Norway in a Nutshell® with Cycling

Arrive in Oslo, the beautiful Norwegian capital by the Oslofjord. Make your own way to your centrally located hotel in the heart of Oslo, an easy direct express train ride away from the airport. The Norwegian capital has a great deal to offer for the observant traveller. We can recommend a walk around the centre of town to view the Parliament, the Castle, and the Harbour area.

Discover the new area of Bjorvika with the new Opera House and Munch Museum and then explore the charming shopping streets, cosy cafés and exciting eateries of Grünerløkka. After going shopping at numerous design boutiques, vintage shops and flea markets, head to the Mathallen food hall for local specialties. Lastly, visit the new National Museum of Norway down by the harbour before finding a spot in one of the local fish restaurants for dinner.

Depart Oslo by train to the highest point on the Bergensbanen (Oslo to Bergen railway) at Finse; 1222 meters above sea level. At Finse you will disembark the train and stay at the mountain lodge for the night. If you take the morning train from Oslo you have time to enjoy Finse for local walks in the area. Finse is situated on the edge of Hardangervidda (the Hardanger Mountain Plateau) and offers great views of the Hardangerjøkulen (glacier).

Hardangervidda is one of Norway's most popular walking and trekking areas, and if you are an active walker we recommend to extend your stay at Finse for more extended walks in the area.

We have included a luggage service between Oslo and Bergen, meaning you do not have to bring your main luggage for the trip. Your luggage will be picked up from your hotel in Oslo and transferred to your hotel in Bergen. You will take an overnight rucksack only for your trip to Finse and Flåm.

After breakfast you will pick up your bicycle at Finse and start the cycling trip along the railway construction road (Rallarvegen) to Myrdal and on to Flåm. The trip follows a well maintained gravel road through the Hardangervidda. Take your time to enjoy the fabulous scenery, and if you are lucky you might even spot wild reindeer in the area. You will pass by the Fagervatn Lake, which is the highest point of Rallarvegen at 1310m. In the summertime, a café is run in the Fagernut Dwelling, where you can buy freshly made waffles and coffee.

The terrain is reasonably flat with some up and down between Finse and Myrdal (38km). Then at Myrdal you will take off towards Flåm and follow the very steep downhill switchback path to the bottom of the Flåm Valley. These last 20km from Myrdal to Flåm offer stunning views down the valley following the Flåm Railway. Doing the trip by bike allows you to plan a leisurely trip with lots of photo opportunities that those travelling by train will miss.

On reaching Flåm you will check into your local hotel. Make sure you keep your bikes for the afternoon in Flåm to do local bike rides.

Alternative walking itinerary
If you are more of a walker than a cyclist you can chose to take the train between Finse and Myrdal, and then walk from Myrdal down the Flåm Valley to Flåm (20km) instead of biking.

Travelling with different activity levels
If you travel as a party of 2 or more, and only one (or a few) of you want to do the active Norway in a Nutshell version, then we are more than happy to arrange those who do not want to bike to do the ’standard’ Norway in a Nutshell version of the itinerary. You will still be staying at the same hotels each night, and follow the same general itinerary, just using different modes of transport. Just ask us for details.
Lunch is a packed lunch.

Spend the morning at leisure in Flåm before taking the mid morning ferry along the Aurland and Nærøyfjords to Gudvangen. Once again many photo opportunities will present themselves with steep mountain sides on either side of the fjord and beautiful tumbling waterfalls.

In Gudvangen switch to a local bus taking you up the hairpin bends of Stalheimskleiva and back up to the main Oslo to Bergen rail line at Voss. In Voss you have a few hours available to enjoy this village before boarding the train to Bergen. Arrive Bergen in the early afternoon and make your own way to your hotel.

Please note that you are able to add an optional visit to the Viking Village Gudvangen today, however, you will not arrive in Bergen until 20.40pm.

After breakfast, self transfer to the Bergen airport.