Day 1
An early start to our 2026 vacation and the first road trip of the year in Norway is definitely nothing I'll complain about. After a full day of driving with our five-year-old and our newborn, we arrived at Langsua National Park. It's one of those national parks that's often overlooked as people head straight for the Jotunheimen area, but it's well worth a stop.
Day 2
I was up early with the camera, hoping to find a Broad-billed Sandpiper. No luck this time, but instead I came across a Willow Grouse and a Song Swan family. We surprised each other, and they seemed a bit stressed, so I quickly decided to leave them in peace.
After breakfast, we set out for the hike to Ormtjernkampen, but after just a few minutes we realized it wasn't suitable with a five-year-old and a newborn. Instead, we continued towards Valdresflye.
It was incredibly windy when we arrived, but I decided to spend some time searching for the Eurasian Dotterel, a species I'd failed to find despite more than five previous attempts. This time, though, luck was finally on my side. I ended up finding five individuals.
To be honest, there were a few tears. Some birds are simply worth the wait.
Day 3
For my son, this was the day he'd been waiting for since our last visit to the area. the day for waffles. We stopped at the cozy café and hotel in Bygdin, not a tradition since the cafe at valdresflye was close, but a place we are all happy to revisit.
The evening was spent at Knutshøe, where we were treated to a magical sunset. The following morning, I headed out for a short hike with the camera. It wasn't the busiest morning for birds, but I did find two Bluethroats, and the less colourful of the two was kind enough to pose for a few photos.
Day 4
Finally, some sunshine and the first chance to try out our stand-up paddleboard. now we know that it will be such a fun activity to bring along on our road trips.
In the evening, we headed to a location I'll keep to myself. During a hike with the camera around sunset, I had an unforgettable encounter with an Arctic Fox. It stayed around for about 15 minutes, giving me time to simply enjoy the moment and capture a few photos.
What a blessing.
Day 5
Another early morning, another walk with the camera. This time I spent about 15 minutes with a pair of Rock Ptarmigans instead. Just as I was about to head back to the camper van, I spotted the Arctic Fox again. Would I get another chance, or had I already used up all my luck?
In the afternoon, we continued to the beautiful Sognefjell. During a break for dinner, we heard the distinctive call of a Eurasian Dotterel, a perfect soundtrack to another memorable day in the Norwegian mountains.
day 6
The morning started with rain as we camped beside the stream, waking to the song of a Bluethroat and a brief visit from a White-throated Dipper. Not a bad way to start the day.
After breakfast, we made our way to Grimsdalen. such a beautiful valley. One of the memories I'll carry with me for a long time was watching our five-year-old son throw himself straight into the ice-cold river without a second thought. Pure joy and a lot of laughter.
Day 7
On our way back, I wanted to stop by a small pond that looked like perfect habitat for the Red-necked Phalarope. I took a short walk with our five-year-old son, and sharing the moment of spotting it together made it even more special.
Our next stop was the utterly beautiful Rondane National Park. This time we parked at Mysusæter, the starting point for the hike towards Rondvassbu. It was a little rainy at first, but the skies soon turned to a blanket of clouds. Everywhere we looked, the 360-degree views were constantly changing as light and weather swept across the landscape. Simply breathtaking.
We took a short hike to a waterfall, and on the way back we heard the unmistakable call of a European Golden Plover. Perched on top of a small hill, we spotted it, and my son and I slowly made our way closer. He got to within about ten metres before it finally took flight. Another beautiful memory we'll both carry with us.
Day 8
We decided to head back towards the Jotunheimen area and wrap up this road trip a little earlier than planned, simply because the weather in the area we had intended to visit wasn't looking promising.
We returned to Valdresflye and, of course, fueled up with waffles once again.
In the evening, I headed out for one last hike with the camera. I was lucky enough to witness what seemed like a never-ending argument between five Eurasian Dotterels, resulting in some of my favourite images of the trip. Unfortunately, a few of the very best shots featured a ring-marked individual, which takes away a little from the photos. That's wildlife photography, and that's life!
day 9
After breakfast, we headed to a small lake nearby. an easy, short walk that suited our five-year-old perfectly. There, we came across a group of reindeer, which was a special moment for our son.
In the evening, we returned to a location I'll keep undisclosed for one more attempt at finding the Arctic Fox. And it paid off again! I was lucky enough to spend around an hour with it before a group of Long-tailed Skuas eventually chased it off.
Day 10
Time to head home and reflect on what I’ve just witnessed. Finally the dotterels, so many special bird moments shared with our five-year-old, and last but not least, the Arctic Fox.
A trip filled with memories I’ll carry for a long time.