Northern Lights in Norway - Last minute trip help
 

Hello Fodorites,
I am extremely confused with planning our upcoming trip to Norway next week for a week. Since, it is one of the most last minute trip I have ever booked have not been able to do sufficient research and hence am seeking some advice from travel experts/enthusiats like y'all.
This is our plan so far...Flying into Oslo on March 12th @8.40 am. Planning to take a flight within 2 hrs same morning to Tromso for 4 nights there to fulfill the main purpose of our trip which is viewing the Northern lights..do u have any tips for the best place/time/mode of transportaion to catch the perfect show??While in Tromso we are not sure of what kind of day tours we should do..any suggestions??Is renting a car in Tromso to get around a good idea?? However, it seems to be very expensive to do that..but if thats the only and best way to make the most of our time there than we r ready to do tht..
Another idea was to fly to Bodo from Oslo...spend one night in Bodo and try to catch the NL there and drive upto Tromso next day to reach Tromso by late evening...Is this a feasible idea?? Is it really worth making such a quick trip to Bodo? Is it possible to make a day trip to Lofoten by ferry from Bodo..How is driving there in the winter??.I havent come across any blogs about driving there in the winter...
Spend the next three nights in Tromso chasing the lights...Any must-do suggestions while in Tromso??
March 16th early morning fly back to Oslo..now this is the most confusing part..now we have 3 full days and want to make the most of it..One plan is to rent a car from the airport and start driving to Bergen the same morning to spend one night there and next day visit the nearby attractions and start driving back...Is it possible to the Sognefjord and how??..
Intend to be in Oslo for the last day i.e March 18th...to be able to explore the city for the last day...
But here are the doubts I have??Will we be able to do the Oslo-Bergen-Oslo drive in 2 days/1night??Even if we r driving is there something along the route that we should absolutely do..like taking a short train/boat ride??Will we be able to do justice to seeing all the highlights that are included in the NIN tour??Are all the roads easily acccesible in the winter along this route??Another option we are thinking of is to take a regular train from Oslo to Bergen on March 16th..(since we find the NIN ridiculously exp and also becoz we have done such train trips in Switzerland and have not been too impressed)..But will the normal train take us through the highlights along that route..

Also trying to save as much as I can by thinking of the alternatives...any tips on that?? Is the option of renting a car the most expensive one??

Would highly appreciate your expert advise..Looking forward to your response!!!!

Many Thanks!!

Bodø isn't worth the trip, unless you are keen on U2s. It has to be one of the most boring places to visit.

There are plenty of guides who can take you on an NL trip from Tromsø and the tourist information place can also offer oter things like dog sledding and snowmobiling.

Have a look at http://www.visittromso.no/en/

@hetismij2 Thank you so much for your promt response!. Will def skip Bodo then and save time and money there..

Any other suggestions about driving in the south and doing the Oslo-Bergen-Oslo by NIN vs NSB train vs car??

If you plan to do only the section of the fjord covered by the NIN, then do it via public transportation. NIN is simply a package of various modes of transportation: the regular (NSB?) train between Oslo and Bergen, the cog railway between Myrdal and Flåm, the ferry to the next connecting road, the bus up to the main railroad line, and the regular train to Bergen. I would skip it only if you plan a car itinerary along some other road in the fjord country. I did not find the road between Bergen and Flåm particularly scenic because of all its tunnels. You might want to take a look at my trip report; click on my name to find it.

If you want to do Flåm by train, just take the regular service from Oslo to Bergen and change at Myrdal. You could go back to Bergen by fast ferry and then do Bergen - Oslo. There's a night train too.

Thank you so much for your responses @Michael & @menachem

I think I will most likely take the NSB train from Oslo to Bergen and spend the rest of the time exploring scenic areas in and around Bergen.

Any recommendations on the must-do's while in Bergen for 1 night 2 days. How can I visit the Sognefjords??

I guess this might be a crazy question, but is it possible to do a day trip to Pulpit Rock from Oslo??

<i>I think I will most likely take the NSB train from Oslo to Bergen and spend the rest of the time exploring scenic areas in and around Bergen.</i>

Take the NIN for the extra hours that it takes. You'll see the fjords that way.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/mksfca/...th/4214139791/