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10 days | Small group tour | May–Sep | Bergen to Trondheim
Small group journey along Norway’s western coast and fjords from Bergen to Trondheim, combining coastal ferries, glacier valleys and historic waterfront stays.
Beginning in Bergen, this itinerary follows the coastline by express ferry before continuing inland by premium mini-coach through Nordfjord, Loen and Ålesund. Highlights include the Loen Skylift, Sagastad Viking Exhibition, Trollstigen’s dramatic hairpin bends and the Atlantic Road, with accommodation in character-filled fjord and heritage hotels throughout.
This tour can be combined with the Best of Norway (8 days from Oslo to Bergen) to become the Norway in-Depth tour (17 days from Oslo to Trondheim).
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 (buses, trains, and boats) between destinations is included in the price. This includes travel between Kalvåg (remote Norwegian coastal town), Ålesund and Trondheim by premium 50 Degrees North mini-coach, which will accommodate spontaneous photo stops, as well as food and rest stops.
Luggage handling - portage is not included - you will be responsible for carrying all your luggage which at times is lengthy such as getting out of ferries and around ports.
A small tip for the bus driver will be appreciated - your escort will advise you with details about this.
Arrive and self transfer to your hotel.
Before meeting your group, discover some of Bergen's many attractions and sights, many of them within walking distance. Recommended sights of interests are the Hanseatic harbour Bryggen, Fløibanen Funicular, Troldhaugen, the Fish and Flower market, Bergen Aquarium and Gamle Bergen (Old Bergen Open Air Museum).
Meet your escort and group this evening for a welcome dinner.
Enjoy a morning guided sightseeing around Bergen before you head to the ferry port for the 4:30pm ferry to Kalvåg. With a small cafe on board, you can relax while you take in the stunning Norwegian coastline. The ferry stops along the way to drop off and pick up locals before arriving at Kalvåg at 8.20pm. You will get a short transfer up to the hotel and check in.
Kalvåg has one of the best preserved fishing village milieus in Vestlandet. The little houses stand closely together around the small bay to create a charming setting.
This morning, meet our minivan and driver around 10am - be sure to enjoy the port before he arrives. Follow along the magnificent Nordfjord today. On your journey to Loen, you will first stop at the Sagastad Viking Exhibition, which includes the entrance.
Arrive at Loen in the middle of the afternoon and check in at Hotel Alexandra. Loen has a lovely little wooden church to visit late in the afternoon, or you can relax by the pool and day spa. This evening, dinner at the hotel is included.
After breakfast, meet your driver and head out to walk up the Kjenndalen valley to the Kjenndalen Glacier, Jostedal Glacier's lowest glacier arm. Afterwards, at the end of Lovatn Lake, you'll find Kjenndalsstova, a cafe which is open from May to September and you can stop for lunch here.
Next is a visit to the Loen Sky Lift, a cable car that climbs 1,011 metres to the top of Mount Hoven, above the Nordfjord. There is a cafe at the top with a spectacular viewing platform at the roof. You can have a walk around the top and marvel at the view.
Return to the hotel for dinner.
Today you will travel from Loen via Hjørundfjord to Ålesund - your final leg of the journey by mini-coach. First stop today is the small town of Stryn. The driver stops along the way on request as you spend the day travelling through this beautiful section of road. Highlights include Horndøla Bru (Bridge), built between 1810 and 1813 and Norangsdalen, one of the narrowest valleys in Norway. This route follows the 'Queens' Route', rich in both spectacular sceneries as well as cultural memories.
Pass by Hellesyltfossen, one of the most well-known waterfalls of the Sunnfjord region, an area which encompasses dozens upon dozens of waterfalls. This lake was formed when an avalanche dammed up the river more than 100 years ago. Drive along the Hjørundfjord and catch the ferry across from Leknes to Sæbø before enjoying a 2 course lunch at Sagafjord Hotel.
Then it is time to make your way to Ålesund, a drive past lakes, Norwegian farms and ocean view.
Enjoy a 3 hours morning city walk of the picturesque city center of Ålesund.
In the afternoon, at your leisure, you have the day to explore more of the city. Ålesund is known for its art nouveau architectural style in which most of the town was rebuilt after a fire in 1904. Optional activities are available such as kayaking trips around the historic waterfront buildings, wildlife sea safari or climbing Mt. Aksla for lunch (418 steps).
After breakfast, be sure to have your cameras charged as you travel to Åndalsnes, with stops along the Trollstigen National Scenic Road. Trollstigen is Norway’s most visited tourist road, and this masterpiece in engineering in the midst of majestic natural landscapes is a true joy ride (particularly when you are in the safe hands of our Norwegian driver).
The eleven magnificent hairpin turns along Trollstigen offer fantastic scenery along the mountain road. Each bend has its own name, often named after the person who supervised the construction work on that particular section. At some locations, you will discover that the road is carved into the mountain itself, and in other places it is built in stone instead.
Historically, Trollstigen used to be an important transport passage between the villages Valldal in Indre Sunnmøre and Åndalsnes in Romsdalen. When the road opened in 1939, it wasn’t long before Trollstigen became a tourist attraction.
The Trollstigen is surrounded by mighty mountains that reach an altitude of over 1600 meters. To the west of the road lie the mountains of Bispen (1450m), Kongen (1614m) and Dronninga (1701m), and to the east of the road lie the Stigbottshornet (1583m) and the Storgrovfjellet (1629m).
Your minivan will stop along the way today for photos, rest stops and a stop at the Strawberry Cafe to sample the famous strawberry cakes on offer. You will also stop at the thundering ravine, Gudbrandsjuvet, near the Juvet Hotel. Gudbrandsjuvet is a 5 metre narrow and 20–25 metre high ravine through which the Valldøla River forces itself. The waters have formed a complex of deep potholes and intricate formations. The depth down from the surface of the water is about equal to the depth of ravine down to the river.
Today you will have a guided activity in the region of Åndalsnes. Take the gondola to the summit of the mountain, 708 meters above sea level — a scenic seven‑minute journey offering breathtaking views of Romsdalen’s fjords and surrounding peaks.
At the top, you’ll be guided at a relaxed pace. Enjoy a packed lunch in the heart of the high mountains, surrounded by dramatic scenery in every direction. As you traverse some of Norway’s wildest and most striking landscapes, you’ll also gain insight into the region’s rich history and culture. Your guide will share stories, local secrets, and point out secluded spots cherished by the community.
This evening, sit back and admire the view during your three course dinner.
After breakfast, spend your final day with your driver, travelling to Trondheim via the Atlantic Road. Along the way, visit an ancient Stave Church. The Atlantic Road takes you from lush coastal landscapes and heaths to bare rocks along the exposed Hustadvika, where you can see the sun sink into the horizon. This National Tourist Route has been called the world’s most beautiful drive and has been voted the “Norwegian construction of the century”.
On arrival into Kristiansund, catch the late afternoon express boat (3 hours) to Trondheim. Enjoy your final night in Norway and bid farewell to your tour leader and fellow travellers.
After breakfast, make your own way to the airport.
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.
Please note this tour is not suitable for children under the age of 14.
MEDICAL AND HEALTH INFORMATION:
All travellers need to be in good physical health in order to participate fully on this trip. When selecting your trip please make sure you have read through the itinerary carefully and assess your ability to manage and enjoy group travel. Please consider carefully how much luggage you bring as you will be responsible for carrying all the luggage. There is limited portage service in Scandinavia and your tour escorts cannot help you, beyond reason.
Scandinavia is a fairly accessible destination for people with restricted mobility and other disabilities and is actively working to be more accessible every day. However, please note that our group tours are often not suitable for persons with limited accessibility due to inclusions and pace. 50 Degrees North is committed to making travel widely accessible, regardless of ability or disability and we can tailor-make independent itineraries for travellers when needed. Please contact us for further details.
SUSTAINABLE TRAVEL:
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 tours are 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 private 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 farms'
On this itinerary we also support Nordic Choice Hotels, a collection of hotels renowned for their environmental efforts. The hotels are ISO 14001 certified, have launched plastic free initiatives in partnership with WWF, where possible are powered by renewable energy and are taking great strides to reduce water consumption and reduce the use of chemicals. Even though access to water is not an issue in Norway compared to other parts of the world, this hotel group is conscious of the energy consumed for heating, and chemicals required for purification, so reduction makes up part of their overall environmental policy. In addition to this they provide sustainable, organic, fair-trade food, and only use sustainably produced palm oil.
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.
These premium mini-coach journeys blend Norway’s celebrated landmarks with remote mountain passes and quieter fjord communities, offering 2–12 independent travellers a thoughtfully paced and seamless way to explore.
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The Western Fjords remain one of Norway’s most spectacular yet lesser-visited regions. Our Scenic Fjords of Norway small group tour reveals this hidden landscape, combining iconic highlights with remote valleys, historic hotels and celebrated scenic roads.
