Norway's Fjords

We toured the fjords on our own and found the area quite easy to navigate. Here are my suggestions: Pick up a rental car in Bergen, drive to Voss. Next day, drive to Flam (very scenic drive), take the train up the mountain round trip, then stop at the Vik stave church near the ferry, take the ferry across to Balestrand. Stay the night at Kvikne's Hotel and spend the extra for a fjord view room in the old building - the experience is something you will remember for years. If you still have more time, drive up to the Geiranger fjord, staying there two nights. (Grande Fjord Hotel) On your full day there, take the ferry round trip and you will see all of those waterfalls they are always featuring in the cruise ship ads. Next morning, drive back to Bergen. Enjoy an afternoon in Bergen, touring the Bryggen and taking the train up the mountainside......... Driving in Norway is very easy - the roads are excellent and when the roads reach the top of the mountain they usually go through a tunnel instead of having a bunch of hairpin turns.

Thank you so much for that info! If I follow ur itinerary would that include seeing the Naerofjord? If we drove is there also boat rides around each of the fjords?

Hello Sarah,
We did not visit the Naeroyfjord but it looks like you can easily drive there. The ferry from Vik to Balestrand stops at Hella. You could get off there and drive about thirty miles east to see the Naeroyfjord, which is an arm of the Sognefjord. After your visit there, you could return to Hella and take the third (short) leg of the ferry to Balestrand. A google search for boat rides turned up the link below. However, you also would get an hours long boat tour by taking the round trip ferry from Geiranger. http://www.visitnorway.com/en/Where-to-go/Fjord-Norway/Flam/What-to-do-in-Flam/Attractions-in-Flam/The-Naroyfjord-and-Aurlandsfjord/

Hi Sara; not a fan of tours here, either (before every trip, I spend many weeks/months researching each destination, planning, etc. so that I can do it on my own), but that said....."Norway in a Nutshell" IS one organized excursion I was very glad I did! It was not so much for what I saw vs. what I would have seen doing it on my own, but more so b/c it just makes the entire day and all of the connections so damn easy! As you'll see, if you end up doing it, it's very well-organized and runs like clock-work. The train ride from Oslo (the 1st leg) is great fun and the track rises and lowers dramatically and takes you past gorgeous water-falls, and stops at one, too. And then the connection in Flam, I believe, to the boat that takes you out to the Fjords (the Sognefjord is the highlight) is super-convenient. After the boat leg, you have a choice; some people return to Oslo, or you can go on (by bus; also part of the "Nutshell" trip) to Bergen in the west, which is what I did. I spent that night and the next day in Bergen (very pretty city on the water), and then returned that 2nd night, via train, to Oslo. I know some opt to do the entire thing on their own (which, again, is normally my nature), but I heard so many good things about "Nutshell" and just figured I'd get to focus on all of the beauty before me....w/o the headache of navigating the route! And that's exactly what I got to do! Whatever you choose, you will love Norway; the fjords and natural beauty, as well as the cities of Oslo and Bergen....it's all spectacular. Enjoy.

Last June we flew into Oslo, rented a car and drove Aurland for 3 nights. As mentioned before, driving is very easy in Norway. It was very easy to get around in Fjord area. We took a zodiak boat tour that RS mentions in his book and it was great. Without a car it would be tough to get around. Have a great trip