The Best of Norway: Oslo to Bergen

Itinerary

• Day 1
  Arrival in Oslo
• Day 2
  Oslo & free afternoon - Nestled between shimmering fjords and dense, misty forests, Oslo has transformed into a vibrant cultural hub. Thanks to the country's natural resources and strong economy, Norway is one of the richest countries in the world - and in true Nordic style, this once overlooked city’s wealth has been infused into angular architecture, art and design projects. It's a beguiling mix of old and new, with world-class museums, contemporary architecture and beautiful open spaces. And this morning, you'll see it all on a guided tour accompanied by an expert local guide. With a smaller group of your fellow explorers, we'll travel along Oslo's main thoroughfare, Karl Johnas Gate, to see one of the country's most important buildings, the Royal Palace, where the King and Queen of Norway live and work. Nearby is the Ibsen Museum, dedicated to the playwright, Henrik Ibsen - who wrote famous works such as Peer Gynt, An Enemy of the People and A Doll's House. You'll also see the famed Vigeland Sculpture Park, which is home to more than 200 bronze, granite and cast-iron sculptures by Gustav Vigeland. The tour ends at the fascinating Kon-Tiki Museum celebrating the life and achievements of Norwegian explorer, Thor Heyerdahl, and the nearby Fram Museum, which houses the polar exploration ship used in the race to reach the South Pole by explorer Roald Amundsen. Continue exploring this walkable city independently with an Oslo Pass. This allows you free admission to 30 museums and attractions and unlimited public transport throughout the city. (You'll also find several restaurants throughout the city also offer discounts on food, so it's worth researching further to see what's included or speaking to your knowledge Tour Manager!). This evening, enjoy a taste of authentic Norwegian cuisine at a cosy local restaurant. The delicious dishes showcase the unique flavours and cooking techniques which have placed Norway firmly on the food map.
• Day 3
  Telemark - Today we'll journey west to the Telemark region. Made famous by one of the most dramatic sabotage missions of World War II forces, in which the Norwegian Resistance prevented the Germans from developing the 'heavy water' needed to further their atomic bomb-making capabilities.   This morning, we'll retrace their footsteps, starting at the processing plant that was destroyed by a team of Norwegian saboteurs. We'll see pictures, original artefacts, uniforms and guns during a presentation on the Heavy Water Plant Sabotage from WWII and watch a video of the original saboteurs recounting the events of that fateful day in February 1943.   Travelling back through Norway's stunning countryside, we'll end our day with a visit to the country's largest stave church. Made from local ore pine, the church dates back to the 13th century - one of 28 surviving staves from the more than 1,000 that once peppered the landscape. The church in Heddal has been lovingly restored to reflect the original interiors, allowing you to travel back to the fascinating world of the Middle Ages - it looks like something out of a fairytale. We return to Oslo for an evening at leisure.
• Day 4
  Bergen Railway - After breakfast, we'll wave goodbye to Oslo and board the Bergen Railway, accompanied by your expert Tour Manager. Considered by many as one of the most beautiful railway journeys in the world, one moment you are speeding alongside lakes and weaving through forests that seem to stretch as far as the eye can see and then suddenly, you are passing tiny mountain villages and on to the barren Hardangervidda plateau where patches of snow linger well into July. Five hours will pass quickly as the landscapes drift by and soon, we'll arrive at the mountain resort of Voss,  where we stay for two nights. 
• Day 5
  Flåm Railway - Today is a highlight for many with incredible views of Norway's most impressive natural landscapes. Yesterday's breathtaking vistas are just the precursor to today's. Travelling to Myrdal, we'll board the world-famous Flåm Railway, a 20-kilometre journey that sees us descend 865m on one of the world’s steepest standard-gauge railway lines. From the comfort of a vintage train compartment, watch as the train follows the sparkling blue river as it winds down into the valley, passing agricultural landscapes - farms in locations you'll doubt real people actually live, the Flåm village centre and the old church. Passing through 20 tunnels carved through sheer mountainsides, the beauty of the sheer cliffs and cascading waterfalls will leave you breathless - and that's before you reach the mouth of one of Norway's most spectacular fjords, Aurlandsfjord. It's no wonder it's deemed ‘one of the world’s best train rides’.   After our hour-long journey ends in Flåm, we'll board a ferry to Gudvangen across the UNESCO-listed Naerøyfjord. In our opinion, this is one of the best ways to experience the magnificence of the fjords - surrounded by high, steep mountains you can appreciate the scale of these natural wonders without the noise of modern life. Later, we’ll return to Voss.
• Day 6
  Voringfossen - We leave Voss for the pretty village of Eidfjord, which is nestled on the banks of Norway’s second-longest fjord, Hardangerfjord – known as the ‘Queen of Fjords.' Our journey takes us across Norway’s longest suspension bridge, and we continue up the valley to Voringfossen, the country’s most renowned waterfall. As it drops almost 600 feet into the sheer-sided gorge below, you may be lucky enough to see its rainbow from the viewing point that offers sensational views of this magnificent natural spectacle. We continue our journey along the fjord on a scenic drive by coach to Bergan where we stay for two nights at the historic Grand Hotel Terminus, a classic art deco hotel dating back to 1928. The atmospheric oak-panelled bar – voted the best in Norway for whisky – offers over a thousand different labels and is an ideal place to relax with newly made friends at the end of the day.
• Day 7
  Bergen - Nicknamed 'The heart of the fjords', Bergen may be Norway's second-largest city, but it has all the charm of a small town. At its heart is the UNESCO-listed Bryggen, a Hanseatic Wharf lined with colourful wooden buildings and heritage commercial buildings - a glorious remnant of Bregen's Golden Age as a key centre of trade between Norway and Europe. Just a stone's throw away is the lively Fish Market, which has provided locals with the freshest catches from the sea since the 13th century. While you can still find fresh fish and seafood here, there are also stalls selling local farm foods - fruits, berries, vegetables - handicrafts and souvenirs, as well as several restaurants. This morning, we'll explore all this and more on a guided walking tour of the beautiful coastal city in a small group of your fellow travellers, before time to enjoy lunch at leisure.  This afternoon, we'll take a scenic ride on the Fløibanen funicular, which starts from the centre of Bergen and reaches the summit of Mount Fløyen. At the top, there's time to soak up spectacular panoramic views over the city and follow a walking trail leading to one of the many viewpoints overlooking the magical landscape of fjords, lush green forests and mountain peaks. This evening, a unique experience awaits with a visit to Magic Ice. Enter a sub-zero winter wonderland constructed by renowned ice carvers. Once inside, discover the ice-art gallery inspired by famous Norwegian and international artists and enjoy an icy aperitif in the Ice Bar - of course, served in an ice glass.
• Day 8
  Return home