Birkebeinerrennet

How to reach the area

The Oslo Gardermoen Airport is conveniently connected by train to Lillehammer. At your arrival go to the railway kiosk at the end of the hall and buy your return ticket at the same time. There are four or five trains per day, the travel takes about two hours.

If you wish to stay at Rena, get off at Hamar and take another train to Rena.

From Lillehammer there is a bus service to the surroundings, in particular to Sjusjöen. The bus terminal is in front of the railway station.

Train and bus timetables are available on the excellent Lillehammer Tourist Office web sitewww.lillehammerturist.no.

If you are traveling by car, either a rental car or your own car, you should be aware that Norway has recently started charging tolls on many roads. When you are driving on a toll road and get to a toll both there are two options. You can either drive in a lane labeled "Autopass" or in a lane labeled "Manuell". For the "Autopass" lane you need to have a transponder in your car that will automatically record the toll charge. If you don't have a transponder you must go in a "Manuell" lane where you have to pay cash. Driving in an "Autopass" lane without a transponder will result in an expensive fine.

Accommodation

The most frequent accommodation places are Lillehammer (arrival of the race) and Rena (start). The mountain resort Sjusjöen is attractive if you stay a longer time, it is located at the 41 km point of the race. The aforementioned web site gives phone and fax numbers and email addresses of the accommodations in the area, distances from the railway station and inside/outside pictures. It also offers the possibility to order an illustrated brochure of the Lillehammer area.

Hereafter we give some more information on these places. You can pick up the bib either in Lillehammer or Rena (tick the box on the registration form). If you stay at Sjusjöen, you will have to pick up the bib down in Lillehammer.

Lars Vagle (NOR) has contributed the following information on cheap accommodation.

"The cheapest accommodations in Lillehammer and the cabins of the Rena camping cost less than 200 NOK per night per person. The addresses are: Guesthouse Gjestebu located in the center of Lillehammer noreg.as/overnatting/info/1695 and the Rena camping which is close to the free shuttle-buses that take you to the start noreg.as/overnatting/info/1321

For Rena camping you must book during the summer but for Gjestebu you can book later

I draw your attention to the classroom accommodation in Rena for the night before the race, comfortable and near the start, avoiding the early wakeup and long transport from Lillehammer. Included in the 225 NOK price (2004) is a good breakfast and shuttle bus to the start (5 minutes). To be reserved and paid with the registration. For longer stays you will have to choose an accommodation in Lillehammer, Rena or Hamar for all days except the night before the race. In Hamar there is the youth hostel Vikingskipet Motell og Vandrerhjen, www.vikingskipet-motell.no a 15 min walk from the station, and Seiersted Pension, www.seiersted.no, also in downtown Hamar, both with double rooms at around 300 NOK per person. Take the bus to the start in the morning. Public transport is very good in Norway. You don't need a car for your Birken trip".

Sjusjöen is, as mentioned above, on the Birken track. There are several cabin rental agencies, see www.lillehammerturist.no. Cabin cost depends on size and amenities. You can find a six-bed cabin with bathroom, infrared sauna, dishwasher and clothes washer for less than 1100 NOK per day for a period of 8 days, that's less than 200 NOK per person for six persons. There is a good supermarket at Sjusjöen. There is a regular bus service to Lillehammer to get back and forth from the train station, bib pickup etc, duration 35 minutes. On the race morning buses leave from the ski shop and from the Hoyfjellshotel going directly to Rena. Book it early in the week before they are filled. After the race you can get a bus back to Sjusjöen on the street below Haakons Hall. No need to book the return bus. The location on the trails is great for training and the extra space plus setting your own schedule are very convenient. Book early to get the best selection of size, amenities and location.

On the evening of the race you can leave Lillehammer by train at about 5.50 PM and stop at Hamar at about 7 PM, then walk to one of the cheap accommodations mentioned by Lars above.

If you wish to visit Oslo, the excellent Youth Hostel Haraldsheimen is located 4 km north of the centre, tel 2222 2965, www.bookhostels.com gives a description, a map and how to reach it from the city centre or the airport.

Weather

The forecast is available at Accuweather.

Web site

The web site of the race is www.birkebeiner.no.

This page was last revised on June 19, 2007