Norway / July: How to arrange time / bases in the Fjords
Apr 11th, 2011, 07:36 AM
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Norway / July: How to arrange time / bases in the Fjords
We are in the early stages of planning an independent trip to Norway. Goals: Bergen, Oslo and the Fjords.
We will be flying from Boston and we think it makes sense to do an open-jaw. Perhaps arrive in Bergen and depart from Oslo. We think we will arrive in Bergen on Sunday, July 10 and depart from Oslo on Saturday, July 23rd. This gives us 13 nights in Norway.
Prelimarary plans:
Bergen: Sunday & Monday nights (see the sights and recover from jet lag)
Fjords: depart from Bergen on Tuesday morning to tour the fjords (nights 3 to 11)
Oslo: nights 12 & 13 (Thurs / Friday); husband is interested in Viking history so the museums in Oslo are a must for him. Fly home from Oslo on Saturday.
So, we have 9 nights between Bergen and Oslo to enjoy the beautiful scenary of Norway.
We know we can do Norway in a Nutshell in one day, but we want to take our time by maybe using 3 or 4 bases (hotels).
Can you recommend 3 or 4 bases / towns throughout the fjords? We hate changing hotels every night. We will rent a car if necessary. Although our preliminary readings suggests that public transportation is quite good.
Any advice would be much appreciated.
We will be flying from Boston and we think it makes sense to do an open-jaw. Perhaps arrive in Bergen and depart from Oslo. We think we will arrive in Bergen on Sunday, July 10 and depart from Oslo on Saturday, July 23rd. This gives us 13 nights in Norway.
Prelimarary plans:
Bergen: Sunday & Monday nights (see the sights and recover from jet lag)
Fjords: depart from Bergen on Tuesday morning to tour the fjords (nights 3 to 11)
Oslo: nights 12 & 13 (Thurs / Friday); husband is interested in Viking history so the museums in Oslo are a must for him. Fly home from Oslo on Saturday.
So, we have 9 nights between Bergen and Oslo to enjoy the beautiful scenary of Norway.
We know we can do Norway in a Nutshell in one day, but we want to take our time by maybe using 3 or 4 bases (hotels).
Can you recommend 3 or 4 bases / towns throughout the fjords? We hate changing hotels every night. We will rent a car if necessary. Although our preliminary readings suggests that public transportation is quite good.
Any advice would be much appreciated.
Apr 11th, 2011, 09:43 AM
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You might want to take a look at my trip report, although we moved around more than you would like. Just click on my name to find it.
If you are interested in outdoor activities, this may be a good base (from my trip report):
In Solvorn we stayed at Eplet, which is as LP described it. To elaborate: There is a renovated barn with three rooms with double beds and a dormitory with 7 single beds that share the shower and the two W.C.. The kitchen dining-living area is also shared, and I believe that the campers can use the kitchen also; there is a small campsite just below the barn. Most people are there for outdoor activities. One person had gone kayaking on a glacial lake the day it opened, and planned to go horseback riding that day. There are hiking trails indicated in the area, and the LP mentions bicycles available for riding around, although Solvorn is at the bottom of a long steep hill--biking on the other side of the fjord would make more sense. I do not recall the mini golf, but the living room has a climbing wall. Given its mention in more than one guide I suspect that reservations might be useful, even though we did not have any.
If you are interested in outdoor activities, this may be a good base (from my trip report):
In Solvorn we stayed at Eplet, which is as LP described it. To elaborate: There is a renovated barn with three rooms with double beds and a dormitory with 7 single beds that share the shower and the two W.C.. The kitchen dining-living area is also shared, and I believe that the campers can use the kitchen also; there is a small campsite just below the barn. Most people are there for outdoor activities. One person had gone kayaking on a glacial lake the day it opened, and planned to go horseback riding that day. There are hiking trails indicated in the area, and the LP mentions bicycles available for riding around, although Solvorn is at the bottom of a long steep hill--biking on the other side of the fjord would make more sense. I do not recall the mini golf, but the living room has a climbing wall. Given its mention in more than one guide I suspect that reservations might be useful, even though we did not have any.
Apr 13th, 2011, 10:06 AM
#4
I'll be spending three nights at Nes Gard: http://www.nesgard.no/english.aspx
But won't be there until August. I'll do a report when I return--but it'll be too late to help you.
FYI, I'll be taking a train from Oslo to Bergen because I hear it's a very beautiful ride -- then renting a car and driving from Bergen to Nes Gard--with a stop for lunch at the Stalheim Hotel. The views are breathtaking.
It's hard for me to imagine being able to get around to areas where I'd want to hike without a car. I'm assuming trailheads are not near bus stops or train stations. But I guess it's do-able.
FYI, I found a rental car at Priceline for a fraction of the cost at other sites. But it's still expensive -- and gas is more than $9.00 a gallon!
Enjoy. I'll look forward to hearing about your trip.
But won't be there until August. I'll do a report when I return--but it'll be too late to help you.
FYI, I'll be taking a train from Oslo to Bergen because I hear it's a very beautiful ride -- then renting a car and driving from Bergen to Nes Gard--with a stop for lunch at the Stalheim Hotel. The views are breathtaking.
It's hard for me to imagine being able to get around to areas where I'd want to hike without a car. I'm assuming trailheads are not near bus stops or train stations. But I guess it's do-able.
FYI, I found a rental car at Priceline for a fraction of the cost at other sites. But it's still expensive -- and gas is more than $9.00 a gallon!
Enjoy. I'll look forward to hearing about your trip.
Apr 13th, 2011, 11:09 AM
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I enjoyed staying half board at this hotel http://www.frommers.com/destinations/flam/H47545.html and at http://www.steenshotel.no/english/index.htm.
Not on the Nutshell trip but excellent is http://www.brosundet.no/default.asp?lang=2&intro=false from which trips can easily be taken by bus or boat to the fabulous geirangerfjord.
Not on the Nutshell trip but excellent is http://www.brosundet.no/default.asp?lang=2&intro=false from which trips can easily be taken by bus or boat to the fabulous geirangerfjord.
Apr 13th, 2011, 11:59 AM
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Here's how we spent our time there last July (with a few pix per page):
http://www.onelittleworld.com/norden_1.html
Like Songdoc plans to do, we stayed at the small B&B/inn Nes Gard after driving out there from Bergen. (Songdoc, this shot from our room might whet your appetite: http://www.onelittleworld.com/images/luster2.jpg )
And we also stayed one night at Stalheim... yes, the views there are incredible too.
Enjoy!
http://www.onelittleworld.com/norden_1.html
Like Songdoc plans to do, we stayed at the small B&B/inn Nes Gard after driving out there from Bergen. (Songdoc, this shot from our room might whet your appetite: http://www.onelittleworld.com/images/luster2.jpg )
And we also stayed one night at Stalheim... yes, the views there are incredible too.
Enjoy!
Apr 15th, 2011, 12:14 PM
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Thanks to both of you.
BTW, here's the view from Stalheim (in case anyone out there is curious)...
http://www.onelittleworld.com/images/pan16.jpg
BTW, here's the view from Stalheim (in case anyone out there is curious)...
http://www.onelittleworld.com/images/pan16.jpg
