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Fjords & West Coast Road Trip

Highlights

  • Feel the ocean breeze in Norway’s westernmost village
  • Experience spectacular fjord and glacier landscapes
  • Hike or kayak in Fjærland 
  • Get a local’s insights on a walking tour of Bergen
from £838 pp
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What you'll do

Overview

Experience the spectacular west coast of Norway on this road trip to islands and fjords.

Available April – October

This self-drive trip with guided activities allows you to fully experience some of the most beautiful places in Western Norway. Norway is well known for its beauty and fjords. There are many of them!

On arrival, pick up your rental car and start your road trip. You will head north, and drive the coastal roads along Norway. Beautiful places and stunning views are passing as you drive.

Your first nights will be Værlandet Island. A 9-square km island that lies east of the Bulandet Island group. Its location far west is quite spectacular and you see how the sea has shaped the landscape through hundreds of years.

Continue on to Fjærland, and the booktown Mundal. Here you will spend a couple of nights which gives you the possibilities of getting to know the place better. The next day, join a kayaking or hiking experience with your local host to experience the beautiful nature. The rest of the day we suggest exploring the surrounding areas and the Glacier Museum.

The next day, drive to Bergen, Norway’s second largest city and known as the gateway to the fjords. You will spend your last night here. On arrival, deliver your car before you will get an insight from a local expert who will tell you all about the secrets of Bergen.

Enjoy your last evening before heading back home the following day.

This is a completely private experience where you/your group will have the guided tours to yourself. Prices reflect this with the lead in price being based on a group of 8.

Welcome to Norway

Welcome to Bergen! Start your west coast adventure by picking up your rental car and getting on the road. You will drive about 4.5 hrs (201 km) north to get to your destination, Værlandet. The drive will include a ferry over Norway’s biggest fjord, the Sognefjord, and end with another taking you out to the island.

Værlandet is almost as far west as you can get in Norway. The archipelago is home to just a few hundred permanent residents. Here you’ll find that there is almost nothing between you and the open sea, so mother nature (with all her moods) is part of daily life.

Your home for the next couple of days is Værlandet Havhotell. Every room here is designed with the local flora and fauna in mind, and all have a different colour scheme. Most importantly, you will have a spectacular ocean view! So relax, and enjoy the sun setting in the sea.

Accommodation: 

Værlandet Havhotell – boutique and modern hotel with ocean views.

Explore Værlandet and Bulandet

Start your day with a visit to the Norwegian Sea Bird centre where you can learn more about the hundreds of  sea birds who call Værlandet home. Many of them aren’t permanent residents, but there is always a good chance spotting the white tailed eagle!

There is about 10 km of road connecting the neighbouring archipelagos of Værlandet and Bulandet. Leave your car at the hotel, and go pick up your rental bicycles. Biking is the ideal way to experience these islands, as you get closer to nature than you would in a car. Listen to the waves, smell the sea air, feel the sea breeze on your skin. There is no chance of getting lost here, so go and explore where your heart takes you.

Don’t be surprised if you meet some wildlife along the way. The islands are home to some wild sheep brought here by farmers Anders and Hilde some years ago. The sheep get to roam freely in safety, while they help maintain the landscape so it doesn’t become overgrown.

To Fjærland Fjordstove

Leave the open sea today, as you drive east towards the mountains. Your drive today will take about 3.5 hrs (155 km) and it will take you past small villages and one of the country’s deepest lakes. As you get close you will drive through the Fjærland tunnel, and you are going to want to stop on the other side. Park your car and go see the amazing glacier stretching down towards you. It’s also possible to enjoy the view from the nearby café, where they have panoramic windows. 

Now you are really in glacier country, and close to your destination, Fjærland Fjordstove. The village of Fjærland, with its 300 residents, is located right on the fjord. Take in the incredible view and the cosy village when you take a walk down the street. 

The village center is called Mundal, and is known as the Booktown. This is paradise for any booklover who could spend hours browsing through the selection in the village’s second hand bookshops. When you need a break you can simply sit down at one of the little cafés around. 

Accommodation:

Fjærland Fjordstove – historic fjord hotel with a focus on local food experiences (2 nights)

Hike & Kayak in Fjærland

Join a local guide on an adventure to explore the Fjærland area today. You have the choice to do either a relaxed mountain hike, or a kayaking tour on the fjord.

Hike: You’ll start the hike from the village centre, and follow a gravel road most of the way up Mundal valley. In the summer the farmers let their animals graze freely up here. You have good chances of greeting a cow or a sheep. Your goal for the hike is a small farmers cabin. Here you can sit outside and enjoy a typical Norwegian matpakke (packed lunch).

Kayak: Kayaking on the fjord will give you unique views of the mountains and glacier around. No experience is needed; your guide will show you the ropes on the water. As you paddle along you will hear interesting facts and stories about Fjærland.

End the day with a visit to the Norwegian Glacier Museum. Here you can learn more about the history of the glaciers and how they shaped the landscape around you. You’ll also see the work the scientists are doing today to measure the ice and study the environment.

Return to Bergen for a guided tour

On your last day you’ll make your way back to Bergen where you started. The drive will be 255 km. You have a few options for which route to take, but we recommend starting on the Rv5 which takes you to Lærdal, where you join the E16. This stretch is a National Tourist Route, because it’s one of the country’s most scenic drives. You will also drive through the incredible Lærdal tunnel: The world’s longest road tunnel!

As you exit the tunnel you can make a small detour down to the village of Aurlandsvangen. On the way you’ll find the Stegastein viewpoint. Here you can stop and take in the view of the Sognefjord and the village below.

After you’ve arrived in Bergen, your local expert will meet you at your hotel. They will take you walking around the city centre and tell you the stories of what makes Bergen the city it is today. Being 950 years old, Bergen has enough stories to fill at least a few hours! You’ll also get an insight from your guide on what life is like in Bergen today, and you can get some tips from a local on the best places to enjoy your last evening of your trip.

Accommodation: 

Bergen Børs –  a centrally located 4-star hotel with Michelin starred restaurant.

Departure

It is time to say goodbye to Norway. You will be picked up outside your hotel and taken to the airport for flight back home

What's included

Included

  • 5 nights in
  • All breakfasts
  • Bike rental in Værlandet
  • Guided hike or kayaking in Fjærland 
  • 3 hour walk with a local expert in Bergen
Your local host

Linda

We are a team of dedicated locals ready to take you for local walks or tailor-make your dream holiday off-beaten track. Our team consists of dedicated locals who strongly believe in showcasing the country's finest and most unique experiences. We pride ourselves in our local knowledge, and utilize every bit of it to make incredibly enriching experiences which are sustainable and at the same time memorable.

We are a team of dedicated locals ready to take you for local walks or tailor-make your dream holiday off-beaten track. Our team consists of dedicated locals who strongly believe in showcasing the country's finest and most unique experiences. We pride ourselves in our local knowledge, and utilize every bit of it to make incredibly enriching experiences which are sustainable and at the same time memorable.

Linda image
Sustainability Efforts

What Sustainability Efforts are we Taking?

At Not in the Guidebooks we’re committed to empowering the local communities in Costa Rica. We work closely with the local people and their businesses to make sure that they receive a fair percentage of the money you spend on your holiday there. By partnering with local guides and suppliers, we’re able to create meaningful, authentic experiences that directly benefit the people who call this incredible country home.

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FAQs

How old do I have to be to hire a car in Norway?

To rent a car in Norway, you must be at least 19 years old (age may vary by car category) and have held your license for 1 year. Drivers interested in renting a car under the age of 25 may incur a young driver surcharge.

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