Current as of: December 26, 2024 - 20:20
Walking the Fjords Trip Notes
- Ways to Travel: Guided Group
- Destination: Norway
- Programmes: Walking & Trekking
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Activity Level:
3 out of 7 - Moderate
- 9 Days: Land Only
- Ages: 16+
- Trip Code: TSH
- Carbon Footprint: 19kg CO2e
Trip Overview
Head to Norway and hike trails surrounded by immense beauty, while also avoiding the tourist hotspots
The Norwegian fjords are rightly ranked as one of the natural wonders of the world: a contrast of snow-capped mountains, steep green hillsides and powerful waterfalls plunging into calm, clear fjordic waters. Purposefully avoiding the tourist hotspots, we stay at guesthouses within the fjords, providing easy access to some of the most picturesque walking trails in Norway. There’s also time to take a ferry through the sheer cliffs of Naerøyfjord (Narrow Fjord) and ride the Flåm railway, one of the most scenic train journeys in the world.
At a Glance
- Accommodation: 8 Classic nights (2 hotel, 6 guesthouse)
- Five days of walking
- Group normally 4 to 15, plus leader. Minimum age: 16
- Travel by minibus, train and ferry
Highlights
- Hike through Norway’s stunning fjords, the most immersive way to experience the natural wonders
- Ride the Flåm railway, one of the most beautiful and steep train journeys in the world
- Enjoy a ferry cruise through the dramatic sheer cliffs of Naerøyfjord (Narrow Fjord)
- Visit the award-winning Norwegian Glacier Museum to discover the secrets of the landscape
- Stay at Nes Gard, a family farm on the edge of Lustrafjord
Is This Trip for You?
This trip is graded Activity Level 3 (Moderate). For more information on our trip gradings, visit the Activity Level Guidelines page. If you have any queries about the difficulty of the trip, please contact us.
Difficulty: We walk on well-maintained trails, which may be steep in places. On average, we walk for three hours in the morning and two in the afternoon including stops. On the longest day, we may walk for up to seven hours including stops.
Itinerary flexibility: The itinerary for all departures may be altered or modified depending on the weather, route conditions, group’s abilities, or other local factors. The tour leader will discuss these changes with you if they occur.
Adult min age: 16
Min group size: 4
Max group size: 15
Itinerary
Land Only
- Start City: Bergen
- End City: Bergen
Land Only Itinerary
Fly to Bergen
Fly to Bergen and transfer to our hotel. After our briefing we have a guided tour in the evening in Norway’s beautiful second city.
Accommodation: Thon Orion Hotel (or similar)
Start Bergen
The adventure begins in Bergen. We have a welcome briefing at the hotel helmed by our tour leader, then head out for an orientation tour of Norway’s second city.
Classic accommodation: Thon Orion Hotel (or similar)
Transfer to Nes Gard with ferry cruise in the Nærøyfjord
After breakfast, we load up the minibus 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 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 three nights.
Classic accommodation: Nes Gard (or similar)
Summit Molden peak, an excellent viewpoint for Sognefjord
After a short transfer, we have a picturesque walk to the top of Molden (3,360ft/1,116m), where we can marvel at the profound chasm that is Sognefjord.
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.
Classic accommodation: Nes Gard (or similar)
Transfer to Jostedal Valley; hike and boat trip on glacial lake; optional glacier walk
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, we 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.
Classic accommodation: Nes Gard (or similar)
Hike into Mørkrisdalen Valley
Hike into Mørkrisdalen 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.
Afterwards, we say goodbye to Nes Gard and transfer (approximately 1hr 30min) to our second guesthouse in the fjords, the Fjærland Fjordstove in Fjærland, which has a waterfront location and views of a glacier.
Classic accommodation: Fjærland Fjordstove (or similar)
Walk to Anestølen and Lake Tverrdalsvotni
After a short morning transfer (approximately 20 minutes), we begin our walk by following a mostly flat gravel road, which offers panoramic views of the Barnakona peak. We arrive in Anestølen, a summer farm for goats, and enjoy our lunch while our tour leader tells us stories about how farming life has evolved here over the years.
Afterwards (with a chance to take selfies with the goats), we continue on the same path until we reach Lake Tverrdalsvotni. The second part of the walk after Anestølen is a bit steeper and rocky in some sections. We return along the same path and continue our walk until we meet our transfer vehicle to take us back to the guesthouse.
Classic accommodation: Fjærland Fjordstove (or similar)
Besshovden hike; visit the Norwegian Glacier Museum
We start the day with a short 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, we enjoy majestic views of the Fjærlandsfjorden fjord and the Jostedalsbreen glacier. During summer, you may even see people securing hammocks here to spend the night under the stars.
After, we have a short transfer to the Norwegian Glacier Museum, 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.
Please note: the order of this day may be reversed, depending on the weather.
Classic accommodation: Fjærland Fjordstove (or similar)
Flåm railway; to Bergen
After breakfast, we have a transfer (approximately two hours) to Flåm, where we ride the Flåm railway, one of the most beautiful and steep train journeys in the world. When we are back in Flåm, we continue to Bergen. We arrive around 4pm and then have time to explore the city.
Classic accommodation: Thon Orion Hotel (or similar)
Transfer to the airport; fly to London
Depending on the time of your flight home, you may have another chance to see more of Bergen. Those on group flights will leave today for the flight back to London.
End Bergen
The adventure ends in Bergen after breakfast. You can begin your return journey home, but if you’d like a bit more time to explore the city, speak to your sales representative about extending your stay.
Ascents, descents and distances: All ascents, descents and distances listed in the daily itinerary have been measured by our local partners or tour leaders, in many cases with satellite-based mapping software. However, different GPS measuring devices can give differing results, particularly on winding paths or in mountainous terrain. Measurements stated throughout these Trips Notes are given to help you understand the types of terrain and distances you will encounter. Timings stated will vary depending on the pace of your group.
Accommodation
Hotel and guesthouses
You spend two nights at a hotel in Bergen and six nights in guesthouse-style accommodation in the fjords.
Nes Gard, on the banks of Lustrafjord, is a private guesthouse. Double rooms have private bathrooms, while single rooms are two-bedroom private apartments with shared facilities. All the rooms are different and are individually decorated. Some of the rooms have a sloping ceiling.
Fjærland Fjordstove has a scenic waterfront spot in Fjærland. All 15 rooms have views of the fjord or mountain.
Single supplement from £ 560
Food & Drink
Seven breakfasts, seven packed lunches (made yourself from the breakfast buffet) and six three-course dinners are included.
An evening meal is not included on the first or last night in Bergen, but there are plenty of lovely restaurants to visit. At Nes Gard and Fjærland Fjordstove, the owners prepare excellent home-cooked food, often with fruit from their own farm. There is a strong focus on locally grown produce.
Transport
Transport via private bus, train and ferry to and from Lustrafjord.
Weather & Seasonality
From June to September, Lustrafjord has about 15 days a month with some kind of precipitation. When the sun shines, temperatures are around 18C-22C (64F-72F). Expect some rainfall, even though warm and sunny weather is not infrequent in this area. Summer rain is also common.
Joining Instructions
Key information
Start hotel: Thon Orion Hotel, Bradbenken 3, 5003 Bergen
Phone: +47 55 30 87 00
Recommended arrival time: Check-in is from 3pm and the welcome briefing will be at 4pm, followed by the orientation walk of Bergen
Airport: Bergen Airport (BGO)
Getting to the start hotel
The start hotel is approximately 30 minutes’ drive from the airport. Exodus provides one group arrival transfer from the airport, which is timed to coincide with the arrival of a chosen flight from London, UK. You may join this transfer at no extra cost, provided you can be at the airport before the transfer leaves. Speak to your sales representative for the group arrival transfer times or alternatively you can make your own way to the start hotel by using local public transport or by catching a taxi.
If you would like further information on joining this trip, please speak to your sales representative.
Catching your return flight
There’s a group departure transfer to the airport for customers who Exodus booked onto a chosen flight to London, UK. Please speak to your sales representative if you wish to join. If the group departure transfer does not suit your flight time, you can also make your own way to the airport by using local public transport or by catching a taxi.
Full joining instructions including local emergency numbers will be sent to you as part of our Final Joining Instructions. If you do not receive these at least a week before departure, or require them earlier please contact our office or your travel agent.
Location start: Bergen
Location end: Bergen
What To Take
Essential Equipment
- Backpack for carrying daily essentials: camera, water bottle etc
- Warm jacket
- Waterproof jacket and trousers (pants)
- Gaiters
- Gloves and warm hat
- Sunglasses
- Good waterproof trekking boots (fully leather is best)
- Sun hat
- Water bottle
Optional Equipment
- Walking poles
- Insect repellent
- Eye shield for light sleepers
- Swimwear
Practical Information
Visa
Norway
Travellers from the UK, US and EU normally do not need a visa to enter Norway. Please note, visa requirements often change and it is your responsibility to obtain any required visas for this trip. Therefore, we recommend that you check with the nearest embassy or consulate of your chosen destination(s), including any countries you may be transiting or transferring through.
Some local governments provide guidance on what visas their citizens need. To help, we’ve gathered a selection of useful links below.
- Australia: www.smartraveller.gov.au/destinations/europe/norway
- Canada: www.travel.gc.ca/destinations/norway
- United Kingdom: www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/norway/entry-requirements
- USA: www.travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/international-travel/International-Travel-Country-Information-Pages/Norway.html
Vaccinations and Health
Norway
There are no required vaccinations. However, you may want to consider vaccinations for tetanus, rabies (bat lyssavirus) and tick-borne encephalitis (TBE). Please confirm with your doctor or travel clinic.
If you’re a UK citizen, please note that your UK-issued European Health Insurance Cards (EHIC) are still valid and offer the same cover as the Global Health Insurance Cards (GHIC) in the EU. This gives you medical care at a reduced cost, and in some cases for free, in many European countries, but should not be considered a substitute for adequate insurance. Once your EHIC has expired, replace it with a GHIC.
Local Time
Norway's time zone: Europe/Oslo (UTC +01:00)
Electricity
Norway's electricity: Plug types C (two round pins) and F (two round pins) – 230V, 50Hz
Money
Norway's currency: Norwegian krone (NOK)
ATM Availability
Credit or debit cards are useful for paying for drinks, souvenirs and extra excursions. ATMs are found throughout Bergen, but there are none close to Nes Gard.
Extra Expenses & Spending Money
Norway is the most cashless of the Nordic countries, so we recommend you mostly pay using credit or debit cards. Please note, you can only pay by credit or debit card at Nes Gard and Fjærland Fjordstove.
Optional activities:
- Glacier walk on Day 4: 1,000 Norwegian kroner (US$92), paid locally
Tipping
Although optional, a tip for the tour leader at the end of the trip is greatly appreciated. As a guideline, we recommend around €25-€30 per person.
Sustainability and Impact
At Exodus, we thrive on travel, and we firmly believe our adventures should help destinations thrive too.
As a certified B Corp, we aim to take a ‘nature positive’ approach across our adventures, including carbon and waste reduction, animal welfare and support for rewilding and conservation. We also seek to contribute to local communities, providing economic opportunity and empowerment.
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Learn more about our Thriving Nature, Thriving People plan, including our commitment to rewilding 100 square metres for every Exodus traveller
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Read about the work of the Exodus Adventure Travels Foundation.
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Find out how you can travel more sustainably here.
Important Information
Water safety
This trip includes time by a lake, river or sea, where there may be opportunities to swim. You should always seek local advice before deciding whether to swim. Open-water or wild swim spots should be treated with extreme caution. Information on how to keep yourself safe while swimming is shown here.
Important Information
Your safe participation
When booking this trip, you should be confident in your ability to participate in all activities described in these Trip Notes. If you have any doubt about your suitability, please call the Exodus office and ask to speak to one of the experts on this itinerary.
Although our leaders are well trained to deal with different capabilities, if they have any concerns about someone’s ability to safely take part in an activity, or their impact on other people’s enjoyment, we authorise them to take necessary action which, in some circumstances, may involve asking someone to miss that activity.
By booking this trip you agree to our Booking Conditions which clearly state that our leaders have the authority to do this. In these rare instances we will ensure anyone sitting out is safely provided for and offered alternative options where possible. Refunds will not be provided for activities missed and customers may be liable for additional costs incurred.
Seatbelts
All vehicles used by Exodus should be equipped with working seatbelts, except where approved by Exodus based on the vehicle type or journey. Wherever seatbelts are available, we require our customers to use them for their own safety, even where it may not be a legal requirement.
How to Book
- Check availability: Go online to check availability, or contact us by phone or email.
- Secure your place: You can provisionally hold a place on this trip, usually for between three and seven days.
- Complete your booking and payment
When you’re ready to book, go to our website for online bookings, book over the phone or you can complete a booking form (available online or on request by calling us). We accept all major credit and debit cards, or you can pay be cheque.
After booking
You will receive your booking confirmation letter and invoice, which includes extra information and guidance about your travel arrangements.
Full joining instructions, including local emergency numbers and details of how to reach the start point, will be sent to you approximately two to three weeks prior to departure. If you do not receive these at least a week before departure, or require them earlier, please contact our office or your travel agent.
Trip Note validity
These Trip Notes are valid from the “Current as” date on page one. They will occasionally be updated after booking and before departure; if there are any updates that significantly impact the inclusions or itinerary, customers will be written to separately. They will also receive a link to the most up-to-date Trip Notes with their Final Joining Instructions before travelling.
The information in these Trip Notes is given in good faith. Where differences exist between the Trip Notes and our current brochure or website, the Trip Notes supersede the brochure and website. All holidays can be subject to unexpected changes; to enjoy them you should be prepared to be flexible where necessary. Occasionally, it may not be possible to follow the itinerary as planned. This may be for a variety of reasons – climatic, political, physical or other. In these circumstances we will make the best-possible alternative arrangements that maintain the integrity of the original itinerary.
Licensing
Exodus is fully licensed and bonded as a tour operator. We hold Air Traffic Organisers Licence (ATOL) number 2582, issued and bonded with the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA). We are also bonded to the International Air Transport Association (IATA) and we are members of the Federation of Tour Operators (FTO) and ABTA – The Travel Association. This means you can book your Exodus holiday with confidence, as all money paid to us for your trip is fully protected.