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7 days | Independent tour | May-Sep | Oslo to Bergen via Trondheim
Classic Standard – This is a new itinerary that has the same thoughtful route design, trusted local partnerships and carefully paced experiences that define our travel style, with accommodation centred on comfortable 3-star hotels in convenient locations.
Norway by Rail & Sea is one of the most geographically ambitious itineraries in our Classic range, and one of the most rewarding. Rather than following the standard Oslo–Bergen corridor, this seven-day journey takes a deliberate detour north through the heart of Norway before turning south again along the coast, giving you three entirely different ways of experiencing the country in a single trip.
The journey begins in Oslo before heading north by rail through the broad pastoral landscapes of the Gudbrandsdalen valley on the historic Dovrebanen, one of Norway's great engineering achievements, arriving in Trondheim, a medieval city of genuine character with a cathedral that has been a pilgrimage destination since the twelfth century.
From Trondheim, you board a Norwegian coastal vessel for an overnight sailing southward along one of the world's most celebrated stretches of coastline. This is Norway seen from the sea: sheltered channels between islands, remote fishing villages, and the slow emergence of Bergen's seven mountains on the horizon as the ship arrives in the morning. It is an unhurried and deeply atmospheric way to travel, and one that no land-based route can replicate.
Two nights in Bergen give you time to explore the UNESCO-listed Bryggen, the fish market and the funicular up to Mount Fløyen, before a full day devoted to the circular journey with Norway in a Nutshell® by Fjord Tours, taking in the Flåm Railway and a fjord cruise through the Aurlandsfjord and the UNESCO-listed Nærøyfjord. For a full explanation of how this iconic route works, read our Norway in a Nutshell® by Fjord Tours Explained guide.
This is an itinerary for travellers who want to understand Norway's geography as well as its scenery, and who value the journey itself as much as the destinations along the way.
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, local bus, ferry, Coastal Voyage
Welcome to Oslo, your gateway to Norway. Nestled at the inner reaches of the Oslo Fjord, this captivating capital blends over 1,000 years of history with a modern, outward-looking energy and a deep love of nature. Settle into your hotel and spend the rest of the day exploring at your own pace, whether that means wandering the waterfront, discovering the city's vibrant neighbourhoods, or simply soaking in the atmosphere of one of Europe's most liveable cities.
Oslo rewards those who take the time to look beyond the obvious, and this morning's three-hour small group walking tour does exactly that. With a local guide leading the way, you will move between grand civic landmarks and quiet residential backstreets, building a picture of a city shaped by Viking heritage, royal tradition, and a thoroughly modern outlook on design and sustainability. With Oslo explored, the afternoon brings a scenic train journey north to Lillehammer, sitting prettily on the banks of Lake Mjøsa and forever associated with the magic of the 1994 Winter Olympics.
Tonight you will enjoy a light dinner at your hotel.
In the morning, explore two of Lillehammer's most celebrated attractions. Maihaugen, Norway's largest open-air museum, brings the country's past vividly to life across more than 200 historic buildings set naturally in the landscape, offering a fascinating window into the everyday lives of those who built this nation over generations. Nearby, the Norwegian Olympic Museum traces the history of sport from ancient Olympia to the present day, with the 1994 Lillehammer and 1952 Oslo Winter Games taking centre stage through original objects, interactive installations, and spectacular films. In the afternoon, board the train and travel north through the dramatic Dovre mountain plateau towards Trondheim.
Today you join one of Norway's most iconic journeys, a coastal voyage sailing between some of the most breathtaking stretches of the Norwegian coastline. Calling at a succession of ports, some with time to step ashore and explore, others offering just a moment to take in the view, this is Norway seen from the sea, vast, unhurried, and utterly compelling. Settle in and let the landscape do the talking as you sail through the night.
Overnight on board.
Arriving into Bergen, one of Norway's most beloved cities, you begin your circular journey on Norway in a Nutshell® by Fjord Tours. This celebrated route takes in some of the country's most dramatic scenery, from the Bergen Railway to the vertiginous Flåm Railway, and a cruise along the Aurlandsfjord and the narrow, UNESCO-listed Nærøyfjord. All transport is included and the route runs like clockwork, so simply sit back and let Norway unfold around you.
Tonight you stay in Flåm, allowing you to experience the fjord village at its most peaceful once the day visitors have departed. Tomorrow morning you continue the return journey to Bergen.
Your Norway in a Nutshell journey continues today, returning you to Bergen via Myrdal and Voss. On arrival back in the city, the rest of the day is yours to explore Bergen at your own pace. The colourful wooden facades of Bryggen, the bustling fish market, and the funicular up to Mount Fløyen are all well within reach.
After breakfast, your tour draws to a close. If you would like to extend your stay in this wonderful corner of Norway, we would be delighted to help with ideas.
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.
The Bergen Railway crosses the roof of Norway in around seven hours, connecting Oslo and Bergen across a landscape that shifts from forested valley to high Arctic plateau to fjord country. Here is what to know before you travel, and how this journey fits into a longer experience of western Norway.
Our Director, Tietse Stelma, an Oslo native, offers his Oslo recommendations. Local walks, attractions and the not to miss, prawn eating session at the harbour.
The Norwegian coastal voyage is one of the great unhurried journeys. Sailing between Bergen and Kirkenes along a coastline of islands, fjords and remote fishing communities, the Havila ships call at 34 ports in each direction, carrying locals, cargo and travellers in equal measure. It is not a cruise in the conventional sense, and understanding what it is, and what it is not, will help you get the most from the experience.
