Self-Drive Tours in Norway

Formed in the Ice age, Norway’s famous fjords are a naturally formed attraction known for deep blue waters, craggy mountain cliffs and local flora and fauna. However, there’s no “best way” to see them as it really depends on how you want to travel.

Our rail and cruise options are self guided, meaning you will have all of the expert help in planning your route and booking hotels and excursions but you have the freedom to travel independently, choosing additional dates, tours and timings as you please.

On the other hand, self-drive options offer greater flexibility. You have the freedom to travel further to attractions, restaurants and areas of interest, meaning you can pack in even more sightseeing on your trip.

However, if you want a local guide to share their knowledge then we’d suggest an escorted small group tour. Unlike many other travel agencies, we choose to keep group sizes to a maximum of 16 people. This gives you more opportunities to interact with your guide and visit the attractions bigger coach tours can’t get to.

Whatever your preference, you can depend on your dedicated travel consultant to help you plan an amazing fjord tour.

Norwegian fjords are a natural formation from the Ice age and have been part of the landscape for almost 12,000 years. Each fjord has its own attractions and features, so it’s difficult to call one out as “the best”. We can, however, give you a list of the most popular fjords that you will see on our self drive tours so that you can decide for yourself.

• Geirangerfjord
• Romsdalsfjord
• Nærøyfjord
• Sognefjord
• Nordfjord
• Hardangerfjord
• Aurlandsfjord
• Lysefjord

Before you go see them, check out this blog on the most beautiful fjords in Norway and what to see and do in Geirangerfjord.

The best month to visit Norway depends on what you want to do and see. The summer months are typically pleasant with temperate weather and long days due to the natural phenomenon of the “midnight sun”. These mild weather conditions and extra hours of natural daylight are perfect for outdoor activities such as cycling and hiking.

If the northern lights are at the top of your must-see list then visit in the chillier winter months where the long dark nights make it easier to “chase” the lights. You will also get to enjoy yuletide traditions and festive markets full of treats. Check out our wintry northern lights packages for more information.

There’s no guarantee that when you visit Norway you'll see the northern lights, as they are a naturally occurring attraction. However, we recommend you get away from the light pollution of cities and towns to increase your chances. Be prepared to stay up late as well - the darker the night, the clearer the “ribbons” are. Remember to wrap up warm as it can sometimes take hours for the aurora to appear. For the best tips and our expert advice, read our in-depth blog on the best time and place to see the northern lights or to choose a package, see our northern lights tours.

Driving in Norway is safe and not difficult providing you follow the rules of the road. Remember to always drive in the right hand lane and keep on dipped headlights throughout your drive. The roads are regularly maintained to a high standard meaning it will be a smooth ride, but be careful when driving in rural mountainous areas as the routes are often winding. We have a handy driving guide to read if you want to learn more about speed limits and parking.

If you think you’d prefer a package using Norway’s excellent public transportation network, why not consider a self guided Fjord cruise and train package. Alternatively, our escorted tours offer an expert guide who’ll do the driving for you.

Using your driving licence in Norway depends on which country you have travelled from. If you’re visiting from the EU/EEA then you can drive for as long as the licence is valid. If you’re visiting from outside of the EU, then to use a rental car you’ll need a valid national driving licence which has been held for at least one year.

You will need an international driving licence in addition to your national driving licence if:

• Your licence does not have your photo on it
• Your licence isn’t written in the Latin alphabet

When you’re driving in Norway, keep to the right-hand side of the road and be sure to keep loose coins on you, should you come across a Norwegian toll road. For more driving information, read our guide.

When you book a self drive tour with Nordic Visitor, your car rental is included, as is our exclusive Collision Damage Waiver (CDW), liability insurance, unlimited mileage and the authorization for one driver. We also absorb the Airport/city surcharge. Read up on our car rental terms and conditions, and check out the cars on our car rental page.

Absolutely! Most of our packages have daily departures from the 15th of May to the end of September. We recommend booking as soon as you can, though, as you will want to secure your ideal dates.

We understand that you may to spend more time exploring the charming fjord villages and modern cities of Norway, this is why we’ve made it easy to extend your visit. Our online system lets you add on days at either side of your tour when booking. However, if want to have more days during the tour, or have already booked but would enjoy a longer stay then contact us to arrange it.

We appreciate that our customers have travel wishlists when they come to Norway, so we strive to include as many must-see attractions and hidden gems as we can into our packages. We’d be delighted to add on days and make adjustments to existing packages, but if you require a specific activity or area, discuss it with your consultant and they will try to build it into your itinerary.

We advise that you book your package first to secure your tour. It may be worth checking potential flights times and prices first, but be aware some airlines and flight booking websites raise their prices between visits, so remember to do research using Private or Incognito mode.

Once your tour is confirmed by email, purchase your flights. If you have missed out on flights, please get in touch with us to change the dates of your tour.