Luxury Norway grand rail tour 14 nights including scenic rail journeys
This 14-night holiday of Norway incorporates the major scenic railway journeys of the country and gives you a real flavour of some of the most fascinating cities and fjords in between. Start with a stay in Bergen, known for the colourful façade of Bryggen with its picturesque wooden structures, now recognised as a UNESCO World Heritage site. For those more interested in the cultural attractions the Troldhaugen was the home of composer Edvard Grieg and houses a museum and a concert hall where his music is still played. Then take the railway to Myrdal where you transfer to the Flåm railway, one of the steepest standard gauge lines in the world. Time to take a boat trip from Flam on the Sognefjord before continuing back on the Flåmsbana and on to Oslo for three nights. For a deep insight into Scandinavian history a visit to the Bygdøy Peninsula is essential: this area is home to five national museums including the Viking Ship Museum and the Norwegian Folk Museum. Each of these is well worth a visit, and the rest of the peninsula is a haven for nature lovers. The Akershus Fortress is another famous landmark- completed in the 1300s, this castle had a strategic location at the very end of the headland and is today open for guided tours. Perhaps the most enchanting of Oslo’s open spaces is the Frogner Park, home to the Vigeland Sculpture Park which features more than 200 sculptures and is one of the country’s top tourist attractions.From here travel north on the Dovre line changing in Dombas for the Rauma line. This route passes through the Romsdalen valley and passes sites such as the Kylling Bridge and the Trollvegen wall, as well as going through the remote Reinheimen National Park. The track has 32 bridges and six tunnels. Stay in Andalsnes, known as the mountaineering capital of Norway. Continue on the Dovre line to Trondheim, ancient capital of Norway. Located on the Trondheimfjord and the third largest city in Norway, Trondheim is home to the world’s northernmost mediaeval cathedral, the Nidaros Cathedral. Formerly the site where Norwegian kings were crowned, it is today open to tourists. You may want to spend some of your time in Trondheim exploring the picturesque streets of Bakklandet, a small neighbourhood of painted wooden warehouses. For an excellent view of Trondheim and the fjord you can climb to the top of the Tyholttarnet, the tallest building in Norway. From here you can take a day trip on the Roros line to the UNESCO site of Roros, a traditional mountain village and ancient mining town. You leave Trondheim on the Nordland railway, also known as the Polar Express, a journey of 10 hours which crosses the Saltfjellet mountain range to reach Bodo. Return by air via Oslo.
Highlights
Bergen • Flåm railway • Sognefjord • Oslo • Dovre railway • Rauma Line • Roros by train • Trondheim • Nordland railway • Bodo
Day by day
Fly into Bergen and check-in to your hotel.
Bergen is the second largest city in Norway and was the capital throughout some of the country’s most influential periods. One of your days here should start with a visit to the iconic Bryggen wharf, first established in the 14th century and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Its colourful buildings today house a small museum, shops and restaurants. Bergen is known as the city of the seven mountains, the most easily accessible of which is Fløyen, which can be reached by funicular from the city centre and awards spectacular views of the city and surrounding area. It is possible to take the funicular back, or you may want to hike back down at your leisure. To fully appreciate the culture and traditions of Bergen, you should take the time to visit the Bergen Fish Market. Bergen has the busiest seaport in the country and the market offers an abundance of fish, shellfish, fruit and vegetables. Cultural attractions include the Troldhaugen, the former home of Edvard Grieg and today host to a museum about his life and works as well as a concert hall where you can hear his music performed. Its location in the fjords also makes Bergen an excellent base from which to explore more by boat, and there are multiple options ranging from a quick trip to an all-day experience.
Leave Bergen by train today, entering the Ulriken Tunnel before travelling alongside the clear waters of the River Vossa. You follow a spectacular canyon before reaching Myrdal where you change trains onto the Flåm line. Be sure to keep an eye out for incredible views down a precipice into Flåmsdal and Sognefjord.
Enjoy a full day at leisure to explore the Sognefjord. Perhaps take a ferry over to Balestrand.
Return on the train from Flåm to Myrdal, just 20 kms in length, but one of the steepest standard gauge lines in the world, constructed between 1923 and 1940, with 80% of the journey running on a gradient of 5.5%. There are 20 tunnels, with one taking a 180 degree turn inside the mountain. Change trains in Myrdal for the Bergen to Oslo line once more, passing through Finse, the highest railway station in Norway and skirting along the northern shore of Lake Ustevtn, which can be frozen for three quarters of the year. As you approach Norway, the landscape softens, with lower hills and fertile farmland, dotted with red timbered barns.
Oslo, the capital of Norway, sits on the country’s southern coast at the head of the Oslofjord. During your time here we highly recommend visiting the Bygdøy Peninsula, home to five national museums: the Viking Ship Museum, the Fram Museum, the Norwegian Folk Museum, the Kon-Tiki Museum and the Norwegian Maritim Museum. The Fram Museum displays the strongest wooden ship ever built which still holds the record for sailing the farthest north and farthest south. It is possible to board the ship and see how the crew and their dogs managed to survive in the coldest and most dangerous places on earth. There are also exhibitions on the Arctic and Northwest passage. The Viking Ship Museum displays finds from four different
Viking burial sites around the Oslofjord, whilst the Norwegian Folk Museum is an open-air attraction showcasing the diverse wooden architecture and history of the country and its traditions. Another major attraction is Akershus Castle Fortress. Completed during the 14th century, this mediaeval castle had a strategical location at the very end of the headland and withstood a number of sieges throughout the ages. Guided tours of the fortress are available during the summer. As well as museums, Oslo is known for its green spaces, the most famous of which is the Frogner Park. Within this area is the Vigeland Sculpture Park, featuring more than 200 sculptures in bronze, granite and iron and one of Norway’s top tourist attractions. Housed in some beautiful gardens of its own, the Royal Palace is the official seat of the current Norwegian King and Queen. Take a tour of the palace during the summer or stop by to see the changing of the guard at 13:30.
Today take the Dovre line in the direction of Trondheim but changing at Dombas onto the Rauma Line. This route runs from Dombås to Åndalsnes, a branch line of the Dovre railway, 115 kms long and takes 1 hour and 25 minutes. The route passes through the Romsdalen valley and passes sites such as the Kylling Bridge and the Trollvegen wall, as well as going through the remote Reinheimen National Park. The track has 32 bridges and six tunnels. Stay in Andalsnes for one night.
This morning journey back to Dombas and change onto the Dovre line. This route runs in total from Oslo to Trondheim, a distance of 485 kms, taking about 6.5 hours in total. Opened officially in 1921 but it took 70 years to complete. The route passes through the picturesque Gudbrandsdalen valley and crosses the Dovrefjell mountain plateau. This area is a national park and home to 300 wild musk ox. Stations along this route connect to the Rauma Line, the Nordland Line and the Røros Line.
Trondheim lies on the southern shore of the Trondheimfjord and has played a significant role in Norwegian history. As the country’s first capital city, it was the site where Norwegian kings were crowned for over 700 years, specifically in the Nidaros Cathedral. We highly recommend taking a visit to this beautiful building, which is the world’s northernmost mediaeval cathedral and started construction in 1070. South of this is the striking Archbishop’s Palace Museum, which offers an insight into the 1000-year history of the cathedral and its diocese. You will also find here the Royal Regalia, including the 200-year-old Crown of Norway. For a glimpse of the more rustic side of Norwegian life, a visit to the Trøndelag Folk Museum is essential: dominated by the ruins of Sverresborg castle, this outdoor museum consists of eighty historic buildings giving information about folk culture as well as rural monuments and the Haltdalen stave church, which dates back to 1170. Another picturesque area of the city is Bakklandet, a small neighbourhood of painted wooden warehouses home to galleries, cafes and restaurants.
Today it’s an early start to take the scenic Nordland line, also known as the Polar Express, from Trondheim to Bodo. This 729 km railway line is Norway’s longest and presents huge variety in culture, climate and landscape. The journey starts by skirting around Trondheim Fjord, reaching the small town of Steinjker two hours later at the head of the longest arm of the fjord. From here you head into the hills. Be sure to notice the colourful station buildings at the small Norwegian towns as you pass by. Leaving the steel works town of Mo I Rana the train skirts the Saltfjellet-Svartisen National Park, passing close by the Swedish border. Shortly after this you cross the Arctic Circle, before heading back towards the coast to reach the shores of Skjerstad Fjord. You continue along this spectacular natural beauty until you reach the station of Bodø, the final stop on the Norwegian railway system and your base for the next two nights.
We have included a spectacular hotel, the Wood, on the edge of Bodo which has magnificent views of the coastline. The city of Bodø is an excellent base from which to explore some of Norway’s best scenery and natural attractions. One of its most well-known features is the Saltstraumen maelstrom, a small strait home to the world’s strongest tidal current. Here you can witness whirlpools bigger 10 metres with the water moving as fast as 40 km/h. Slightly further out of the city is Kjerringøoy, a small, rural community featuring beautiful alpine landscapes ranging from mountains to white sandy beaches. The Kjeringøy trading post is a museum offering a unique insight into the lives of the powerful local merchants and information about the fish trade of the 19th century. For those looking for more adventurous activities, Bodø offers kayaking, RIB tours and even snorkelling in the surrounding fjords, and fishing is a popular local activity. There are also numerous hiking routes including Keiservarden, which leads up to Keiservarden hill overlooking Bodø, and Mount Ronvikfjelet, one of the top viewing spots for the Midnight Sun in the country. Within Bodø itself the beautiful harbour offers views from its pier dating back to 1904 and the Norwegian Aviation Museum offers an insight into the civil and military aviation history of Norway.
Today fly back to the UK from Bodo via Oslo.
It was an excellent holiday - due to excellent planning on your side. Super efficient, very professional.Mrs F, Holiday to Norway, Oct 2023
Holiday price guide From £3,700 per person based on two people sharing a double or twin room and including second class rail travel. Plus class on Norwegian trains at a supplement of £200 per person.
Holiday Code SCFR06
Call us on 01392 441245
Luxury Norway grand rail tour 14 nights including scenic rail journeys
Fly into Bergen and check-in to your hotel.
Bergen is the second largest city in Norway and was the capital throughout some of the country’s most influential periods. One of your days here should start with a visit to the iconic Bryggen wharf, first established in the 14th century and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Its colourful buildings today house a small museum, shops and restaurants. Bergen is known as the city of the seven mountains, the most easily accessible of which is Fløyen, which can be reached by funicular from the city centre and awards spectacular views of the city and surrounding area. It is possible to take the funicular back, or you may want to hike back down at your leisure. To fully appreciate the culture and traditions of Bergen, you should take the time to visit the Bergen Fish Market. Bergen has the busiest seaport in the country and the market offers an abundance of fish, shellfish, fruit and vegetables. Cultural attractions include the Troldhaugen, the former home of Edvard Grieg and today host to a museum about his life and works as well as a concert hall where you can hear his music performed. Its location in the fjords also makes Bergen an excellent base from which to explore more by boat, and there are multiple options ranging from a quick trip to an all-day experience.
Leave Bergen by train today, entering the Ulriken Tunnel before travelling alongside the clear waters of the River Vossa. You follow a spectacular canyon before reaching Myrdal where you change trains onto the Flåm line. Be sure to keep an eye out for incredible views down a precipice into Flåmsdal and Sognefjord.
Enjoy a full day at leisure to explore the Sognefjord. Perhaps take a ferry over to Balestrand.
Return on the train from Flåm to Myrdal, just 20 kms in length, but one of the steepest standard gauge lines in the world, constructed between 1923 and 1940, with 80% of the journey running on a gradient of 5.5%. There are 20 tunnels, with one taking a 180 degree turn inside the mountain. Change trains in Myrdal for the Bergen to Oslo line once more, passing through Finse, the highest railway station in Norway and skirting along the northern shore of Lake Ustevtn, which can be frozen for three quarters of the year. As you approach Norway, the landscape softens, with lower hills and fertile farmland, dotted with red timbered barns.
Oslo, the capital of Norway, sits on the country’s southern coast at the head of the Oslofjord. During your time here we highly recommend visiting the Bygdøy Peninsula, home to five national museums: the Viking Ship Museum, the Fram Museum, the Norwegian Folk Museum, the Kon-Tiki Museum and the Norwegian Maritim Museum. The Fram Museum displays the strongest wooden ship ever built which still holds the record for sailing the farthest north and farthest south. It is possible to board the ship and see how the crew and their dogs managed to survive in the coldest and most dangerous places on earth. There are also exhibitions on the Arctic and Northwest passage. The Viking Ship Museum displays finds from four different
Viking burial sites around the Oslofjord, whilst the Norwegian Folk Museum is an open-air attraction showcasing the diverse wooden architecture and history of the country and its traditions. Another major attraction is Akershus Castle Fortress. Completed during the 14th century, this mediaeval castle had a strategical location at the very end of the headland and withstood a number of sieges throughout the ages. Guided tours of the fortress are available during the summer. As well as museums, Oslo is known for its green spaces, the most famous of which is the Frogner Park. Within this area is the Vigeland Sculpture Park, featuring more than 200 sculptures in bronze, granite and iron and one of Norway’s top tourist attractions. Housed in some beautiful gardens of its own, the Royal Palace is the official seat of the current Norwegian King and Queen. Take a tour of the palace during the summer or stop by to see the changing of the guard at 13:30.
Today take the Dovre line in the direction of Trondheim but changing at Dombas onto the Rauma Line. This route runs from Dombås to Åndalsnes, a branch line of the Dovre railway, 115 kms long and takes 1 hour and 25 minutes. The route passes through the Romsdalen valley and passes sites such as the Kylling Bridge and the Trollvegen wall, as well as going through the remote Reinheimen National Park. The track has 32 bridges and six tunnels. Stay in Andalsnes for one night.
This morning journey back to Dombas and change onto the Dovre line. This route runs in total from Oslo to Trondheim, a distance of 485 kms, taking about 6.5 hours in total. Opened officially in 1921 but it took 70 years to complete. The route passes through the picturesque Gudbrandsdalen valley and crosses the Dovrefjell mountain plateau. This area is a national park and home to 300 wild musk ox. Stations along this route connect to the Rauma Line, the Nordland Line and the Røros Line.
Trondheim lies on the southern shore of the Trondheimfjord and has played a significant role in Norwegian history. As the country’s first capital city, it was the site where Norwegian kings were crowned for over 700 years, specifically in the Nidaros Cathedral. We highly recommend taking a visit to this beautiful building, which is the world’s northernmost mediaeval cathedral and started construction in 1070. South of this is the striking Archbishop’s Palace Museum, which offers an insight into the 1000-year history of the cathedral and its diocese. You will also find here the Royal Regalia, including the 200-year-old Crown of Norway. For a glimpse of the more rustic side of Norwegian life, a visit to the Trøndelag Folk Museum is essential: dominated by the ruins of Sverresborg castle, this outdoor museum consists of eighty historic buildings giving information about folk culture as well as rural monuments and the Haltdalen stave church, which dates back to 1170. Another picturesque area of the city is Bakklandet, a small neighbourhood of painted wooden warehouses home to galleries, cafes and restaurants.
Today it’s an early start to take the scenic Nordland line, also known as the Polar Express, from Trondheim to Bodo. This 729 km railway line is Norway’s longest and presents huge variety in culture, climate and landscape. The journey starts by skirting around Trondheim Fjord, reaching the small town of Steinjker two hours later at the head of the longest arm of the fjord. From here you head into the hills. Be sure to notice the colourful station buildings at the small Norwegian towns as you pass by. Leaving the steel works town of Mo I Rana the train skirts the Saltfjellet-Svartisen National Park, passing close by the Swedish border. Shortly after this you cross the Arctic Circle, before heading back towards the coast to reach the shores of Skjerstad Fjord. You continue along this spectacular natural beauty until you reach the station of Bodø, the final stop on the Norwegian railway system and your base for the next two nights.
We have included a spectacular hotel, the Wood, on the edge of Bodo which has magnificent views of the coastline. The city of Bodø is an excellent base from which to explore some of Norway’s best scenery and natural attractions. One of its most well-known features is the Saltstraumen maelstrom, a small strait home to the world’s strongest tidal current. Here you can witness whirlpools bigger 10 metres with the water moving as fast as 40 km/h. Slightly further out of the city is Kjerringøoy, a small, rural community featuring beautiful alpine landscapes ranging from mountains to white sandy beaches. The Kjeringøy trading post is a museum offering a unique insight into the lives of the powerful local merchants and information about the fish trade of the 19th century. For those looking for more adventurous activities, Bodø offers kayaking, RIB tours and even snorkelling in the surrounding fjords, and fishing is a popular local activity. There are also numerous hiking routes including Keiservarden, which leads up to Keiservarden hill overlooking Bodø, and Mount Ronvikfjelet, one of the top viewing spots for the Midnight Sun in the country. Within Bodø itself the beautiful harbour offers views from its pier dating back to 1904 and the Norwegian Aviation Museum offers an insight into the civil and military aviation history of Norway.
Today fly back to the UK from Bodo via Oslo.
It was an excellent holiday - due to excellent planning on your side. Super efficient, very professional.Mrs F, Holiday to Norway, Oct 2023
Holiday price guide From £3,700 per person based on two people sharing a double or twin room and including second class rail travel. Plus class on Norwegian trains at a supplement of £200 per person.
Holiday Code SCFR06
Our prices include
● Return flights with British Airways from London to Bergen, Bodo to London via Oslo
● Second-class travel on all trains (Plus class available on certain trains can be booked at a supplement)
● 3 nights’ bed and breakfast in a Standard double room at Bergen Børs Hotel, Bergen
● 2 nights’ bed and breakfast in an Economy room at the Flamsbrygga Hotel, Flåm
● 3 nights’ bed and breakfast in a Standard double room at Hotel Bristol, Oslo
● 1 night’s bed and breakfast in a Standard double room at the Grand Hotel Bellevue, Andalsnes
● 3 nights’ bed and breakfast in a Superior double room at Hotel Britannia, Trondheim
● 2 nights’ bed and breakfast in a Standard double room ocean view at the Wood Hotel, Bodo
● Concierge service and Expressions Holidays regional helpful hints
Our prices do not include
● Early check-in or late check-out at any hotels (although we can arrange this on request at additional cost)
● Any other services not mentioned above, such as transfers and meals except breakfast at hotels
● Personal holiday insurance. This is essential and cover should be in place from when you book the holiday.
● Possible local tourist tax, usually the equivalent of £1 to £3 per person per night, and payable locally to the hotel
● Transfers in any cities
Call us on 01392 441245
Luxury Norway grand rail tour 14 nights including scenic rail journeys
An hotel that is a fusion of the historic and the modern, 4-star, in the centre of Bergen, opposite the Fish Market and with 127 rooms. A cosy and exhilarating atmosphere. Restaurant with Michelin star.
Standard double room
The Hotel Bristol Oslo is a traditional, 4-star, grand hotel in the centre of Oslo a short walk from well-known attractions in the city including Akershus Fortress.
Standard double room
The Britannia Hotel is a traditional, grand, 5-star hotel in the centre of Trondheim, completely refurbished in 2019. Luxurious but discreet rooms, four dining options, bar and wine bar, spa.
Superior double room
It was an excellent holiday - due to excellent planning on your side. Super efficient, very professional.Mrs F, Holiday to Norway, Oct 2023
Holiday price guide From £3,700 per person based on two people sharing a double or twin room and including second class rail travel. Plus class on Norwegian trains at a supplement of £200 per person.
Holiday Code SCFR06
Call us on 01392 441245
Luxury Norway grand rail tour 14 nights including scenic rail journeys
About Norway
Norway is a fascinating destination for a luxury, tailor-made holiday. The land and the culture of Norway lend themselves to a diverse and rich array of holiday experiences and a choice of mode of transport. At first glance, Norway offers magnificent, dramatic, severe and wild natural surroundings in its glaciers, Arctic snow and ice, majestic fjords, crashing waterfalls and mystical natural phenomena such as the Aurora Borealis and Fata Morgana. However, Norway also offers cultural ties, a shared history dating from the days of the Vikings, a cosiness in its orchards and pastures, brightly-painted wooden houses, folk tales and mythology, world-class art, literature and music in the works of Munch, Ibsen and Grieg, to name but three, and international philanthropy as exemplified by the Nobel prize. Many towns have superb museums, ancient wooden stave churches are well-preserved, the heritage of the Vikings is visible not just in major centres such as Oslo but all around, and seemingly small places are rich with music and drama festivals. Whilst the length of Norway with is 2518 km poses a challenge to the visitor, this also means that it makes sense to use a variety of transport modes to travel around; scenic trains, sleeper trains, boat rides, coastal cruises and car-hire can all be incorporated. The landscape lends itself well to hiking and cycling and there are many national parks that offer a variety of conditions depending on your ability. Norway’s cities are vibrant and manage to blend modernity with tradition. The iconic Oslo Opera House sits a short distance from the Akershus fortress, the Old Town Hall dating from 1641 is a stroll away from the Akrobaten pedestrian bridge, a near-futuristic construction of steel and glass.
Highlights of Norway
The numerous fjords: Eidfjord – branch of the Hardangerfjord, Geirangerfjord – precipitous, one of Norway’s signature images, Hardangerfjord – rolling hills and pretty villages, Jossingfjord – vertiginous fjord in the flatlands of the south, Lysefjord – plunging cliffs, cruises and look out points, Naeroyfjord – narrow and very pretty, Sognefjord – Norway’s longest and one of the most beautiful, Trollfjord – very steep fjord on Lofoten, Vestfjord – sheltered bays and pretty villages separating Lofoten from the mainland. The Hurtigruten ferry that covers over 2500 km from Bergen to Kirkenes with over 30 stops. The Midnight Sun and the Northern Lights. Stave churches, beautifully preserved in wood, dating from Viking times, for example at Borgund, Lom, Ringebu and Urnes. Viking ships and artefacts, burial mounds and trinkets in museums throughout the country. The red, wooden houses perched stilts over the sea on the Lofoten Islands. The modern architecture of Oslo. Picking wild blueberries, sampling aquavit made from potatoes and caraway, and tasting reindeer steak with cranberries. The charm of Oslofjorden with its pretty, arty village and towns, harbours with sailing boats, islands offshore and beaches. Hike over the Jotunheimen and relish the natural landscape of this stunning National Park.
Cultural highlights of Norway
The architecture of stave churches dating from the Viking era and Viking treasure in museums around the country. The literature of Henrik Ibsen and Knut Hamsun. Folk tales and mythology. The music of Edvard Grieg and the art of Edvard Munch. Contemporary jazz and folk music.
Gastronomy of Norway
Norway’s gastronomy is a clear reflection of its land and sea. From the land come reindeer, venison, lamb, cured meats and potatoes of all types: boiled, roasted and fried. From the freshwater lakes and streams come salmon served grilled and smoked, and freshwater fish. Sea fish is a vast array of cod, haddock, shrimps, mackerel, fish soup, fish balls, salt cod. From the orchards particularly around the Hardangerfjord come apples, cherries and plums as well as berries of all sorts including blueberries, cranberries, bilberries and, a great delicacy, cloudberries. Cheeses include Jarlsberg and brown cheese. Coffee is almost certainly the national drink, followed by beer, of which there are all sorts of craft beers brewed locally, and Aquavit is the national spirit made from potatoes and caraway.
Facts in brief
Capital OsloAirport Oslo Gardermoen
Size 323,878 sq km
Population 4.4 million
