
Beautiful Norway Tour Highlights 2024
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 - Semi-independent visit to the mountains, fjords and valleys of Norway.
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 and enjoying the insight of a local driver (who is not an official guide!). 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. The journey can also run in reverse starting from Bergen every Monday during the same period.
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.
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.
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 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 farms'
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