Itinerary
Day 1 London-Bergen fly from the UK to Bergen either direct from Gatwick or via Oslo from Heathrow, and transfer to your accommodation (at additional cost) - Hotel Augustin or similar. Depending on your flight, you may arrive in time for an evening meal otherwise it will be a late evening check in.
Day 2 Bergen-Forde your chosen rental vehicle will be delivered to your hotel mid-morning. Drive north through the lush fjord scenery, crossing Norway’s deepest, Sognefjord at Yttre Oppedal. Reach Forde in the heart of Sogn and Fjordane, and stay overnight at Hotel Rica Sunnfjord. Alternatively, if you take the Hurtigruten option on this holiday, you will have time to explore some of the beautiful countryside surrounding Bergen before you embark - one possibility is to visit Troldhaugen, the home of composer Edward Grieg. The ship sets sail at 20:00 and as it travels north, enjoy relaxing views of the spectacular coastline bathed in the evening sunshine.
Day 3 Forde-Alesund follow the shores of the lake, Jolstravatnet then reach the beautiful town of Skei. Head north through Vatedalen valley, to Sandane, possibly stopping off at the Nordfjord Folke Museum en route. Continue to Alesund for an overnight stay. If sailing on Hurtigruten, the ship drops anchor in Alesund at 08:45. Disembark and head to Hotel Rica Parken where you’ll stay overnight and check-in. Once luggage-free, you’ll have time to explore Alesund and enjoy the traditional waterfront buildings which are quaint, colourful and definitely worth a photograph or two.
Day 4 Alesund-Geiranger set off on a drive which hugs the edge of Romsdalfjord to the little town of Andalsnes, known as the ‘village between fell and fjord’. Surrounded on three sides by lofty peaks, from here it’s onto the ‘Golden Route’ which winds its way south to Gerainger. This incredibly scenic Trollstigveien route offers many photo opportunities, as does the fjord-side town of Geiranger where you’ll check into Hotel Union Geiranger for a two night stay.
Day 5 Geiranger a day at leisure to enjoy your hotel and its scenic surrounds. To see Geirangerfjord at its best perhaps drive to one of the many viewpoints where platforms, often with a minimal mix of steel and glass barriers to keep you safe, allow you to enjoy the stupendous vistas practically uninterrupted – however some lookout points are more ‘natural’ so be careful if you suffer from vertigo!
Flydalsjuvet is a mere 320m above sea level whereas Dalsnibba comes in at 1500m and offers the Daddy of all views over the fjord. Or you can walk up to Skagefla, one of the most popular of the abandoned farms perched on the banks of the fjord that can be found around here – perfectly preserved for generations to come. Throughout the summer season, you might like to visit the striking octagonal church, Geiranger Kirke, built in 1842. A shot of the fjord with this impressive wooden structure in the foreground is one that many a visitor takes home.
Day 6 Geiranger-Skei check out of your hotel and take the car ferry to Hellesylt (payable locally), notable only for the waterfall that crashes down a little way from the dock. The next stop is tiny Briksdal from where you can take an easy 45-minute walk to the Briksdalsbreen glacier arm. Continue your drive and you’ll come to Skei. Overnight at the Best Western Hotel Skei, on a half board basis.
Day 7 Skei-Balestrand take a leisurely drive down to Sogndal but before heading along the shores of Sogndalsfjord to Hella you might like to make a detour to visit the famous Urnes Stave Church, the oldest in Norway. Reached via car ferry from Solvorn, a hamlet of pretty timber properties on the shore of Lustrafjord, you’ll be faced with a 10 minute hike up to the church but the building and the views are worth it. Once back on the Sogndalsfjorden road, Highway 55, make time to enjoy the beautiful Kvinnefossen en route to Hella. Cross over to Dragsvik by car ferry (payable locally) and continue to Balestrand where you’ll check in at Hotel Kviknes for a two night stay.
Day 8 Balestrand a day at leisure to explore Balestrand on foot or by bicycle, make use of the facilities at your hotel, go hiking in the mountains, take a boat trip or perhaps rent fishing equipment or a rowing boat and head down to the water.
Day 9 Balestrand-Flam check out of the hotel and take the car ferry from nearby Dragsvik to Vangsnes, where a 12m hilltop statue of a legendary Viking chief looks down over the jetty. Continue the drive to Flam for an overnight stay at the Flamsbrygga Hotel, close to the terminus of the famous ‘corkscrew railway’ said to be one of the most scenic railways in the world. A return trip on the railway is an optional excursion but one that we highly recommend.
Day 10 Flam-Lofthus take the road from Flam to Voss, the ferry across from Bruravik to Brimnes then continue south along the shores of Sorfjorden. At Lofthus, check into Hotel Ullensvang for a two night stay.
Day 11 Lofthus a day at leisure to enjoy the fantastic variety of facilities at Hotel Ullensvang. Try the indoor swimming pool or brave a dip in the fjord; play tennis; spend time in the fitness suite; go kayaking; hiking or rent a bicycle and explore.
Day 12 Lofthus-Bergen to get back onto the road to Bergen we recommend a couple of routes: the scenic route heads south to Odda and around the tip of Sorfjorden, back up along its western shore to Utne. Or you could choose the quicker route by driving back to Kinsarvik then hop across to Kvanndal on the ferry. Once back in Bergen, check in at Hotel Augustin or similar for an overnight stay.
Day 13 Bergen-London after breakfast, check out of your hotel, drop off your vehicle at the airport and fly back to the UK.
Day 2 Bergen-Forde your chosen rental vehicle will be delivered to your hotel mid-morning. Drive north through the lush fjord scenery, crossing Norway’s deepest, Sognefjord at Yttre Oppedal. Reach Forde in the heart of Sogn and Fjordane, and stay overnight at Hotel Rica Sunnfjord. Alternatively, if you take the Hurtigruten option on this holiday, you will have time to explore some of the beautiful countryside surrounding Bergen before you embark - one possibility is to visit Troldhaugen, the home of composer Edward Grieg. The ship sets sail at 20:00 and as it travels north, enjoy relaxing views of the spectacular coastline bathed in the evening sunshine.
Day 3 Forde-Alesund follow the shores of the lake, Jolstravatnet then reach the beautiful town of Skei. Head north through Vatedalen valley, to Sandane, possibly stopping off at the Nordfjord Folke Museum en route. Continue to Alesund for an overnight stay. If sailing on Hurtigruten, the ship drops anchor in Alesund at 08:45. Disembark and head to Hotel Rica Parken where you’ll stay overnight and check-in. Once luggage-free, you’ll have time to explore Alesund and enjoy the traditional waterfront buildings which are quaint, colourful and definitely worth a photograph or two.
Day 4 Alesund-Geiranger set off on a drive which hugs the edge of Romsdalfjord to the little town of Andalsnes, known as the ‘village between fell and fjord’. Surrounded on three sides by lofty peaks, from here it’s onto the ‘Golden Route’ which winds its way south to Gerainger. This incredibly scenic Trollstigveien route offers many photo opportunities, as does the fjord-side town of Geiranger where you’ll check into Hotel Union Geiranger for a two night stay.
Day 5 Geiranger a day at leisure to enjoy your hotel and its scenic surrounds. To see Geirangerfjord at its best perhaps drive to one of the many viewpoints where platforms, often with a minimal mix of steel and glass barriers to keep you safe, allow you to enjoy the stupendous vistas practically uninterrupted – however some lookout points are more ‘natural’ so be careful if you suffer from vertigo!
Flydalsjuvet is a mere 320m above sea level whereas Dalsnibba comes in at 1500m and offers the Daddy of all views over the fjord. Or you can walk up to Skagefla, one of the most popular of the abandoned farms perched on the banks of the fjord that can be found around here – perfectly preserved for generations to come. Throughout the summer season, you might like to visit the striking octagonal church, Geiranger Kirke, built in 1842. A shot of the fjord with this impressive wooden structure in the foreground is one that many a visitor takes home.
Day 6 Geiranger-Skei check out of your hotel and take the car ferry to Hellesylt (payable locally), notable only for the waterfall that crashes down a little way from the dock. The next stop is tiny Briksdal from where you can take an easy 45-minute walk to the Briksdalsbreen glacier arm. Continue your drive and you’ll come to Skei. Overnight at the Best Western Hotel Skei, on a half board basis.
Day 7 Skei-Balestrand take a leisurely drive down to Sogndal but before heading along the shores of Sogndalsfjord to Hella you might like to make a detour to visit the famous Urnes Stave Church, the oldest in Norway. Reached via car ferry from Solvorn, a hamlet of pretty timber properties on the shore of Lustrafjord, you’ll be faced with a 10 minute hike up to the church but the building and the views are worth it. Once back on the Sogndalsfjorden road, Highway 55, make time to enjoy the beautiful Kvinnefossen en route to Hella. Cross over to Dragsvik by car ferry (payable locally) and continue to Balestrand where you’ll check in at Hotel Kviknes for a two night stay.
Day 8 Balestrand a day at leisure to explore Balestrand on foot or by bicycle, make use of the facilities at your hotel, go hiking in the mountains, take a boat trip or perhaps rent fishing equipment or a rowing boat and head down to the water.
Day 9 Balestrand-Flam check out of the hotel and take the car ferry from nearby Dragsvik to Vangsnes, where a 12m hilltop statue of a legendary Viking chief looks down over the jetty. Continue the drive to Flam for an overnight stay at the Flamsbrygga Hotel, close to the terminus of the famous ‘corkscrew railway’ said to be one of the most scenic railways in the world. A return trip on the railway is an optional excursion but one that we highly recommend.
Day 10 Flam-Lofthus take the road from Flam to Voss, the ferry across from Bruravik to Brimnes then continue south along the shores of Sorfjorden. At Lofthus, check into Hotel Ullensvang for a two night stay.
Day 11 Lofthus a day at leisure to enjoy the fantastic variety of facilities at Hotel Ullensvang. Try the indoor swimming pool or brave a dip in the fjord; play tennis; spend time in the fitness suite; go kayaking; hiking or rent a bicycle and explore.
Day 12 Lofthus-Bergen to get back onto the road to Bergen we recommend a couple of routes: the scenic route heads south to Odda and around the tip of Sorfjorden, back up along its western shore to Utne. Or you could choose the quicker route by driving back to Kinsarvik then hop across to Kvanndal on the ferry. Once back in Bergen, check in at Hotel Augustin or similar for an overnight stay.
Day 13 Bergen-London after breakfast, check out of your hotel, drop off your vehicle at the airport and fly back to the UK.
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