Leave San Francisco 24 June and Arrive Oslo>Alesund 25 June and collapse (haha)

26, 27 June in Alesund (will need at least one day to recuperate and relax - don't want to go crazy)

28 June, pick up rental car, drive to Hellsyt and Geriangerfjord, stay in Gerianger or close

29 June Open day for flexible exploration...

30 June drive to Sognefjord area - looking at Ballestrand now as a base or other hotels nearby...

July 1, 2, 3 and 4 stay in Sogenfjord area

5 July, transfer to Bergen, drop car

July 6 and 7 in Bergen

July 8 Bergen>Oslo via "Nutshell" transportation route

July 9 and 10 in Oslo

July11 return SFO via LHR

Comments/Suggestions?

Are you flying on SAS? IF so, consider signing up for an upgrade to business class [with almost flat bed seats] using optiontown.com It is a way to upgrade at a fraction of the price. We have done it twice before and are awaiting upgrade for another flight next month.

Looks good. You might want to take a look at my trip report, although we traveled the fjord area in reverse, to see if there are things of particular interest along the route; click on my name to find the report.

We also did the reverse trip... your itinerary looks good. We did spend the night in Flam in the middle of the 'nutshell' and thought it was a good stopping point.

I'd recommend both Geiranger (though you might be overrun with cruise ships) and Ballestrand.

Geiranger is lovely, although it is only one strip with souvenir shops and glorious surrounding landscape. Hellesylt is where the ferry departs for Geiranger. Instead of Sognefjord, consider the entire region, so including Sognefjell, up to Lom.

The drive across Sognefjell is incredible and quite doable in summer, and Lom is very nice (holiday destination for Norwegians in summer). Many options of staying in a holiday cottage, but my favorite was the quite famous Elveseter hotel.

It's like an art gallery inside, though rooms are very basic, and the history behind the hotel is fascinating. When I first stayed there I texted home that the place was like a Hitlerugend youth hostel, but rather the reverse is true and I didn't do the place justice at all. These people are very much into the old Norse religion though. And if you go to Lom be sure to check out Morten Schakenda's bakery there. It has a tearoom with the best view in the world.

http://authentic-scandinavia.com/hotels/59

Thanks all, and Michael - great report. We are in San Anselmo, by the way.

Actually reversing the trip now starting in Bergen, etc. - one big question mark for us is the weather - how much rain is there likely to be end of June first 10 days of July?

Also, are two full days in Bergen enough? Is one full day enough in Alesund or is two better?

Thanks for the great info.

James

two full days in Bergen are enough, as is one day in Alesund. We had some rain, and the only bad one was on our way to Trondheim.