Scandinavian Travel - our suggestions for great reads
Before departure, or while dreaming of a Scandinavian adventure, get your fill of inspiring travel books here.
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5 days - Independent self guided tour extended with more inclusions.
The Norway in a Nutshell® Premium tour takes you through some of Norway’s most beautiful fjord scenery that includes the breathtaking experiences on the Bergen Railway, the Flåm Railway, the Aurlandsfjord and the Nærøyfjord. In the comfort of your train and cruise boat, watch fjord scenery with beautiful waterfalls, flowing rivers, deep valleys and mountains.
With an extended stay in a riverside lodge near Flåm, take your time and enjoy the scenery by hiking, kayaking or biking. Half board and two active experiences are also included.
This tour can be modified and extended as you wish. We have lots of little extras that can be added to make it even more special. Simply ask us for details.
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.
Train, boat and bus. Kayak and bikes are optional.
International flights, lunches and dinners not detailed in the program and items of personal nature.
Arrive to Oslo and make your own way to your central hotel in the heart of Oslo. The Norwegian capital has a great deal to offer for the discerning traveller. If you arrive early, we can recommend a walk around the centre of town to view the Parliament, the Castle & 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.
In the afternoon, meet your private guide for sightseeing by car. The program is flexible depending on what you would like to see as Oslo has a wide variety of museums to explore. Our guide can offer speciality architecture tours if desired.
Overnight in Hotel Continental or similar
Catch an early morning train from Oslo to Myrdal. The train journey over Northern Europe’s largest mountain plateau is spectacular. In the comfort of your train, watch fjord scenery with beautiful waterfalls, flowing rivers, deep valleys and mountains. On arrival, private transfer to your boutique riverside hotel in the Aurland valley.
Experience the heart of the Norwegian fjords in this terrific spot. Enjoy a bowl of hot soup, local organic bread and fresh apple juice. After dessert, head on to a lovely waterfall hike to Turlidfossen. Here enjoy a nice cup of warm coffee or tea and a cinnamon roll while we take in the view. After your hike, relax in the calm and quiet garden before dinner.
Overnight at a boutique riverside lodge.
Porter service included to transfer your large luggage from Oslo to Bergen.
The day starts with breakfast comprising of local, organic ingredients. After breakfast, head to the famous Stegastein lookout point and then stop for a stroll among the handcrafters in Aurland before visiting a traditional pasture farm. The region has a long and proud tradition of cheese. On summer farms, Norwegians have been producing cheese and taking care of livestock for generations and the tradition continues to this day. Enjoy lunch in rustic surroundings, whilst enjoying the fantastic view.
After the farm visit, the wood red hot tub and sauna awaits you. Sit back, relax and enjoy your surroundings with a glass of local drink before sitting down for dinner.
Overnight at a boutique riverside lodge.
The day starts with a spectacular 2-hour fjord cruise from Flåm to the tiny fjord village of Gudvangen. Enjoy the magnificent views of the Aurlandsfjord & the Næroyfjord - a UNESCO World Heritage Site. In Gudvangen you will be met by a private van for a private journey to Bergen. Enjoy a scenic drive from Gudvangen to Bergen with private car & driver with potential photostop on the way. This takes you through the beautiful Stalheim canyon (May to September), into Voss and then drive into Bergen. Overnight Opus XVI Hotel or similar with breakfast.
Please note that you are able to add an optional visit to the Viking Village Gudvangen today, however, you will not arrive in Bergen until 20.40pm.
All prices listed are per person, based on two people sharing a room. Prices are indicative due to the current uncertainty across Europe with increasing energy and volatile fuel costs.
There are many different options for this tour and it is advised that you contact us to discuss what suits you best.
The tour can be run from Oslo to Bergen or vice versa. You could also change your stopover point, and stay at the historic Stalheim Hotel or the Fleischer´s Hotel in Voss instead of Flåm.
The Norway in a Nutshell® itinerary runs in a variety of alternative ways;
• Bergen-Voss-Gudvangen-fjord cruise-Flåm Railway-Myrdal-Oslo
• Bergen-Myrdal-Flåm Railway-fjord cruise-Voss-Bergen
• Voss-Gudvangen-fjord cruise-Flåm Railway-Myrdal-Voss
• Oslo-Myrdal-Flåm Railway-fjord cruise-Voss-Bergen-Oslo
Travel times for the complete Norway in a Nutshell® journey:
Train Bergen-Myrdal: approx. 2 hours
Flåm Railway: approx. 1 hour
Fjord Cruise Flåm-Gudvangen: approx. 2 hours
Bus Gudvangen-Voss: approx. 1 hour
Train Voss-Bergen: approx. 1 hour
Train Oslo-Myrdal: approx. 5 hours
Train Voss-Oslo: approx. 5.5 hours
Train Bergen-Oslo: approx. 6.5 hours
• In Bergen the train departs from the Bergen Railway Station and in Oslo from Oslo Central Railway Station.
• There is no guide on the tour. You travel on your own. The connections are all within close proximity of each other for easy transfer and the stops are always announced over the speakers.
• There are places to store your luggage on all transport. Please note that you need to carry your luggage between the vehicles. If you book hotels in combination with the tour, we include a porter luggage transport between the hotels on some legs on route (Oslo-Voss/ Bergen or vice versa)
• Premium (Pluss) seats on the Norway in a Nutshell train are not much bigger than standard seats and are bolted to the floor. This means you might end up sitting against the direction of travel.
We keep updated on local conditions to benefit your holiday. This may include; a) knowledge on which areas of town have building works taking place which may affect your good nights sleep; b) knowledge of which cruise ship may be docking in small fjord villages when you happen to be there seeking peace and quiet; c) alternative transport options taking you away from the crowds.
Read more about the Flåm Railway here.
Porter service offers safe and secure transportation of your luggage, allowing you to travel through the fjords between Oslo and Flåm with just a day bag. Bring any valuables and medications with you in your day bag.
You leave the luggage at the hotel reception before 6:30AM and the Porter Service will pick it up and deliver it to your hotel in Flåm that same day. It will be stored safely until you arrive in Flåm.
Please note that 1 piece of luggage per person is included unless otherwise specified.
Before departure, or while dreaming of a Scandinavian adventure, get your fill of inspiring travel books here.
The seasons of Norway offer a varied experience so think carefully about when you want to go. You can get a completely different experience of the same trip depending on if you do the trip in Spring, Summer, Autumn or Winter.
50 Degrees North wins 'Norway's Leading Tour Operator' at the World Travel Awards for the fourth year running. “We are very pleased with this award following the challenging year for the travel and tourism industry”, said Tietse Stelma, 50 Degrees North’s Norwegian founder and CEO.
Travel insurance is compulsory for all tours with 50 Degrees North. The safety of our travellers, staff and operators is a major priority of 50 Degrees North. With an operational office in Norway, 50 Degrees North has access to an up-to-the-minute flow of information regarding the countries we work in. We are also in regular contact with the various operators we use. Their in-depth knowledge and understanding of their various areas is vital.
Norway has a few items that typically surprise travellers when visiting Norway for the first time. Alcohol and luxury items are heavily taxed and therefore prices are higher than you would expect. On the other hand, necessities such as bread and milk, are taxed low and therefore are great value.
We recommend that you bring all the alcohol you’re allowed to bring into the country when you arrive. There are many lovely parks and balconies where you can enjoy your duty free. However, be sure not to bring more than you’re allowed!
As of May 2014, the allowances according to Visit Norway are:
Alcoholic beverages:
Minimum age: 18/ 20*
1 litre of beverages with more than 22% up to and including 60% alcohol per volume as well as 1½ litre with more than 2.5% up to and including 22% alcohol per volume or three litres with more than 2.5% up to and including 22% alcohol per volume
and
2 litres of beer with more than 2.5 % or other beverages with more than 2.5% up to and including 4.7% alcohol per volume.
This means that you may for example bring with you five litres of beer provided you do not have any other alcoholic beverages with you.
*For importing alcoholic beverages with more than 22% alcohol per volume the minimum age is 20.
It’s illegal to bring extra alcohol into Norway and can end up costing you. Another thing you should bring and not buy in Norway is razor blades. Good razor blades in Norway are expensive.
We include a porter service which offers a safe and secure transportation of your luggage between Oslo and Voss/Bergen (the Norway in the Nutshell component of the tour).
Please leave your luggage at the hotel reception before 6:30AM and the Porter service will then pick your luggage up and bring it to your destination hotel, where it will be available at 9:00PM the same day.
The luggage service allows you to travel between Oslo and Bergen with just a small day/overnight bag.
Please note that 1 piece of luggage per person is included unless otherwise specified.