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8 days - Escorted summer tour of Norwegian Fjords
This incredible guided 8-day summer journey traverses the stunning landscape of Norway. Join our exclusive 50 Degrees North escorted tour, travelling from Oslo to Bergen. Visit the traditional Stave Church of Lom and the magnificent Luster and Sognefjord region. Experience the valley of Gudbrandsdalen, surrounded by national parks, an abundance of locally produced food, old architecture, and great hiking trails.
Board the classic Norway in a nutshell® train journey from Flåm and catch the express boat along the Norwegian fjords to Bergen. Feast on fresh seafood at the Bergen Fish Markets and enjoy the Norwegian summer vibes.
All transportation (by buses, trains, and boats) between destinations is included in the price (note: upon your arrival to Oslo, we recommend the express train between the aiport and main train station). This includes travel between Lillehammer and Aurland by private 50 Degrees North mini-coach, which will accommodate spontaneous photo stops as well as food and rest stops.
International flights, travel insurance, luggage handling, lunches and dinners that have not been detailed in the program, and items of personal nature. A small tip for the bus driver will be appreciated - your escort will advise you with details about this.
Portage is not included - you will be responsible for carrying all your luggage.
Arrive Oslo and make your own way to your central hotel in the heart of Oslo. The Norwegian capital has a great deal to offer the discerning traveller. If you arrive early, we can recommend a walk around the centre of town to view the Parliament, the Castle & the Harbour area. Check in will be between 10am - 3pm. Close to the hotel, climb the new Opera House for a chance to orient yourself to this small capital. Within 20 metres of the hotel reception is the super helpful Oslo tourist information booth with maps and information for your exploration. If you have a few hours, we suggest heading to close by beautiful peninsula of Bygdøy by ferry to visit the Cultural Museum and Fram Museum this afternoon.
Your escort will meet you this evening in the hotel lobby at 6pm and then you will travel by tram to The Ekebergrestaurant to enjoy a welcome dinner at, a special modernist, 1920s hillside restaurant, with your group.
After breakfast, board your train at the Oslo Central Station and head towards Lillehammer, the small town that rose to international fame when it hosted the Winter Olympics in 1994. Check into your central hotel.
Spend the day at your leisure: browse the local shops, visit the Norwegian Olympic Museum (ski jump), and do not miss the impressive Garmo Stave Church.
There is a light complimentary supper served in the hotel.
After breakfast, take a private minibus to Lom, a 3-hour scenic drive from Lillehammer. This bus trip takes you through some of Norway’s most beautiful highlands and lush valleys. Experience the valley of Gudbrandsdalen surrounded by the national parks, an abundance of locally produced food, old architecture, and good hiking.
Lom is a small town encapsulating the very essence of the Norwegian countryside. Situated in the famous Jotunheimen National Park, Lom is surrounded by majestic nature. Check into your charming historic hotel. Dinner is included this evening.
Day tour to Geiranger, which is 1.5 hours’ drive away from Lom. On arrival, join a fjord rib boat safari and experience the Geirangerfjord UNESCO World Heritage site. The scenery here is absolutely breathtaking. Take a closer look at the “Seven Sisters”, “Bridal Veil” and “Suitor” waterfalls, the majestic fjord cliffs and abandoned mountain farms. Perhaps you’ll be lucky enough to see porpoises playing in the fjord.
Travelling back from Geiranger, the minibus can stop at the famous Lom Stave Church, constructed in Norman-style in 1170. It still operates as the local church today.
Please note that the Geirangerfjord visit is subject to change due to weather and snow conditions. The mountain road from Lom to Geiranger normally opens from end of May. Alternatively, enjoy the day in Lom, visiting Brimi Bue, a popular Lom hot-spot for fresh local produce and traditional Nordic flavours, owned by renowned chef Arne Brimi. Indulge yourselves in the historic atmosphere of Lom open-air museum and its houses dating from the early 1600s and experience the old farmer culture. The Norwegian Mountain Centre is also worth a visit.
Depart Lom for another scenic journey through the spectacular mountain and fjord country of Breheimen and Jostedalsheimen. Stop at Sognefjellshytta (approx. 1 hr drive) for a coffee/tea break, then sit back and enjoy the scenery until your next stop at the cubist stone at Mefjellet. The final stop before descending down the mountain is at Nedre Oscarshaug – another fantastic spot for photos and great views.
After lunch at Skjolden Hotel, drive approx. 20-30 mins to Feigumfossen and continue to the charming Urnes Stave Church (a UNESCO World Heritage Site and the oldest church in Norway). Catch a ferry to Solvorn and continue over Aurlandsfjellet. Lastly, enjoy a stop at Stegastein before arriving to the peaceful village of Aurland.
Spend your day relaxing, hiking and taking in the views in the peaceful little town of Aurland. Enjoy the harbour area with unspoilt views of the fjord and surrounding gardens. Optional visits to local mountain farms, guided hikes or a fjord safari can be pre-booked (at additional cost).
Short transfer from Aurland to Flåm, and step aboard the world famous Flåm Railway to Myrdal Station with several stunning lookout points along the way. Thanks to its steep incline (from sea level to almost 900 meters above sea level in a short hour), the train-ride is rated as one of Europe’s best rail journeys and has become a real highlight for visitors in Norway.
Return to Flåm to board the express ferry to Bergen. Take in the fresh air on Norway’s longest fjord, the Sognefjord, during this 5-hour ferry-ride towards Bergen. Check into your centrally located hotel at the end of the day.
This evening, you will be arriving a little late for a formal group dinner so just head out with the group for a wander around the fish markets (metres from your hotel) for a casual dinner and a celebratory drink to enjoy the long summer night!
After breakfast, depart Bergen or extend your stay.
Bergen is the perfect strolling town so enjoy any extra time you have before your departure to explore the historical centre of Bergen, being transported back to a time when Bergen was the centre of political power and trade for the entire North Atlantic. It was the Capital of the Kingdom of Norway for a short period, before the capital was moved to Oslo in 1299, and the town grew to become the largest in Scandinavia.
The Hanseatic League established itself here in 1350 and had a trade monopoly that lasted 200 years. While in Bergen you might wish to visit the UNESCO heritage listed historical area around the harbour known as the Bryggen district, and the home of Edvard Grieg, Troldhaugen, Norway's internationally famous composer. Enjoy lunch at the new Bergen Fish Market - a fantastic modern architectural designed building with a great outdoor and indoor dining area.
Price per person, double/twin share.
A Norwegian coastal voyage can be added to this tour before or afterwards, depending on availability.
SUSTAINABLE TRAVEL:
This itinerary has been designed to not only showcase the best of Norway, but to highlight some of the beautiful regions which are accessible by public transport, and to keep bus driving to a minimum. This includes the famous Flåm railway, which is powered by the Kjosfossen waterfall, one of the iconic stops on route.
All of the accommodations have been hand selected for their ties to the local community, and for their environmental credentials. One example is our support of Nordic Choice hotels, which are famous for their efforts in sustainability. The accommodation is ISO 14001 certified (which is given to enterprises that have a high-quality environmental managing system for organizational performance), has launched plastic free initiatives in partnership with WWF, where possible is powered by renewable energy and are taking great strides to reduce water consumption and reduce the use of chemicals. Even though access to water is not an issue in Nordic countries compared to other parts of the world, this hotel is conscious of the energy consumed for heating, and chemicals required for purification, so reduction makes up part of their overall environmental policy. In addition to this they provide sustainable, organic, fair trade food, and only use sustainably produced palm oil. Your hosts also encourages guests to eat less meat and substitute this for plant based alternatives.
Take a closer look at the boutique hotels and restaurants that we recommend as a part of our independent 'Beautiful Norway' tour across the fjords. We start in Lom, take a culinary stopover in Skjolden after having journeyed along the mountain pass across Sognefjellet, and finish at our beautiful accommodation in Aurland.
Our premium 50 Degrees North mini-coach represent a new style of travel: 2-12 independent travellers traverse exceptionally beautiful, yet hard-to-reach areas of Norway, thus experiencing something unique and authentic while contributing to more modest local economies. With five different tours available for 2023 (and more in the works), the choice is yours!
Before departure, or while dreaming of a Scandinavian adventure, get your fill of inspiring travel books here.
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