Fun in the Fjords – Norway in a Nutshell

The following is an excerpt from an article published in the May 1, 2008, edition of Edmond Life and Leisure.

floating the fjords

No Norwegian vacation should be limited to only the country’s urban areas, and the best way to experience Norway’s scenic mountains and fjords is an organized trip called Norway in a Nutshell.

While possible as a day trip from Oslo, many tourists use this trip as transportation between the capital and Bergen, Norway’s second largest city and a tourist destination itself.

From Oslo, the Nutshell tour begins with a long train ride across the countryside. Hikers and other passengers hop on and off at the many quick stops as the train climbs its way to the mountain station at Myrdal. The connection point for the Flam Railway, Myrdal is a good place to grab a quick bite before the descent from mountain high to sea level low and the fjord cruise connection in Flam.

Kjosfossen waterfall

The one-hour trip from Myrdal to Flam is packed with waterfalls, tunnels and wonderful views of the Flam valley. The train stops at the 305-foot Kjosfossen waterfall, which provides electric power for the railway, for photos and an opportunity for tourists to get soaked by its spray. The train passes through 20 tunnels on its journey, one of which makes a 180-degree turn inside the mountain.

After arriving in Flam, join the stampede to the most exciting leg of the journey, a boat ride on two scenic arms of the Sognefjord. You will likely be pushed and shoved as other Nutshellers race to get the best views from seats on the boat’s top deck. The floating journey starts on the Aurlandsfjord and passes waterfalls and picturesque villages tucked under the mountains next to the glacier-carved fjord.

Shutterbugs will love this two-hour cruise, especially when the boat enters the dramatic Naeroyfjord. The narrowest arm of the Sognefjord, this is the highlight of the entire day. The mountains seem to rise straight up from the water and the narrow passes look just wide enough for the boat to squeeze through.

Once the boat arrives in Gudvangen tourists transfer to buses for the long climb from the valley floor up to Voss and the train connection back to Oslo or on to Bergen.

 We took the Nutshell trip as a round trip from Olso. Our advice to future travelers, don’t do it, go on to Bergen. We left Oslo at 6:30 am and did not return until almost 11 pm. It makes for a very long day and only about three hours are spent amongst the scenic beauty we traveled so far to see. The round trip from Olso includes two different five-hour train rides. Whether day tripping from Oslo or connecting to Bergen, it’s best to have a reservation as the trip is popular with tourists and the trains and boat can be crowded.