Western Norway Fjords & Lofoten Islands - 15 Days

Highlights

• Road trip along the magnificent Lofoten island archipelago
• Take a jet boat safari to a secret fjord within a fjord
• Ride the Loen Skylift for spectacular mountain views
• Take an aquatic wildlife spotting adventure to a remote island
• Go kayaking on a fjord and see nature's beauty up close

Detailed Itinerary

Day 1: Arrive in Bergen

Norway's second-largest city, Bergen, is one of the oldest ports in Europe and is surrounded by ocean, mountains, and fjords. Spend time exploring the easily walkable center, soaking in cultural highlights, delicious food, fun, nightlife, and outdoor activities. Start with a ride up the Fløibanen funicular to the top of Mount Fløyen—one of Bergen's seven peaks. You could also hike up from the bottom to enjoy the best views of the city from the top and discover hidden troll sculptures along the way. 

Later, explore downtown Bryggen to view the historic wooden houses along the waterfront. Dating back to the 1700s, the neighborhood is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Despite its rich history, Bergen has a youthful feeling thanks to its student population. When dinner rolls around, seek out local favorites such as hip coffee shop and music venue BarBarista, traditional mountain lodge restaurant Bryggeloftet & Stuene, or Bare Vestland, a basement-level eatery specializing in Norwegian tapas.

Day 2: Drive to Flåm, Flåm Railway

Pick up a rental car and head to the village of Flåm, where you'll board the famous Flåm Railway. On the one-hour journey, your vintage train will climb from sea level at the Aurlandsfjord in Flåm to Myrdal mountain station at 2,845 feet (867 m), pausing for a five-minute photo stop at the beautiful Kjosfossen waterfall. One of the greatest engineering feats in Norway, it took 17 years to build the 12.4-mile (20 km) railway line, one of the steepest standard gauge lines in the world.

You will make your way back to Flåm via the same stunning journey. Use the rest of the afternoon to explore the small village. You could set out on a hiking trail, visit the Flåm Railway Museum, or tour the Flåm Church—constructed from wood in 1667.

Day 3: Kayak Aurlandsfjord

Western Norway is all about the fjords, and this three-hour kayaking experience is a fantastic way to get close to its natural beauty. From the beach in Flåm, paddle out into the Aurlandsfjord, where on the way, you'll see Ottarnes Bygdetun and Fronneset with their burial mounds from the Viking Age. Find your groove paddling in stable double kayaks and keep your eyes ready to spot porpoises, eagles, seals, and otters.

Day 4: Drive to Balestrand

Make the 2.5-hour drive to Balestrand, a charming fjord-side village blessed with scenic mountain landscapes and endless water views. Spend a relaxed day hiking easy-to-moderate trails surrounding the town, tour the local cider house and enjoy a tasting, drop into the Sognefjord Aquarium, or visit St. Olav's Church, a 1897-built structure done in the traditional Norwegian stave style.

Day 5: Finnabotn Fjord Safari

Board a small, fast boat and jet around Finnafjord, the most secluded arm of the Sognefjord. The boat will cruise through a narrow and shallow passage to enter a unique geological formation, a sort of fjord within a fjord—this is Finnabotn. Few visit, but those that do never forget it. Here you'll find no roads, mobile service, and sound beyond the rushing waterfalls. On the way, spot the majestic Kvinnefossen waterfall, a giant 72-feet (22 m) statue of Viking hero Fridtjof, and Kvamsøy Island with its 13th-century medieval church.

Day 6: Drive to Solvorn

Wave goodbye to Balestrand and set your GPS for Solvorn. The 90-minute scenic drive between these two fjord villages follows the curves of the fjord, offering pretty views the whole way.

This afternoon, board a scenic 35-minute ferry that crosses the Lusterfjord and delivers you to Urnes, a small village famous for its wooden church, built in the 12th century. A UNESCO World Heritage Site, this Romanesque structure—and Norway's oldest place of worship—is an outstanding example of traditional Scandinavian wooden architecture, bringing together traces of Celtic art and Viking traditions. Tour the church on a fascinating 45-minute guided tour and enjoy a coffee break before the return ferry to Solvorn for dinner.

Day 7: Drive to Loen, Ride the Loen Skylift

Take a scenic ride on the Loen Skylift, a cable car that lifts tourists from the heart of a Norway fjord to the top of Mt Hoven at 3,316 feet (1,011 m) high. After a 2.5-hour drive from Solvorn, get above the fjords when you ascend the mountain over five thrilling minutes. Stop for a meal at Hoven Restaurant, with its 210-degree views of Mt Skåla and Lake Lovatnet in the east, Jostedalsbreen Glacier and Olden in the south, and the Nordfjord, or explore the mountain's comprehensive network of trails on foot. 

After returning to sea level, continue to Lake Lovatnet, famous for its brilliant blue-green color, caused by clay particles and rock dust carved out by glaciers and swept along by rivers. Glaciers might look still, but they are slow-moving giants that continuously crush rocks and stones as they migrate. When the glacial water reaches the lakes and fjords, it looks green, especially when the sun shines.

Day 8: Drive to Geiranger, Waterfall Walk

Your journey to Geiranger ends with a car ferry across one of Norway's most famous fjords. Drive onto the boat in Hellesyltand and enjoy a one-hour cruise through the UNESCO World Heritage-protected Geirangerfjord, passing wild vegetation, gushing waterfalls, and sheer mountain cliffs. Once you arrive in Geiranger, explore the open-air restaurants, cafés, and souvenir shops. The town's restaurants and eateries take pride in creating fresh food with a local twist, like Geiranger Brewery.

For an afternoon adventure, embark on Geiranger's waterfall walk that combines natural beauty and architecture. Prepare to get wet as you climb 327 steps alongside the surging Storfossen waterfall. 

Day 9: Drive the Trollstigen, Explore Ålesund

On the drive toward Åndalsnes, you'll have the chance to take on the famous Trollstigen, a dramatic mountain pass that zigzags through eleven hairpin bends in the Romsdalen Valley. One of the best-known and most visited tourist sites in Norway, the twisting road is a great challenge that offers beautiful views of the area. 

Continue to Ålesund, one of the most charming cities in Scandinavia, with a breathtaking location stretching out into the Atlantic Ocean. The city is the region's cultural center with plenty of museums, a sea park, a lighthouse (Alnes), and charming streets to explore on foot. Go beyond the typical city sights and hike up Ålesund's Sukkertoppen (Sugar Top) hill to enjoy excellent views of the city, fjord, and coast. Finish the day with a hearty and authentic Norwegian meal at Café Lyspunktet—it's also a place to go for great coffee, live music, and local art exhibitions.

Day 10: Fly to Bodø, Ferry to Lofoten Islands

Located 95 miles (153 km) north of the Arctic Circle, the Lofoten archipelago is famous for its remote, rugged beauty, where the mountains plunge into the sea and bridges connect small islands. Many artists and authors have drawn inspiration from these remote lands, and now it's your turn. Wave goodbye to your rental car and catch a flight to Bodø. From here, you'll board a ferry to Moskenes on the Lofoten Islands and then travel a short distance to Reine. 

Day 11: Hike in Reine

To experience the best of this dramatic landscape, you must see it from above. Lace up your hiking boots and hit the trails, exploring the mountains and beaches of the Lofoten Islands near Reine. Reinebringen is a favorite hike, which leads to a panoramic view of Reinefjorden and the Lofoten Wall. It's a great spot to enjoy a picnic lunch!

If the weather is on your side, use the afternoon to explore secluded beaches. It might be the Arctic Circle, but you will find tropical-style soft white sand with beautiful turquoise-blue water, with added mountain peaks in the background. Some beautiful beaches are only reachable by hiking, such as Bunes beach. Take a ferry from Reine and enjoy an easy one-hour hike to a pristine, quiet beach.

Day 12: Wildlife Spotting on Værøya Island

Embark on a wildlife sightseeing trip to the even more remote Lofoten Island of Værøya, where you can expect to spot eagles, puffins, seals, killer whales, and blue whales. This all-day aquatic adventure will cross one of the strongest currents in the world and sail along the shores of several little islands, passing through the habitats of various marine wildlife and seabirds on the way to Værøya. Your guide will share their knowledge about the history, geography, and wildlife of the area.

Once in Værøya, you'll have four hours to explore. Walk around the small town center of Sørland, head for Røssnesvåg and the lighthouse, cycle along the coast toward Nordland, or pass by the abandoned airport runway. You could even hike Håen (also called Håheia), the second-highest peak on the island at 1,437 feet (438 m), to enjoy incredible views. On the return cruise, the search for wildlife continues.

Day 13: Scenic Drive to Svolvær

After breakfast in Reine, spend a leisurely day driving through the stunning Lofoten Islands toward Svolvær, the largest city in the archipelago. As you venture north, stop at secluded bays and white sandy beaches along the route, such as Flakstad Beach, where you can take surf lessons, or pristine Haukland Beach. You might also like to detour via Nusfjord, a cute preserved village filled with traditional fishing huts, or the Lofotr Viking Museum in Borg.  

Day 14: Visit Henningsvær, Evening Sea Kayak Excursion

This morning, make the half-hour journey to Henningsvær, home to some of the most well-preserved architecture of the traditional Norwegian fishing villages and the creative heart of Lofoten. Here you'll find quirky cafés, restaurants, local artists, and the world's coolest soccer pitch set across a number of islets spread peacefully among the waters of Vjestfjord.

Return to Svolvær for an evening sea kayaking experience. Make the most of the long evening light and enjoy the silence of raw nature, disturbed only by the sound of your paddle. At this time of day, the light is excellent for photography, and from the sea, you'll enjoy a whole new perspective on Lofoten's dramatic mountainscapes. 

Day 15: Fly to Oslo, Depart 

It's your final morning in Norway. Fly from Svolvær to Oslo, taking one last look at those magnificent fjords below as you start your journey home.

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