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Sognefjord - Bustling Cities & Serene Fjords

Often called the ‘queen of the fjords’, Sognefjord is the largest in the world, framed by green, rugged mountains which in turn are topped by mighty glaciers. Stand on the fjord’s shores and all you can see in either direction is a succession of hazy blue mountain headlands descending into the deep, sapphire-hued water; look on a map and you can appreciate how the water writhes through the landscape, creating an extraordinary number of fingers, several of which you explore on this holiday.

This is a justly popular holiday of great contrasts, revealing the bustle of Oslo and Bergen as well as the special serenity of enchanting Sognefjord so as to give you a feel for Norway’s different faces. The holiday also features some unforgettable journeys, including the dramatic Flåm Railway and thrilling excursions by boat along the fjord.

Nights: 7
Journey: by boat and train
Terrain: fjords and mountains
Climate: mild and temperate
Meals: breakfast every day, dinner on 3 nights

Starting point: Oslo. With two nights at the elegant, Edwardian-style Thon Hotel Bristol in the centre of Oslo, you have a full day to explore Norway’s flourishing capital.

Day 1: Stroll around the bustling harbour, visit the fortress on the headland overlooking Oslofjord or take advantage of the discounted entrance fees offered by the included 24-hour City Card to visit attractions such as the sculpture park, contemporary art gallery and other fascinating museums such as that devoted to Viking ships.

Accommodation: Thon Hotel Bristol (as above)

Day 2: Leaving Oslo the next day, you take the train through rolling farmland and forests, rising steadily to reach an altitude of 1,222 metres as you pass the hotel once used as a training camp by Scott on your way across the rugged mountain moorland of the Hardangervidda Plateau. The train continues westwards to Myrdal, where you alight. The next leg of the journey on the Flåm Railway is a real highlight, as you descend some 800 metres from the mountains to steep-sided Aurlandsfjord, a finger of alluring Sognefjord, passing lush woodland, thundering waterfalls and deep ravines. You travel up Aurlandsfjord by express boat, for a night at the elegant Kvikne’s Hotel in Balestrand, a quiet village set by the fjord, with wooded mountains rising behind.

Accommodation: Kvikne's Hotel. The atmospheric lounges and high-ceilinged restaurant all enjoy impressive views of the fjord, but you may also wish to upgrade your bedroom to one overlooking the water (fjord view room in the main building £16pp/n; fjord view room in the historic building £25pp/n).

Day 3: The next day starts with another boat journey up one of the fjord’s most picturesque spurs to Fjaerland, a pleasant village with a bicycle hire shop and an intriguing museum about the vast Jostedal Glacier which cloaks the mountains to the north of Sognefjord.

Accommodation: Here, the charming Hotel Mundal has been run by ancestors of the current owners Billie and Marit Orheim since its creation in the late 19th century and enjoys a magical position by the water’s edge (larger room £17pp/n).

Day 4: You can fill your day in Fjaerland with a scenic walk - either a gentle stroll alongside the fjord, or a more demanding walk in the mountains above - or borrow a rowing boat and take to the water, admiring the views.

Accommodation: Hotel Mundal (as above)

Day 5: The final leg of the holiday, another highlight, takes you to the mouth of Sognefjord, from where the boat hugs the rocky, fjord-indented coastline down to Bergen, your base for two nights.

Accommodation: Our first-class hotel, right by the inner harbour, is well located to explore the city and its sights (we again include a 24-hour City Card), the most famous of which is its Hanseatic harbour district,

Day 6: You are free to explore the sights and attractions of Bergen.

Accommodation: (as above)

Prices & travel 2008:

Recommended destination airport: arrival Oslo, departure Bergen
Latest flight arrival time: flexible
Earliest flight departure time: flexible
Start: any day
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