Hiking Norway's Fjordland

Make your own way to Geilo. If you are arriving into Oslo or Bergen today, ensure that you arrive in the morning. The last train you can catch to Geilo departs mid afternoon. Accommodation: A charming mountain village nestled in the heart of the valley, offering a cozy and welcoming atmosphere. Facilities include restaurant, indoor swimming pool, sauna, tennis court, lounge, bar and pub. On arrival at Geilo station, you may want a taxi as it is quite a walk from the station. A transfer can be set up with the hotel (additional cost) if you give them at least 24 hours notice. Option to stay closer to the station is available (please advise our team if this is your preference) *We would recommend you to have an extra night in both Oslo or Bergen so that you can make the most of what these cities have to offer.

Geilo is superbly located by the Hardanger Vidda Mountain Plateau, at 800m above sea level. This plateau is a good-weather objective, for which 3 of the walking options will require a taxi at around 350 - 500 NOK, depending on the day, at the start of the day. There are a challenging walk to climb Prestholtskarvet (1863m) in the Hallingskarvet; a less challenging walk up Skarvsenden; or there is a nice, moderate moorland walk which takes you back to Geilo. If you would like to avoid using a taxi, there is a long moorland walk to the fields of Vestreim with good views over to the Hallingskarvet. Alternatively, you could take an easy lakeside ramble, which requires no transport. Option 1: Ascent of Prestholtskarvet (1863m), 9 km / 6.2 miles, 4-6 h, challenging. Option 2: Prestholtrunden Route with an ascent of Skarvsenden (1705m) and descend to Prestholtseter, 6.5km / 4 miles, 3-4 h, challenging. Option 3: Prestholtseter- Tuftelia - Vestlia, 10.4 km / 6.4 miles, 3-4 h, moderate. *People tend to do Option 3 as an extension from Options 1&2, but it can be done on its own with a taxi transfer. Option 4: Walk around Ustedalsfjorden, 10.5 km / 6.5 miles, 2-3.5 h, easy. Option 5: Geilo - Geilohovda - Vestreim - Geilo with optional ascent of Snøhovda, 21 km / 13 miles, 6-7 h, moderate.

Take a morning train to Finse; a place first popularized by British aristocrats before the railways arrived. Both Scott and Shackleton trained here for Antarctica. Today, there are three possible walks directly from your hotel depending upon the weather. In good weather, strong walkers may like to attempt the ascent of Sankt Pal (1700m), a dramatic small peak and viewpoint. Then you can undertake a walk across the moorland towards the ice of the Hardanger Glacier for a picnic. Or perhaps in poor weather, you can do a return walk along the old railway workers' track that connects Finse with Myrdal. Option 1: Trek to Sankt Pal (1694m), 13 km / 8 miles, 4-5 h, challenging. Option 2: Walk to the Fagernut along the Rallarvegen, 20 km / 12.5 miles, 5 h, easy/moderate. Option 3: Trek to Blåisen (1591m) and return to Finse, 11.5 km /7.1 miles, 4 h, moderate. Accommodation: Stay for 2 nights at a cosy chalet-style hotel with spectacular views. The hotel is a short walk from the train station. At 1222m, the hotel started as a shelter for the occupants of snowbound trains (now an increasingly rare event). Over the years this cabin has been through many upgrades. Converting it into an extraordinary hotel with the emphasis on outdoor activities within a superb landscape. Rooms are basic but comfortable and often with great views. There is a dining hall, an Edwardian-era library and a coffee shop. There is a little pub in the basement, which opens at weekends and has become a bit of a museum with railway memorabilia. You could also choose to make use of the relaxation centre with a sauna area.

On your second day in Finse, choose another walk option, as per Day 3 description. If the weather is good, you could also make use of the option to do a local guided crampon walk up on to the glacier. *Details on booking the glacier walk are provided in your route notes. Note that you should call at least a day in advance to check the status of the walk, as it does not necessarily run everyday and not in poor weather. The walk begins from the hotel/station area and the cost paid locally is: approx 1100 NOK. Equipment is provided, but note that your boots will need to be reasonably stiff to take a crampon. Itineraries and availability will depend on the weather conditions.

This is a classic walk! Hand in your luggage at Myrdal for a local train transfer down to Flåm station (150 NOK per bag approx, paid locally). The walk down to Flåm is beautiful, following the lush valley route, through woods and pastures, always with the sounds of rushing waters. Eventually drop down to the Aurlandsfjord, a branch off Sognefjord. Accommodation: A cosy basic pension which is located next to the Aurlandsfjord, only 400m from the famous Flåm railway. The pension is not too ‘flamboyant’ while it has an informal atmosphere. There is a room with an open fireplace, TV-lounge and a large garden. The rooms are the most basic of this holiday, but are warm and simple en-suites.

A short bus ride or ferry journey takes you to Aurland for two nights, giving you plenty of time to walk round this beautiful area or take a cruise to Gundavangen in the Nærøyfjord. There are some little circular walks you can do as described below. You could also choose to walk up the breathtaking Aurlandsdalen Valley, using a local bus at the start and end of the walk. In some ways this place is lost in time. From a hotel at Østerbø you can only follow a mule track into the higher pastures, enjoying the sights and sounds of this landscape: looking down into the gorge, passing great waterfalls. Another walk via a spectacular waterfall takes you on a massive ascent to a mountain called Prestevarden which has a magnificent view over the bend of the Aurlandsfjord. Options of walks over the next two days could include: Option 1: To Skjerdal with return via Bell farm, 13 km / 8 miles, 2 h, easy/moderate. Option 2: Østerbø - Vassbygdi, 16.6 km / 10.3 miles, 6 h, challenging. Option 3: Prest Summit (1363m), 22.5 km / 14 miles, 6-8 h challenging. Accommodation: Your hotel occupies some of the oldest buildings in Aurland, and is close to the stunning fjord. It is spacious with fine rooms, there are a bar and a restaurant.

Another day to enjoy the walks of the area (see descriptions on Day 6). Otherwise we recommend the fjord cruise to Gundavangen in the Nærøyfjord. Part of the Sognefjord, it has been described by National Geographic magazine as the most beautiful destination in the world. *There are two boats that offer the fjord cruise, including a quiet electric ship. Cruises can be booked online or at Flåm (from 625 NOK). You will need to go back to Flåm to board, although the older ferry will stop in Aurland.

Depart from Aurland to Oslo or Bergen. Bus or taxi to Flam and then catch the scenic Myrdal-Flam train. This is a private trainline claimed to be the steepest “normal gauge” railway in the World. You should get beautiful views back to Sognefjord and around. At Myrdal, join a mainline train back to Oslo or Bergen and then a local train to the airport for late afternoon or evening flights. Although we would recommend you to have an extra night in both Oslo or Bergen so that you can make the most of what these cities have to offer.