Itinerary:
DAY 1: OSLO
Arrival in Oslo, collect your rental car at the airport. Afternoon at your own disposal. We recommend a sightseeing tour in Oslo (not included). Sights of interest in Oslo are the Vigeland Sculpture Park, the Viking Ship Museum, the Fram Artic Expedition Museum, the City Hall, Akershus fortress, the Kon-Tiki Museum and the Holmenkollen Ski Jump where you will have a panoramic view of the city and the Oslofjord (entrances not included).
Overnight: Thon Hotel Oslofjord, or similar. (The hotel is located outside city centre).
DAY 2: OSLO - GEILO (240 km)
Drive through the beautiful Hallingdal Valley, to the mountain resort Geilo. Possibility to take a detour just before reaching Hønefoss to visit Hadeland Glassworks, one of Norway’s most popular tourist attractions. The skills of glassblowing have been carefully nurtured over the past 240 years, producing a unique attribute in Norwegian cultural history. Nowhere else in Norway, or perhaps in the world, can you find a company with handcraft traditions going back so far in time. Situated in beautiful surroundings, Hadeland Glassverk is a different kind of centre, offering many exiting activities (entrance not included). Continue to Geilo. We recommend a visit at Torpo Stave Church in Ål. This church is the oldest building in Hallingdal Valley (entrance not included).
Overnight: Vestlia Hotel Geilo, or similar. (The hotel is situated outside the town centre). (BD)
DAY 3: GEILO - HARDANGERFJORD - VOSS (170 km)
Drive across the Hardangervidda Mountain Plateau and continue to Fossli, where we recommend a stop to view the mighty Vøringfossen Waterfall. This is the highest waterfall in Norway, with a total drop of 180 meters. In Eidfjord, just past the Vøringfossen Waterfall, we recommend a visit at Hardangervidda Nature Centre. Here you can learn about the interaction in nature and the relationship between nature and human activities. The centre features lively exhibitions, hands-on activities and visual effects (entrance not included). Descend the Måbødalen Valley to Brimnes for a short ferry crossing to Bruravik. Continue from Bruravik to Voss, passing the Skjærvefossen Waterfall. If time we recommend a visit at Voss Open Air Museum (Voss Folkemuseum), where you can walk among houses from the 16th century from Voss and the surrounding area (entrance not included).
Overnight: Park Hotel Vossevangen, or similar. (Hotel situated in the town centre). (BD)
DAY 4: VOSS (- SOGNEFJORD) – BERGEN (95 km)
The Voss region is a perfect starting point for several of Fjord Norway’s most famous excursions; we recommend a trip with the Flåm Railway (Flåm - Myrdal - Flåm). This is a unique railway as no other adhesion-type railway is steeper than this one. It goes up to the mountains where you will have a wonderful view of waterfalls cascading down the steep snow capped mountains, rivers cutting through deep ravines and small mountain farms clinging to sheer slopes. This amazing trip is the most beautiful train ride in Norway.
An alternative excursion is ‘Norway in a Nutshell’: Take the train from Voss to Myrdal, and continue with the Flåm Railway to Flåm, which is the only place along the Sognefjord with train connection. Continue from Flåm with a cruise on the beautiful Aurlandsfjord and the narrow Nærøyfjord to Gudvangen. A connecting bus will take you back to Voss (the tickets for “Norway in a Nutshell” can be bought at the train station or at the tourist information in Voss).
Drive from Voss to Bergen. We recommend the scenic route along the Hardangerfjord.
Overnight: Quality Hotel Edvard Grieg, or similar. (The hotel is located outside the city centre)(B)
DAY 5: BERGEN
We recommend a trip to the city centre of Bergen, the world’s only city surrounded by 7 mountains and 7 fjords. Bergen is the second largest city in Norway, and used to be a very important harbour city (Hanseatic city). The city offers many interesting sights and has a
charming city centre. We recommend a walk along the old Hanseatic Harbour & Quarter and the Fish & Flower Market. A trip with the Fløibanen cable car is also recommendable. The cable car leaves from the city centre and takes you up to Mount Fløien, which by clear weather offers a great view of Bergen and the surrounding fjords and mountains (service not included). Bergenhus Fortress, Troldhaugen (home of the famous Norwegian composer Edvard Grieg) or one of the many museums in Bergen, are also worth a visit.
Overnight: Quality Hotel Edvard Grieg, or similar. (B)
DAY 6: BERGEN - NORDFJORDEID - ØRSTA (340 km)
Drive from Bergen in northern direction to Oppedal for a short ferry crossing over the Sognefjord to Lavik. The Sognefjord is the world’s longest fjord. It is situated at the heart of Fjord Norway, and stretches 240 magnificent kilometres inland. Along the Sognefjord one can discover some of the wildest and most beautiful scenery in Norway. Drive along this beautiful fjord to Vadheim and continue to Førde. Enjoy the beautiful countryside along Lake Jølster and the Nordfjord. Continue to Anda for a short ferry crossing over the Nordfjord to Lote. Drive through Nordfjordeid to Folkestad. Ferry crossing over the Voldafjord from Folkestad to Volda. Continue to Ørsta, beautifully situated by the fjord. Ørsta is situated in the centre of one of the most remarkable mountain ranges in Norway; The Sunnmørs Alps. Here you can enjoy the spectacular scenery and a number of mountain trails.
Overnight: Vikingfjord Hotel, or similar. (BD)
DAY 7: ØRSTA - ÅLESUND - BRIKSDAL GLACIER - RUNDE
We recommend an excursion to the coastal town of Ålesund. After a devastating fire in 1904 the town was completely rebuilt in the Art Nouveau style. Today Ålesund is internationally renowned for its unique architectural style. Ålesund has one of the largest export harbours in the world for ‘klippfisk’, i.e. split, dried and salted cod (used for the popular dish “Bacalao”). Along the old harbour Brosundet and Skansegata there is a bustling, picturesque fishing port, where you can buy fresh fish and prawns directly from the boats. We recommend a walk in the charming streets of Ålesund with colourful houses in the city centre. Also recommended is a trip up Mount Aksla, where you will get a spectacular view over the town and coast. To get to Mount Aksla, you can either drive up by car (take the road Borgundveien/Fjelltunveien), or by following a pathway from the municipal park that leads to the top (comprising 418 steps). Another alternative is a trip to the Briksdal Glacier, part of the Jostedalsbreen Glacier. Glaciers are beautiful, exciting and impressive. They reflect only blue light. It is a quite unique, almost magical, light. The glaciers grow and shrink, change direction, shape and colour. Even several hundred metres thick ice is in constant motion and the arms of the glacier can grow several hundred meters in only a few years. Europe's largest mainland glacier is Jostedalsbreen Glacier. Also recommended is an excursion to the bird island of Runde and the Runde Dive Centre. The dive centre offers diving possibilities for both experienced and inexperienced divers. The diving area around Runde is incredibly diverse and concentrated, with possibilities for cave diving, diving in the “blue lagoon” and in the area where the 18th century Dutch ship “Akerendam” went down (services not included).
Overnight: Vikingfjord Hotel, or similar. (BD)
DAY 8: ØRSTA - TROLLSTIGEN - DOMBÅS (350 km)
Start the day with a short ferry crossing from Volda to Folkestad. Continue via Stryn to Geiranger. We recommend an alternative route including a cruise on the famous Geirangerfjord from Hellesylt to Geiranger (service not included). The Geiranger Fjord is known as the most beautiful fjord in Norway. During the cruise you will have the opportunity to see several waterfalls, like the Seven Sisters and the Bridal Veil. In Geiranger we recommend a visit at the Norwegian Fjord Centre where you can learn the fascinating story about the life and activities of the fjord people (entrance not included). Continue from Geiranger along the “Eagle Road” (Ørneveien). During this ascent you will have a fantastic view of the fjord below. A Short ferry crossing from Eidsdal to Linge. Descend the impressive “Troll Road” (Trollstigen). This mountain road is surrounded by high mountain peaks and deep gorges. In “olden-day” Norway they believes that giants, called Trolls, lived there before mankind. The Trolls were believed to haunt this kind of landscape, and for this reason the road has been named after the Trolls. The road has 11 turns and the highest point is 858 meters above sea level. The best way to describe it is dramatic, exciting and the ultimate nature and cultural experience. After the Troll Road you will pass the Troll Wall on your right hand side. This mountain Wall has the highest vertical drop in Europe. Continue through Romsdalen Valley to Dombås.
Overnight: Dombås Hotel, or similar. (BD)
DAY 9: DOMBÅS – LILLEHAMMER - OSLO (320 km)
Drive south through Gudbrandsdalen Valley to Lillehammer, the 1994 Winter Olympic city. In Lillehammer we recommend a visit at Maihaugen Open Air Museum where you will find a collection of houses from this region: Old farm houses, a church, work shops and a house
where the Royal Family stay when they visit Lillehammer. The museum also offers indoor exhibitions. We recommend “We Won the Land” (services not included). Also recommended is a visit at the Olympic Museum and the Olympic Arena (Lysgårdsbakkene) with a panoramic view of the town and Lake Mjøsa, Norway’s largest lake (entrance not included). Continue along Lake Mjøsa to Hamar, where we recommend a visit at the Vikingship, the speed skating arena from the 1994 Winter Olympic Games (entrance not included). Drive from Hamar to Oslo.
Overnight: Thon Hotel Oslofjord, or similar. (B)
DAY 10: OSLO
Oslo is the largest city in Norway and has a closeness to nature that few other capitals can provide. We recommend a walk down Karl Johan, Oslo’s main street or a stroll along the Aker Brygge with its numerous shops, cafes, bars and restaurants. Hand back your rental car at the airport prior to departure. (B)
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