I am still wondering if that could be a lot of driving up north for one day, but I am sure is a beautiful and unique area and sure to be enjoyed! Have fun!

Just to add a comment: I was on holiday in the Sognefjord area last summer and I really enjoyed this spectacular area. I drove from Oslo via Lillehammer to Jotunheimen, on to Ålesund via Geiranger and from Ålesund down to Luster which is a sidefjord to Sognefjord.

If I were you I might consider taking the "national tourist route" over Sognefjellet instead of going to Roros.

The Sognefjord changes a bit depending on where you are, near Balestrand it is very wide, in the innermost regions (as Luster) it is much more narrow, and IMO more dramatic. I liked the Lustrafjord very much, and there were not that many tourists around. A short hike took me to perhaps the most stunning scenery I've seen even in Norway.

Geiranger was quite nice, full of tourists, but still worth a detour.

If driving all around Scandinavia isn't enough, get a sense of accomplishment by stopping in Jotunheimen and climbing (walking) the highest mountain in Norway, Galdhøpiggen.

Eri, Please send me your report also to [email protected]. Thanks

There is some very useful information in this chat line.
Were travelling to Norway in 4 weeks.
Our itinerary is UK fery -> Bergen (3n)-> Voss (3n)-> Urnes (3n)-> Lillehammer (1n)-> Oslo (4n)-> Risor (4n)-> Kristiansand (1n)-> Stavanger (2n) then ferry -> UK.
Most of this is hostelling. I'm wondering whether we should drive or ferry up to Alesund and the drive over to Roros rather than Voss/Urnes. Any thoughts. Any ideas on what not-to-miss?
Thanks

It dependeds on what you want to do while in Norway. From my experience (8 times in Norway) I feel that you are staying too long in each place and will miss a lot of the beautiful sights. Are you driving? How do you plan to get from one place to the other? Please explain and I'll try my best to answer you accordingly.

Hi, I am picking up my new volvo in Gothenberg, Sweden on September 18, then we plan to drive/tour for three weeks. Sweden,Norway and Denmark. I can drop the car for shipment to US in Copenhagen and fly home. Would like suggestions on itinerary, hotels etc..During this time of year do we need resrvations? Like to stay in interesting places s.a. castles,manors...
Thanks for help, Alex

Eri, what a generous offer. I would like a copy, too. [email protected]

eri,

I'm planning to drive from stockholm-Oslo-Bergen-Oslo-Stockholm. I have 2 weeks and is trying not to back track on my itinerary. Any suggestions?

Thanx in advance. Appreciate if you could email your popular "advice sheet" to me at [email protected]

Thank you :)

dt-- strongly suggest: Stockholm-Drammen via Karlstad. Skip Oslo at the beggining of the trip, leave it for the end. You can overnight on Drammen (pretty) or Kongsberg (more industrial). Hop on Route 40 towards Geilo (breathtaking countryside). Between Veggli and Kravik there is a wonderful B&B on Route 40 left side if heading to Geilo ($80 night/furnished apartment; lake and waterfalls on the backyard, belongs to Mangor and Kathryna; wonderful hosts). Once at Geilo (take a break at Geilo, great tourist info office), you can head out towards Bergen using Route 1 (borders the Hardangervidda National Park; the Voringfossen are spectacular; Hardanger is gorgeous) or Route 50 towards Flam, down to Voss on to Bergen. Either way is pretty. Stay on Bergen a couple of days (beautiful town!) and then head out to the Sognefjord area. This fjords area blew my mind with its majesty. We visited Oppedal, Vik, Undredal, Urnes, Borgund (obviously into stave churches!). I loved Flam as well. On to Oslo we took highway E16. Oslo is a great city, very expensive though. We stayed at the Hotel Bristol; gorgeous hotel, go there at least for a drink. When are you going? Please keep us posted on your trip!!:-D

Viajero2

thanx for your great suggestion! my gang is heading out in August and will keep you o posted on our wonderful trip :)

eri, I would highly appreciate to send me your advice sheet to: modeleromy at gmail dot com. Thanks.

eri, please send me your Norway notes too! [email protected].

If I can ever help you with info on Italy, particularly, the Amalfi Coast, please ask. I would love to return the favor.

WT

Hello,

I am also planning 2 week trip to northern Norway in summer 2006. Probably it will be self-driving tour (or a combination of flying, boating and driving), since I am amateur photographer and would like to have flexibility to be in places either early in the morning or late in the evening. So far my itinerary includes just Lofoten Islands (probably we will stay a week there in a couple of places). Can you, dear travelers recommend me some other great pictures places within a driving day from Lofoten, what is the best way to get there from Oslo? I would greatly appreciate any related information.
Eri, if you see this post, please email me you report to [email protected]
Thank you, everyone!

We, too, are planning a trip to Sweden and Norway. We arrive on june 10 for 2 weeks. We plan to drive from Stockholm to Norway. It is much cheaper to rent the car in Sweden than Norway( even with the drop off charge in Oslo)
We want to spend most of the time in the countryside seeing the mountains and fjords.
I would appreciate it if ERI could also send me his ADVISE SHEET. My email is [email protected]
Do we have to be concerned with ferry reservations in advance or can we just show up. We don't like to travel on a set schedule. How about B&B's to stay in. Are there any?
Our plan is to drive from Oslo to Bergen and then north as far as Trondheim and back to Oslo on the inland route assuming there are mountains that way. Am I right? We could reverse the direction if it is prettier to go southbound.
Can we see the magnificence of the Flam area that all talk about on the train ride by car? Or do we have to take the train and then get back in the car? Is it worth it to overnight in Flam. We are looking for some easy,but scenic hiking. We are 60 years old, but in OK shape.
Sorry for being so wordy,but the thoughts keep coming.
Thank you all in advance for your help.
Shelli

We were in Norway in July of 2005. Flam is very touristy, but I would still recommend going on the Flam railroad- it is great. I think you can take the railroad up to Mydral and then walk or bike down again to Flam.

We stayed 2 nights in Balestrand. It is a very quiet village. At dinner time tour buses drove in for an hour or so and the tourists ate at Kvikne's Hotel but other than that the place is dead quiet AND BEAUTIFUL. There are only a handful of shops. We stayed at Balestrand Inn. Smaller and quieter than Kvikne's. We ate dinner at Kvikne's though.

We took kayak lessons in Balestrand. It was wonderful and fun. We had never gone before and even my 13 year old daughter liked it.

You might want to g to Fjaerland. It is a very very small book town --13 or 14 little shops set up in peoples houses and garages. ( There are only about 15 houses in the whole town) There are 2 cafe's there also. We enjoyed going from shop to shop- lots of books in English. Fjaerland is also where the Glacier museum is. Nice museum and a bus takes you to see the glaciers. Somewhere around there you can drive on a highway under the glacier. We didn't have a car, just got there by ferry, but if you drive that might be fun.

You will LOVE Trondheim!

Eri, thank you for so much information. My head is spinning as I try to sort out my options. Perhaps you can help with a decision between taking the Norway in a Nutshell tour or self driving. We (my husband and I along with two other adults) will arrive in Oslo on Aug. 20th and depart via Paris on the 26th. We would like to make our way to Bergen, see the most beautiful sites and be back in Oslo on the 25th. Do you have any suggestions for tours, etc. and places to stay throughout our trip? Thank you all so very much for your help.

Eri,

Could I also get a copy of your "Advice Sheet" for self-drive tour of Norway? [email protected]

Many thanks,
Eileen in Tennessee

Eri,
Can you please send me a copy of your advice for self-drive in Norway at roman_days(at)yahoo(dot)com ?

We were thinking of a Norway trip in 2006, but plans changed and we are going to Croatia instead. But hopefully Norway in 2007… Thanks a lot

Bogger,
Sorry for not answering sooner. I read your planned schedule and feel that you don't have enough time for anything in your trip. If you absolutely cannot make more time, maybe you could fly directly to Bergen and also depart from Bergen. Omit Oslo. This would give you more time for the fjords.
I can't offer an opinion about the nutshell trip, simply because we always self drive. We find that this way we can stay in the most interesting parts and places, stop where we want and see the most.
Sorry for not being able to help you more.