Beautiful Norway Tour Highlights 2025
Our ‘Beautiful Norway’ tours along the Sognefjellet mountain road: A photographic journey through spectacular mountain scenery and contemporary landscape architecture.
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8 days - Travelling from Oslo to Bergen, this journey connects Norway’s iconic landscapes and quieter corners through shared scenic travel and time to explore independently.
Please note: Beautiful Norway is a semi-independent journey without a tour leader. All accommodation, transport and key services are arranged, with time to explore independently outside the shared mini-coach travel days. Learn more below and in the Important Information section.
This tour redefines group travel by combining independence with the ease and connection of a shared journey. Designed for travellers who appreciate flexibility but still value the camaraderie of a small group, it offers a carefully balanced experience — blending independent exploration with the comfort of travelling together with others for some sections of the trip.
Unlike traditional tours with a set itinerary and full-time guide, this journey follows a semi-independent format and does not include a guide or tour leader. You have a set itinerary that you follow independently, however, for some parts of the journey, you’ll share a premium 50 Degrees North mini-coach with a small group of 2-10 fellow travellers, who are also following the same thoughtfully curated route through Norway’s most spectacular landscapes between Oslo and Bergen.
Some days, you’ll travel together, taking in breathtaking scenery. Other days, you can explore independently based on what you have chosen for that day. In the evenings, you’ll stay in the same high-quality accommodation, where there’s an opportunity to connect with fellow travellers — should you want to — before setting off on your next independent or shared experience.
This model offers the best of both worlds: A degree of independence combined with easy opportunities for socialising with fellow travellers and the safety and security of familiar people and a well-planned itinerary. You can also read more about the philosophy behind this tour.
Also read about visiting Northern Europe's highest and arguably the most striking mountain pass along the road over Sognefjellet - written on the basis of our Beautiful Norway Hike option.
This trip runs weekly from May to September with fixed departures from Oslo every Saturday.

As a Certified B Corporation, 50 Degrees North has designed this tour using handpicked local hoteliers and suppliers who share our ethos of delivering services and activities of high social and environmental standards.
The CO2-e per person per day of all tours is carefully measured following each season. We fully offset all emissions of our tours on your behalf, and we constantly look at ways to reduce emissions where possible.
All transportation (by buses, trains, and boats) between destinations is included in the price. This includes travel between Lillehammer and Aurland by premium 50 Degrees North mini-coach.
Luggage handling is not included - you will be responsible for carrying all your luggage.
Please note there is no guide for this set journey. Your coach driver will offer help and answer questions when possible. Your driver doesn't provide commentary.
A small tip for the bus driver will be appreciated.
Arrive in Oslo, the beautiful Norwegian capital by the Oslofjord. Make your own way to your centrally located hotel in the heart of Oslo, an easy direct express train ride away from the airport. The Norwegian capital has a great deal to offer for the observant traveller. We can recommend a walk around the centre of town to view the Parliament, the Castle, and the Harbour area.
Discover the new area of Bjorvika with the new Opera House and Munch Museum and then explore the charming shopping streets, cosy cafés and exciting eateries of Grünerløkka. After going shopping at numerous design boutiques, vintage shops and flea markets, head to the Mathallen food hall for local specialties. Lastly, visit the new National Museum of Norway down by the harbour before finding a spot in one of the local fish restaurants for dinner.
Board your train at the Oslo Central Station and head towards Lillehammer, the small town that rose to international fame when it hosted the Winter Olympics in 1994. Check into your central hotel.
Spend the day at your leisure: Sunday is a quiet day in Lillehammer, however the main attractions are open. We recommend a visit to the open-air museum Maihaugen, the Norwegian Olympic Museum, and do not miss the impressive Garmo Stave Church.
Join the 50 Degrees North mini-coach to Lom, a 3-hour scenic drive from Lillehammer, travelling together with a small group of fellow Beautiful Norway guests. Your English-speaking driver will manage the journey and logistics along the way. Please note this is not a guided tour and the driver does not provide formal commentary.
The drive takes you through some of Norway’s most beautiful highlands and lush valleys, including the Gudbrandsdalen, framed by national parks, traditional farms, old architecture and classic hiking landscapes.
Lom is a small town that encapsulates the very essence of the Norwegian countryside. Situated in the heart of Jotunheimen National Park, it is surrounded by dramatic mountain scenery. Check into your charming historic hotel, then browse local design shops, cafés and galleries. Be sure to cross the river to visit the famous Lom Stave Church, constructed in Norman style in 1170. As it is still an active church, opening hours may vary.
Dinner is included this evening.
Travel by mini-coach from Lom to Geiranger, around 1.5 hours away, together with your fellow Beautiful Norway guests and the same driver as the previous day. On arrival, join a fjord RIB boat cruise through the UNESCO-listed Geirangerfjord, taking in iconic sights such as the Seven Sisters, Bridal Veil and Suitor waterfalls, along with towering fjord cliffs and abandoned mountain farms.
Please note that while transfers to and from Geiranger are private for Beautiful Norway guests, the fjord RIB boat experience itself is a shared activity and may include other passengers.
After the cruise, enjoy some free time for lunch before the return journey to Lom. If time and conditions allow, the mini-coach may stop at the Dalsnibba viewpoint on the way back.
The Geiranger visit is subject to weather and seasonal road conditions. If the mountain road is closed, you will instead enjoy a full day at leisure in Lom. We suggest visiting Brimi Bue, a popular local hot-spot for fresh produce and traditional Nordic flavours, owned by renowned chef Arne Brimi, with excellent value lunch options. You may also enjoy the historic atmosphere of the Lom open-air museum, with houses dating back to the early 1600s, offering insight into traditional rural life. The Norwegian Mountain Centre is also well worth a visit.
Dinner is included this evening.
Continue your journey by mini-coach, travelling together with the same driver and small group as the previous days. Today’s route winds through some of Norway’s most dramatic mountain and fjord landscapes, including Breheimen and Jostedalsheimen.
Stops along the way may vary depending on weather and timing, but typically include scenic viewpoints such as Sognefjellet, Mefjellet and Nedre Oscarshaug, along with a relaxed local lunch en route. While this is not a guided tour, the driver will manage the route, timing and planned stops for the day.
In the afternoon, cross the Aurlandsfjellet mountain road and stop at the striking Stegastein viewpoint before descending to the peaceful fjord village of Aurland.
Read about today's drive along Northern Europe's highest and arguably the most striking mountain pass, the road over Sognefjellet.
Dinner is included this evening.
Spend your day relaxing, hiking and taking in the views in the peaceful little town of Aurland. Enjoy the harbour area with unspoilt views of the fjord and surrounding gardens. If the weather is warm, you can swim in the fjord.
We can book optional visits to local mountain farms, guided hikes, kayaking or a fjord safari. These can be pre-booked at an additional cost.
Transfer from Aurland to Flåm, and step aboard the world famous Flåm Railway to Myrdal Station with several stunning lookout points along the way. Thanks to its steep incline (from sea level to almost 900 meters above sea level in a short hour), the train-ride is rated as one of Europe’s best rail journeys and has become a real highlight for visitors in Norway.
Return to Flåm to board the express ferry to Bergen. Take in the fresh air on Norway’s longest fjord, the Sognefjord, during this 5-hour ferry-ride towards Bergen. Check into your centrally located hotel at the end of the day - arriving approximately 8pm.
This trip concludes after breakfast. If possible, we recommend spending the day in Bergen exploring the sights or extending with another night.
All prices listed are per person, based on two people sharing a room.
NOTE: Accommodations are subject to change and twin rooms can be requested but not guaranteed. Upgrades are not available.
Short of time? It is possible to join this trip in Lillehammer on the evening of Day 2. There are direct trains from Gardemoen airport (1.5hrs).
The side trip to Geiranger travels over mountains and is available late May, subject to change due to weather/snow conditions on the mountain.
Minimum age for this tour is 12 years old.
Beautiful Norway is a semi-independent small group journey without a tour leader.
You follow the same fixed itinerary designed by 50 Degrees North, with all accommodation, transport and key activities arranged in advance. Travel alternates between independent days and shared mini-coach days, giving you flexibility while keeping the logistics simple.
Mini-coach days (shared travel):
You will travel together with a small group of up to 12 guests on a premium 50 Degrees North mini-coach on the following days:
During these days:
Independent days:
On the remaining days, travel and exploration are independent. You move at your own pace using pre-arranged trains, boats or short transfers, with time to explore each destination based on your interests.
There is no tour leader or guide travelling with the group at any point. Instead, you are supported by:
This travel style offers the ease and reassurance of a well-planned itinerary, combined with personal freedom and flexibility at each stop.
Is there a tour leader or guide?
No. This is not a guided tour. There is no tour leader travelling with the group.
Who is the driver?
On the mini-coach days, you will travel with a professional local driver who speaks English. The driver is not a guide and does not provide commentary, but will assist with logistics and ensure smooth travel.
Will it be the same driver throughout the tour?
You will have the same driver for the three consecutive mini-coach days between Lillehammer, Lom, Geiranger and Aurland. Drivers may vary between departures.
Does the driver help with pick-up times and locations?
Yes. The driver can advise the group of departure times and pick-up points during the shared travel days.
Who else will be on the mini-coach?
Only guests booked on the Beautiful Norway itinerary travel together on the mini-coach. You will not be mixed with guests on other 50 Degrees North itineraries.
Will we see other 50 Degrees North guests at hotels?
Possibly. Some hotels may also host other 50 Degrees North travellers who are travelling independently or on different itineraries.
Is the Geiranger day private?
Transfers to and from Geiranger are private for Beautiful Norway guests using the same mini-coach and driver.
The fjord RIB boat experience itself is a shared activity and may include other guests.
Why take the 50 Degrees North mini-coach instead of public transport?
The mini-coach allows access to scenic mountain roads, viewpoints and rural areas not easily reached by public transport. It also reduces logistical complexity, provides door-to-door transfers between destinations, and lowers the overall carbon footprint through shared transport.
This journey is well suited to travellers who:
It may not be the best fit for travellers who prefer a fully guided tour with daily commentary, or those looking for a tightly scheduled, fast-paced group experience.
As a Nordic specialist we are keen to show travellers the hidden gems of the countries we visit, and as an anti-dote to over-tourism to reduce the environmental pressures on the traditional and busy routes that most travel companies will take. This itinerary has been designed to do just that.
Our premium mini-coach trip is one way in which we are looking at how we can reduce carbon emissions over all styles of travel that we offer, not just on our group tours which by their nature have shared transport, but also on our private options. This tour is a independent tour however the transport 'mini-coach' between destinations is shared (with more of our clients doing the same tour, max 12 pax), therefore reducing the overall carbon footprint for each traveller.
Throughout your stay we have hand-selected accommodations which are locally owned, have deep roots in their communities, and pride themselves on supporting local facilities and producers. This is done through shopping locally, and buying sustainably sourced options, so in the words of one of the chefs in the accommodation you will be staying in 'you should taste what’s here in the surroundings, from lakes, mountains and farm.
IMPORTANT NOTE: Weather conditions may occasionally affect certain activities, and as a result, the schedule may be adjusted to ensure the best possible experience for all guests. For multi-activity stays, often the order of the activities will be confirmed locally on arrival. Activities might vary slightly in their duration or location due to the weather and local conditions. Any activities that are unable to be re-scheduled due to weather conditions will be refunded as a general practice, as determined by the activity provider.
Our ‘Beautiful Norway’ tours along the Sognefjellet mountain road: A photographic journey through spectacular mountain scenery and contemporary landscape architecture.
Our premium 50 Degrees North mini-coach represent a new style of travel: 2-12 independent travellers traverse exceptionally beautiful, yet hard-to-reach areas of Norway, thus experiencing something unique and authentic while contributing to more modest local economies.
Take a closer look at the boutique hotels and restaurants that we recommend as a part of our independent 'Beautiful Norway' tour across the fjords. We start in Lom, take a culinary stopover in Skjolden after having journeyed along the mountain pass across Sognefjellet, and finish at our beautiful accommodation in Aurland.
Oslo restaurants, in the tradition of the New Nordic Food Movement, have the depth and sophistication you would expect from the capital city of Norway. Read our options for places to try.
In Oslo you find restaurants in all price categories and genres.
Norwegian cuisine in its traditional form is based largely on the raw materials readily available in Norway and its mountains, wilderness and coast. It differs in many respects from its continental counterparts with a stronger focus on game and fish. Many of the traditional dishes are results of using conserved materials, with respect to the long winters.
For less expensive restaurants, head to the Grunerlokka district. It is great place to take in the city's pulse in the city's more ethnically diverse east. In this once working-class area, the vital signs of budget Oslo are most apparent, with low-cost restaurants, second-hand clothes shops and student bars grouped around the streets Markveien and Thorvald Meyers Gate. Among them, the café bar Fru Hagen has a legion of blond locals seeking cheap eats. On a Sunday evening, when much of the city is almost deserted, Fru Hagen is heaving.
Smoked Salmon or Røkt Laks
Kjøttboller - Meatballs
Krumkake - waffle-like pancake, which are then filled with whipped cream
In Oslo you find restaurants in all price categories and genres.
Norwegian cuisine in its traditional form is based largely on the raw materials readily available in Norway and its mountains, wilderness and coast. It differs in many respects from its continental counterparts with a stronger focus on game and fish. Many of the traditional dishes are results of using conserved materials, with respect to the long winters.
Here is few of our favourites to Oslo's wide variety of restaurants:
Lofoten Fish Restaurant
Kontrast
Tom Hem
Maaemo
Nedre Foss Gård
Theatercafeen
De Fem Stuer
Ekebergrestauranten
Engebret Café
Frognerseteren Restaurant: Finstua
Continental Hotel Oslo
For less expensive restaurants, head to the Grunerlokka district. It is great place to take in the city's pulse in the city's more ethnically diverse east. In this once working-class area, the vital signs of budget Oslo are most apparent, with low-cost restaurants, second-hand clothes shops and student bars grouped around the streets Markveien and Thorvald Meyers Gate. Among them, the café bar Fru Hagen has a legion of blond locals seeking cheap eats. On a Sunday evening, when much of the city is almost deserted, Fru Hagen is heaving.
When in Oslo try these local cuisines:
Smoked Salmon or Røkt Laks
Kjøttboller - Meatballs
Krumkake - waffle-like pancake, which are then filled with whipped cream