We’re Caroline and Harald, and together with our dog Frøya we own and run Hotel Sundal.
In 2018 we quit our jobs and left the city to begin a quieter life in the countryside. Our goal was to create a place that would nurture both people and the surrounding nature.
This little hotel from 1889 was standing empty, nestled between mountains, fjord, and glacier—and it needed a lot of love—so we took the leap. Today we live here, between fjord and peaks in this south-facing valley with the Folgefonna glacier just above us, while the chefs in our kitchen prepare delicious dishes for the evening service.
A warm welcome to our home.
All ten of our rooms come with Coco-Mat mattresses and organic skincare products.
You’ll find extra towels in the linen closet and bathrobes in your room, making it easy to stroll down to the fjord for a swim, relax in the sauna, or step into the bathroom for a hot shower after a day in the mountains.
In this historic hotel, the toilets and showers are shared—just as they’ve always been. Open the window, let the fresh breeze in, and enjoy views of the glacier, fjord, and mountains while you shower.
We harvest from nature, work with the local fisherman, and have forged friendships with many small-scale, passionate suppliers who stock our kitchen with outstanding ingredients.
You’ll hear more about them when you arrive, because we’re immensely proud of everyone who contributes along the fjord.
Just outside the hotel you’ll find our fjord-side sauna. Book a session with us at reception.
If you like, you can order a picnic basket from us and take it up into the valley or out onto the fjord. We’ll pack blankets, food, and drinks for you. Place your order the day before, and we’ll have everything ready.
Frequently Asked Questions
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Check-in is from 3:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m., and check-out is by 11:00 a.m.
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Parking is on the paved area right outside the hotel, and the entrance is on the side facing the fjord.
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Yes, we have a home charger. Just ask us to connect it when you’d like to charge, and please move your car as soon as the battery is full so others can use the charger.
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Breakfast is served from 8:15 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. If you’d like a packed lunch, please let us know the day before so we can bake enough bread for everyone. We offer three different sizes of lunch packs, and we can fill a thermos with coffee or tea—just hand in your thermos the evening before and we’ll have everything ready for you.
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Dinner is served at 6:30 p.m., but feel free to arrive a little earlier to enjoy a drink in the garden. We look forward to welcoming you to the table.
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Yes, you can. Table reservations can be made here.
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No. We’re licensed to serve alcohol throughout the hotel and garden, and we devote a lot of time and energy to offering outstanding drinks from small farms in Norway and across Europe.
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ChatGPT sa:
We are a small, historic hotel with just a few rooms, designed as a retreat for adults. We go to great lengths to offer a culinary experience based on local, low-mileage ingredients. The hotel has a calm atmosphere, as well as original, steep staircases. For these reasons, we have set a minimum age requirement of 12 years. Thank you so much for your understanding.
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Yes, of course you can bring your best friend. The most practical rooms for staying with a dog are the twin rooms and the large double room—plenty of space for both a dog bed and human. We have a dog ourselves—her name is Frøya, and she loves cuddles.
The History in the Walls
The hotel's original founders, Erik Gausvik and his wife Anna Eikenes, settled in the village and together built Hotel Sundal, which was completed in the year 1889, as well as a general store and the cabin Breidablikk, where champagne was served at 1,320 meters above sea level.
The couple were among the first to invest in glacier tourism in Norway, offering package tours to Hardanger that included sled trips across the glacier and rowing on Lake Bondhusvatnet. The hotel has hosted emperors, European nobility, and mountain adventurers, and remained in the same family for three generations until we purchased it in 2018.
New splendor in old attire
The hotel from 1889 had been out of operation for many years. We have restored it piece by piece, with great care for the building’s history and original features, adding small touches to create a warm and cozy atmosphere. Once again, the timber walls are filled with life, and the tables are topped with food made from ingredients sourced straight from the nature around us. We hope you feel inspired, relax with family and friends, and decide to stay a while.
Surrounded by fjord and mountains
The hotel is located in Sundal, the valley to the south. Surrounded by towering mountains and steep waterfalls, with the fjord in front and the glacier just behind. Borrow a rowboat or hike through raw, Norwegian nature with Folgefonna National Park right outside your doorstep.
Contact us if you wish to book the entire hotel.