English information
Race info: O-Festivalen
“O-Festivalen” is the Norwegian Orienteering Association’s main annual event aimed at everyone – and thus covering all levels, ages and classes. It consists of three events and is organized annually the 3rd weekend in June as a sprint competition Friday evening, a middle distance Saturday and a long distance Sunday. In recent years it has gathered about 2000 competitors. In 2025 “O-Festivalen” will take place in and around the small mountain village Geilo situated roughly half way between Oslo and Bergen by the scenic railway line between these two cities, “Bergensbanen”. The races will take place near and (in fact) at the railway station of Geilo so traveling and participation in “O-Festivalen” is easy by taking the railway line (www.vy.no) from Bergen or Oslo.
The 2025 races consist of
- a sprint competition in the town center of Geilo, mostly urban sprint orienteering
- a middle distance in the western part of Ustedalsfjorden, forest orienteering in natural pine forest
- a long distance in the mountain area on the north side of Geilo where the courses are situated above the tree line (and you will be carried by ski lift to the start)
Race info: Tunhovd 2-days
These new events take place at Tunhovd, about 40 km east of Geilo. It is known as one the best orienteering terrains in Norway consisting of superfast forest, mainly natural pine forest on moss covered ground, with few paths and relatively small altitude differences.
REGISTRATION FOR BOTH EVENTS OPENs on March 1st: www.eventor.orientering.no
Accomodation:
Highland Lodge og Highland Lodge Fjellandsby
Use the booking code O-festival25
Apart from these, Geilo offers a wide selection of accommodation options. See www.geilo.no for more information.
Some additional Mountain experiences
Geilo is a year-around destination, national park village and natural gateway to the Hallingskarvet and Hardangervidda national parks. There are countless hiking opportunities here, both short excursions and more demanding hikes in high mountain terrain. At the same time, Geilo and the event companies can offer a large number of other activities such as fishing, horse riding, rafting, etc. In Geilo summer park you will find activities such as a height park, summer lift, zipline, frisbee golf, pump track, downhill cycling and a rich selection of cycle paths. Here there are challenges for both children and adults!
At Ustaoset, 10 km from Geilo, the small activity company Vinternatt is located. Vinternatt facilitates outdoor activities for all age groups. In addition there is a year-round swimming club and a mobile sauna called "Skarveegget". If anyone wants to use this offer during the Geilo 4-day event, please contact Hilde Karlsen in Vinternatt. See Vinternatt | Facebook for more information.
Finally, in June you can also enjoy summer cross country skiing by taking the railway to its highest station of Bergensbanen, Finse, approximately 1 hr from Geilo. From there the glacier Hardangerjøkulen can be climbed.
See www.geilo.no for more information on what opportunities are available.
