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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 the 3 main fjords of Western Norway, 3 scenic rail lines & spectacular excursions. Overnight stay in the capital Oslo, the small fjord village of Balestrand, picturesque Bergen and historic Trondheim.
Highlights: Train ride on the Flåm Railway, Bergen Line and Dovre Line. Cruise on the Sognefjord, the Hardangerfjord and the UNESCO Geirangerfjord, or Hjørundfjord. Måbødalen canyon and Vøringsfossen waterfall. 2 nights on board a Havila Voyages ship or Hurtigruten ship.

If you have a clear preference for which supplier you would like to travel with (Havila Voyages or Hurtigruten), please contact us as they sail on different days.

• This is an independent tour (you do not travel with a group), some activities include a guide
• You can add extra nights and activities in the booking process
• Prices: From NOK 37500 per adult

Day to day itinerary:

Oslo Opera House - Photo By Bob Engelsen

Enjoy a stay in urban Oslo!

DAY 1

First night in Oslo

Individual arrival in 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

Bergen line. Photo by Rune Fossum, NSB

Beautiful scenery along the Bergen Line!

Balestrand village. Photo credit Kviknes hotel

Stay in charming 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

The Flåm 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 Flåm Railway

Sognefjord cruise: Disembark in the village of Flåm, where you board the express boat for the fjord cruise to the beautifully located Balestrand fjord village – you will experience the main 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

Fløybanen in Bergen - Photo by Casper Steinsland - Visit Bergen

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 with coach to Norheimsund, where you will board an express boat for a scenic fjord cruise on the beautiful Hardangerfjord. Sail past fruit orchards, waterfalls and tall mountains. The boat stops at a number of charming fjord villages along the route.

Disembark in the tiny village of Eidfjord for a connecting sightseeing trip by coach.

Read about the Hardangerfjord

Vøringsfossen Waterfall at Hardangervidda Mountain Plateau - Photo by Bob Engelsen

See the Måbødalen canyon with Vøringsfossen waterfall!

Måbødalen canyon & Vøringsfossen waterfall*

The coach taking you to Vøringsfossen Waterfall makes a stop at Hardanger Nature Centre, an experience centre with interactive stations, showcasing the flora and fauna of Hardangervidda National Park.

Continuing with a drive up the steep Måbødalen valley, the coach takes you to the edge of the Hardangervidda mountain plateau, with dramatic views of the impressive Vøringsfossen 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.

*From September 16 the sightseeing coach in Eidfjord will be replaced by taxi to see the Måbødalen canyon and the Vøringsfossen waterfall. The Hardanger Nature Centre is not included with this option.

Sailboats by Bryggen in Bergen by Bob Andre Engelsen

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 Fløyen, before the cruise departure at 8:30PM on one of the authentic Hurtigruten ships or the environmentally friendly Havila Voyages ships from Bergen to Trondheim.
Spend 2 nights on board
The authentic Hurtigruten
 Read about Havila
General information & facilities on board Hurtigruten

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 Vestland 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 Ålesund in the morning, then it continues for a fjord cruise on the main Storfjord before it turns into 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 & October the ship sails into the dramatic, unknown Hjørundfjord instead of the Geirangerfjord.
Read about the Geirangerfjord
Read about the Hjørundfjord

View of the Geirangerfjord. Photo by Fred Jonny Hammero/More og Romsdal fylke

An unforgettable view from the Eagle's Road!

Land excursion from Geiranger*

Ørnesvingen Eagle’s Road: Join this exciting land excursion by coach, taking you from the fjord and sea level via hairpin bends to Ørnesvingen (Eagle’s Road), with a marvellous view of the Geirangerfjord below.
Cross 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 Åndalsnes fjord village, then along local fjord areas to the town of Molde, where you rejoin the ship.
Read about the Trollstigen Hurtigruten excursion
Read about The Geiranger and Trollstigen Havila excursion

*In September & October, there will be an amzing land excursion from Urke in the Hjørundfjord area instead of the Eagle Road & Trollstigen road.
Read about the Hjørundfjord Hurtigruten excursion – A taste of Norway
Read about the Hjørundfjord Havila excursion – Guided cultural walk in the fjords
Possible to upgrade to the Hjørundfjord Havila excursion – Electric bike adventure in Hjørundfjorden

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 the beautiful medieval 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

Dovre Railway by Torje Bjorback, 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.

Waterfall at Akerselva river by Tord Baklund, Visit Norway

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 or Havila Voyages cruise
2 nights in standard outside cabin w. private facilities
All meals on board (excl. drinks) – breakfast, lunch & 3-course dinner

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

Train Trondheim-Oslo

Activities & Excursions
Unescorted Hardanger day trip incl. Måbødalen canyon & Vøringsfossen waterfall
Geiranger with Trollstigen Pass incl. dinner, OR Hjørundfjord excursion

All taxes & VAT
Detailed itinerary & directions

NOT INCLUDED:
 International flights to/from Norway
 Airport transfers
 Personal travel insurance

 

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

Enjoy a spectacular view from Mt Fløyen 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

Book safely with Fjord Travel Norway – a local, Norwegian travel company. We have been in business for more than 20 years, offering tours based on our goal of sustainable tourism.



Questions about this tour?

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

What our customers say:

  • On behalf of the group I would like to thank you and your colleagues for organizing our wonderful tour of Norway. Everything went very well including the weather, which was spectacular. We enjoyed all the hotels, the central locations you chose and the amenities, especially the lavish breakfasts. Three extra days in Oslo allowed us to tour the city at our leisure and to enjoy more of the important sights including the newly opened National Museum. The Norway in a Nutshell tour was amazing and made much easier by using your recommended porterage service between hotels in Oslo and Bergen. Both the train journeys and the boat trip were spectacular, and combined with a night in the beautiful Kviknes Hotel made for an unforgettable two days. We were very impressed by the Hurtigruten cruise, particularly the way they combined a working ship with a cruise ship, the comfortable accommodations, the food and service. It was fascinating to visit all the various ports, islands and fjords and the two included tours were excellent and informative. In the end we were glad to have the extra night in Kirkenes, to visit their lovely museum and take a trip to the Russian border. It was a good way to end the tour. Again, thank for staying with us through 2 years of pandemic postponements and changes. We certainly will recommend Fjord Travel in the future.

    Marilyn, United States

  • I wanted to thank everybody. We had a wonderful trip. Everything went well and fortunately we had the chance to see the lights while on the cruise. All my friends in Turkey would like to go on a similar trip. So I will be in touch with you. Thanks again and best wishes to all of you.

    Candan, Turkey

  • Thank you for assisting us with our trip to Norway. We thoroughly enjoyed our time in Kirkenes and the Snow Hotel. The arrangements you made for us were perfect. The lodging was comfortable and the excursions were fun. Tom and I rarely use the services of a travel company when we travel; you enriched our trip and made the planning easy.

    Alison, United States