Fjord Active Adventure

Fly to Bergen from a number of regional airports. It is a short 30 minute transfer by airport shuttle bus into the centre of Bergen (pay locally). Check-in to your hotel. We can recommend the Thon Hotel Rosenkrantz, situated a minute from ‘Bryggen’, a UNESCO World Heritage site. The newly refurbished hotel offers a wide range of modern and contemporary rooms. Complimentary tea and coffee is served all day, as is a light evening snack served from 1800-2100 on selected dates.  The rest of the day is free for you to familiarise yourself with your surroundings. 

Enjoy a typical Scandinavian breakfast and when suitably fortified, head out into the city, where there is a wealth of activities on hand. Explore the narrow streets of ‘Bryggen’ and the noise and camaraderie of the harbour-side Fish Market. Take the Funicular railway to the top of Mount Fløyen for some spectacular views. Families can explore the Troll Forest and let off steam in the outdoor playground or during peak season try a spot of canoeing at Shoemaker’s Dike. Others can follow many marked trails across the surrounding mountains. The cable car to Mount Ulriken can provide even more challenging hikes. Hop on a tram to Edvard Grieg’s former home or visit the open-air Old Bergen Museum, a collection of around 50 wooden houses from the 18th century onwards. When the sun shines, the locals head for Helleneset to indulge in a spot of fjord swimming and diving off the smooth rocks (there is a children’s pool here too). Whatever your choice of activity, don’t’ forget to incorporate a ‘Skillingsboller’ (cinnamon bun) into the proceedings.The long summer days mean that you can enjoy Bergen late into the evening.

It is a full day today, so a hearty breakfast is recommended. Head towards the central station and board the train to Voss. The journey through the Raundal Valley twists and turns along the Raundal Valley before arriving at Myrdal mountain station where you change for the Flåm railway. The Flåm Railway is one of the steepest in Europe. The 20km journey takes you from the remote mountain station in Myrdal to the shores of Aurlands fjord and through some of Norway’s most dramatic scenery. Half way through the journey, leave the crowds behind and disembark at Berekvam. Here a local guide will equip you with your mountain bikes (and helmet) and lead the way along the remaining 11km ensuring that not one viewpoint is missed. The mostly downhill road forms of the ‘Rallarvegen’ (Navvies Road) which was built to allow the construction of Bergensbanen and it is now a perfect for cyclists. Your efforts will be rewarded with fantastic views of the valley, waterfalls and glacier and the riverside trail means that you can fill your water bottle from any number of water sources. On arrival in Flåm, you swop bike for a RIB boat safari around to Gudvangen. On this high speed trip along the fjord you will pass towering mountains and waterfalls, look out for eagles and seals as well as travel through the UNESCO World Heritage site of the Naerøyfjord, that narrows to just 500m in parts. At Gudvangen, you join a coach and drive through the scenic Naerøydalen, down the hairpin bends of Stalheimskleiva to Voss, where a warm Norwegian style lunch awaits. Suitably refreshed, prepare for a white-water rafting adventure on the nearby Standaelva or Raundalselva.  The day culminates with a rather more sedate rail journey back to Bergen and time to catch your breath.

After yesterdays, thrilling adventure the day, once again is at your leisure. We can suggest taking a 2 hour local ferry from Bergen to Rosendal. This 2-hour boat ride takes you into the heart of Hardanger and Norway’s smallest ‘castle’ the Baroniet Rosendal. Take a tour of the manor house, wander through the scented rose garden, lunch at the garden café, serving delicious dishes inspired from the kitchen and herb garden. For those wanting to stretch their legs further, head to the Hattebergfossen waterfall. Alternatively, take a 3½ hour round trip to Mostraumen, where you can watch out for local wildlife. The boat stops for photos by the picturesque Heskjedalsfossen waterfall, before returning to Bergen.

Breakfast and make the most of the final hours in this colourful and vibrant town. If you are taking an early evening flight home, there is plenty of time to catch some of the sights you may have missed – or grab some souvenirs of your stay. Return to the airport in time for your return flight.