8-day itinerary in September

We rented an electric car while in Norway in the fall of 2023. Driving takes a LOT longer than you’d think - it’s not 6-lane super highways, and speeds aren’t that fast, along with twisty mountain roads, tunnels, and the occasional car ferry to cross fjords. Oslo to Gerainger will not be doable in a day, based on our experience (we went from Hafslo to Gerainger and that was an all-day journey).

Seems doable and you will have definitely multiple "scenic beauty" views included.
Do you know the official scenic routes already?

Use full car insurance for OSL - OSL rental car.

In the second part of journey you will be slowed down automatically. Do not rush yourself in the mountain areas - it can end deadly. Rainy weather more possible in September.
Link to traffic map: https://www.vegvesen.no/trafikk#/

12th & 13th: So far no cruise ship(s) called Flåm port. https://www.flamport.no/arrival-list

13th: I would move on and not overnight in Flåm. Check Hardanger scenic route.

14th: unclear if you want to drive Hardangervidda or Odda and E 134.

This may be our once in a lifetime opportunity to visit Norway

Bring a good camera (best is full sensor) with you with a telezoom ending 300 mm +. Rent one if you have no - already 1 week before to train yourself a little bit. All smartphones do not have the necessary quality to keep the beauty of these landscapes. Yes, it makes a real difference.

Please write a short trip report after your journey.

I wish you a great lifetime journey experience.

One more thing: Be prepared that the first 2-3 days you will be tired like hell, not only because of jet-lag but what I call the "fresh air hammer" which you will likely have very directly on Lofoten when wind comes up.

Be also prepared that you taste might change during the journey - depending on how self-sensitive you are.

Thank you so much for your insightful responses. So very helpful. Thank you!

My ability to use all the features of our Canon DSLR in an optimal way is very limited but absolutely it will be a key thing we will carry on this trip. Our iPhone 16 Pro phones do a pretty good job for routine casual pics but anything like landscape photography, I think DSLR even in auto mode often gets better results. Thanks for this tip.

I use Canon by myself. They offer - and I am convinced the other manufacturers too - excellent video tutorials which give you a remarkable difference. Even in A or A+ mode which are very easy to handle the results are excellent. I often use the P mode to get the ideal focus point.

If you invest thousands of USD to do this journey I recommend to invest a few hundred bucks and some time for renting a camera. This is value for decades.

This is a completely revised itinerary after dropping the idea of squeezing in Lofoten Islands. With the flight timing, cost and short duration at the islands, it was no longer appealing although we may have to find some other time to visit this location.
With that said, this is now a full Oslo to Oslo 8-day road trip focusing on natural scenery. I was looking to avoid overnight stay in Flam and ended up having two nights in this plan instead mainly due to convenience for the activities around it. But please recommend alternates and also let me know if this is practical.

Day 1: Oslo to Røldal (Approximately 290 km/180 miles)
Stops:
Haukeli: Scenic mountain views.
Haukelifjell: Beautiful mountain scenery.
Overnight Accommodation: Røldal.

Day 2: Røldal to Bergen via Hardanger Scenic Route (Approximately 200 km/125 miles)
Stops:
Låtefossen Waterfall: Spectacular twin waterfall.
Utne: Picturesque village by the fjord.
Steinsdalsfossen: A waterfall you can walk behind.
Granvin: Scenic area.(can be skipped)
Overnight Accommodation: Bergen.

Day 3: Bergen to Flåm (Approximately 250 km / 155 miles)
Stops:
Steinsdalsfossen: A waterfall you can walk behind.
Tvindefossen: Another beautiful waterfall.
Stegastein viewpoint: Platform offering panoramic views of Aurlandsfjord (this could also be done instead on Day 5 when leaving Flam)
Overnight Accommodation: Flåm.

Day 4: Flåm Railway and Nærøyfjord Cruise
Activities:
Flåm Railway: Scenic train ride from Flåm to Myrdal and back.
Nærøyfjord Cruise: Scenic fjord cruise from Flåm to Gudvangen.
Return to Flåm: Shuttle bus from Gudvangen back to Flåm.
Overnight Accommodation: Flåm.

Day 5: Flåm to Geiranger via Bøyabreen Glacier (Approximately 240 km /150 miles)
Stops:
Aurlandsfjellet: Scenic "Snow Road" with breathtaking views.
Lærdal Tunnel: The world's longest road tunnel.
Bøyabreen Glacier: Short hike to this beautiful glacier[1].
Geirangerfjord Cruise: Start in Geiranger and end in Hellesylt, allowing you to bring your car on board.
Overnight Accommodation: Geiranger.

Day 6: Geiranger Area Attractions
Activities:
Geirangerfjord Cruise (if not done on prev day): Roundtrip from Geiranger
Flydalsjuvet: Famous viewpoint for stunning fjord views.
Dalsnibba/Skywalk: Panoramic views of the fjord.
Geiranger Village: Explore the charming village.
Overnight Accommodation: Geiranger.

Day 7: Geiranger to Lom via Sognefjellet Approximately 200 km /125 miles)

Stops:
Dalsnibba: Spectacular views from the Geiranger Skywalk.
Sognefjellet: Scenic mountain pass with breathtaking views.
Overnight Accommodation: Lom.

Day 8: Lom to Oslo via Valdresflye (Approximately 350 km /217 miles)
Stops:
Valdresflye: Enjoy panoramic views and short walks in the scenic mountain plateau[2].
Viewpoints: Stop at designated viewpoints like Rjupa, Vargbakkane, and Flye1389 for breathtaking vistas[2].
Activities: Short hikes of up to 30 minutes one way to Fisketjernnuten, Grønekinnkampen, and Smørkoll[2].
Continue to Oslo: Drive from Valdresflye to Oslo.

Overnight Accommodation: Oslo.

Summary of Stops and Distances

Day 1: Oslo to Røldal (290 km, 5 hours)
Day 2: Røldal to Bergen (200 km, 4 hours)
Day 3: Bergen to Flåm (170 km, 3 hours)
Day 4: Flåm Railway and Nærøyfjord Cruise
Day 5: Flåm to Geiranger via Bøyabreen Glacier (240 km, 5 hours)
Day 6: Geiranger Area Attractions
Day 7: Geiranger to Lom via Sognefjellet (200 km, 4 hours)
Day 8: Lom to Oslo via Valdresflye (350 km, 6 hours)

Glad that you are fine-tuning your plans. There are some days with long drives. If you stop every so often for a break from the drive (we never saw any truck stop or “auto plaza” type pull-offs like places like the U.S. and France have on their super highways), every small town seems to have at least one carry with nice sweet rolls, cake, etc., and coffee, tea, and other beverages.

As for waterfalls, you’ll probably see more spectacular ones in Norway than you could ever imagine m, even in September. It seemed that we saw at least one, and sometimes twin waterfalls, or several in a stretch around every curve. Sometimes there were pull-offs, if you wanted to stop for a longer look, or even to walk closer to the falls.

I can't help with a driving tour since we did our 2023 Norway trip without a car. But, I do suggest you book your Flåm lodging ASAP because pickings are slim and prices are high.