wrenwood

Our Nat Geo trip (mid July) starts in Oslo, ends in Bergen. When the trip ends in Bergen we are planning on renting a car, and back tracking north through the Fjords, staying here and there for a night or two as far north as Alesund. From Alesund we'll drive back to Oslo to fly home.

**Here is what we do with Nat Geo in the Fjords area. Thoughts on what we will be missing and should do on our own when we have a car?**


Day 4 — Røros/Trondheim
Norway's several thousand miles of railways stretch from the southern tip of the country to above the Arctic Circle, offering breathtaking views of rolling hills, mountains, lakes, and fjords. Climb aboard the Røros Railway and travel to the mining town of Røros—a World Heritage site and one of the oldest wooden towns in Europe. Stroll past 17th- and 18th-century buildings where residents still live and work. Later, catch a train to the lovely city of Trondheim, situated on the southern shore of Trondheimsfjorden at the mouth of the Nidelva River.

Day 5 — Trondheim
Said to be founded in the tenth century by Viking King Olaf I Tryggvason, Trondheim served as Norway's capital until the early 1200s. Today, high-tech culture mingles with medieval architecture in this university town. Visit the Nidaros Cathedral, a cherished landmark built on the grave site of Norway's patron saint that is prized for its stained glass windows. Take a musical tour at the Ringve Music Museum and enjoy a concert performed on antique instruments. Later, explore on your own or discover the city on an optional kayaking excursion.

Day 6 — Rauma Railway/Geiranger
Catch a morning train to Dombås and board the Rauma Railway. Take in stunning scenery through panoramic windows on a journey past craggy alpine peaks, glacier-fed waterfalls, and the emerald green waters of the Rauma River. Cross the historic Kylling Bridge and marvel at the 3,300-foot Trollveggen, Europe's tallest vertical rock face. Continue by coach to Geiranger along the famed Trollstigen—the Troll's Footpath. Wind through the mountains along 11 hairpin turns, keeping an eye out for troll statues inspired by Norwegian fairytales. Stop en route to taste local products at a summer farm.
Hotel Union

Day 7 — Geirangerfjorden/Balestrand
Set out by ferry for an unforgettable cruise on the UNESCO World Heritage site of Geirangerfjorden, a ten-mile passage lined with sheer rock walls and punctuated with waterfalls. Disembark at Hellesylt and drive to Balestrand, located on the Sognefjorden—the longest and deepest fjord in Norway. Along the way, skirt the edges of Nordfjord, passing tumbling cascades, lush pastures, and lakes. Have lunch at the water's edge and then learn about the Norwegian folk art of rosemaling at a local village. This evening, settle into our historic hotel overlooking the Sognefjorden.

Day 8 — Sognefjorden/Balestrand
Cross the Sognefjorden by ferry for a visit to the Hopperstad Stave Church, one of Norway's most intact medieval churches. Back in Balestrand, visit a cider house to taste local ciders, fruit wines, and brandies. Then discover the town's history as a hub for 19th-century European artists, who were inspired by the Sognefjorden's captivating scenery. Walk along the fjord's edge, dotted with villas built in the popular Swiss style of the period, and keep an eye out for dragon heads atop the gables—a motif from Norse mythology.
Kviknes Hotel 



Day 9 — Flåm Railway/Bergen
Take a scenic cruise across the Sognefjorden and up the narrow Aurlandsfjorden to the village of Flåm. Sample award-winning handcrafted beers at a Viking-style brewery, then board the world-famous Flåm Railway, named by National Geographic Traveler as one of the top ten train journeys in Europe. Make a thrilling ascent of some 2,837 feet in just one hour, passing through 20 tunnels. At the mountain station of Myrdal, transfer to the Bergen line and continue across the spine of Norway to the coastal city of Bergen. 
Radisson Blu Royal Hotel


**From Alseund south to Oslo I thought Dombås looked like an interesting place to stop (Musk Ox!) and the drive looked pretty on down through Lillehammer. What else should we investigate on that drive?**

How many days would you estimate to do this?

Thanks again for all your help!

bilboburgler

I've just about done all of this but we excluded the visit to Trondheim, I'm not sure how the ferries have changed since we did it but I can say the Troll road was the best bit (we had an open topped car and I had more hair then).

So I'd dig into viamichelin to get a real check on the times But 5 to 7 days feels about right. Note that many of the towns you mention have very little "there". Bergen and Oslo are real towns and Oslo has an incredibly low population density. This only becomes an issue as you will slowly realise that you meet so few people.

Dombas and Lillihammer, there is the old birch-bark road in that area which is where a Hamlet like prince skied to safety many years ago, worth it for the views. You will also see a fair number of old houses (open to the public) in the area which are fun once, but once you've seen one turf roof you've seen them all.

Accomodation prices can be daunting (as can food, while giving up booze for the trip is a good idea) we tended to stay in hutte a lot (some hutte are palatial and often have cooking facilities and shops nearby) alternatively the Tourist Board used to do deals for visitors from poor countries like USA or Germany where you bought room tickets and the locals let you stay in small hotel rooms.

In high summer the days are very long. I did at least two long hikes after supper coming home at 1am or 2am in the middle of nowhere and in good light.

Michael

We rented a car for a week to drive in fjord country from Bergen to Trondheim. You might want to take a look at my trip report; click on my name to find it.

In my opinion, driving over the mountains is not the same thing as taking a coastal ship from one fjord to another, and I prefer the former--but then I get sea sick very easily.

wrenwood

Looking at options…..

Where is this photo taken?


http://7-themes.com/data_images/out/...-in-norway.jpg

wrenwood

found it, Reine in Loften Islands……..not going to make it that far north

How many days do you think I should allocate to Sognefjord area, and how many days to Geirangerfjord area?

We will want to drive around in both areas, walks, waterfalls, churches, villages, history, no difficult or long hikes.

Michael

Geirangerfjord takes only one day. The boat tour will let you see the falls, and apparently the hike from the historic farm houses is not for you. There is a stave church farther inland which you would see while driving south to Sognefjord.

marg

There is an incredible sculpture park in Oslo (Vigeland) which is well worth a visit.
We drove along the Troll road from Geiranger and were told that locally it's known as the Oh, my God! road because one look at it and you say Oh my God! One of the few times I've closed my eyes and left it to the driver.

wrenwood

The Troll Road is definitely on our radar!

I looked at the hike to the Historic Farm houses, they sound wonderful, but unfortunately not for me.

We will probably stay 2 nights in Geirangerfjord. We will have been on the fjord cruise with Nat Geo, but we like the idea of driving around and seeing the area from different viewpoints. The Dalsnibba Viewpoint sounds cool.

I read a lot about Alesund, and how lovely it is, but I'm wondering if we should go that far west just for an overnight on the way to Dombas to head back south to Oslo. Alesund reminds me a little of the Bryggen Waterfront from the pictures. The Art Nouveau architecture sounds pretty but we're probably more interested in Norway's fabulous landscape.

Should we consider and overnight in Andalsnes instead? It looks pretty. Or somewhere else?

wrenwood

My husband offered another choice, that when we leave Geirangerfjord we head back towards Bergen, staying one night halfway in between, then return the car and stay 1 night in Bergen near the train station, then the next day take the train from Bergen to Oslo, it is supposed to be very scenic.

bilboburgler

I think you may be looking at Norway the wrong way round. For instance you might visit the UK and visit the cities and maybe look at the countryside, in Norway you look at the countryside with maybe a check on the towns.

I'd not drive over to Alesund unless I had a thing for little islands, the great towering fjords and waterfalls associated are wonderful, the odd little silver and gold mines are interesting. The views from the trains are great but while I love taking trains I would still like to take a car Bergen, Dombas, Lillehammer, Oslo

wrenwood

Agreed bilboburger, that's why I was thinking we didn't need to go to Alesund.

I thought we might need an overnight somewhere on the way to Dombas, but now it's a moot point as we are pretty sure that when we leave Geirangerfjord we will double back south, maybe stay 1 night near Nordfjordeid or ???? Any other suggestions between Geirangerfjord and Bergen?

After we return the car we'll stay overnight in Bergen near the train station, then the next day take the train from Bergen to Oslo

wrenwood

So this is what I have at the moment

Nat Geo trip ends in Bergen. After farewell breakfast we pick up rental at Airport

drive to cabin with washer and dryer near Vossevangen stay 2 nights
2 nights near Flam
3 nights near Balestrand
2 nights Geirangerfjord
1 night? headed back towards Bergen
1 night Hotel near Bergen train station
next day train to Oslo
1 night Hotel near Oslo Airport
Fly home next day

Michael

Skip the two nights near Flam and add them, or maybe only one, to Balestrand; or even arrange something else. We stayed in Solvorn across the fjord from the Urnes church.

dyoll

Don't quite see the point in backtracking to all the places you have already been on the Nat Geo tour, which covers pretty much everything in that area. Either drop the tour and d.i.y as you are proposing or you have the whole area south of Sognefjord to explore. Hardangerfjord and down to Stavanger by inland route, drive to Oslo along coast or over Telemark. All fantastically scenic and not where you have been before. http://www.visitnorway.no

wrenwood

Hi dyoll
We are very slow tourists and like to explore areas more thoroughly than one day here and there. We love seeing the countryside and landscape. I have read about so many other minor fjords to see and many waterfalls, villages, outdoor museums, churches, waterfalls.

Also, we know we could have rainy weather or bright sunny weather, so should the weather be rainy when we are with Nat Geo, maybe it will be sunnier when we are driving.

And I have read in some of the guide books and here on Fodors that things look very different when you are up above looking down on the Fjords.

The southern part of Norway will have to wait for another trip!

live42day

We just toured Norway for eight nights in September. We rented a car and visited some of the fjords, flying in and out of Bergen, staying in Solvern, Lom, Geiranger and then Allesund. Allesund was beautiful, but not on the top of my list for what we saw.

We loved the driving through the fjord area and would have spent more time in the other places we visited if we had to do it over again.

We rented a car through Avis and were given a little Toyota hybrid. The cost of fuel was amazing , so low. Try to get a hybrid if you can.

I am from B.C. Canada, and thought it might be similar to where we lived, yet found the fjords and Norway to be so amazing. I have never seen anything like it.

Driving was great. No body speeds, no road rage, the maximum speed was around 70. Lots of hairpin corners on mountains, but because everyone is doing a reasonable speed it was very comfortable.

Michael

<i> the maximum speed was around 70</i>

Miles or kilometers?

wrenwood

Thanks live42day, sounds just like what we want to do!

Thanks Michael for reminding me of Solvorn. We're booked at Walaker Hotell.

I changed things completely around to try to get 3 nights at Walaker, as they were booked full when I originally planned to go there.

So now
*leave Bergen, drive to Solvorn (Walaker Hotell) stay 1 night

*drive to Geirangerfjord, stay 3 nights @ self catering with a washer and dryer

*3 nights at ??????

*3 nights at Walaker Hotell (yes, again, first time is just an overnight on the way to Geiranger)

Leave Walaker Hotel, drive to Oslo Airport, return car stay at Airport Hotel for flight home next day.

I realize this itinerary may sound a little strange, but the self catering with washer and dryer is pretty important to us after 12 days of touring!

For the 3 nights in between Geiranger and Solvorn, I'm looking at the area around Stryn, let me know your thoughts, alternatives.

live42day

Michael it is KM but I think it may have been 80 in some places we went.

wren wood In Geiranger we stayed at Grand Hytteutleige . Cabins with an amazing view. We could have stayed here two nights easily. We loved it. They have a laundry.

we did one night everywhere, except Bergen. We just kept moving which was good because we saw a lot as we were on a tight schedule, but would have loved to stayed longer at places.

wrenwood

So….. help with my *3 nights at ??????

Near Stryn, I have been looking at Visnes Hotell and nearby (45 min from Stryn) Hjelle Hotel, but open for suggestions in the area.

In reading some other posts, the mountain pass Route 55/Sognefjell to Lom sounds cool.

I'm thinking 2 days in Stryn or area, then when we leave Stryn area we drive on route 15 to Fossbergom, then south down route 55 and stay around Lom for 1 night. Roisheim Hotell and Elvester Hotell look like interesting places to stay.

2 nights Stryn area, 1 night Lom?

By the way, for some reason I can't copy and paste the URLs for the Hotels. If I try, I can't preview or submit. Anyone else had this problem?