Henrik Ibsen
One of the world’s most beautiful water journeys
A journey on the Telemark Canal aboard M/S Henrik Ibsen is a cultural and historical voyage through landscapes that gradually change character along the way. Here, you pass through lock systems carved into the mountainsides in the late 1800s — an engineering achievement once described as the eighth wonder of the world.
The ship itself carries a long history. M/S Henrik Ibsen was built in 1907 and has since transported passengers through different waterways before eventually finding its home on the Telemark Canal. Today, the ship continues a tradition where the journey itself remains a central part of the experience.
On board, the pace is quieter, whether you choose to spend time on the promenade deck, in the Aktersalongen restaurant or in the café at the front of the ship. Landscapes, meals and conversations blend naturally together, leaving space to simply be present along the way.
Combined with a stay at Dalen Hotel, the canal journey becomes part of a larger whole, where nature, history and time meet.
M/S Henrik Ibsen operates daily scheduled sailings between Skien and Dalen during the summer season, from mid-May to early October.
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Telemark Canal
Experience the Telemark Canal, one of Norway’s most fascinating waterways, where history, engineering and nature come together.
Stretching 105 kilometres from Skien to Dalen, the canal takes you through 18 historic locks. Along the way, you can watch boats being lifted through the landscape, from open waters and narrow river sections to the mountains of inner Telemark.
Our unique canal packages
A combination of canal journeys and stays at Dalen, available from May to October.
Lock Cruise Ulefoss
Canal Enthusiast – 2 nights
Sailing from Lunde
Boat Enthusiast – 2 Nights
Canal & Hiking Stay – Lårdalsstigen
Day Trips
Join a full- or half-day journey on the Telemark Canal and experience one of Norway’s most distinctive waterways at a slower pace. Along the way, you pass historic lock systems, open stretches of water and narrower sections where the landscape draws close around the boat.
You may board at several locations along the canal — from Skien to Dalen — and choose a journey lasting from a few hours to a full day, depending on what suits you best.
Plan your trip
For timetables, prices and booking enquiries, please contact Telemarkskanalen Booking AS.
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