Raundalen is the valley connecting Voss to the high mountains around Myrdal.
This stretch has no major stations. The express trains run straight through. But local commuter services stop at places like Upsete, Mjølfjell and Reimegrend . Small halts serving cabin areas and the occasional hiker. At Upsete, 850 metres above sea level, there's a mountain lodge accessible only by train in winter. The Rallarvegen cycling route passes through here too.
Down in the valley, the Raundalselvi river is one of Norway's premier whitewater destinations. Rafting companies in Voss run trips here from May to October, with Grade III rapids through an isolated gorge far from roads and traffic. When water levels drop in late summer, this river takes over from the Strandaelva as the main rafting venue. Kayakers come from around the world – the technical sections are considered among the most challenging in Norway.
The railway runs high on the northern side of the valley, threading through tunnels and across avalanche-prone slopes. The protective galleries covering exposed sections of track are there for good reason. In spring, the mountains above are unstable – the combination of steep terrain and heavy snowfall makes this one of the more demanding stretches to keep open year-round.
At the western end, the valley opens into the Voss basin. At the eastern end, the Gravhalstunnel carries the railway through to Myrdal and the high plateau beyond.