Luxury fly-drive Norway touring holiday with 5 nights on the Sognefjord and overnight stops in Gol and Geilo.
This luxury fly-drive holiday will introduce you to the longest and deepest of Norway’s fjords: the Sognefjord. Start by flying into Oslo and driving to the town of Gol. The highlight of this area is undoubtedly its replica of the Gol Stave Church, which you can visit in the Gordarike Viking Park. The next morning depart your hotel after breakfast to travel the remaining way to Balestrand, crossing the Sognefjord multiple times en route. The scenery is the main attraction here, with the narrow fjord branches and incredible mountain landscape, and the best way to experience this is by boat. There are many options to take ferry tours to see the glaciers along the nearby Fjaerlandsfjord, or perhaps go kayaking on the calm waters. Fjaerland is also a popular hiking destination, offering the opportunity to trek across the glacier and witness incredible views of the fjord and surrounding mountains. You may like to spend one day embarking on the Flåm Railway, one of the world’s most scenic railway journeys. Attractions in the town of Balestrand include the Norwegian Travel & Tourism Museum and the Sognefjord aquarium, entry to which includes the rental of a rowing boat or canoe. After 5 nights here exploring all that the Sognefjord has to offer you travel back to Oslo via Geilo, where you spend one night. This popular ski resort offers wonderful hiking options in its two nearby national parks, as well as rafting on the Numedalslagen River. The next day return to Oslo airport where you board your flight back to London.
Highlights
Gol • Balestrand • Sognefjord • Flaerland • Geilo
Day by day
Your holiday starts with a scheduled flight from London to Oslo. Collect your hire car from the airport and then embark on the 3-hour drive northwest towards Gol. Leaving Oslo, this will take you first through a heavily forested area before you pass several small towns, eventually skirting alongside the beautiful Lake Krøderen. Arrive at your hotel which is situated about 20 minutes’ drive outside the town of Gol and check in for one night. You may wish to explore some of the nearby attractions including the Gol Stave Church, a copy of the original which was built in the 1200s. This beautiful church features detailed carvings and bright woodwork, making it a popular site for weddings. This area is also home to many excellent mountain trails, making it perfect for both hiking and mountain biking. Forested valleys combine with high mountains to give beautiful views of Jotunheimen, Hemsedal and Hallingskarvet. If you want to extend your stay here let us know and we can arrange it for you at the time of booking.
Today you continue through the stunning Norwegian scenery to Balestrand. Your surroundings become more mountainous as you drive through the county of Vestland, and you will find yourself in mountain passes pressed in on all sides by majestic peaks. Cross the Sognefjord by car ferry and then by bridge before skirting along the edge, following the water as it widens out. One more car ferry ride will take you across to the opposite side of the Esefjord to your destination, and the final stretch of your journey consists of skirting this narrow inlet around its peak and into the small fjord-side town of Balestrand. Check in to your hotel for five nights.
Balestrand is situated on the northern shore of the majestic Sognefjord, the longest and deepest fjord in Norway, and is an excellent base from which to explore some of the best scenery and activities the country has to offer. The best way to experience the fjord is by boat, and there are regular services taking passengers up to Fjaerland along the Fjaerlandfjord branch, passing tiny picturesque villages, waterfalls and imposing mountains. One of the main attractions in Fjaerland is the Norwegian Glacier Museum. This fascinating exhibition gives an insight into the formation, research and future of the glaciers in the region, including a panoramic cinema showcasing the Jostedalsbreen Glacier from every possible angle. For those seeking a more exhilarating glacial experience, it is also possible to walk on the glacier itself. Taking up almost half of the Jostedalsbreen National Park, the Jostedalsbreen glacier is the largest in mainland Europe. There are multiple options for hiking on the glacier, all of which are run by experienced guides, varying length and group size. You will be able to hear the ice melting as you cross it, and in April and May it is possible to cross the glacier on skis. For a slightly more relaxing trip, there are many other hiking routes in and around the national park, all of which are easily reached from Fjaerland’s central town of Mundal. These routes will allow you to take in the beautiful scenery of the fjord, mountains and glacier. Closer to your hotel in Balestrand, hiking routes offer frequent viewpoints and picnic sites, allowing you to make a day of this enjoyable outing. For a panoramic view of Balestrand and the Sognefjord, the Orrabanken route climbs to 370 metres above sea level and is suitable for most fitness levels. The Fossetien walking route takes you past 7 mountain lakes and 14 waterfalls, including the incredible Likholefossen, where you will cross the churning waters as they plunge to the rocks below. Another popular activity here is kayaking on the calm waters, commonly up the short branch of the Esefjord on the north side of the Sognefjord. You may wish to spend one of your days here embarking on the Flam railway, Norway’s most famous scenic railway journey. Start by taking the early express boat across to Flam, the starting point of the railway line. This incredible journey ascends 2,833 feet through mountainous terrain, passing towering cliffs, chasms and cascades. The valley will start to narrow as you pass close by the Rjoandefossen waterfall before you cross the Hoga River. Arrive into Berekvam station at 1,129 ft above sea level shortly before passing through the longest tunnel on the line. Trains often stop after this at the station of Kjosfossen, allowing you to take in the 738-ft-high waterfall there. The final stretch sees you travelling alongside a mountain ledge hundreds of feet above the valley floor. Arriving into Myrdal, you will have enough time to stretch your legs before boarding the return service in time to catch the boat back to Balestrand. Other popular attractions in Balestrand itself include the Norwegian Travel and Tourism Museum, which follows the tracks of the first explorers and how their discoveries led to the development of the Norwegian tourism industry which we see today, and the Sognefjord aquarium, entry to which includes the rental of a rowing boat or canoe.
Today you leave Balestrand and travel to Geilo en route back to Oslo. Start by retracing your tracks around the Esefjord and across the Sognefjord. You will then travel through a more mountainous region, passing close by Lake Vassbygdevatnet, before traversing the winding roads intersected by tunnels which take you up a narrow mountain pass, offering stunning views of the landscape each time you turn the corner. Continue through the mountain valleys, passing luscious green hillsides and multiple clear blue lakes, before arriving into Geilo, a sprawling town and your base for the next night. Geilo is mostly known for being an excellent skiing destination, but there are also numerous activities available during the warmer months. Its proximity to the two national parks of Hallingskarvet and Hardangervidda make it an easy base from which to go on multiple hiking routes, including the Prestholtseter trail which rises almost 500 metres to the top of the Hallingskarvet mountain range, giving you wonderful views of the Hardangervidda mountain plateau and the Hallingdalen valley. Other popular activities here include mountain biking and rafting on the Numedalslagen River, considered one of Europe’s best rafting rivers.
On your final day in Norway drive from Geilo to Gol and retrace your steps back to Oslo airport. Return your hire car and board your flight back to London.
The itinerary was exactly what we planned for. Travelling around by plane, train, car and ferry was perfectly arranged and all ran smoothly.Mrs A, October 2024
Holiday price guide From £2,070 per person.
Holiday Code SCFD01
Call us on 01392 441245
Luxury fly-drive Norway touring holiday with 5 nights on the Sognefjord and overnight stops in Gol and Geilo.
Your holiday starts with a scheduled flight from London to Oslo. Collect your hire car from the airport and then embark on the 3-hour drive northwest towards Gol. Leaving Oslo, this will take you first through a heavily forested area before you pass several small towns, eventually skirting alongside the beautiful Lake Krøderen. Arrive at your hotel which is situated about 20 minutes’ drive outside the town of Gol and check in for one night. You may wish to explore some of the nearby attractions including the Gol Stave Church, a copy of the original which was built in the 1200s. This beautiful church features detailed carvings and bright woodwork, making it a popular site for weddings. This area is also home to many excellent mountain trails, making it perfect for both hiking and mountain biking. Forested valleys combine with high mountains to give beautiful views of Jotunheimen, Hemsedal and Hallingskarvet. If you want to extend your stay here let us know and we can arrange it for you at the time of booking.
Today you continue through the stunning Norwegian scenery to Balestrand. Your surroundings become more mountainous as you drive through the county of Vestland, and you will find yourself in mountain passes pressed in on all sides by majestic peaks. Cross the Sognefjord by car ferry and then by bridge before skirting along the edge, following the water as it widens out. One more car ferry ride will take you across to the opposite side of the Esefjord to your destination, and the final stretch of your journey consists of skirting this narrow inlet around its peak and into the small fjord-side town of Balestrand. Check in to your hotel for five nights.
Balestrand is situated on the northern shore of the majestic Sognefjord, the longest and deepest fjord in Norway, and is an excellent base from which to explore some of the best scenery and activities the country has to offer. The best way to experience the fjord is by boat, and there are regular services taking passengers up to Fjaerland along the Fjaerlandfjord branch, passing tiny picturesque villages, waterfalls and imposing mountains. One of the main attractions in Fjaerland is the Norwegian Glacier Museum. This fascinating exhibition gives an insight into the formation, research and future of the glaciers in the region, including a panoramic cinema showcasing the Jostedalsbreen Glacier from every possible angle. For those seeking a more exhilarating glacial experience, it is also possible to walk on the glacier itself. Taking up almost half of the Jostedalsbreen National Park, the Jostedalsbreen glacier is the largest in mainland Europe. There are multiple options for hiking on the glacier, all of which are run by experienced guides, varying length and group size. You will be able to hear the ice melting as you cross it, and in April and May it is possible to cross the glacier on skis. For a slightly more relaxing trip, there are many other hiking routes in and around the national park, all of which are easily reached from Fjaerland’s central town of Mundal. These routes will allow you to take in the beautiful scenery of the fjord, mountains and glacier. Closer to your hotel in Balestrand, hiking routes offer frequent viewpoints and picnic sites, allowing you to make a day of this enjoyable outing. For a panoramic view of Balestrand and the Sognefjord, the Orrabanken route climbs to 370 metres above sea level and is suitable for most fitness levels. The Fossetien walking route takes you past 7 mountain lakes and 14 waterfalls, including the incredible Likholefossen, where you will cross the churning waters as they plunge to the rocks below. Another popular activity here is kayaking on the calm waters, commonly up the short branch of the Esefjord on the north side of the Sognefjord. You may wish to spend one of your days here embarking on the Flam railway, Norway’s most famous scenic railway journey. Start by taking the early express boat across to Flam, the starting point of the railway line. This incredible journey ascends 2,833 feet through mountainous terrain, passing towering cliffs, chasms and cascades. The valley will start to narrow as you pass close by the Rjoandefossen waterfall before you cross the Hoga River. Arrive into Berekvam station at 1,129 ft above sea level shortly before passing through the longest tunnel on the line. Trains often stop after this at the station of Kjosfossen, allowing you to take in the 738-ft-high waterfall there. The final stretch sees you travelling alongside a mountain ledge hundreds of feet above the valley floor. Arriving into Myrdal, you will have enough time to stretch your legs before boarding the return service in time to catch the boat back to Balestrand. Other popular attractions in Balestrand itself include the Norwegian Travel and Tourism Museum, which follows the tracks of the first explorers and how their discoveries led to the development of the Norwegian tourism industry which we see today, and the Sognefjord aquarium, entry to which includes the rental of a rowing boat or canoe.
Today you leave Balestrand and travel to Geilo en route back to Oslo. Start by retracing your tracks around the Esefjord and across the Sognefjord. You will then travel through a more mountainous region, passing close by Lake Vassbygdevatnet, before traversing the winding roads intersected by tunnels which take you up a narrow mountain pass, offering stunning views of the landscape each time you turn the corner. Continue through the mountain valleys, passing luscious green hillsides and multiple clear blue lakes, before arriving into Geilo, a sprawling town and your base for the next night. Geilo is mostly known for being an excellent skiing destination, but there are also numerous activities available during the warmer months. Its proximity to the two national parks of Hallingskarvet and Hardangervidda make it an easy base from which to go on multiple hiking routes, including the Prestholtseter trail which rises almost 500 metres to the top of the Hallingskarvet mountain range, giving you wonderful views of the Hardangervidda mountain plateau and the Hallingdalen valley. Other popular activities here include mountain biking and rafting on the Numedalslagen River, considered one of Europe’s best rafting rivers.
On your final day in Norway drive from Geilo to Gol and retrace your steps back to Oslo airport. Return your hire car and board your flight back to London.
The itinerary was exactly what we planned for. Travelling around by plane, train, car and ferry was perfectly arranged and all ran smoothly.Mrs A, October 2024
Holiday price guide From £2,070 per person.
Holiday Code SCFD01
Our prices include
● Return flights with British Airways from London to Oslo
● Hire of a group B car for 8 days
● 1 night’s bed and breakfast in a Standard double room at Storefjell Resort Hotel, Gol
● 5 nights’ half board in a Historic room with fjord view at Kviknes Hotel, Balestrand
● 1 night’s bed and breakfast in a Double room at Vestlia Resort, Geilo
● 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 breakfasts 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
Additional information This holiday can be arranged throughout the year subject to the opening dates of the hotels. Timings can vary depending on the month and day of the week.
Call us on 01392 441245
Luxury fly-drive Norway touring holiday with 5 nights on the Sognefjord and overnight stops in Gol and Geilo.
The itinerary was exactly what we planned for. Travelling around by plane, train, car and ferry was perfectly arranged and all ran smoothly.Mrs A, October 2024
Holiday price guide From £2,070 per person.
Holiday Code SCFD01
Call us on 01392 441245
Luxury fly-drive Norway touring holiday with 5 nights on the Sognefjord and overnight stops in Gol and Geilo.
About Vestlandet and Norway's fjordland
Vestlandet contains many of the archetypal sites the visitor associates with Norway: spectacular fjords, colourful fishing ports, stave churches and dramatic panoramas. Vestlandet is a long, thin region in the west of the country, bordering the North Sea and interspersed by jagged inlets from the sea into the mountainous interior: the fjords including Sognefjorden, Geirangerfjord, Lysefjorden, Hardangerfjorden and Eidfjord. Bergen is the outstanding jewel as a town in this region, a World Heritage City, with ancient history, attractive buildings, world-class museums and superb restaurants. Sognefjord is Norway’s longest and deepest fjord and is composed of five large arms with fingers, of which Naeroyfjorden is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. To complement the dramatic natural scenery, there are ample man-made delights in the area too, with charming villages, waterfronts, well-preserved Viking heritage sites and local foodie specialities. You can witness the drama of the Sognefjord by boat from Bergen to Flam on a journey of about five hours. Just north and south of the innermost reaches of the Sognefjord are the outstanding stave churches of Borgund, unchanged since the Middle Ages, and Urnes, the oldest stave church in Norway. The Geirangerfjord is one of the best-known and justifiably so as it contains ten miles of dramatic natural beauty with numerous waterfalls tumbling down the vertical cliff face. The Hardangerfjord runs from the North Sea to the Hardangervidda Plateau and offers a wealth of attractive scenery and pretty towns, with numerous activities. There are also apple orchards and farmland, hiking and cycling. Towards the north of the region is the coastal town of Alesund, whose centre consists mainly of striking Art Nouveau buildings, constructed in the early 20th Century after a fire destroyed most of the old town centre.
Highlights of Vestlandet
Vestlandet is fjord country and the most well-known and spectactular are Sognefjorden, the Geirangerfjord, Lysefjorden, Hardangerfjorden and Eidfjord. The seafaring cities and ports of Bergen and Alesund offer a mixture of cultural, food and sightseeing possibilities. Bergen has the UNESCO World Heritage site of Bryggen with museum, shops, galleries and restaurants. There is the KODE museum of art and design and at Troldhaugen you can visit the home of Edvard Grieg. The region is also home to the Flam railway and cable cars take you to mountain tops. Alesund is renowned as an Art Deco town after a fire in 1904 destroyed the old town. From here it is the gateway to the Geirangerfjord and the Trollstigen mountain road. Combine land and water sports as well as spectacular scenery in Vestlandet. You can also visit glaciers in this region and take the Atlantic Road for coastal vistas.
Cultural highlights of Vestlandet
There is a wide range of cultural visits throughout the region: KUBE art nouveau centre in Alesund, Agatunet traditional Norwegian village on the Hardangerfjord, Kinn stone church from the Middle Ages, Alesund medieval age museum, The Vicarage at Nesset childhood home of Nobel Prize for Literature winner Bjornson, Bergenhus Fortress in Bergen, Suldal living museum farm, Eldhuset at Undredal on the Sognfjord showing local traditions, pasture farming and goat's cheese production, Sirdal mountain musuem, Bergen school museum, Geirganger timber church, Flam railway museum, Steffagarden on Ona croft from 1793, Visnes mining museum, Hardanger fold museum, Baroniet Rosendal manor house and gardens, Viking exhbition at Eidfjord, Vik historical tour, Kaupanger stave church on the Sognefjord, Trollveggen visitor centre, Viking village at Gudvangen, Borgund church, Osteroy museum, Ardal old church Ryfylke.
Festivals of Vestlandet
Kristiansund has a food festival in June, there is a Viking festival in Avaldsnes in June, Sola holds a kite festival in June, Floro holds the world's longest herring table in June, early July sees the Skudefestivalen the largest gathering of coastal culture in western Norway, Floro holds a sea sports festival in mid July, Molde holds the oldest continuously running jazz festival in the world in July, Haugesund harbour days is a yearly tradition in mid August, The Tomato festival is held in mid August at Finnoy on the Ryfylke Islands near Stavanger, Hardanger holds a music festival at the end of August, Bergen has a food festival at the beginning of September.
Gastronomy of Vestlandet
The mild climate and soils of the region lend themselves to the growing of fruit and berries that produce apple juice, cider and jams. Strawberries, raspberries and cherries are also grown locally. Cheeses are produced in the region including the Tingvoll cheese that has been produced here since 1303. Smoked salmon and cured meats are also local. Clipfish (dried salted cod) in the Alsesund area.
