to rephrase an earlier question - is it possible to use public transportation and see the same sights you see in the Norway in a Nutshell tours...including Geirangerfjord...in early September? Has anyone compared the prices of the Nutshell tours to doing it all on your own? Thanks.
Posted by
Virginia, USA
5847 posts
A good portion of the Norway-in-a-Nutshell route does use public transportation. NiN is not so much a tour as a series of coordinated segments. For example, on the Oslo to Bergen route: -Oslo to Myrdal (train) -Myrdal to Flåm (Flåmsbana train) -Flåm to Gudvangan (ferry) -Gudvangan to Voss (bus) -Voss to Bergen (train) You can buy tickets for the Oslo-Myrdal and Voss-Bergen legs from www.nsb.no. The Flåmsbana leg can be bought as a one-way ticket for 260 NOK
www.visitflam.no/flaamsbana/priser/ Similarly you can get a ticket on the ferry. www.fjord1.no The bus info is www.skyss.no. I don't actually know that you would save any money if you bought each leg separately. You would have to search and check the prices. I was always under the impression that NiN just packaged all the legs together. It has been years since I took this particular route and I did it on a railpass.
Posted by
Medford, OR, USA
5837 posts
As Laura notes, the Norway in a Nutshell tour is really a combination of modes of transportation between Oslo and Bergen that takes you through a literal cross section of southern Norway. The tour can be one way (e.g. Oslo to Bergen or reverse) or a return trip, or even a just a part of the route. The tour was/is often pitched as a 24 hour tour by taking on overnight sleeper return leg. Or the tour can be a multiple day tour with an overnight stay partway across Norway and overnight stays in Bergen (if starting from Oslo) etc. As to self-booking, you can get better prices booking NSB train travel in advance by buying "minipris" tickets. However, these tickets are no-refund and for specific trains. As an example, the NSB rules require a minimum 60 minute connect to be assured that your connecting travel will be valid. The value of a package transportation booking would be first, saving time in figuring out the logistics, and having some assurance that your connections will be seamless. As I recall, in 2000, the connection between the NSB train and the Flam was essentially no layover. The Flam train waited for the NSB train from Oslo. Bottom line is that the Nutshell tour is a great (scenic) introduction to Norway but is getting more expensive relative to the US dollar as Norway prospers.