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The Telemark Canal

Type:Boat tours

Fylkeshuset, 3706, Skien

TripAdvisor Traveller Rating

TripAdvisor Traveller Rating - 185 reviews185 reviews

Add The Telemark Canal to your Itinerary

MS Henrik Ibsen on the Telemark Canal
  • MS Henrik Ibsen on the Telemark Canal
  • MS Victoria on the Telemark Canal
  • canal boat in lock on the Telemark Canal
  • couple is bicycling along the Telemark Canal with MS Victoria in the background
  • leisure boat on the Telemark Canal
  • MS Telemark on the Telemark Canal with kayaker
  • MS Victoria in Lunde lock with 2 kayakers

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About

Welcome to the world's most beautiful canal, The Telemark canal!
8 spectacular locking facilities with a total of 18 lock chambers lift the boat and passengers 72 meters from the start in Skien to the end of the canal, Dalen. The Telemark Canal is an adventurous waterway with narrow rivers, large lakes, ancient cultural history, and slugging. 

Day trip on the canal or boat trips with accommodation
You can choose between different day trips or boat trips with accommodation. It is the 2 canal boats MS Victoria and MS Henrik Ibsen that operate the channel between Skien and Dalen. MS Telemarken operates the Norsjø-Ulefoss-Lunde stretch.
Advance booking is recommended. Booking or on tel. +47 409 20 000.

Paddle, cycle and hike
Popular activities along the canal are both canoeing, cycling and hiking. Along the canal you will also find a rich selection of museums, cultural monuments, cozy eateries and exciting cultural events. 

Driving your own boat up the Telemark Canal
It is an amazing experience to sail on the Telemark Canal in your own boat. Then you'll have to try your hand at the locking systems and get lifted both up and down the chambers. Here there is magnificent scenery, cozy campsites and many activities. The canals eastern run runs via the idyllic Sauar river to Notodden, which is known for industrial history with UNESCO status and the blues festival. The locking facilities are open to leisure boats from about the last week of June to mid-August. 

Canal Boats Telemark – holiday with 100% electric boat
With these boats introduces Canal Boats Telemark a brand new way to holiday by boat. The noisy and foul-smelling diesel engine has been replaced with a quiet electric motor. With Canal Boats Telemark you get the best of two worlds. Treat yourself to high standards, luxury and well-being while taking care of the nature and the sea that surrounds you. Book your boat and experience the Telemark Canal this summer. Charging stations are planned to be strategically located along the entire Telemark Canal. Overview of planned charging points.

History
When the Telemark Canal was completed in 1892, there was a continuous waterway from the coast to the inner part of Telemark. It stretches 105 km from Grenlands beautiful coast, to the Valley in Telemark, at the foot of hardangervidda. 500 men had spent five years blasting their way through the mountain. With 18 locks, it lifts the boats from 0 to 72 m.a.s.l. In European travel manuals the canal was talked about as one of the "eighth wonders of the world" when it was finished.

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TripAdvisor Traveller Rating:

4.5 of 5 stars
    • Excellent
      126
    • Very Good
      47
    • Average
      7
    • Poor
      2
    • Terrible
      3

    Recent Reviews:

    • AnotherNovelty
      Eastern Norway, Norway
      Trip Type:
      Friends getaway
      A special and unique journey through Telemark's history
      5 of 5 stars
      Sunday, 29th May 2022
      Chose the half-day trip from Skien-Lunde-Skien. It was a little tricky to find the departure area in Skien, but all the staff were very friendly the whole way -- from the ticket office to the bus... Read full review
    • baalk2022
      Oslo, Norway
      Trip Type:
      Family
      Summer in Norway
      5 of 5 stars
      Tuesday, 11th July 2023
      It’s a very beautiful part of Telemark. A recommended travel location. Great location for swimming in clean fresh water. Read full review
    • MarinaS6622
      Oslo, Norway
      Trip Type:
      Friends getaway
      The history trip through Telemark Canal
      5 of 5 stars
      Saturday, 15th July 2023
      Beautiful trip from Skien to Lunde by boat along the Telemark Canal. Nice scenery. Very interessting to see how the locks funkcion. The crew on the boat Henrik Ibsen were welcoming and helpful... Read full review

    Map & Directions

    Check availability for The Telemark Canal (opens in a new window)

    Contact

    Tel: +47 409 20 000

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