This 10-day self-drive tour gives you a lot of time to enjoy some of Norway’s most magnificent fjords. Starting and ending in Bergen, you will explore the UNESCO-protected Geirangerfjord, beautiful Balestrand and lush Loen. You will also spend the nights in charming villages and drive the exciting routes of Trollstigen on the way to Ålesund, and the Eagle Road. If you are dreaming of fjord vistas for days, this is your tour!
Just a few of the majestic sights you’ll take in during your trip.
A day-by-day plan to guide your journey.
After arriving at Bergen - Flesland Airport, make your way to Bergen’s city centre, where your hotel for the night is located. For those arriving early, we recommend spending the afternoon strolling the city and exploring the lovely sights of scenic Bergen. City highlights include the old wharf of Bryggen—a UNESCO World Heritage site, an interesting range of museums, as well as the city’s vibrant fish and flower market.
Spend the next two nights in Bergen.
Spend the day exploring Bergen. We recommend riding the Fløibanen Funicular to Mount Fløyen to enjoy panoramic views over the city or to take a cable car up Mt. Ulriken. Bergen is surrounded by 7 mountains, so this is an ideal place for hiking. Bergen is also known for its museums that cover the city’s history, architecture, music and art and we recommend visiting the Edvard Grieg museum and the KODE art museum, which is Scandinavia’s largest museum for art and music. If you wish to explore the fjords further, optional fjord cruises are available.
Spend another night in Bergen.
Start the first leg of your self-drive trip by collecting your rental car and heading to Norway’s adventure capital, Voss, which is home to the beautiful Tvindefossen waterfall. Your journey will then continue to Sogndal along the Sognefjord—Norway’s longest and deepest fjord—taking in sights including the towns of Stalheim, before reaching the beautiful Aurlandsfjord and the town of Flåm. We recommend stopping in Flåm and riding the renowned Flåmsbana railway, a steep train ride between Flåm and Myrdal—a treat for photographers or train enthusiasts alike! A stop at Stegastein viewpoint is recommended., where you can enjoy a panoramic view of Aurlandsfjord. You will then take a short ferry ride before driving towards Sogndal, where you will send the night.
Spend the next two nights in Sogndal.
Driving distance: 237 km / 148 mi.
Estimated driving duration: 4 hours (without stops)
Today you will spend the day at leisure in the Sogndal area, where there is so much to do and see. There are numerous hiking trails in the area to explore, or you could rent bikes to cycle around the fjord, go kayaking on the fjord or just take a dip in the ocean!
For highlights, we recommend a visit to Urnes, one of the oldest stave churches in Norway, which is included on UNESCO’s World Heritage list, visiting the Nigarsbreen glacier which is one arm of the large Jostedalsbreen glacier, or hiking Molden mountain, which has one of the finest viewpoints in the area.
Spend the night in Sogndal
Today you will drive north along Lustrafjorden to the famous National Tourist Route “Sognefjellsvegen”. This scenic route is the highest and most impressive mountain pass in Northern Europe, with the landscape revealing vast, towering mountains as it passes through Jotunheimen national park to Lom.
From Lom, you will continue your drive to Geiranger and pass Dalsnibba, which is Europe’s highest fjord viewpoint by road. There you can enjoy sweeping views of Geiranger, as well as across to the mountains and the mighty Blåbreen glacier. With its fairytale landscape, Geiranger has a lot to offer for nature lovers like snow-covered mountain tops wild waterfalls, lush green vegetation and the deep blue fjord.
Spend the night in Geiranger.
Driving distance: 233 km / 145 mi.
Estimated driving duration: 4 hours (without stops)
From Geiranger, drive up the steep and winding Ørnevegen, “The Eagle Road”, to Eidsdal, where you will take a short, scenic ferry ride to Linge. If you enjoy twists and turns, you will be very impressed with the drive up Trollstigen, “The Troll Ladder”, one of the most visited attractions in Norway.
The road twists through 11 hairpin bends making it an exciting ride.
After passing the high mountains, continue to Ålesund, a captivating city that was almost completely rebuilt after a great fire in 1904 and is therefore very different from any other Norwegian town with its Art Nouveau architecture. The myriad of turrets, spires and beautiful ornamentation give the town its distinctive character. Here you also have the opportunity to visit the Atlantic Sea Park and enjoy stunning views from Fjellstua.
Spend the night at a hotel in Ålesund.
Driving distance: 191 km / 119 mi.
Estimated driving duration: 3 hours and 40 minutes (without stops)
Start your day with a short ferry crossing, with your car, from Solavågen to Festoya, where you will sail along a variety of fjords including Vartdalsfjorden, Østrafjorden and Voldsfjorden.
After disembarking the ferry, you will drive to Loen, which boasts of mixture of nature and adventure. We recommend boarding the magnificent Loen Skylift, a cable car that will transport you to the altitude of 1011 metres with outstanding views over the fjord. For those that want to make use of your hiking shoes and get active, we recommend hiking Mount Skåla, which stands 1,848 metres above sea level.
Spend the night in Loen.
Driving distance:155 km / 97 mi
Estimated driving duration: 3 hours (without stops)
Get ready for an especially exciting drive today! This morning you will head south along the long lakes of Jölstravanet and Hakedalsvatnet. Before travelling the scenic route of Gaularfjellet where the road twists and turns through nine hairpin bends, revealing jaw-dropping scenery, we recommend a stop at Utsikten where you can admire the panoramic views of towering mountains and lush valleys.
The final destination of the day is Balestrand, a village known as an art colony that inspired artists from all over the world for its wonderful light and breathtaking nature. In Balestrand we recommend a visit the Cider house, a family-run organic orchard and cider producer. After, you can do some hiking, relax by the fjord or join an optional rib boat safari.
Spend the night in Balestrand.
Driving distance: 190 km / 118 mi.
Estimated driving duration: 3 hours and 30 minutes (without stops)
Enjoy a relaxed morning in the idyllic village of Balestrand by Sognefjord. Balestrand is a hiking paradise with numerous trails to explore to take in the beautiful natural surroundings. You will board a ferry for a short crossing from Balestrand to Vagnes, passing the village of Vik where you can find Hove Church, the oldest stone building in the Sogn region.
After the ferry docks, drive along Vik mountain to Myrkdalen, the centre of agriculture for the region, and an area of great beauty. Next, return to Voss and continue to Bergen, where you will spend the evening.
Spend the night in Bergen.
Driving distance: 195 km / 121 mi.
Estimated driving duration: 3 hours and 40 minutes (without stops)
When it‘s time for your Norwegian adventure to come to an end, you can either take the airport bus from one of the many departure points in Bergen’s city centre or you can book a private transfer from your hotel to Bergen-Flesland Airport. If your flight is in the afternoon, you can choose to enjoy some last-minute shopping, visit one of Bergen‘s many museums or relax at a café, enjoying the last few moments of this amazing journey.
Here’s a map of your travel route, to help put things in perspective.
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