Walking the Fjords

Begin your adventure in the picturesque coastal city of Bergen, deep in fjord land and wrapped by seven mighty mountains. Around 4pm, say hallo to your tour leader and fellow travellers in the hotel lobby, where we gather as a group for the first time to get to know each other and learn more about the adventures ahead. This is also an excellent time to take your first traditional Scandinavian coffee and snack break, with the free homemade pastries and freshly brewed tea and coffee available at the hotel. After, we get our bearings with an orientation tour of the city, before your tour leader ensures a big Norwegian welcome by arranging a group dinner at the hotel. Want more time in Bergen? Secure pre-tour hotel nights through your sales representative. Upgrade to a deluxe room today – speak to your sales representative for more details

Board the minibus after breakfast and begin our journey into the fjords. After 2hr 30min on the road, we reach the village of Gudvangen, where we hop on a ferry for a two-hour scenic cruise through the wild sheer cliffs of Nærøyfjord. Arriving in the village of Flåm, we jump back in the minibus and continue to Nes Gard, our hideaway in the fjords for the next five nights. Upgrade to a superior room with a view of the fjord today – speak to your sales representative for more details

After a short transfer, embark on a picturesque walk to the top of Molden (3,360ft/1,116m), where we can marvel at the profound chasm that is Sognefjord, nicknamed the King of the Fjords. Molden is often called the finest viewpoint in Sogn, with an amazing fjord view. With 1,970ft (600m) of elevation gain over 2.6mi (4.2km), the path is neither too steep nor strenuous. Halfway, we stop at the mountain farm of Svarthiller, where we get the first scenic views of the fjord. After, we visit Urnes Stave Church, the oldest stave church in Norway and a World Heritage site. Upgrade to a superior room with a view of the fjord today – speak to your sales representative for more details

After breakfast, we have an approximately 40-minute transfer to Jostedal National Park, the home of Jostedal glacier, a mammoth ice cap covering vast swathes of the park itself. It has nearly 30 glacial arms and today we visit two, starting with a walk to the Nigards Glacier, where we get really close to the glacier. If you’d like to get even closer, you can join an optional guided walk on the glacier, using crampons and an ice axe to help you navigate. After, drive to the Bergset Glacier, a mighty ice wall covering the upper part of Krundalen valley. Here, we have a short walk towards this glacier fall before we head back to Nes Gard. Upgrade to a superior room with a view of the fjord today – speak to your sales representative for more details

Hike into Mørkridsdalen today, one of the most scenic valleys in Norway. The walk starts in a narrow canyon dominated by a waterfall. As we continue, the canyon opens into a wide valley of moorland with wildflowers and traditional Norwegian summer cottages. After, we return to Nes Gard for another evening to enjoy our scenic location on the banks of the Lustrafjord. Upgrade to a superior room with a view of the fjord today – speak to your sales representative for more details

Start the day with a one-hour transfer to the start point of today’s hike. The route (which takes three to four hours) is one of the most popular in the area and when we reach the top of Besshovden viewpoint, we see why. From the summit, enjoy majestic views of the Fjærlandsfjorden and Jostedal glacier. During summer, you may even see people securing hammocks here to spend the night under the stars. Then take a short transfer to the Norwegian Glacier Museum in Fjærland, an angular slice of modern architecture backdropped by the ancient mountain peaks. Here, we can spend 1hr 30min enjoying a fascinating insight into the local landscape, the glaciers and how the climate crisis is impacting them. After, enjoy free time in Fjærland, Norway’s book town, where old cow sheds and pig pens have been converted into book shops. Please note: the order of this day may be reversed, depending on the weather. Upgrade to a superior room with a view of the fjord today – speak to your sales representative for more details

Bid a fond farewell to our fjordic home and transfer (2hr 15min) to Flåm, where we ride the Flåm railway, one of the most beautiful and steep train journeys in the world. Our journey takes us to Myrdal railway station, where we get out and take a zig-zagging path back down. Hiking this car-free trail to Blomheller takes us along the Rallarvegen gravel road and Flåm Valley trail, offering fantastic views of waterfalls and the valley. The downhill route covers about 4.5mi (7km), descending more than 1,475ft (450m) in elevation and winding past the dramatic 21 hairpin bends of Myrdalsberget in the Kårdal valley. After, we jump back on the railway, normally at Blomheller station, and return to Flåm, where we catch a transfer (1hr 15min) to our hotel in Voss. We arrive shortly after 6pm, in time to make ourselves comfortable and enjoy our farewell dinner. Upgrade to a room with a view of Lake Vangsvatnet today – speak to your sales representative for more details

You’ve hiked through Norway’s stunning fjords, ridden one of the most scenic railways in the world, and taken a boat onto a glacial lake, but now it’s time to begin your return journey home. Alternatively, if you’d like to extend your adventure, speak to your sales representative to discuss our large range of extension options.