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7 Night Highlights of Norway – Oslo to Bergen through the Fjords

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Description

Photo courtesy of VisitNorway/Innovation Norway/VisitBergen / Photographer Robin StrandvisitBergen.com

Duration: 8 days

Itinerary: 2 nights Oslo, 1 night Flam, 2 nights Balestrand, 2 nights Bergen

This Norway itinerary is ideal for those with limited time seeking to experience the highlights of Norway from the capital city of Oslo through the countryside into the Fjords.

Day 1 - Arrive OsloDay 2 - OsloDay 3 - Oslo to MyrdalDay 4 - Flam to BalestrandDay 5 - BalestrandDay 6 - Balestrand to BergenDay 7 - BergenDay 8 - Depart Bergen
Welcome to Norway!

On arrival Oslo International Airport, meet & greet private transfer from airport to hotel. **On Request – Pre-registered for immediate occupancy upon arrival.

HOTEL CONTINENTAL*****double deluxe king room, breakfast included x2 nights

The elegant Hotel Continental is centrally located in Oslo, only 493 feet from Oslo’s main street, Karl Johan. It is the only 5-star hotel in Norway, and offers free in-room Internet access. The individually decorated rooms at Continental Hotel include a cable TV, minibar and an in-room safe. Bathrooms include amenities and a separate shower and bath. Leisure options include a free 24 hour gym on the 5th floor and a lobby lounge featuring Edward Munch lithographs. Guests can enjoy fine dining at Restaurant Eik Annen Etage. The historic Theatercaféen has been the Oslo’s most popular dining and meeting place for over 100 years. Drinks and snacks can be enjoyed at the maritime-style Steamen Café. The National Theatre is located just across the street. The Royal Palace is a 5-minute walk from the hotel.

Breakfast included this morning.

Option #1
Fjord Sightseeing – Duration of tour: 2 hours
For visitors to Oslo wishing to see a bit more of the city’s summer life such as the swimming and sailing, this two hour tour through narrow sounds, idyllic bays and a maze of islands with pretty summer houses is highly recommended. Refreshments are available on board the boat but are not included in the price of the tour.
Includes: Transportation by boat and services of a local guide.

Option #2
The Essential Oslo Private Walking Tour – Duration of tour: 3 hours
See Oslo’s top sights and attractions on a fascinating walking tour. Set out from City Hall―home of the Noble Peace Prize―to explore Norway’s bustling capital, taking in such local landmarks as Parliament, the Royal Palace and the University of Oslo. Marvel at Akershus Fortress, wander through Aker Brugge―a revitalized waterfront area now home to a bevy of stores, bars and restaurants―and visit the Tjuvholmen District, a foodie haven that also boast numerous art galleries. Get expert tips on the best spots to drink, eat and shop in the area. The “Essential Oslo” walking tour Visit Oslo’s primary sights and attractions while getting a lay of the local land See such landmarks as the Royal Palace and Akershus Fortress, overlooking Oslo Fjord Explore the vibrant waterfront districts of Aker Brugge and Tjuvholmen, home to shops, restaurants, and more Receive tips on where to find the best fish soup or browse for souvenirs

Oslo, the capital of Norway, sits on the country’s southern coast at the head of the Oslofjord. It’s known for its green spaces and museums. Many of these are on the Bygdøy Peninsula, including the waterside Norwegian Maritime Museum and the Viking Ship Museum, with Viking ships from the 9th century. The Holmenkollbakken is a ski-jumping hill with panoramic views of the fjord. It also has a ski museum.

Breakfast included this morning.

1st class train from Oslo to Myrdal – Departure at 8:25am, arrival at 12:59pm
The 5-hour train journey from Oslo to Myrdal is part of the Bergen Railway, classed as one of the finest train journeys in the world. The train journey will bring you across Hardangervidda Mountain Plateau, with Finse as the highest train station at 1222 metres above sea level.

In Myrdal you will change to the Flåm Railway, connecting the Bergen Line to the Sognefjord. You will pass through wild and beautiful mountain scenery with waterfalls and steep mountain sides before reaching the fjord village of Flåm.
Departure at 1:27 pm, arrival at 2:25 pm

Balance of your day at leisure to relax at this charming hotel, amble through the quaint town village of Flam to have lunch, or take an Optional Cruise at 3pm on arrival.

HOTEL FRETHEIM****superior double room with balcony, breakfast included x1 night

Hotel Fretheim a refurbished 1800s manor house is in Flåm, 657 feet from the Aurlandsfjord. It provides a restaurant, a large garden and free WiFi access. All rooms have fjord or mountain views. Fretheim Hotel’s individually decorated rooms feature a seating area, an electric kettle and a private bathroom. Fretheim’s restaurant serves Norwegian cuisine based on organic, locally sourced ingredients. In summer, guests can sit on the terrace. A bar, café and lobby bar are also available. Other facilities include a library, a bookable hot tub and several elegant lounges with fireplaces and antique furniture. Staff can arrange hiking and guided tours of the scenic surroundings. Flåm Station and the Flåm Line are within 5 minutes’ walk of Hotel Fretheim.

Optional Cruise Afternoon Cruise to see the Nærøyfjord – Departure at 3pm, return at 7:45pm
The narrow and spectacular Nærøyfjord is surrounded by steep mountains with snow covered tops that stretch up to 1800 meters above sea level. Water falls cascade down the mountains and picturesque villages dot the landscape.

This area is featured on the UNESCO world heritage list and is considered one of the world’s most beautiful fjord landscapes. This summer we will launch the most innovative ship designs ever seen on the Norwegian fjords. The ferry will couple its striking appearance with cutting edge maritime hybrid solution. The vessel’s concept has been named Seasight. The ferry will carry tourists between Flåm and Gudvangen along the Nærøyfjord, a distance of around 32 km. Once it has arrived in the most scenic part of the fjord it will switch to battery power, allowing sightseers to enjoy the nature to the fullest. The fjord is on UNESCO’s World Heritage List because it remains largely unspoilt by human development and the ferry is designed with the surroundings in mind. The ferry design is inspired by a trail finding its way up a steep mountainside. It measures 40 meters in length and 15 meters in width.

Outside the ferry, passengers will be able to climb all over the boat while the inside will feature panoramic views. The new maritime hybrid vessel will cruise from Flåm to Gudvangen, or the opposite direction, in 1 hour and 30 minutes.

Flåm is a village in southwestern Norway, in an area known for its fjords. It sits at the end of Aurlandsfjord, a branch of the vast Sognefjord. The dramatic Stegastein viewing platform juts out high above the Aurlandsfjord. South of Flåm Harbor, the 17th-century wooden Flåm Church lies in the valley. The Flåm Railway offers valley and waterfall views as it climbs to a station on the Hardangervidda plateau.

Breakfast included this morning.

Continue your journey by cruise on the Sognefjord, the world’s longest and deepest fjord, to Balestrand.

HOTEL KNIKNES****double room with view, breakfast included x2 nights

This grand, 18th-century waterfront hotel is located in Balestrand. It offers stunning views of the surrounding Sognefjord, an elegant restaurant and modern guest rooms. Both Wi-Fi and sauna access are free. Guest rooms at Kviknes Hotel are located in the modern wing, built in the 1960s. Each features a separate seating area, work desk and cable TV. Many rooms have balconies with fjord views. Guests can admire the historic art pieces and antiques inside Hotel Kviknes. The on-site restaurant offers international cuisine and a well-stocked wine cellar. Guests can especially enjoy the fjord views from the dining room and terrace. Organised activities include wine tasting, cultural walks and day trips to area attractions such as the Urnes Stave Church. The surrounding area is ideal for fishing and hiking.

Balestrand is a municipality in Sogn og Fjordane county, Norway. The pleasant fjord town of Balestrand (pop. 2,000) has a long history of hosting tourists, thanks to its landmark Kniknes Hotel. But it also feels real and lived-in, making Balestrand a nice mix of cuteness and convenience. The town is near, but not too near, the Norway in a Nutshell bustle across the fjord — and yet it’s an easy express-boat trip away if you’d like to dive into the Nuttiness. In short, consider Balestrand a worthwhile detour from the typical fjord visit — allowing you to dig deeper into the Sognefjord, just like the glaciers did during the last ice age.

Breakfast included this morning.

Spend the day in Balestrand or choose an Optional Excursion.

Option #1
Fjærland and the Glacier Museum. Travel on the Fjærlandsfjord and experience one of the most beautiful fjord arms in Norway. Along the fjord, the old hamlets and farms are reminders of the struggle for existence in past times. Local busses will transport you to the Glacier Museum, where you will learn more about the glaciers and how the fjords were formed. From there you will continue to one or two extensions of the Jostedal Glacier; Supphellebreen and Bøyabreen glaciers (not possible to walk on the glaciers). Subject to weather conditions in September.

Option #2
Sogn Folk Museum and Boat Museum
The outdoor portion of the folk museum gives you a glimpse of farm life as well as manor houses in Norway of days gone by. The museum house has an extensive collection of exhibits depicting life along the fjord from the days of the Vikings to the present. A visit to the Folk Museum can be combined with a visit to the Boat Museum in Kaupanger. This museum offers a glimpse of the seafarers and fjord dwellers of the past. 1/2 day to full day excursion. Reached by private car or public bus.

Option #3
Vik and The Hopperstad Stave Church
Board the early 7.50am NORLED express boat due for Bergen for a short crossing to the south side of the fjord and get off the boat at the first stop, Vik. The walk to the stave church is about 20 minutes. You will have to be at the harbor in Vik for the 11.30am Norled express boat to take you back across the fjord. Half day trip, daily not Sundays.

Breakfast included this morning.

Continue your cruise journey by boat on the Sognefjord and then along the coast of Norway in southern direction to Bergen – the Gateway to the Fjords. Bergen is Norway’s second largest city and the world’s only city surrounded by 7 mountains and 7 fjords. Departure at 11:30 am, arrival at 3:15 pm

HOTEL CLARION ADMIRAL****double deluxe room, breakfast included x2 nights

Clarion Hotel Admiral overlooks Vågen Harbour, about 985 feet from Bergen’s fish market and 0.9 miles from Bergen Central Station. It offers harbour views, free WiFi and a popular breakfast buffet. Clarion Hotel Admiral’s early 1900s building lies directly across the water from the UNESCO World Heritage site of Bryggen. The hotel restaurant Kitchen & Table is a concept created by master chef Marcus Samuelsson, based in New York. It features the flavours of Manhattan combined with local ingredients, creating unique Scandinavian cuisine. Hotel Admiral’s guest rooms have a flat-screen TV, Duxiana beds and a private bathroom with shower. Some rooms have a balcony with views of Bryggen.

Bergen is a city on Norway’s southwestern coast. It’s surrounded by mountains and fjords, including Sognefjord, the country’s longest and deepest. Bryggen features colorful wooden houses on the old wharf, once a center of the Hanseatic League’s trading empire. The Fløibanen Funicular goes up Fløyen Mountain for panoramic views and hiking trails. The Edvard Grieg House is where the renowned composer once lived.

Breakfast included this morning.

Private Day Tour of Bergen City Highlights
Even though Bergen is Norway’s second largest city, it has the charm of a small town. One of the most recognizable sights in Bergen is the Hanseatic Bryggen Wharf with its wooden buildings and quaint shops. Other sights of interest include Edvard Grieg’s home Troldhaugen, the Fish and Flower market, Bergen Aquarium and Gamle Bergen (Old Bergen Open Air Museum). A trip with Fløibanen funicular, which will bring you from the city center and up to Mount Fløyen where you will have panorama view of the city and its surrounding fjords and mountains.

Breakfast included this morning.

Private transfer from hotel to Bergen airport for flight to USA.

Pacific Destination Center Scandinavia Specialists are here to help personalize your holiday for the Most Memorable Experience – Just give us a call at 800-227-5317, or email us at info@pacific-destinations.com with your desired focused activity wish list, or special occasion celebration and we will get started on your personalized dream Norway holiday.

Phone one of our Scandinavia Specialist at 1-800-227-5317 to start planning your Norway Holiday now!

CST #2023415-40

 

 

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