Oslo, Flam Balestrand, Bergen & Fjords

Oslo is widely known as "the big-hearted city". Oslo was founded in 1048. In 1536 Norway became a Danish province through a royal marriage until 1814 where Norway seceded from Denmark, went into a union with Sweden and made Christiania the capital of Norway. The new constitution required some official buildings. In the year 1624 fire destroyed most of the city which was later rebuilt by the Danish King Christian IV and named Christiania. In 1925 the city reverted to its original name of Oslo. The city is surrounded by magnificent scenery with the fjord lapping its shores and forested hills encircling it. Together the fjord and the forests offer outdoor recreational opportunities with which no other capital in the world can compare. Enjoy a panoramic tour of the city with your private escort. No entrance fees are included.

Take a train from Oslo to Myrdal this morning. The Bergen Railway is a unique experience on Northern Europe's highest-altitude railway line. One of the greatest challenges is the harsh and changeable weather. The line is exposed to deep low-pressure centers from the west, which can mean strong winds and heavy snow for part of the year. Keeping the railway open demands great effort and technical expertise. Today, skilled workers, effective equipment, tunnels and snow tunnels make the Bergen Railway one of the safest and most comfortable ways of travelling between Oslo and Bergen. The line was voted one of the 20 best railway experiences in the world in 1999.

Take a cog railway from Myrdal to Flåm of the Flåm Railway. (open seating).  The scenic 20-kilometre (12 mi) route between Myrdal and Flam is one of the steepest railway tracks at 1 in 18 (not counting rack railways) in the world and provides some of Norway's wildest and most magnificent scenery. On the ride you can see rivers that cut through deep ravines, waterfalls cascade down the side of steep, snow-capped mountains and mountain farms cling dizzily to sheer slopes. There are also a few spirals along the route which allow trains to rise on a steady curve until it has completed a loop, passing over itself as it gains height, allowing the railway to gain vertical elevation in a relatively short horizontal distance.

Enjoy dinner at the Fretheim Hotel this evening.

Enjoy the morning at leisure in the pretty little village of Flam, perhaps take a walk by the fjord, before your activity this afternoon. If you feel like doing something active, consider taking a kayak tour or a tour with the RIB boat. Alternatively, you may like to visit the Flam railway Museum or the Flam Panorama. 

Take an express boat from Flam to Balestrand . On the journey out the Sognefjord you will see tall, impressive mountains along the Aurlandsfjord. Out towards the sea, the scenery becomes more open and there is a teeming and varied bird life. The Sognefjord is Norway's deepest (1.309 m) and longest (204 km) fjord.

Beautiful Flåm is situated in the innermost part of the Aurlandsfjord, a tributary of the 204 kilometers long and up to 1308 meters deep Sognefjord. Surrounded by steep mountainsides, roaring waterfalls and deep valleys, Flåm is a paradise for everyone looking for a one-of-a-kind experience with nature. With nature-based activities, many nearby attractions, exciting culture and historic traditions - Flåm is a perfect holiday destination for those looking to experience the rugged beauty of Norway.

Take a boat ride from Balestrand to Bergen. Balestrand is a municipality in the county of Sogn og Fjordane, Norway. It is located in the traditional district of Sogn. The administrative center is the village of Balestrand.The municipality is situated at the junction of the Sognefjord and Esefjord, the major industries are tourism and farming. Balestrand became popular early due to the interest of artists, such as Hans Gude, Alfred Heaton Cooper, Hans Dahl and Johannes Flintoe. Their paintings of the scenery around Balestrand inspired visitors, and Balestrand maintains its connection with art.Besides tourism, farming is one of the traditional sources of income. Other industries include made-to-order kitchen interiors, local apple juice, and Nesseplast which produces industrial plastic.

When you arrive Bergen make sure you visit the Fishmarket, Troldhaugen (where the world famous composer Edward Grieg lived) and Floibanen. Floibanen in Bergen is one of Norway's most famous tourist attractions and the only cable car of its kind in Scandinavia.

Enjoy port transfer with private vehicle and English speaking driver.

Enjoy a guided walking tour of the city. The places along your route include the Hanseatic Museum which is housed in the oldest and best preserved wooden buildings in Bergen. The interiors date from the 18th and 19th centuries. In times past, the Hanseatic merchants traded mainly with stockfish from Northern Norway and grain from the Baltic countries. Only German merchants were allowed to live at Bryggen during the period of the Hanseatic Office. The Hanseatics were unmarried and had to live in celibacy as long as they lived in the area. The tenements in the Bryggen area each consists of several smaller trade houses, each run by a merchant with a journeyman and apprentices. The Museum depicts what one of these trade houses would have been like in the last years of the German Office at Bryggen. Your tour will also include a visit to the local Fish market and you can take a funicular ride up to the top of Fløyen mountain (320 metres above sea level). The ride itself is spectacular and the views of Bergen only improve the closer you get to the top.

Airport transfer with private vehicle and English speaking driver.