Please sign in to post.

Updated itinerary feedback for 8 days in September

Posted by (USA) on

Hello, I previously posted our early draft itinerary for an 8 -day trip to Norway. After reviewing responses here and some more online research, here is the plan we have come up with. Since we have never been to Norway, requesting practical feedback.

For long drives between Bergen-Geiranger and Geiranger-Flam, we have looked up scenic routes that we plan to take.

One thing we know is our plan is super packed only because we have fixed number of days and are trying to take in as much scenic beauty of Norway as we can. Not as much into adventure but easy to moderate short hikes are Ok for scenic reward. No time to relax as such during the trip.
Thank you.

7-Sep - Arrive OSL by 9 AM, Fly to Bodo, Rent car, Ferry to Moskenes, drive to hotel (Overnight: Reine)
8-Sep - Explore north part of Lofoten Island (Overnight: Reine)
9-Sep - Explore areas closer ro Reine (Overnight: Reine)
10-Sep = Leave early AM by Ferry to Bodo, return car, fly to Bergen, Drive to Geiranger (Overnight: Geiranger)
11-Sep - Roundtrip cruise Geirangerfjord (2 1/2 hours), Drive to Flam (6 1/2 hours), Stop at Stegastein Viewpoint (Overnight: Flam)
12-Sep - One way Naeroyfjord cruise to Gudvangen, train from Gudvangen to Flam, Roundtrip Flam Railway (2 ½ hours) from Flam to Myrdal. (Overnight: Granvin)
13-Sep - Hardranger scenic route: Granvin --> Steinsdalsfossen --> Tørvikbygd --> Ferry to Jondal --> Utne --> Ferry to Kinsarvik --> Latefossen (Overnight: Latefossen)
14-Sep - Drive to Oslo: Latefossen --> Roldal --> Haukelifjell --> Haukeli --> Telemark (optional adds minimum 1 ½ hours drive) --> Oslo (Overnight: Oslo)
15-Sep - Return car, Flight back home

Posted by
3672 posts

I do not see the value of Bodo on way to / from Lofoten. And the sea in September can be rough. How about EVE, SVJ or LKN?

Imo you are overdoing Sep 10-12. This is not fun what you are planning to do. Norway experience is not "been-there, took a photo". You will miss Bergen totally - even landing there. So you can fly into Alesund with shorter way to Geiranger.

I guess that the driving times you have are from Google Maps? In this area they are very theoretically because around the fjords you will have a lot of curvy and narrow streets (sometimes just one lane for both directions, unregulated) with counter traffic such as motor-homes, buses and large trucks. Animals on the street can also happen. So, full concentrated driving is needed in every driving moment.

Be aware of sunrise and sunset times - from both you can reduce 1 - 1,5 hour(s) in morning and evening in the western fjords because factually the sun does not have a chance to shine over the mountains. It is some kind of dawn.

Did you check price for one-way car rental?

Posted by
5 posts

Thank you, MarkK. I was originally considering LKN but there were relatively more flight options from Oslo for Bodo in the 11am-2 pm and at almost half the price. I had considered additional ferry time from Bodo but didn't realize sea conditions can also be a factor to consider. We will account for this.

As for 2 days in Lofoten, the videos I have seen are so tempting that I inserted that into the plan which was otherwise going to focus on an easy paced Norway in a Nutshell equivalent tour. I don't know if we will get another opportunity to travel to Norway and that is the driver. i appreciate the candid feedback and will revisit the idea.

Going to Alesund from Lofoten is an option I had considered but it costs even more in one way rental to Oslo (compared to approx 650 USD from Bergen as a starting point) but if it saves us a full-day (which can be spent in Lofoten) of travel from Bergen to Geiranger, we will try to revisit this. Yes, driving times are from Google maps and will be mindful of the factors you mentioned.

Thank you again for this helpful feedback.

Add Reply

Please do not reply to violations of our Community Guidelines.