch at the museum, we’ll travel to Flatdal to visit Telespinn, a spinning mill and mohair goat farm. We’ll learn about local farm culture, tour the mill, meet the goats, and have time to shop before returning to Dalen Hotel for a gourmet dinner and well earnt rest.
DAY 5
After a full programme, our final day will be leisurely, with plenty of options to explore and unwind.
Start with a morning hike to historic Rui Farm for spectacular views over Dalen, Lake Bandak and the canal, followed by a guided tour of the hotel gardens and arboretum. We’ll also have the opportunity to visit a local yarn shop, just a 10-minute walk from the hotel.
From 4–6 pm, the hotel sauna will be reserved for us, offering stunning lake views. Or simply relax, knit on the hotel terrace, and enjoy time with new friends.
Finally, we’ll celebrate our time together with one last gourmet dinner.
DAY 6
Today is the day we say our goodbyes.
Today is the day we say our goodbyes.
After breakfast, you will be driven by a private coach back to the Oslo central train station with beautiful memories and fun stories to cherish and share!
The coach will depart at 10 am and will take approximately 4 1/2 hours to reach Oslo Central Train Station.
Gift bag
Each knitter will receive an exclusive gift bag!
Getting there and back
You will be picked up from Oslo Central Train Station, in a private shuttle bus at 9 AM. Participants will be informed in advance via email of the exact meeting point and pick up time.
It is important to plan your arrival at the train station well before 9am so you don’t miss our shuttle bus to Lunde, followed by the Henrik Ibsen boat to Dalen. If you miss our shuttle, it will be more difficult for you to get to the Dalen hotel as transportation is limited.
We strongly recommend arriving a day and a half early and staying overnight at a local hotel. This will allow you to enjoy the full retreat without missing any of the excitement should your flight be delayed.
For example, the K7 Hotel Oslo is located close to Oslo Central Train Station.
On day 6, our shuttle bus will depart from the Dalen Hotel at 10am and will take approximately 4 1/2 hours to reach Oslo Central Train Station.
*Please note that if you decide to arrive early at the Dalen Hotel early or extend your stay after the retreat, the retreat no longer covers the pick-up and drop-off service to and from Oslo Central Train Station. In this case, you would need to make your own private arrangements.