Norway's Fjords, Fells & Railways

On arrival to Oslo, you’ll be met by our local HF Holidays Tour Manager who’ll introduce you to the city on a guided tour of Norway’s proud capital and royal seat. Our tour will be partly on foot and partly by coach, to ensure we see the most spectacular sights in this green city, set at the head of the Oslofjord.  We’ll take a walk in Frogner Park, with its beautiful sculptures and visit the interesting Fram Museum. We’ll then go on to our hotel, to unpack and settle in before our set-course evening meal.

Distance:10km / 6.5 miles

Ascent: 50 m / 165 feet

Descent :50 m / 165 feet

Our first full day takes us on one of Europe’s most spectacular railway journeys. The Bergen Railway, departs Oslo, climbing gently through green pastures before ascending beyond the tree line to a beautiful wilderness. Our destination is Vatnahalsen where we’ll stay for two nights. In the afternoon, there’s the option of an easy 3.5-hour walk alongside lakes Reinunga and Seltuft – a great introduction to the region. This hike takes us along the gravel rallar road and the lakeside. Though mainly flat, there is some ascent and descent as we switch between them. We'll continue to our hotel in Myrdal where we'll stay for two nights, enjoying a delicious set local menu each evening.

Distance: 11km / 7 miles

Ascent: 150 m / 495 feet

Descent: 150 m / 495 feet

After a 30-minute walk to Myrdal station, we take the Bergen Railway to nearby Finse, the highest point on the line. Finse lies in the Hardangervidda (Hardanger Mountain Plateau), the largest plateau of its kind in Europe. Today’s highlight is a walk to the viewpoint over the Hardanger Glacier - one of Norway’s biggest. This walk will take around five hours, but the views are worth the effort. We’ll start heading eastwards along the Finsevatnet where our route takes us through terrain which is rough and rocky in part. Surefootedness is required as we cross a suspension bridge, enjoying the surrounding landscapes of mountains and streams.

Distance: 5 km / 3 miles

Ascent: 155 m / 510 feet

Descent: 155 m / 510 feet

The world-famous Flåm Railway twists and turns through rocky landscapes as we descend from high mountains to breath taking fjord scenery. On arrival in Flåm we’ll walk from the town alongside the river, then up the mountainside to the Brekkefossen waterfall. As the trail opens up onto a grassy ledge, we will have a lovely view of the fjord and valley. We’ll make our way back down to the village, where our ferry then sails along awe-inspiring Aurlandsfjord and into Sognefjord, where we stay for two nights in Balestrand.

This morning is free for you to enjoy a walk along the shore of Sognefjord, passing white and red coloured wooden villas nestled against grassy slopes. If weather permits, you can take a refreshing dip in the fjord at Gamleheimsfjøra’s beautiful beach. An afternoon boat trip explores Fjærlandsfjord. After a visit to the Glacier Museum a coach takes us to Bøyabreen Glacier and back to Balestrand.

After a relaxing morning we meet for lunch and a tasting of local cider. Our afternoon ferry sails westwards along Sognefjord, then down the scenic coastline to Bergen, Norway’s second city.  

Distance: 6 km / 3.5 miles

Descent: 320 m / 1050 feet

A morning sightseeing tour uncovers Bergen and its UNESCO World Heritage harbourfront, Bryggen. After a small taste of the local produce from Bryggen’s harbour, we’ll embark on another of Norway’s great rail experiences. The Fløibanen Funicular takes us to the top of Mount Fløyen. From here we’ll enjoy spectacular views over Bryggen, Bergen, and the surrounding mountains. We return to Bryggen on foot, making the walk down via Blåmanen and Rundemanen, taking in the scenery as we go.

After some free time to explore Bergen this morning we’ll board the coastal ferry to complete our route down Norway’s coastline. Today we will have a packed lunch provided, with buffet dinner on board the ferry, or during the high season this will be a buffet lunch on board the ferry, with a late dinner provided at our hotel this evening. Our guide will be able to confirm the arrangements locally.

Distance: 8 km / 5 miles

Ascent: 600m / 1970 feet

Descent: 600m / 1970 feet

Our last day is one of the highlights of our Norwegian adventure, also our most challenging walk, with our experienced leader on hand to guide us through some of the steeper sections on one of the country’s most famous mountain hikes. From our start point, we’ll make the ascent to Preikestolen – the rocky plateau and iconic rock formation known as Pulpit Rock that sits majestically 604 metres above Lysefjord and offers knockout views over the Norwegian fjords. 

Enjoy our final breakfast this morning. We return today to Stavanger International Airport for the return flight home.

Before booking, you should check with your doctor to see whether any health precautions are needed for your trip. Health advice and requirements can change, so we recommend doing this in good time before travel.

As a general rule, travellers should ensure they are up to date with routine UK vaccinations and boosters, including, for example, MMR and diphtheria, tetanus and polio. Some countries may require you to have specific vaccinations such as Malaria, Rabies and Yellow Fever. Please check with your GP if you are unsure.

Please note that the use or possession of some common prescription or over-the-counter medicines is restricted or banned in certain countries. If you will be carrying medication, you should check with the relevant embassy or consulate before travelling. As an extra precaution, we recommend keeping medication in its original packaging, carrying a copy of your prescription, and, where possible, asking your pharmacist to provide the medication name in the language of the country you are visiting.

For further country-specific health advice, visit www.fitfortravel.nhs.uk or www.traveldoctor.co.uk. If you are travelling from outside the UK, please consult your own doctor and check local entry requirements.

This information applies to travellers holding a full British Citizen passport. Entry requirements vary by destination and can change at short notice. For most EU and worldwide destinations, passports must be valid for the entire duration of your stay. Some countries also require a minimum period of validity remaining on your passport (often up to 6 months beyond your return date), even if you are not staying that long.
We strongly recommend ensuring your passport has at least six months’ validity remaining at the time of travel to avoid any issues.

If you hold a different type of British passport or a passport issued by another country, you must check the requirements with the relevant embassy, consulate, or official government website.