Norwegian Self-Drive Tour

Categories Independent Tours Self Drive Tours Scandinavia Summer Tours

Spend a week driving and cruising through the spectacular fjord country of central Norway.

Itinerary

OSLO - LILLEHAMMER ARRIVAL(184km)

Arrive by flight on own. Pick up rental car at Oslo Airport Gardermoen and drive towards Lillehammer along Lake Mjøsa, the largest in Norway. Lillehammer is the main town in the county of Oppland and was Winter Olympic City in 1994. Visit the Maihaugen Open-air Museum, one of Europe´s largest (entrance not included).

Accommodation at First Hotel Breiseth, or similar

LILLEHAMMER – LÆRDAL (246km)

Breakfast at the hotel. Continue the tour to Lærdal via Fagernes to Borgund stave church (entrance not included). Built around 1180 the church is exceptionally well preserved and is one of the most distinctive stave churches in Norway. Some of the finest features are the lavishly carved portals and the roof carvings of dragons’ heads. The stavchurches are Norway's most important contribution to world architecture and Norway's oldest preserved timber buildings. Next to Borgund stave church you will find a visitors centre which offers exhibitions about the history of stave churches in Norway and their role in the Middle Ages. Continue to Lærdal where you may want to visit the Norwegian Wild Salmon Centre (entrance not included) which is located on the banks of the River Lærdalselva - one of Norway's most famous salmon rivers. Visitors are given an insight into the life history of the Atlantic salmon and the traditions of salmon fishing. The centre offers a pool were you can observe wild salmon and sea trout in the currents and an award-winning film about the Atlantic salmon - seen through the eyes of a salmon.

Dinner & Accommodation at Lindstrøm Hotel, or similar

LÆRDAL – VIDEDALEN (206km)

After breakfast at the hotel, drive to Flåm and board your train for an exhilarating ride on the amazing Flåm Railway to Myrdal, a masterpiece of engineering ascending 2.838 feet in less than one hour. The descent from Myrdal to Flåm offers opportunities for photo shots of some exciting waterfalls and mountain scenery. After return to Flåm, short drive to Gudvangen at the head of the Nærøy Fjord. In Gudvangen board the sightseeing boat for start of approx. 3 hours cruise along the narrow Nærøy and Sogn Fjords the longest and deepest Fjord in the world. From the sun deck or the comfortable lounge, you can enjoy the spectacular scenery of cascading waterfalls, sheer mountain cliffs, snow-clad peaks, and a variety of wildlife. Arrival in Kaupanger and drive via Sogndal and Stryn, to Videdalen. Dinner & Accommodation at Videseter Hotel, or similar

VIDEDALEN – ÅLESUND (145km)

Breakfast at the hotel. Continue the tour by driving to Geiranger for your 2 hours and 15 minutes cruise to Valldal. This is one of Norway’s most beautiful cruises sailing through a fjord and mountain landscape which is included on UNESCO’s list of World Heritage sites. You will be fascinated by the natural surroundings and the many fjord and mountain farms that cling precariously onto small mountain plateaus or those that have found shelter under a rocky outcrop, sheltered from the forces of nature. The local legends are many and the history is there for you to see. Arrival in Valldal before driving north to the famous Road of the Trolls. Surrounded by high peaks, this mountain road has its name from the old folk tales of trolls and dwarfs. Continue west to Ålesund, a maritime town famous for its unique, hybrid “Art Nouveau” architecture. Ålesund is built right out into the Atlantic Ocean at the centre of a group of islands. In 1905 it was devastated by fire but was rebuilt within 3 years. East of the town centre, a winding road climbs through a lovely residential district to the top of Mount Aksla, a promontory overlooking the town and ends at Fjellstua (the Mountain Lodge) from where there is a stunning view of the town and the various islands.

Accommodation at Thon Hotel Ålesund, or similar

ÅLESUND – LOM (204km)

Breakfast at the hotel. Drive to Linge for your ferry crossing to Eidsdal (not included). Continue the tour via Geiranger here we recommend a detour to Dalsnibba viewing point (not included). A visit to the Dalsnibba summit is really an encounter with the elements! The summit is virtually unique because you can really experience the high mountains without having to walk for hours. The weather at the summit is changeable and can vary from thick fog to radiant sunshine in the blink of an eye! It is a photographer’s dream to witness these stunning variations and there have naturally been many photos taken of the view from the summit. It is not uncommon to observe thick fog in the lowlands while the sun is shining at the summit. Continue via Grotli, before crossing the rugged Grotli Mountains to Lom, close to the impressive Jotunheimen National Park. Lom is famous for its wooden stave church, which is one of the biggest in the country and still in use for services. Dinner & Accommodation at Fossheim Hotel Lom, or similar

Breakfast at the hotel. The tour continues via Lake Vågå, before descending the magnificent Gudbrands Valley to the popular tourist town of Lillehammer and along Lake Mjøsa, back to Oslo and Holmenkollen, home of the world-famous ski jump, offering unforgettable views of the city and Oslo Fjord way below.

Accommodation at Thon Hotel Opera, or similar

Breakfast at the hotel. Check out from the hotel. Drive to Oslo Airport Gardermoen and drop off rental car. Flight out on own.

Notes