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Bustling Cities & Serene Fjords

Oslo, Bergen & Sognefjord
 
Contrast Norway’s first and second cities with Sognefjord – ‘King of the Fjords’ – on this week-long, self-guided adventure by express boat and train. This unforgettable journey includes the famous Flåm railway, four high-quality hotels, and 24-hour City Cards to explore stylish Oslo and beautiful Bergen.
Bustling Cities & Serene Fjords. 7 nights
+44 (0)1653 617001 Call now
Bustling Cities & Serene Fjords. 7 nights
+44 (0)1653 617001 Call now
 

Holiday information

 

A touring holiday in Norway

Home to the world’s longest ice-free fjord – Sognefjord – and Europe’s largest glacier, Norway is a land of superlatives. By the end of this justly popular holiday, you’ll have used many yourselves to describe the country’s enthralling first and second cities, Oslo and Bergen; the unforgettable boat and train rides – including the famous Flåm Railway – that work like clockwork and make travelling across Norway such a pleasure; and, above all, Sognefjord’s astonishing scenery.
Not for nothing is this 200-plus-kilometre waterway known as the ‘King of the Norwegian Fjords’. Stand on its 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, some of which you explore on this holiday.
 

Book with confidence

What we’re doing so you can book and travel with confidence >
Our flexible booking policies >
Check the destination entry requirements >
 
Gallery
 

Itinerary

The key to Inntravel holidays is flexibility. You can start on the day of your choice, and are free to add extra nights.
  • Arrival in Oslo
    Night 1: at Hotel Bristol (the first of two nights here).
    As your first night’s accommodation is on the day of travel, Day 1 is your first day of exploration.
  • Explore Oslo
    Spend your first day exploring Norway’s flourishing capital, using our self-guided walking tour to take in some of its many sights. Stroll around the bustling harbour, see the fortress on the headland overlooking Oslofjord or take advantage of the discounted entrance fees offered by your included 24-hour City Card to visit attractions such as the sculpture park, and fascinating museums such as that devoted to Viking ships. You could also admire the ship that took Amundsen all the way to the South Pole in 1911; visit the Nobel Peace Centre; or Aker Brygge, the waterfront district which typifies the Norwegian capital’s bold sense of style. Here, you can ascend the 90-metre Tjuvtitten Tower (the ‘Sneak Peak’) for sensational views over the city.
  • Oslo to Balestrand
    Leaving Oslo, you embark on an unforgettable full day’s journey by rail and boat. From the capital, the train traverses rolling farmland and forests, rising steadily to reach an altitude of 1,222 metres as it passes the hotel once used as a training camp by Shackleton and Nansen. After crossing the rugged mountain moorland of the Hardangervidda Plateau, it pulls in at Myrdal, where you alight. The next leg of the journey on the world-famous 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 then travel up Aurlandsfjord by express boat, for two nights at the elegant Kvikne’s Hotel in Balestrand, a quiet village set by the fjord amid apple orchards, with wooded mountains rising behind.
    Express boat into the fjords
    Flâm Railway (C)sverrehjornevikcom-Flåm AS
  • Explore Balestrand
    There’s plenty of choice for you day here: enjoy a bike ride, or stroll along Balestrand’s heritage trail to learn about the artists who have visited the village. You could also pay a visit to the local aquarium, or seek out the fjord-side Cider House, a distillery and restaurant run by a Norwegian-Turkish couple amid over 100 varieties of fruit trees. Other options are to walk up the slopes behind the hotel to gain a different perspective on the splendid scenery, or to visit one or more of the area’s remarkable ‘stave churches’ – elaborate, 12th-century wooden structures, often topped with dragons’ heads, much like the prows of Viking longships.
    Nature Trail Balestrand
    St Olaf's church Balestrand
  • Balestrand to Fjærland
    Today features another boat journey up one of Sognefjord’s most picturesque spurs to Fjærland, for an overnight stay at the Fjærland Fjordstue. Here you are a mere stone’s throw from Jostedalsbreen – which, at 487km², is Europe’s largest glacier – so it’s no surprise to find the impressive Norwegian Glacier Museum here. What you might not be expecting, however, is a wealth of second-hand bookshops – 14, at the last count – that makes this farming village as appealing to bibliophiles as to lovers of the great outdoors. If you fall into the latter category, you might find time to hire a bike and cycle along the shores of the fjord, or to simply take to the water in a rowing boat.
    Fjaerland the book town
    Peaceful Fjaerland
  • Fjærland to Bergen
    Today’s fabulous final leg of your holiday, again by express boat, takes you to the mouth of Sognefjord, from where the boat hugs the fissured coastline down to Bergen, where you spend two nights at the Clarion Collection Hotel Havnekontoret.
  • Explore Bergen
    Our self-guided walking tour (again with an included 24-hour City Card) takes in various museums, and streets which have changed very little since medieval times. Equally, you may prefer to linger in the Bryggen, Bergen’s atmospheric, not to mention very photogenic, Hanseatic harbour district. Wander amid its brightly painted shops and warehouses, and peek into the large, glass-sided Fisk Torget (fish market) – a riot of sound and colour, especially when the catch comes in.
    Explore Bergen
 

Accommodation

You stay in comfortable hotels where you will find a warm welcome. Norwegian hotels do not have star ratings, but those in our selection are typically of 3- or 4-star standard.
 
Prices & travel options
All prices are in £ sterling (GBP). If you'd like to see what they equate to in your currency, use the converter. For general information on pricing, see the 'your holiday price explained' page.
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  • 7 nights: 01 June 2022 - 16 September 2022

    Start any day | End by latest date(s) shown above

    Starting Price Single room
    1 Jun - 9 Sep 2022 £1490 £365
    3rd & 4th person discount £0
    Single traveller supplement £0

    Includes accommodation, meals, travel between hotels and any other services integral to the holiday as described, plus a detailed information pack, but no travel from the UK, nor any connecting travel from the airport unless stated below.

    Included travel: Oslo – Balestrand – Fjærland – Bergen by rail and boat

    Pay locally for travel to/from the airport

    Book your flights through us and we'll find the best route and times to suit you. Please contact us to find out more about our flight booking service. We can also book connecting travel - see below.

  • Room upgrades (£ per person per night)

    Kvikne’s Hotel, Balestrand
    'Demi-suite' in the historic building: 01 Jun - 16 Sep 2022 £38
    Fjord view in the historic building: 01 Jun - 16 Sep 2022 £14

    Extra nights (£ per person per night) in a double or single room

    Kvikne’s Hotel, Balestrand (with dinner) Double room Single room
    01 Jun - 16 Sep 2022 £145 £183
    Fjærland Fjordstue, Fjærland (with dinner) Double room Single room
    01 Jun - 16 Sep 2022 £168 £204
    Clarion Collection Hotel Havnekontoret, Bergen (B&B) Double room Single room
    01 Jun - 16 Sep 2022 £140 £204
    Upgrade your City Card in Bergen: for a 48hr Card, add £11pp; for a 72hr Card add £17pp
  • RECOMMENDED AIRPORT(S):
    Oslo for the outward flight; Bergen for the homeward flight
    As an alternative to flying, we can arrange rail travel from London

    Travelling from the UK

    Travelling from outside the UK

    If you are flying from outside Europe,  we recommend flying via Oslo. To discuss onward connecting travel to the start of your holiday, please contact us.

    Travelling from outside the UK
    We have many years' experience catering for customers who live outside the UK, and will be happy to make tailored arrangements to fit with your plans.

    You have two options:

    1) Book your own flights to London, from where we can book flights and onward connecting travel to your hotel.

    2) Book your own flights direct to an airport appropriate to your chosen holiday. You can either make your own way from the airport to the hotel, or we'll be happy to book onward connecting travel for you. Please consult with us before booking your flights, so that we can advise you on the suitability of your proposed route and timings.
    Outward route Airline
    Aberdeen - Oslo (Gardermoen) Loganair,  SAS 
    Aberdeen - Oslo (Gardermoen), via Amsterdam KLM 
    Aberdeen - Oslo (Gardermoen), via Bergen SAS 
    Aberdeen - Oslo (Gardermoen), via Copenhagen SAS 
    Aberdeen - Oslo (Gardermoen), via Stavanger SAS 
    Return route Airline
    Bergen - Aberdeen SAS,  Wideroe 
    Bergen - Aberdeen (via Stavanger) SAS 
    Outward route Airline
    Birmingham - Oslo (Gardermoen) (via Frankfurt) Lufthansa 
    Birmingham - Oslo (Gardermoen) (via Amsterdam Schiphol) KLM 
    Birmingham - Oslo (Gardermoen) (via Copenhagen) SAS 
    Return route Airline
    Bergen - Birmingham (via Amsterdam Schiphol) KLM 
    Bergen - Birmingham (via Copenhagen) SAS 
    Outward route Airline
    Bristol - Oslo (Gardermoen) (via Amsterdam Schiphol) KLM 
    Return route Airline
    Bergen - Bristol (via Amsterdam Schiphol) KLM 
    Outward route Airline
    Edinburgh - Oslo (Gardermoen) Norwegian,  SAS 
    Edinburgh - Oslo (Gardermoen) (via Amsterdam Schiphol) KLM 
    Return route Airline
    Bergen - Edinburgh Loganair 
    Bergen - Edinburgh (via Amsterdam Schiphol) KLM 
    Bergen - Edinburgh (via Oslo (Gardermoen) ) Norwegian 
    Outward route Airline
    Humberside - Oslo (Gardermoen) (via Amsterdam Schiphol) KLM 
    Return route Airline
    Bergen - Humberside (via Amsterdam Schiphol) KLM 
    Outward route Airline
    Leeds Bradford - Oslo (Gardermoen) (via Amsterdam Schiphol) KLM 
    Return route Airline
    Bergen - Leeds Bradford (via Amsterdam Schiphol) KLM 
    Outward route Airline
    Gatwick - Oslo (Gardermoen) Norwegian 
    Gatwick - Oslo (Gardermoen) (via Copenhagen) Norwegian 
    Gatwick - Oslo (Gardermoen) (via Stockholm) Norwegian 
    Return route Airline
    Bergen - Gatwick Norwegian 
    Bergen - Gatwick (via Oslo (Gardermoen) ) Norwegian 
    Outward route Airline
    Heathrow - Oslo (Gardermoen) British Airways,  SAS 
    Return route Airline
    Bergen - Heathrow Wideroe 
    Bergen - Heathrow (via Amsterdam Schiphol) KLM 
    Bergen - Heathrow, via Copenhagen SAS 
    Bergen - Heathrow, via Oslo (Gardermoen) SAS 
    Bergen - Heathrow, via Stavanger SAS 
    Outward route Airline
    Luton - Oslo (Gardermoen) Wizz Air 
    Return route Airline
    Bergen - Luton Wizz Air 
    Outward route Airline
    Stansted - Oslo (Gardermoen) Ryanair 
    Return route Airline
    Bergen - Stansted (via Copenhagen) SAS 
    Outward route Airline
    Manchester - Oslo (Gardermoen) Norwegian,  SAS 
    Manchester - Oslo (Gardermoen) (via Amsterdam Schiphol) KLM 
    Manchester - Oslo (Gardermoen) (via Frankfurt) Lufthansa 
    Manchester - Oslo (Gardermoen), via Copenhagen SAS 
    Manchester - Oslo (Gardermoen), via Heathrow SAS 
    Manchester - Oslo (Gardermoen), via Stockholm SAS 
    Return route Airline
    Bergen - Manchester SAS 
    Bergen - Manchester (via Inverness) Loganair 
    Bergen - Manchester (via Oslo (Gardermoen) ) SAS 
    Bergen - Manchester (via Stavanger) Norwegian 
    Bergen - Manchester, (via Stockholm) SAS 
    Bergen - Manchester, via Copenhagen SAS 
    Outward route Airline
    Newcastle - Oslo (Gardermoen) (via Amsterdam Schiphol) KLM 
    Return route Airline
    Bergen - Newcastle Loganair 
    Bergen - Newcastle (via Amsterdam Schiphol) KLM 
    Outward route Airline
    Norwich - Oslo (Gardermoen) (via Amsterdam Schiphol) KLM 
    Return route Airline
    Bergen - Norwich (via Amsterdam Schiphol) KLM 
    Outward route Airline
    Teesside International - Oslo (Gardermoen) (via Amsterdam Schiphol) KLM 
    Travelling from outside the UK

    If you are flying from outside Europe,  we recommend flying via Oslo. To discuss onward connecting travel to the start of your holiday, please contact us.

    This list of flight options should be used as a guide only, and you should check each airline’s website for current routes, frequency and schedules. Not all flights operate daily, and may not run for the entire season. You should also heed the latest flight arrival time and earliest flight departure time, as it may not be possible to arrange connecting travel outside these times. Please do not book your flights until we have confirmed your accommodation to you. Alternatively, our expert reservations team will be happy to offer advice and to make flight bookings for you for any of the options listed above except those operated by Ryanair. We charge £35 per person for our flight booking service. Your flights are then covered by our package-booking conditions, which give you greater protection in the event of delay or cancellation, as well as providing ATOL cover.

What is included
  • 7 nights
  • 3 dinners
    7 breakfasts
  • city maps and notes for city walking tours
  • detailed cultural information
  • 24hr City Cards in Bergen & Oslo
  • rail/boat travel Oslo-Balestrand-Fjærland-Bergen
 
Reviews

If you've experienced this holiday first hand, why not write a review?

We are keen for as many customers as possible to review their holiday. To make it easier to do so, we include a specific review section on our post-holiday questionnaire, and this is what we publish here, unedited. Read our full review policy >

All 7 reviews
  • Anon
    Colchester
    23 August 2019

    Overall the holiday was excellent helped by very fine weather. Trains, buses & boats were all on time. Fjordstue Hotel was outstanding for character with excellent food and a lovely position. Kvikne's hotel was fine but a room in the concrete block was not up to the standard of the hotel otherwise (great view however).

  • J Livermore, Colchester.
    23 August 2019

    The package provided by Inntravel proved to give us explicit instructions for both travelling by public transport and finding our way on foot.  Everything was well laid out with plenty of up-to-date useful information.  The hotels were ideally placed for our travels and the whole holiday had been well thought out.  We asked friends to join us on this trip, confident that all would be well because we have used Inntravel before and they were not disappointed.  Thank you for a wonderful experience.

  • Mr P Gretton
    Southwell
    03 August 2019

    We had a wonderful holiday, thoroughly enjoying all the various hotels and locations. The walking tours in the cities were really excellent - we didn’t put a foot wrong and saw so many interesting places. Train and boat travel all very smoothly connected. Norwegian people really helpful and friendly. We did glacier tour the 2nd day, saw 2 glaciers and the museum. We were able to be dropped off at the museum on the way back from the glaciers so we could have a longer look round and then walk back into Fjaerland along the road. Dinner at the hotel in Fjaerland was one of our personal highlights.

  • Anna
    16 July 2019

    A brilliant holiday. Practical details all worked very well, and all the hotels were well placed. There was a good balance between cities (Oslo, Bergen) and the fjord areas in Balestrom and Fjaerland. We were fortunate to coincide with the Tall Ships race in Bergen, very picturesque and lots of events taking place. Norway is certainly expensive, especially alcohol, but quality of food is very good and portions are generous. The Inntravel approach which allowed us to be independent but with the security of a good structure suited us very well. It was our first visit to Norway and we loved it all. Hopefully we will return sometime.

  • Mr K Jenkins
    Sheffield
    11 July 2019

    This was an extremely enjoyable holiday. We enjoyed excellent weather which meant we were able to spend all the boat journeys outside marvelling at the scenery. It was a very good introduction to Norway.

  • Mr N Amott
    Sevenoaks
    05 July 2019

    The best holiday we have ever been on! Everything went like clockwork. The train journey was brilliant, the boat journeys down the fjords were amazing. The welcome at the various hotels was great. The views were awesome! The food was enough to feed an army! And high quality. I thought it might be tedious moving every two nights but in fact it was great fun, the journey was as much part of the holiday as the stay. The walking opportunities were endless. We did one big walk up the mountain (972m) at Balestrand and several shorter ambles. The sun literally shone all week. Found the 20 hours daylight fascinating. Sitting by the open window in our hotel by the edge of the fjord reading by daylight at 11pm in total silence was something I’ll never forget. No mosquitos either! Can’t recommend this holiday highly enough. Will definitely be returning.

  • anon
    03 July 2019

    Wonderful holiday, met all our expectations, enjoyed everything very much, thank you Inntravel for once again arranging such a great trip!
 

FAQs

If you have any questions relating to this or any other Inntravel holiday, our friendly travel experts will be happy to help. You might also find our General FAQs section helpful.
  • If your holiday plans go awry because of Coronavirus, rest assured that we’ll do right by you. Since the start of the pandemic, our flexible booking policy and prompt issuing of refunds to customers who prefer not to defer their holiday have earned us high praise in the national press.
  • We sincerely hope that your holiday experience will be as enjoyable as it would have been before the pandemic – we’re not operating holidays if the key highlights can no longer be delivered – but, naturally, there will be some changes to ensure your and other people’s safety, not least proving your vaccination status or taking a test in order to travel.
    Your holiday experience: what to expect >
    Safety measures being taken by hoteliers & others >
    Entry requirements for non-UK destinations & for re-entering the UK >
  • The information that we send to you 2-3 weeks before your holiday includes practical information about each stage of your journey so that you can travel confidently from one hotel to another, recommendations for places to visit and eat out in each place, plus cultural information about the area. Where applicable, we also provide notes for a self-guided walking tour of most cities, and some large towns. Sample travel pack >
  • We can book a wide range of routes from the UK with a variety of airlines (but not, currently, with Ryanair). As well as being more convenient for you to book all elements of your holiday together, it also means that we’ll accept liability for your travel arrangements, so if things go wrong, such as the airline going bust, we’ll make suitable alternative arrangements for you. The fee for this service is £35 per person (£15 for children aged 2-11). More information on flights >
  • We can’t book flights that originate outside the UK, but if you wanted to book your own flights to London (or elsewhere in the UK), we can make all onward travel arrangements (including flights) from there. Alternatively, if you are booking your own flights to an airport in continental Europe that’s appropriate for your holiday, we can book onward rail travel and/or taxis. More information about how we can tailor holidays for customers outside the UK >
  • Once you’ve decided on your exact itinerary (our travel experts will be happy to offer advice), you need to provide us with your party’s details, either by phone or via our booking form. At this point we also ask you to pay a deposit so that we can secure a room for you immediately on confirming availability with the hotel(s). If it turns out that we can’t secure the accommodation for the holiday you’ve requested, or offer an acceptable alternative, we’ll refund your deposit promptly and in full. After booking your accommodation and other key elements, we'll then book your travel (or you can do so if you’re making your own arrangements) and send you a Booking Confirmation and Invoice.

    More information about the booking process >
    Information about accommodation, general practicalities and more >
    Booking conditions >
  • Yes, it’s something we insist on, even for holidays in the UK. The vast majority of holidays go smoothly, but when things go wrong, it can be expensive to put them right. Buying a new pair of walking boots after your suitcase is stolen mightn’t seem so bad, but the bill for being airlifted down from a mountain with a broken leg or flown home while still recovering from an illness or accident can cost tens of thousands of pounds.

    You don’t have to take out a policy with our recommended provider (if you live outside the UK you’ll definitely need to make your own arrangements, as the policy is only for UK residents), but you do need to make sure that you’re covered for medical emergencies – including falling ill with Covid-19 while on holiday – and repatriation. We also recommend that you are covered for other eventualities, such as cancellation and loss of luggage and passports.

    We'll ask you for the details of your policy (insurer, policy number and medical emergency phone number) so that we can help out if the worst happens while you are on holiday. It's up to you, though, to check that your policy covers the activities you'll be doing on holiday and that it is adequate for your own individual needs; we don't check alternative policies.
  • It is your responsibility to ensure you are in possession of the correct travel documents, with the correct validity. If you’re a UK citizen, you need a full British passport to travel to Norway, but not a visa. If you are a citizen of another country, you’ll need to check requirements with the national embassy or your own consulate.

    Current information regarding vaccinations and travel health advice for UK citizens can be found through the Travel Health Pro website. You must make sure you have adequate insurance cover for illness, accidents and repatriation (see the insurance question). There is no need to apply for a Global Health Insurance Card (GHIC) as this (and still-current EHICs) is not valid in Norway. However, should you need medical help, you can show your UK passport at the medical facility and treatment will be provided on the same terms as for Norwegian nationals. It is important that, if you already have travel insurance in place, the terms do not exclude medical cover, especially for existing conditions, in the absence of an EHIC.
  • The most widely spoken language is Norwegian. The currency is the Kroner. Norwegian time is GMT/UTC + 1. It uses Daylight Saving Time, so in summer is on BST + 1.
  • For information on the practicalities of travel now that the UK is no longer part of the European Union, visit www.gov.uk/visit-eu-switzerland-norway-iceland-liechtenstein.

    At Inntravel we work in close partnership with our hoteliers, taxi drivers and other local suppliers to provide our self-guided holidays directly to you. We are entirely confident that you will continue to receive the usual warm welcome from them, regardless of what is happening in the European political sphere.
  • The UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) provides up-to-date, country-by-country travel advice, as well as information on security, local laws, passports and visas for UK citizens.

    If you live outside the UK, see our essential travel information page for a list of relevant websites.
Last fetch time is : 6/26/2022 7:54:19 PM