Fjords, How To?

Old Apr 18th, 2014, 08:55 AM
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Fjords, How To?

I would Ike to visit the fjords, but can't decide how to go about it. I have about four days to play with. Should I try to get to all the famous fjords in the nutshell area? Our just see a couple? Also drive, take a cruise or the train and ferry system? Will be doing it from Bergen. Can also add a day if need be. I also want to go to the Lofotens, would that be the same type of excursion? Please help!
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Old Apr 18th, 2014, 09:18 AM
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Take a look at my trip report; click on my name to find it.
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Old Apr 18th, 2014, 03:49 PM
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I can't really help you as I have the same question. I was thinking of doing the Norway in a Nutshell round trip from Bergen one day. I would also like to explore Hardanger fjord another day and possibly on the third day do a boat trip through the Sognefjord (which Norway in a Nutshell goes to, but there is also a ferry from Bergen that seems to go up the coast a bit and through more of the fjord than the NIN trip does). That would leave me less than a full day in Bergen which I'm not sure is enough. I'll be interested to see if you get any other responses and also what you end up planning to do. When will you be going?

In case you haven't seen this site - http://www.norwaynutshell.com/
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Old Apr 19th, 2014, 06:14 PM
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We are going to be in Bergen about the first of August. I have decided to rent a car and try to get to as much as possible in the days I have which now seem to be three. I will check out the site. Thank you.
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Old Apr 19th, 2014, 06:47 PM
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As I read more, it seems you have the right idea, it seems to fit more sites into the stay. Maybe spend one night in Flam or Stalhiem just to give a bit more time to the NIN. And do the public transportation as it may be less hassle.
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Old Apr 19th, 2014, 07:36 PM
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We rented a car in Voss and spent 5 days in the Fjords, taking the ferry all over. It was a great trip.

You could take the early train from Bergen to Voss, rent a car and drive to the Fjords, spend three days there, return the car to Voss and train back to Bergen.
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Old Apr 20th, 2014, 08:49 AM
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Michele_d if you were able to take the ferry all over, would a car be necessary? Oh, I see, so you don't have to train from one location to another. I keep forgetting that you take the car on the ferry.
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Old Apr 20th, 2014, 09:50 AM
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anjun,
Taking the ferry with your car is soooo easy. You just drive to the end of the road where there is a large parking lot, pull your car into one of the lanes and wait for the ferry. The staff will direct you where to park on the ferry and you can get out and walk around the boat while the ferry is continuing on to the next town. We never waited more than 30 minutes for a ferry. I would do it again in a heartbeat. Very easy.

You can drive to so many beautiful places with a car. You are not limited to just the cities, as small as they are. We stayed in Nes and drove everywhere for the five days. We hiked to glaciers, visited stave churches, waterfalls and rivers. Just a beautiful country.
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Old Apr 23rd, 2014, 05:37 PM
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Michele_d, the one thing that makes me wary is the long tunnels I have read about. I would like to avoid those, makes me feel claustrophobic just reading about them.
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Old Apr 23rd, 2014, 05:45 PM
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the one thing that makes me wary is the long tunnels

The only long ones we went through were the ones going from Bergen to Solvorn, the longest one being the Aurland tunnel just after Flam.
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Old Apr 23rd, 2014, 06:07 PM
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We drove 'over the top' on hwy 243 from Vangen to Laerdal in order to take in the scenery. This is the alternate route from taking the very long tunnel. Just after you climb the switchbacks out of Vangen there is a pullout with a walkway that is suspended out over the fjords. Great views. I am not a big tunnel fan either but we did drive through some smaller ones. It was a beautiful drive 'over the top'and we really enjoyed it.

The only reservations we made on the ferry were from Kaupanger to Gudvangen, (due to train reservations in Voss we had) and even then, from my observations, it wasn't necessary. The views from the Stalheim hotel back down towards Gudvangen are stunning.

I just feel a car in this area allows you a much better chance to see the 'real' Norway and not just the small towns. There is just so much beauty it would be a shame to go all that way and miss most of it.
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Old Apr 24th, 2014, 04:02 PM
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Ok, I think that's what we will do. Thank you.
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Old Apr 25th, 2014, 06:56 AM
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Well, some enjoy driving themselves but in Europe we leave the driving to the pros. So we use a tour group or public transport. We did much enjoy the Norway in a Nutshell from Oslo to Bergen. This does include some fjord scenery. And Bergen is a favorite city. Two side trips: excursion to fishing village Oygarden to see offshore drilling and visit to Lysoen island to see unique Ole Bull house. In any case, with rental car you can explore the area. But surely also book a boat trip out of the harbor or up the coast.
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Old Apr 25th, 2014, 07:16 AM
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The fjords are easy by public transportation. We took a ferry from Bergen along the Hardangerfjord and spent the night in Ulvik. The next morning we caught a bus to Voss and then did NIN route until the Stalheim. We spent the night at the Stalheim and the next morning took a bus/ferry to Balestrand on the Sognefjord where we spent the night. The next morning we took a ferry along the Sognefjord back to Bergen where we caught up with the luggage we had left at the train station. Enjoy your trip.
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Old Apr 25th, 2014, 07:25 AM
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The classic NIN tour from Bergen goes by train to Voss (check out Knute Rockne's grave in the local cemetery) and then mountain bus ride via a stop at the venerable Stalheim Hotel to Norway's largest and most awesome to many fjord - takje a few hour boat ride to Flam - perhaps seeing whales en route and at Flam a thrilling mountain railway up to Myrdhal for trains back to Bergen or onward to Oslo.

The Flam train makes a photo stop at a raging waterfall en route to Myrdhal - of course you could reverse the order of all this is you want.

Buy a combined ticket for all transportation in Bergen's tourist office and or train station - no reservations are needed for any component - including the train as for local travel reservations are not required - only for Bergen to Oslo are they required I believe.

For lots of great info on NIN check out: www.ricksteves.com; www.budgeteuropetravel.com and www.seat61.com and gthe official site isbel above gave you.

To me the NIN is one of the most awesome adventures I have ever had in decades of European travel.
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Old Apr 25th, 2014, 10:29 AM
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Marija - I am curious as to how some of the places you went compare to the others. Was Hardangefjord as 'good' as the Songnefjord? How about the trip ferry along the Sognefjord from Balestrand back to Bergen compared to the part of it included in the NIN trip (around Flam and Gudvangen)?

Your trip sounds like it covered all the areas I want to see and that sounds like a good way to do it. However, I've already booked four nights in Bergen and don't want to change that so my trips will all be day trips and I'm wondering if I want to do all three of them or if some of it would be repetitive. I know I want to do NIN round trip from Bergen but then can't decide if I want to take a ferry from Bergen to Balestrand (and back) one day or not.

Thanks
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Old Apr 25th, 2014, 01:13 PM
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The high speed ferry from Balestrand to Bergen was loud due to engine noise and you have to stay inside. The scenery wasn't that great. The slow ferry on the Hardangerfjord was much more pleasant. Whatever you decide, don't miss the ferry from Flam to Gudvangen on the Naeroyfjord. Stunning. We too had reservations for four nights in Bergen but on a whim cancelled three of the nights and took off with just backpacks. Great decision if you want to see the fjords. Both Balestrand and Ulvik are beautiful.
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Old Apr 28th, 2014, 12:48 PM
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Staying on the fjords is quite an experience - at night darker sky than you ever imagined! (except around beginning of summer of course when it is light most of the night.
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Old Apr 28th, 2014, 02:14 PM
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We went to the fjords in June, so light pretty much all night. We were sitting on our front porch at our apt in Nes Gard, looking across the fjord at 10 pm. It was so light out, I wanted to remember what it looked like so my husband took a picture across the fjord with my hands in the foreground, all ten fingers open, so I would remember how light out it was at 10 pm. It is so beautiful there. Heavy sigh.
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Old Apr 28th, 2014, 04:40 PM
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I have 2 nights available in the Fjords, any recommendations for places to stay, I tried the Nes Gard but it is booked.
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