Norway : Walk Bergen and Beyond

Who for? Those who like a mix of independent travel by train and bus and exploring the countryside on foot.

The holiday starts in historic Bergen - with its famous colourful and iconic warehouse façade, you cannot fail to be impressed by the city. Maybe less known for its walking possibilities, but take the cable car from the centre of town up to Mount Floyen and you’ll soon see the options for exploring this area on foot. You can also start walking from the city itself but be prepared for a strenuous climb! There is a variety of marked trails whether you want a short stroll to a half day hike, and if you want even more options then there is always Mount Ulriken, the highest of the mountains surrounding Bergen at 643 metres!

Take the scenic train journey from Bergen to Voss and then the very handy bus service towards Gudvangen, which stops at the Hotel Stalheim, where you'll be based for 3 nights, perfectly located at the head of Naeroyfjord. Getting out on foot is the best way to make the most of this fabulous area and all the walks start from the front door of the hotel. Either explore the immediate area, take a relatively easy hike up to Nali (meaning ‘the Needle’) for a spectacular view across the Naeroy valley, and also look down over the Stalheim hairpin bends which have remained almost unchanged for the last century.

With two free days you may want to head out onto the hiking paths around Stalheim once again but if not, how about part of one the most iconic journeys, Norway in a nutshell? This includes a chance to travel along the Naeroyfjord taking in the magnificent views from the water. On arrival in Flam, you have the opportunity to ride the famous 'corkscrew railway' said to be one of the steepest and most scenic rail journeys in the world. The 29 km branch line, dating from the 1920’s, climbs 900 m through twists, turns and tunnels including a couple of 180° bends, hugging sheer mountainsides, travelling over breathtaking drops, past elegant waterfalls and other incredible features, to the junction at Myrdal. You could also consider a single ticket then hike home or even rent bicycles to get you back to Flam – the 20 km or so journey is pretty much downhill all the way!