DAY 1
It all started with an early drive to Gatwick where I met the group to check in for the Norwegian Air flight to Bergen. We had a swift check-in and departed on time. It was only a 1.5-hour flight. We arrived in Bergen, collected our bags and were met by Lee the Inghams representative. We were then transferred to the Hotel Augustin in Bergen following a short 30-minute transfer. Even the scenery from the airport was stunning! The Hotel Augustin is a friendly family-run hotel, beautifully decorated with a welcoming atmosphere. It is centrally situated in the harbour area and close to all the main attractions in Bergen. The rooms (130) were modern, clean and spacious. There was a small restaurant and bar and a 400-year-old wine cellar/tavern! Make sure you bring your credit card as the lead-in price for a bottle of wine is NOK 500 (£50!). Once we checked in, we were met by Sue Lindelid from the Bergen Tourist Board for a 2.5-hour guided walk around Bergen. What a beautiful, colourful, historical city. It is best known as the 'Gateway to the Fjords'. There is plenty to explore within the city itself: The brightly painted gabled houses and narrow cobbled-stoned alleyways of the historic Bryggen wharf area and the famous indoor and outdoor fish markets on the harbour front. Here we got to try the local smoked salmon. There are a wide range of museums, restaurants, bars and attractions here to explore. A big city with small-town charm and atmosphere! Back to our hotel for dinner and drinks.
DAY 2
After an excellent buffet-style breakfast at the Hotel Augustin we were transferred to the central bus station in Bergen where we boarded a coach for the start of our full-day excursion 'Hardangerfjord in a Nutshell'. The coach took us on a drive through the majestic mountains and several tunnels to Norheimsund on the Hardangerfjord. The scenery and views were breathtaking, everything you'd imagine about Norway. This took about an hour and we then boarded a Norled fjordcruise. The boat had excellent facilities and plenty of seating areas as well as outdoor viewing platforms. There was a good choice of beverages available on board. This took us up the scenic Hardangerfjord taking several stops to drop off and pick passengers up and taking in lots of viewpoints along the way. It is like a bus/boat service. Again, the views were beautiful, with steep mountains and breathtaking waterfalls. After several hours we arrived at Eidfjord. Here you can find the famous Voringfoss Waterfall, which is one of Norway's most well-known and visited falls. Back on the boat to Ulvik and our next stop where we boarded a bus to Voss. From here we took our final journey by rail back to Bergen. The whole day's experience was amazing. That evening we were fortunate to have dinner at one of Bergen’s most famous and oldest restaurants 'Bryggen Tractersted' with typical Norwegian furnishings and amazing cuisine.
DAY 3
We checked out of our hotel after another great breakfast and had a short walk to the ferry terminal just up the road for our 8am departure from Bergen to Balestrand. Here we took the Norled ferry for the 4-hour transfer to Balestrand up the Sognefjord. This is the longest and deepest fjord in Norway stretching over 200km! The journey was very comfortable and very scenic passing through very different landscapes, you really felt like you were on a mini cruise! We arrived at Balestand and had a short walk to check into our next Hotel Kviknes. This wonderful hotel dates back to 1752. Now with its modern amenities and its new wing, it remains one of Fjord Norway's best-loved family-run properties. It enjoys an absolutely magnificent scenic fjord-side location. We met the owner who was able to talk us through the history of the hotel and to mention that he was 4th generation of ownership! Lunch was provided at the Midtnes Hotel where we ate locally caught fish and enjoyed magnificent views across the water whilst dining. We were then met by Sophie, the Inghams representative, for a short walk to a Cider House. Here we were able to taste several different ciders made from different fruits and given a guided tour showing how the cider was produced. It was very nice too! At 5pm we were met at the port to enjoy a RIB boat experience, was this a good idea after our visit to the cider farm?! It was, giving us a fabulous, thrilling ride and we couldn’t believe it when we saw a porpoise jumping out alongside us on the boat! Dinner at the Kviknes Hotel with varied and extensive hot and cold buffet food.
DAY 4
We had a short walk after breakfast to board a smaller boat and enjoy the 'Sognefjord and Flam Railway' excursion. This is one of the most popular excursions in the area. The boat was smaller and fun and after 2 hours we arrived in Flam. Here we were met by Gry Steine Mundal, a sales manager, from Flam Railway. Flam is a very pretty resort situated in the innermost part of the Aurlandsfjord a tributary of the Sognefjord. We boarded the train at 11am. The Flam Railway has regular departures where you can experience a spectacular train journey with panoramic views of some of the wildest and most striking examples of Norwegian fjord and mountain landscape. In less than an hour the train ascends 866 meters from Flam to Myrdal. One of the several highlights is a photo stop right by the impressive Kjosfossen waterfall. The train travels slowly and stops at the most scenic spots. The journey was picturesque and once at the top, snow was still very visible from the winter, even in July. After our journey, we had lunch at the Flamsbrygga Brewery Hotel. Here we were able to enjoy beer tasting with a difference in the Viking-inspired brewpub. They create over 30 types of beer and they take great pride in giving guests a selection of different beers to try. Back to Balestrand for our last night and dinner at the Kviknes Hotel.
DAY 5
After breakfast we checked out and had an 8am express boat departure from Balestrand. We arrived back in Bergen at 12 noon. On arrival, we were able to leave our luggage at the Norled luggage lockers. A short scenic walk through Bergen took us to enjoy the Floibanen Funicular railway. It is Bergen's most popular attraction, running from the city centre to the top of the Floyen mountain in about 7 minutes. Once at the top, from the magnificent viewing platform, we admired the spectacular views over the city, mountains and fjords of Bergen. This is not to be missed on a clear day. It runs every day, all year round, from early morning until 11pm. We returned to Bergen centre for lunch and to enjoy some free time. At 4pm we were met and taken to the Edvard Grieg Museum en route to the airport. One of the greatest and famous composers from Norway. A guided tour of the museum and Edvard's summer house built in 1885 it is now filled with mementos of his life and its 1907 interior. The composer's garden hut and his grave by the lake are also seen here. Leaving the museum we were transferred to Bergen airport for our flight back to the UK.
I had a truly amazing experience in Norway. Nowhere else in the world do you find such steep, lush, green mountains protruding from the calm, tranquil waters and crystal blue glaciers above. The magnificent scenery in between stunning fjords, magical mountain forests and so many impressive thundering waterfalls. Picture postcard scenery is around every corner for you to explore. I LOVED NORWAY!
