The Grand Tour of the Fjords

Cruise on Sognefjord by Robin Strand, Visit Bergen

An amazing Fjord cruise round trip – 8 nights

The Grand tour of the Fjords is an extensive round trip based on eco-friendly public transport, with fjord cruises on 3 main fjords of Western Norway, 3 scenic rail lines & spectacular excursions.

• You can add nights & excursions
• This is a Self-guided trip (not with a group)
• Prices from NOK 18995 per adult

Fjord Travel Norway – a local, Norwegian travel company, has been in business for more than 20 years. Our tours are based on our goal of sustainable tourism

Day to day itinerary:

Parliament building, Oslo Norway. Photo by Rita de Lange, Fjord Travel Norway

Enjoy a stay in charming Oslo!

DAY 1

First night in Oslo

Individual arrival to Oslo and check in at a centrally located hotel.
Oslo is beautifully located by the Oslofjord, surrounded by forested hills, with an extensive waterfront, where you will find the Aker Brygge & Tjuvholmen pedestrian areas.
Spend 1 night in Oslo (included in the price)
Read about Oslo

Optional:
Add City sightseeing or Fjord cruises in Oslo

Beautiful scenery along the Bergen line!

Balestrand village. Photo credit Kviknes hotel

Stay in beautiful Balestrand fjord village!

DAY 2

Travel to Balestrand fjord village

Bergen Line: Morning departure by the spectacular Bergen Line, taking you through the scenic Hallingdal valley & across the beautiful Hardangervidda mountain plateau to the mountain station of Myrdal, where you change to

Flam Railway: Enjoy this 1 hour journey from mountain to fjord through the most spectacular scenery, with mountain peaks, waterfalls, tiny farms & a beautiful river.
Read about the Flam Railway

Sognefjord cruise: Disembark in the village of Flam, where you board the express boat for the fjord cruise to the beautifully located Balestrand fjord village – you will experience the entire Sognefjord, starting with the Aurlandsfjord branch, continuing on the main fjord, with calls at tiny fjord villages en route.
Disembark in Balestrand village and check in at the beautifully located Kviknes Hotel.
Spend 1 night in Balestrand

The Funicular in Bergen. Photo by Terje Rakke, Nordic Life/Innovation Norway

Take the Funicular in Bergen, with amazing views!

Day 3

Fjord cruise to Bergen

Continue the cruise on the impressive Sognefjord. At the mouth of the fjord the boat continues along the beautiful coast, through a maze of islands and local fjords, taking you to the very heart of Bergen.
Spend 2 nights in Bergen

Read about the Sognefjord
Read about Bergen

Hardangerfjord on a summer day by Sverre Hjornevik, Fjord Norway

Experience the beautiful Hardangerfjord!

DAY 4

Hardangerfjord day excursion

Full day round trip, starting by train to Voss, where a coach takes you from the train station through beautiful scenery to the tiny fjord village of Ulvik.
Board the express boat to start the scenic fjord cruise on the beautiful Hardangerfjord, disembarking in the tiny village of Eidfjord for a connecting sightseeing trip by coach.

Read about the Hardangerfjord

Voringfoss waterfall and Maabodal canyon. Photo by Rita de Lange, Fjord Travel Norway

See the Mabodal canyon with Voringsfoss waterfall!

Mabodal canyon & Voringsfoss waterfall

The coach takes you through the breathtaking Mabodal canyon to the edge of the Hardangervidda mountain plateau, with dramatic views of the impressive Voringsfossen waterfall – among Norway’s most famous natural features, with a free-falling drop of approx. 180 m.

Return to Eidfjord village and continue by fjord cruise to Norheimsund fjord village, where you disembark. Then by coach across Kvamskogen mountain plateau back to Bergen, passing the impressive Steinsdalsfossen waterfall.

Bergen at sunset by Willy Haraldsen, Visit Bergen

Goodbye to beautifully located Bergen!

DAY 5

Bergen & Evening cruise departure

Spend the day at leisure in Bergen – see the Fish Market, the old UNESCO Bryggen wharf, take the Funicular to the top of Mount Floyen, before the cruise departure at 8PM on one of the authentic Hurtigruten ships from Bergen to Trondheim.
Spend 2 nights on board
The authentic Hurtigruten
General information & facilities on board

Cruise to Mostraumen by Rodne Fjordcruise

Enjoy a cruise to the narrow Mostraumen strait!

Optional add-on:

3 hour fjord cruise to Mostraumen strait
This spectacular tour from Bergen takes you up the 27-km long Osterfjord in Hordaland province. Underway, the fjord narrows between the steep mountains as you are brought safely through the strong currents of the shallow and narrow Mostraumen strait.

The add-ons with prices will appear during the tour booking process.

The Unesco Geirangerfjord Norway. Photo by Terje Rakke, Nordic Life/Destinasjon Geiranger Trollstigen

Experience the 7 waterfalls in the Geirangerfjord!

DAY 6

Geirangerfjord cruise*

The ship arrives to the coastal town of Alesund in the morning, then it continues for a fjord cruise on the main Storfjord before it turns in to the beautiful UNESCO Geirangerfjord, with waterfalls and steep mountain sides.
Arrival to the tiny fjord village of Geiranger after lunch. Disembark in tender boats to join the land excursion.
*In September the ship sails in to the dramatic, unknown Hjorundfjord instead of the Geirangerfjord.
Read about the Geirangerfjord

Geirangerfjord. Photo by Fred Jonny Hammero-More og Romsdal fylke

An unforgettable view from the Eagle's Road!

Land excursion from Geiranger*

Eagle’s Road: Join this exciting land excursion by coach, taking you from the fjord and sea level via hairpin bends to the Eagle’s Road, with a marvellous view of the Geirangerfjord below.

Across the mountain and descend to the fjord, with a short ferry crossing before the coach starts the trip across the next mountain.

View of Trollstigen Road by Agurtxane Concellon, Hurtigruten

Experience the breathtaking Trollstigen Road!

Trollstigen hairpin road: Enjoy a breathtaking view & a dramatic descend via the spectacular Trollstigen hairpin road through the most spectacular scenery to Andalsnes fjord village, then along local fjord areas to the town of Molde, where you rejoin the ship.
Read about the Trollstigen excursion

*In September there will be an amazing land excursion in the Hjorundfjord instead of the Eagle Road & Trollstigen road.
Read about the Hjorundfjord excursion – A taste of Norway

Colourful Trondheim by Morten Sage, Visit Trondheim

Take a walk in authentic, historic Bakklandet in Trondheim!

DAY 7

Arrival to historic Trondheim

Disembark after breakfast, with a short taxi drive to a centrally located hotel. Spend the rest of the day at leisure in this picturesque town, with Norway’s only cathedral; Nidarosdomen, several authentic areas with tiny, wooden houses and a selection of large historic wooden buildings.
Spend 1 night in Trondheim
Read about Trondheim
See more pictures from Trondheim

The Dovre rail line Norway. Photo by Rune Fossum, NSB

Experience the scenic Dovre Line!

DAY 8

By the Dovre Line to Oslo

Morning departure from Trondheim. Enjoy the beautiful train journey across the Dovrefjell mountain plateau and through the scenic Gudbrandsdal valley to Oslo. Check in to a centrally located hotel as per day 1.
Spend 1 night in Oslo (included in the price)

Optional:
You can add nights in Oslo during the tour booking process.

Akerselva river by Tord Baklund, Visit Oslo

Off the beaten path in Oslo; a cascading waterfall in Akerselva river!

Munch Museum Oslo by Tord Baklund, Visit Oslo

See original Edvard Munch paintings in Oslo!

National Theatre Oslo by Didrick Stenersen, Visit Oslo

See Henrik Ibsen in front of the National Theatre in Oslo!

This trip includes:

Accommodation
4* Hotels w. breakfast buffet (+dinner in Balestrand)
in Oslo, Balestrand, Bergen & Trondheim

Hurtigruten cruise
2 nights in standard outside cabin w. separate beds & private facilities
Breakfast on board

Transport
Sognefjord in a Nutshell combination ticket:
Train Oslo-Myrdal
Flam Railway Myrdal-Flam
Express boat Flam-Balestrand-Bergen

Train Trondheim-Oslo

Activities & Excursions
Unescorted Hardangerfjord day trip incl. Mabodal canyon & Voringsfossen waterfall
Geiranger with Trollstigen Pass incl. dinner, OR Hjorundfjord: A taste of Norway excursion

All taxes & VAT

View of Bergen from Mt Floyen by Oyvind Heen, Visit Bergen

Enjoy a spectacular view from mount Floyen in Bergen!

PRICES & BOOKING

Choose a start date, room & number of persons, whereupon the prices will appear in the tour summary box.

Booking & payment procedures
Our travel arrangements
General terms & conditions

Questions about this tour?

Contact us:
Use our contact form, send e-mail to [email protected], or
call us on +47 (55) 131-310 (Mon-Fri 09:00 to 15:30 local time)

BOOK THIS TOUR

ITINERARY

Colorful Bergen by Sonja Arrepia, Visit Bergen

Day 1 – Hotel in Oslo
Day 2 – Train to Myrdal
Flam Railway
Express boat to Balestrand
Dinner & hotel in Balestrand
Day 3 – Express boat to Bergen
Hotel in Bergen
Day 4 – Day trip to Hardangerfjord incl. Mabodal canyon & Voringsfossen waterfall
Hotel in Bergen
Day 5 – Bergen evening cruise departure
Day 6 – Cruise & Geiranger w. Trollstigen pass, or Hjorundfjord
Day 7 – Trondheim cruise arrival
Hotel in Trondheim
Day 8 – Train to Oslo
Hotel in Oslo

THIS TRIP IS AVAILABLE

From May 28 to Sep 27

Booking deadline:
22 days prior to tour start

View prices & departures
Choose start date, room & persons, whereupon the prices will appear in the Tour summary box

OUR TRIPS
are self-guided, with escorted activities
Read about travel like a local

Sustainable tourism

Our trips are based on our goal of sustainable tourism with eco-friendly travel that leaves as small an environmental footprint on our nature as possible. We strive to provide an authentic and local experience, with public and environmentally friendly transport like trains, electrical cruise ferries, and buses. The cruise company we use seriously aims to protect the Norwegian coast and is a world leader in sustainable cruising.

Rita de Lange, founder of Fjord Travel Norway

Fjord Travel Norway is a family owned, Norwegian company based in Bergen. We have been in business for more than 20 years.
Based on our local know-how we focus on authentic travel experiences in Norway, always trying to provide the very best, hassle-free and seamless itineraries, activities & accommodations.

Meet our team

About the Fjords

UNESCO Naeroyfjord by Sverre Hjornevik, Flam AS

During the ice age both the ice and the rivers carved deep valleys in the mountains. As the climate changed, most of the ice melted, and the valleys were gradually filled with salt water from the coast, thus creating the fjords. Not all of the ice melted though, leaving parts of the high mountain areas covered with ice, thus creating the glaciers.

The main fjords are located in the western parts of southern Norway. The Sognefjord is the largest fjord in Norway, stretching 205 km inland, thus you will find salt sea water in the middle of the country.

About Bergen

Bergen Fish Market by Robin Strand, Visit Bergen

Bergen is beautifully located by the fjord, surrounded by 7 mountains, picturesque hillsides with tiny wooden houses & narrow streets. Along the waterfront you find the picturesque UNESCO Bryggen wharf, with beautiful, wooden wharf houses from the Hanseatic era.

Due to the unique geography of Norway, with fjords carving their way from the coast and far into the countryside, Bergen was in the older days quite isolated from the rest of Norway, but on the other hand, the city was open to Europe, with a large fleet of wooden sail ships carrying dried cod to the European markets, mainly in Italy, Spain & Portugal, for their bacalao and stoccafisso dishes.

Geirangerfjord – UNESCO World Heritage Site

The Flam Railway

Flam Railway View - Tiny Village In The Flam Valley. Photo By Rita de Lange, Fjord Travel Norway

View from the Flam Railway!

One of the steepest railways in Europe: an incredible journey between mountains and fjord. The Flam Railway is a 20-km branch line off the main Bergen Line, it runs through the Flam Valley and connects the main line with Sognefjord and the Flam fjord village.

The line´s elevation difference is 863 m; with ten stations, twenty tunnels and one bridge. The maximum gradient is 5.5 % (1:18). Because of its steep gradient and picturesque nature, the Flam Railway has become one of the most visited tourist attractions in Norway.