Norway Road Trip - Complete - 14 Days/13 Nights - Self-Drive

The Ultimate Norway Road Trip – Self-Drive

This 14-day road trip leads you to some of the most breathtaking fjord landscapes in Norway. Starting and ending in Oslo, you will get to explore breathtaking vistas along Sognefjord, Geirangerfjord and Hardangerfjord. Attractions include the cascading waterfalls of Seven Sisters and Bridal Veil as well as the villages of Flåm, Loen and Røros, time in the beautiful cities of Bergen, Trondheim and Oslo, as well as a visit to the Olympic town of Lillehammer. This tour also includes driving exciting routes like Trollstigen, the Atlantic Ocean Road and the Eagle Road.

Season: May – September; Daily Departures; Driving Distance 1984 KM

Highlights

• Explore the scenic fjord landscapes along Sognefjord and Hardangerfjord
• Stroll through Norway’s grand capital, Oslo and visit charming Bergen
• Visit the dramatic deep fjord of Geiranger and explore the charming village
• Drive the exciting routes of Trollstigen, the Atlantic Ocean Road and Eagle Road
• Survey the lovely views surrounding Loen
• Marvel at the magnificent waterfalls Seven Sisters and Bridal Veil
• Explore the medieval city of Trondheim
• Experience the quaint village of Flåm
• Spend time in the Olympic town of Lillehammer

Day 1 – Welcome to Oslo

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When you arrive at Oslo‘s Gardermoen Airport, make your way into Oslo‘s city centre by taking the express train to Oslo Central Station, or through a private transfer. For those arriving early, we recommend exploring Oslo by foot, spending the afternoon at sights including the Royal Palace, Akershus Fortress, Oslo City Hall, Oslo Opera House, and the Aker Brygge area. Other notable attractions include the beautiful Vigeland Sculpture Park, the Viking Ship Museum and Karl Johans street. Spend the night in Oslo. .

Day 2: Olympic Town of Lillehammer

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Get ready to explore Rondane National park and the Swedish border, and the small mountain town of Røros. The small mountain village of Røros is an attraction in its own right, with its characteristic wooden buildings from a bygone era. This settlement sprang to life in 1644 with the establishment of a copper mine in the nearby mountains. Although the local mining industry saw its last days in the late 1970s, the village managed to preserve the 17th and 18th century cottages, village shops and the beautiful baroque church — efforts that paid off with a place on the UNESCO World Heritage list. Take a stroll through 300 years of mining history with a guided tour of Olavsgruva Mine, 500 metres inside the mountain and 50 metres below the surface. Or join an above-ground walking tour to learn how people lived and worked in the old days. It is also well worth a visit to the Røros Museum, featuring old workmen’s homes and exhibits about the copper mines and smelting process. Røros is now a lively community known for its local handcrafts. With a high concentration of artists and craftsmen living here, you will also find a surprising number of charming shops and interesting workshops. Spend the night in Røros

Driving distance: 264 km / 164 mi Estimated driving duration: 4 hours (without stops)

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After breakfast at your hotel, head north towards Trondheim, the "Capital of the Vikings". Enjoy exploring this vibrant port city that was once the capital of Norway during the Viking Age, back when the city was called Nidaros. Here you will find the remarkable Nidaros Cathedral—with architecture to rival Paris’s Notre Dame, as well as countless other attractions like the Ringve Museum and Gardens, the Trøndelag Folk Museum, the charming neighbourhood of Bakklandet by the old wharf and much more. Spend the night in Trondheim

Driving distance: 154 km / 96 mi  Estimated driving duration: 2 hours and 30 minutes (without stops)

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Begin your journey south along the beautiful west coast of Norway towards the island town of Kristiansund with its bright, colourful houses. Kristiansund is often referred to as the "opera town", and for a very good reason as the town offers frequent opera performances, an opera festival and an outdoor rendition of "Donna Bacalao" every year. Kristiansund is known for its tasty clipfish and we recommend trying their local version of fish and chips called Fishan. Spend the night in Kristiansund

Driving distance: 198 km / 123 mi Estimated driving duration: 3 hours and 30 minutes (without stops)

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Today you will drive the famous Atlantic Ocean Road, with the vast open sea on one side and majestic mountains on the other. Then head to the historically significant fishing village of Bud, which in the 16th and 17th centuries was the most important trading centre between Bergen and Trondheim. Next, drive to the city of Molde, where you take a ferry, with your car, to Vestnes and continue your journey to the captivating town of Ålesund. This city was almost completely rebuilt after a huge fire and features a myriad of turrets, spires and beautiful ornamentation which give the town its distinctive character, like something out of a fairytale. Here you also have the opportunity to visit the Atlantic Sea Park and enjoy stunning views from Fjellstua. Spend the night in Ålesund

Driving distance: 175 km / 109 mi Estimated driving duration: 3 hours and 30 minutes (without stops)

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If you enjoy twists and turns, you will be impressed with a drive on Trollstigen, “the Troll Ladder”, one of the most visited attractions in Norway. Trollstigen takes you over the mountain to the Romsdalen valley and Åndalsnes, passing 11 exhilarating hairpin bends on the way. After the scenic drive, we recommend a stop at Jordbærstove in Valldal. During the strawberry season you can try a number of dishes in which strawberries are the main ingredients, and you simply have to try the strawberry cake! Next, take a short ferry crossing, with your car, between Eidsdal and Linge before driving down the twisty Ørnesvingen, “The Eagle Road”, to Geiranger. Spend the night in Geiranger

Driving distance: 186 km / 116 mi Estimated driving duration: 3 hours and 40 minutes (without stops)

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After breakfast you can spend the morning exploring Geiranger until noon. We recommend soaking in the fantastic fjord scenery during a morning hike or an optional activity like kayaking. For those after some pampering, the nearby spa at Hotel Union is ideal to relax and get a treatment or two, followed by a trip to the chocolate factory in town for a little more indulgence. In the afternoon we recommend that you head to Loen on a 65-minute ferry ride, with your car, through the UNESCO-protected Geirangerfjord where you see famous waterfalls like the Seven Sisters, and the Bridal Veil, along with abandoned fjord farms in the mountains. The sightseeing ferry ends in the small village of Hellesylt where you drive south to Loen. Spend the night in Loen.

Driving distance: 61 km / 38 mi Estimated driving duration: 2 hour and 30 minutes (without stops)

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You will kick off your morning in lovely Loen. We recommend an optional activity boarding the magnificent Loen Skylift, a cable car to the altitude of 1011 metres with amazing views of the fjord, or to do some hiking in the region. Your journey will continue south along Jostedal glacier, mainland Europe’s largest icecap and the Fjærlands road. We recommend stopping at the Norwegian Glacier Museum in Fjærland before reaching Sogndal, a village beautifully situated by the Sognefjord, Norway’s longest and deepest fjord. Spend the night in Sogndal

Driving distance: 128 km / 80 mi. Estimated driving duration: 2 hours (without stops)

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Start the day with a short ferry crossing from Sognefjord towards Aurlandsfjord, an especially beautiful slice of Norway. We recommend a stop at the Stegastein viewpoint for panoramic views before reaching the village of Flåm, where you find the famous Flåm Railway (Flåmsbana), a steep train ride between Flåm and Myrdal - a treat for photographers or train enthusiasts alike! After a stop in Flåm, your journey continues to Bergen through villages including Gudvangen, Stalheim and Norway’s adventure capital, Voss before ending the day in Bergen. Spend the night in Bergen.

Driving distance: 237 km / 147 mi. Estimated driving duration: 4 hours (without stops)

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Spend the day exploring beautiful Bergen. Here you’ll find Bryggen, a UNESCO World Heritage site, along with remarkably preserved old houses, a lively fish and flower market, cable cars offering stunning views, great museums and more. We recommend riding the Fløibanen Funicular to Mount Fløyen to enjoy stunning views over the city or to take a cable car up Mt. Ulriken. Bergen is surrounded by 7 mountains, so this is an ideal place for hiking. For those after some culture, Bergen is known for its museums that cover the city’s history, architecture, music and art and we recommend visiting the Edvard Grieg museum and the KODE art museum, which is Scandinavia’s largest museum for art and music. If you wish to explore the fjords further, optional fjord cruises are available. Spend another night in Bergen.

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From Bergen, you will embark on a scenic drive along Hardangerfjord and past Hardangervidda National park, a region of great natural beauty. On your way you will pass the impressive waterfall, Vøringfossen—the highest in Norway with a 182-metre cascade—and the dramatic and narrow Måbødalen valley, along Eidfjord. Upon reaching Geilo, we recommend visiting Geilojordet which is an idyllic area with ancient buildings from the 1700-1800's and a lovely place to spend some time exploring. Spend the night in Geilo.

Driving distance: 244 km / 151 mi Estimated driving duration: 4 hours and 10 minutes (without stops)