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6 days - Discover Hoven Loen, Fjærland, Flåm and Lom on this classic fjord route.
Get the feel of Norway away from the city life and explore it’s quieter farm and mountain side. Beginning in Oslo, this independent tour explores the roads to Bergen with some spectacular views of the Norwegian fjords along the way.
This 6-day self-drive exploration will give you the best of Norwegian fjords and valleys. Beautiful accommodation along the way offers locally sourced food and don’t forget to stop in the famous bakery in Lom.
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.
Self drive
Please note: We have not included evening dinners (half-board) in our Norwegian countryside self-drive itineraries but in some spots, the hotel you are staying at may be the only option and/or highly recommended. Norwegian countryside hotels often have well known restaurants or intimate family run dining rooms that the hosts take great pride in. Considering the price of meals in Norway we have left this flexible in case you choose to self-cater. Please ask us for our recommendations as determined by your final itinerary. You do need to book ahead for these evening meals.
Pick up your car from Oslo in the morning, and drive to the Lillehammer area (2-3h) in Oppland. Lillehammer are famous for hosting the Olympic games in 1994, and is still a popular area for skiers.
Just outside Lillehammer you can take the cable car to go for a hike and look out over the Gudbrandsdal valley. For the more adventurous person, rent a bike to try the downhill trails or visit one of the popular amusement parks in the area.
A stroll through Lillehammer town is also recommended. Visit Maihaugen Europe’s biggest open air museum just a short walk from the town center.
Continue the drive to Jotunheimen (2-3h) you can stop by in the Sjoa valley for a blast down the driver in a rafting boat or join in on a canyoning trip. Visit the charming town of Ringebu and stop by Rudi Gard farm which offers concerts, shows, exhibitions and a cafe. It is a working farm situated in a well-preserved cultural landscape featuring a number of heritage sites.
Food is a real highlight on this self-drive so be sure to plan ahead as to where you want to eat. One place to visit for sure is Brimi Bue, a popular Lom hot-spot for fresh local produce and traditional Nordic flavours owned by renowned chef Arne Brimi.
The drive will take you to Lusterfjord area through scenic routes and stunning fjords along the road. Enjoy the nice mountain views, snow and fjords along todays drive. You will drive by Stryn with possibilities of trying summer skiing (this is also the home town of the clothing brand, Moods of Norway), and a stop in Fjærland to view the Fjærlandfjord is recommended. This area is packed with activity options for all levels: glacier walks, hiking, go out on the fjord or just view the amazing scenery.
You will spend two nights in this area.
Leave the fjords behind and spend the day in the charming Voss. Break up the journey stopping by in Flåm for a tour on a cruise boat getting close to the fjords, or take the worlds most spectacular train journey looking at stunning waterfalls, return to Flåm (3h).
Explore this small town and try the local tastes, traditional style lamb meat ("smalahove" and "pinnakjøt"), sour cream porridge, and cured and seasoned meat, amongst other local and Norwegian specialties. Smalahove translates into "sheep head".
Spend the day in Voss viewing the beautiful country from the horseback (optional). Continue the drive to the coastal city Bergen (1h45m) that will offer you the ideal combination of nature, culture and exhilarating city life. Bergen is a great place to continue with a coastal fjord journey.
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.
Our Nordic Self-Drive Holidays program extends across the Nordic region; including Finland, Sweden, Denmark, Norway and Iceland.
We have spent time selecting countryside accommodation situated in key locations allowing you the opportunity to explore attractions and scenic highlights in the regions on day tours. Then come back to your lodging in the afternoon enjoying a satisfying meal at your accomomdation.
Our Nordic self-drive holidays are designed as short itineraries in each of the countries Norway, Finland, Denmark, Sweden & Iceland and can be combined to create a longer more in-depth itinerary if you wish.
Accommodation - important note
We can mix your accommodation up offering you a combination of a farm stay, country lodges, boutique hotels and kros/inns. Each of the properties we offer is unique, and lodging can range from a working farm to a comfortable country lodge/hotel.
You can leave the choice of accommodation to us giving you a great mixture, or you can be specific about your preferred accommodation when you book. Our accommodation categories are:
What we will never do is put you in a chain hotel in a town or city. You will always stay somewhere unique, somewhere with charm.
Driving in Norway during the peak season (July - early August):
Europeans love driving in Norway and during the summer months, the more popular tourist roads becomes crowded with European vans. This can slow the roads down, as it can be difficult to pass these vans. Norwegian country roads are often quite narrow. Having said this, these roads are incredibly scenic and have lots of picnic & photo spots.
If you are going to be using ferries during your drive, depending on the size of the ferry, this might involve a wait to get on. The ferries are reliable and regular but you may need to arrive early to secure a spot in the line. On some of the ferries, consider catching a ferry outside of the peak times. Your accommodation hosts will have the most up to date local information on hand so ask them for suggestions for your following days travel.
Photo credits: Tina Stafrèn/Visitnorway.com
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.
Make sure to plan a visit to Oslo, the bustling capital of Norway, and pre-book a session with the floating sauna KOK Oslo. Our Nordic Destination Specialist, Ivy Thompson interviews Kirstin Lorange, founder of floating sauna, KOK Oslo.
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.
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.
