Hei Hei. Norwegian for Hey … fairly straightforward, proper?
Listed below are our high ideas for an unimaginable two-week sojourn in spectacular Norway!
We extremely advocate travelling the ‘off season’, of their winter, White Christmas and Northern Lights time. Pack appropriately, and it’ll be fantastic! Cross off two bucket record objects in a single spectacular journey!
Journey Suggestions for Oslo
Transport
The quickest transport arrival into city is the ‘Flytoget’ (approx AUD $33 a method). The usual VY prepare and bus community additionally does the job, albeit with a number of further stops, but it surely’s additionally a bit cheaper. The journey doubles as an effective way to take a look at Oslo’s central station for the favored Oslo to Bergen rail journey you may wish to do while you’re right here.
Lodging
The place to remain? A great deal of selection in Oslo! Close to the station maybe, or possibly within the coronary heart of city? There are alternatives to swimsuit any price range and time, we’ve bought you coated.
Actions
Keep awake so long as potential on arrival! Wander the station outlets, (it is enormous) or wander out on Major Avenue.
Christmas means festive stalls, meals markets, ice rinks and Ferris Wheels. Sparkly lodge lights and avenue decorations additionally adorn, and if fortunate, a light-weight sprinkling of snow … such a particular factor to see!
Meals
Seize a chew earlier than heading again to your lodge for a protracted overdue bathe, then head off to jet lag land, after setting two alarms on your ‘Norway in a Nutshell’ rail journey the subsequent day.
Norway in a Nutsell – 2 day / 1 evening Rail Journey
Norway’s hottest journey affords both a 2 day/1 evening or 3 day/2 evening possibility.
We really feel that in the event you’re restricted on time, it’s finest to do the shorter possibility and proceed straight to Bergen. Flights to Oslo are normally cheaper than Bergen, which was our important driver in selecting this explicit journey and begin level.
The surroundings en route is spectacular! Snow-laden timber … you understand those … the Christmas card varieties that begin with regular branches pointing upwards, which, as soon as laden with snow, begin drooping to the bottom.
It’s the little issues that make a journey, don’t you suppose?
Snow-laden timber, the gorgeous surroundings out of your Flam Railway journey by way of Norway.
Norway in a Nutshell – Transport
Second-class Rail Tickets are utterly fantastic for this journey, comfy and clear.
In Oslo, test the departure boards or with the pleasant employees on the purple sales space on degree two. All extraordinarily useful. Pronounce Flam as ‘Flum’, and you may’t go improper! Don’t you simply love an accent? An excellent cultural bonus when travelling.
Don’t break the journey in Myrdal, there‘s nothing there, only a platform on a mountain. As an alternative, stroll the 2 seconds throughout the platform to board the well-known Flam, a forest inexperienced prepare with old-world attraction in picket inside and journey right down to the underside of the protected valley.
The ferry trip the subsequent morning is a clean two-hour electrical boat trip by way of gorgeous, ever-changing Aurlandsfjord and UNESCO-listed Naeroyfjord, including one other component to your journey.
On arrival in Gudvangen, take the bus to Voss and proceed on the prepare to Bergen, your house for the evening, and maybe to satisfy up with a pal from the UK, like we did!
Norway in a Nutshell – Meals
The prepare from Oslo has a restaurant cart for the peckish or for that mid-morning espresso. Alternatively, there are many outlets at Oslo station to seize some munchies to take with you.
In Flam, make your dinner reservations while you test in, as issues can get busy within the small city.
The ferry additionally has a restaurant, so one other probability for espresso, crimson wine even? Or possibly a Baileys to heat the innards.
Norway in a Nutshell – Lodging
Keep on the extra conventional lodge in Flam. We are able to inform you which one. Massive rooms, water views, lodge model and cute little balconies with rustic attraction.
Norway in a Nutshell – Actions
In Flam, simply calm down. Go for a stroll or do a spot of buying some high-quality, however moderately priced wares. Possibly cease on the cafe for a late afternoon tipple, or a scorching chocolate.
On the ferry, enterprise outdoors within the second hour … higher views of lovely villages and winding waterfalls, and it’s much less windy.
Flam by evening
In all, we really feel the ‘Norway in a Nutshell’ journey is a lot richer than flying … seeing wonderful Norwegian landscapes slightly than wanting in the back of an plane seat! Beautiful snow-laden countryside, frozen lakes and creeks, waterfalls and tunnelled mountainsides … Simply pretty! Fairly cathartic too … a trip with the mild clickety-clack of tracks making for an exquisite watch and really feel.
Subsequent cease, Bergen
Transport
We advise you don’t pre-book a rail switch on your arrival into Bergen. As an alternative, simply seize a taxi to your lodge. A lot simpler than discovering the switch pickup level.
Lodging
Keep for a number of nights. It’s as much as you! We are able to counsel some fabulous choices for this leg of the journey.
Actions
Bergen’s streets showcase previous Norwegian Structure. Colors a-plenty, picturesque hillsides and boasting a welcome sight – the fabulous Bergen port, Hurtigruten’s ‘unique coastal voyage’ begin level.
Bergen, Norway
Cruise check-in opens at 1pm with boarding at 4pm so drop your baggage, go for a stroll and possibly some lunch to return later for THE START!
The beginning of what’s to return. The beginning of seven nights aboard a beautiful voyage of discovery and expertise. The beginning of forgetting about suitcases. The beginning of assembly like-minded travellers. The beginning of recent locations to discover … particularly the northern evening sky.
Hurtigruten Coastal Voyage: Northbound
Transport
A fast security briefing (land-side) will see you onboard, exploring the ship very quickly with entry to your cabin from 6pm.
Spend money on some shoe spikes in port, in the event you haven’t already pre-purchased them at dwelling. Prevention is healthier than remedy, proper? Particularly on slippery ice and snow as you cruise north.
Pack gentle… There’s a laundry onboard with minimal value. Take your togs too as additionally a sauna and spa. You simply have to bathe first.
Lodging
Unpack, unpack, unpack and eliminate these circumstances for the subsequent seven days!
Flip down the cabin heating. Like several enclosed area, cabins can get heat and stuffy, so flip the heating right down to the bottom (15 levels) and switch off the underfloor lavatory heating too. You’ll thank us within the morning.
Every time we journey, we at all times do that as we really feel heating just isn’t conducive to an excellent evening’s sleep. You possibly can at all times get hotter below the covers if it’s too chilly. It’s a lot simpler than making an attempt to chill down if feeling too scorching.
Meals Onboard
When you aren’t eager in your allotted eating time, discuss to the Restaurant Supervisor. They’ll seemingly pop you on a waitlist on your most well-liked time. Being a service ship and native ferry, individuals are getting on and off on a regular basis so issues can change.
Full board is included, with free eating occasions at breakfast and lunch.
Additionally, hear out for Hurtigruten’s ‘coastal kitchen expertise’, normally on deck seven and the place to go for making an attempt native, in-port delicacies like muscular tissues or dried codfish.
Communications
You should definitely set your cabin cellphone on notify for any and all ‘in cabin’ Aurora bulletins, regardless of the time.
Spend money on the wifi if not already a part of your package deal. It’s solely 35.00 AUD during your 7-day sail. Reception could also be somewhat weak in elements, however general, it’s worthwhile for sharing your discoveries with family members again dwelling.
Actions
Attend the welcome assembly and introductions to your lead crew.
Additionally, go to the every day briefings and lectures. They provide glorious data, enhancing your expertise: the place you’ve been, what it means, the place you’re headed, what to search for, and naturally, some Viking historical past.
If travelling at Northern Lights time, familiarise your self with the ‘KP index’.
When Aurora does seem, keep outdoors with a heat jacket for at the very least 15mins to let your eyes acclimatise to the darkish.
Know and retailer your digicam settings prior, so you aren’t fumbling round at nighttime making an attempt to get it proper.
R&R quiet time can be a should all through your journey, in preparation for any nightly Aurora and/or early morning begins.
Take a day nap, calm down within the explorer lounge with a e-book or some knitting, or strive one of many jigsaw puzzles. We made beanie Pom Poms in our downtime. It’s a do-as-you-want, when-you-want kind mentality when not in port.
When in Alesund
Look out for the Artwork Nouveau model structure. Take a ship tour or just wander the streets (be ready for plenty of hills).
Stroll the port stone pier to go to the lovable lighthouse on the finish. Learn the plaque on the door. It would make you smile! You’ll seemingly not be capable to get in for a sticky beak, but it surely’s a worthy go to nonetheless and was our spotlight!
Alesund, Norway
When in Trondheim
The unique capital of Norway, surrounded by the river Nid, it’s a straightforward stroll to the sights.
Go gentle a candle on the cathedral for pricey household handed, gorgeous inside and outside. Hear for chiming bells and you should definitely wander across the again of the church for some fascinating sculptures. The ship will inform you all about it when again on board.
Kiss that particular somebody on the ‘Purple Gateway Bridge’, connecting previous city to new. Your love will final perpetually, they are saying.
Cross the bridge into ‘The portal of happiness’, as locals name it, a world of well-preserved charming picket structure, together with a free e-book swap field and the world’s one and solely bicycle carry.
Crossing the Arctic Circle
Formally within the area for ‘Polar gentle’ and white hues of snow dotted amongst boathouses, the Polar Mild idea will take a little bit of getting used to! It’s typically nearly taking some unimaginable photos of what the solar is doing and the expertise general.
Hold your eyes peeled at 66 levels Nord, presumably occurring early morning, in darkness. Look out for the ship’s beacon on the ocean marker. Blink and chances are you’ll miss it!
Get your postcard stamped by ‘Postman Pat’ marking the second, and attend the Arctic Circle ceremony and baptisms by ‘King Neptune’. A really humorous watch. Assume ice bucket problem!
Beautiful polar sky views close to Finnsnes, Norway Coastal Cruise
When in Bodo
The cultural capital of Europe and a sophisticated city boasts Tesla vehicles, ‘Good’ bins self-compressing trash, ‘Good’ resorts providing full self-service, and even a pilot for ‘self-driving buses’!? Would you?
Take a ship tour to the Aviation museum or the Saltstrumen present.
Or, spend a number of hours ‘leg stretching’ on the hunt for avenue artwork earlier than dusky polar gentle returns round 2:30pm. Loopy!
Norway has a complete of 1732 fjords and simply 16.1 inhabitants per km. Hear out for the focal point, Trollfjord, a really slim fjord. Coming into Trollfjord is topic to climate situations. The ship typically can’t get into the slim fjord as ice and rocks can fall, making it unsafe.
When in Tromso
Norway’s Arctic Capital/Gateway, a metropolis centre inside straightforward attain from the port, the Northern Mild epicentre and the best quantity of bars per capita!
Go go to the smallest and oldest bar, ‘Rocket Bar’, or ‘Tromso prepare station’, the place all of the employees gown in rail gear relationship again to ages previous.
Make a journey on the cable automotive and consider the town lights from above, together with your ship. The associated fee approx 345 NOK (AUD 49.00).
Ship excursions will take you additional afield, maybe a go to to a husky farm, the polar historical past stroll, a hike at nighttime, or attending a Viking dinner.
Tromso, Norway
When in Honningsvag
Claiming itself as Europe’s northernmost metropolis, it’s a tiny place with a small fishing village and solely a five-minute stroll into city.
Go on the hunt for Europe’s Smallest Roundabout (we practically missed it), East of the Moon Gallery, the town church, Cultural Reminiscence Guide Swap (a cellphone field), and undoubtedly ‘Bamse’, the Norwegian Navy canine, a beautiful story with hyperlinks to Scotland.
Ship journeys embrace a preferred go to to North Cape (the northernmost level in Europe).
On our final evening, we had been farewelled with a shocking send-off by Aurora (the second time on our cruise). We weren’t anticipating it because it had been cloudy all day, so it was a really welcome shock.
Robust dancing lights. Greens and reds. Simply lovely and a beautiful send-off. Very very fortunate!
You should definitely take a second to place the digicam down, simply cease and stare at this unimaginable marvel dancing throughout the evening sky. Be within the second! You’ll always remember it!
The gorgeous Aurora
The cruise ends in Kirkeness (pronounced Shikeness), simply 15km from the Russian border. We advocate you pre-book your airport departure switch which is roughly 135 NOK (18.00 AUD) for the 20min journey to the airport.
Don’t e-book flights previous to 11:30 am. Take Scandinavian Airways to Oslo, they had been unbelievable.
Look out for the de-icing of the plane wings. Actually cool to witness.
At Oslo Airport
Lodging
Raddison is the go. There are a number of, however we are able to inform you which of them are finest.
Take the VY rail again into city on your final evening, normally platform 4, however test the boards.
Actions
Have a final little wander round. Go go to a restaurant for an excellent meal and saviour some lasting reminiscences of the European Christmas ‘buzz’ earlier than heading again to the airport on your final evening’s keep.
Our different advice
When you’ve got an extended journey window, we advocate you think about travelling Kirkenes again to Bergen on a spherical journey cruise (we want we had) or head over to Finland, Santa Claus territory, stuffed with ice resorts, glass igloos, husky and reindeer farms, making your approach right down to Helsinki earlier than you fly dwelling – we are able to present you all that too!
Subsequent step? Get your self an superior journey agent, I do know one personally … they may steer you in the suitable path!
To e-book a go to to this magnificent a part of the world, contact me now.
‘Tusen takk’ (Thanks) for studying.