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5 days - Highlights of 'Beautiful Norway' - compacted version.
Wander through the Vigeland Sculpture Park and explore the hidden gems of Norway’s capital, Oslo. Discover the Akershus Fortress and the many harbour side restaurants along Aker Brygge. Travelling on a premium 50 Degrees North mini-coach, cross the mountains to visit the traditional Stave Church of Lom and the magnificent Luster and Sognefjord. Experience the valley of Gudbrandsdalen surrounded by national parks, an abundance of locally produced food, old architecture, and good hiking trails.
Visit the stunning Geiranger fjord and enjoy the mountain landscape of Sognefjellet which makes its way up to the summit at 1,434 metres. Our mini-coach will take you along the stretch of breathtaking mountain roads between Lærdal and Aurland before reaching the Aurlandsfjord, one of the most picturesque fjords in the world, where you will stay fjordside! Read about visiting Northern Europe's highest and arguably the most striking mountain pass, along the road over Sognefjellet here.
Take a ride on the steep Flåm Railway full of hairpin turns and catch a train to Bergen, the capital of the fjords. Discover Bryggen, the old Hanseatic wharf in Bergen, and take the funicular to the top of Mt Fløien.
The trip runs weekly from May to September with fixed departures from Oslo every Sunday. It isn't a group tour as such but for a few days during this itinerary, everyone shares the same minibus, you make friends and enjoy the company of our Norwegian bus driver!
All transportation (by buses, trains, and boats) between destinations is included in the price. This includes travel between Otta and Aurland by premium 50 Degrees North mini-coach, which will accommodate spontaneous photo stops, as well as food and rest stops.
International flights, lunches and dinners that have not been detailed in the program, and items of personal nature.
Arrive in Oslo, the beautiful Norwegian capital by the Oslofjord. Make your own way to your centrally located hotel in the heart of Oslo, an easy direct express train ride away from the airport. The Norwegian capital has a great deal to offer for the observant traveller. We can recommend a walk around the centre of town to view the Parliament, the Castle, and the Harbour area.
Train to Otta and then join the 50 Degrees North premium mini-coach to Lom, a 1.5 hour scenic drive. This 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.
Join the 50 Degrees North minibus for a 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, have a day to yourself in Lom. We suggest visiting Brimi Bue, a popular Lom hot-spot for fresh local produce and traditional Nordic flavours, owned by the 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.
Read about today's drive along Northern Europe's highest and arguably the most striking mountain pass, the road over Sognefjellet.
Get your private 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.
Train to Bergen from Myrdal. Upon arrival, either transfer to the airport or alternatively, check into your pre-booked hotel at the end of the day.
All prices listed are per person. All listed 2023 departures are guaranteed, accommodation is subject to availability. 2023 Prices and Dates are early indicative.
Please note the following date 24 June 2023 is not available as an independent departure but can be booked with our Best of Norway Escorted Small Group Tour 2023.
This tour also runs in reverse, departing in Bergen.
The side trip to Geiranger travels over mountains and is available late May, subject to change due to weather/snow conditions on the mountain.
An premium version of this tour is available - please ask us for details.
Our 'Beautiful Norway' and 'Beautiful Norway Express' tours work a bit like a hop-on, hop-off bus for a certain section so depending on the date, you can be travelling with 2 - 8 people. This is a great option for a solo traveller.
SUSTAINABLE TRAVEL:
As a Nordic specialist we are keen to show travellers the hidden gems of the countries we visit, and as an anti-dote to over-tourism to reduce the environmental pressures on the traditional and busy routes that most travel companies will take. This itinerary has been designed to do just that.
Our premium mini-coach tours are one way in which we are looking at how we can reduce carbon emissions over all styles of travel that we offer, not just on our group tours which by their nature have shared transport, but also on our private options. This tour is a private tour however the transport 'mini-coach' between destinations is shared (with more of our clients doing the same tour, max 12 pax), therefore reducing the overall carbon footprint for each traveller.
Throughout your stay we have hand-selected accommodations which are locally owned, have deep roots in their communities, and pride themselves on supporting local facilities and producers. This is done through shopping locally, and buying sustainably sourced options, so in the words of one of the chefs in the accommodation you will be staying in 'you should taste what’s here in the surroundings, from lakes, mountains and farms'
On this itinerary we also support Nordic Choice Hotels, a collection of hotels renowned for their environmental efforts. The hotels are ISO 14001 certified, have launched plastic free initiatives in partnership with WWF, where possible are 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 Norway compared to other parts of the world, this hotel group 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.
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!
Our ‘Beautiful Norway’ tours along the Sognefjellet mountain road: A photographic journey through spectacular mountain scenery and contemporary landscape architecture.
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.
If you want to commit to a booking please use the Book Tour form below.
