DIY Norway in a Nutshell - Save More, Enjoy More!
- alaughingseal
- Nov 21, 2019
- 4 min read
Norway, Europe - famous for its mirrored Fjords' reflections in Flam, its cottage houses amidst the mountains in Gudvangen, its colourful wooden houses of Bergen, and the experiential hikes from Mount Uriken to Mount Floyen (in Bergen). By DIY-ing, you get to save more (about S$100) and break up tour at your own pace!
Many choose to do the Norway in a Nutshell Tour to get from Bergen to Oslo in the most scenic route possible. Typically, a Norway in a Nutshell Tour would cost you about S$330 for a day (usually 8am - 10pm). What does a Norway in a Nutshell Tour include:
Experience the scenic Bergen Railway
Experience the beautiful Flåm railway
Go onboard a ferry ride to cruise around the famous fjords - Aurlandsfjord and Nærøyfjord
The Norway in a Nutshell Tour is convenient for many as it brings you from Bergen to Oslo in the fastest route possible. There is little planning involved and all you need to do is to book a tour! Also, if you only have a day to spare from Bergen to Oslo, then I guess you don't have a choice? :(
Why would one choose to DIY the Norway in a Nutshell Tour?
You get to slow things down and not rush through the beautiful scenery (once you are there, you would wish to be able to stay there for a longer bit!)
You get to stay in a cottage house amidst the snow-capped mountains
You get to experience life at a hostel and have a picnic at the most beautiful scenery ever!
If you can afford the time (3D2N) to break up the typical Norway in a Nutshell Tour, I'm here to convince you that you should spend the time in each city/town! Here's how you can go about doing it!
I spent 2 days in Bergen before beginning my DIY Norway in a Nutshell onward to Oslo!
What to do and see in Bergen
Travel period: Early April 2016
Bergen is a beautiful city and it's worthy to spend a day absorbing the sheer beauty of its city centre. Along the way, you could explore their old town and fish market.
What was the highlight of my trip was the arduous hike from Mount Uriken to Mount Floyen and then back to the city centre. Tip: please check the forecast and go on a trek on a SUNNY day! The hike requires proper trekking shoes as there are parts where it has a steep ascend or descend. We took the funicular up to Mount Uriken and it was truly a beautiful sight from high above.
The entire trek took about 5 to 6 hours and that was with minimal rest. If you would think that you need additional rest time, you may take up to 8 hours. The hike could get pretty tiring along the way too. Tip: please prepare food for your hike as there is nothing that you can buy along the way. You could possibly bring hotdog and bread to refuel as you hike :)
Have a nice picnic up there and take many many pictures as the cross the beautiful fjord! Please also prepare yourself for the sudden change in weather as it could appear foggy suddenly or even start raining/snowing while hiking. It is REALLY important to check the weather!
Have a great rest that night and be ready to go on the most satisfying Norway in a Nutshell DIY Tour!
Step 1: Travel from Bergen to Gudvangen
In order to get to Gudvangen, you will need to take the morning train from Bergen to Voss. We took the 8.43am train and reached at 9.56am. Tip: remember to book earlier for cheaper train tickets! You can book the train here!
After that, we took bus 950 from Voss to Gudvangen. In Gudvangen, we booked a cottage stay - Gudvangen Camping - in the middle of nowhere and we really enjoyed the tranquility of the place, the zero-tourist-experience and the fact that all we could do was to embrace the silence and the beauty of the place :")
There is a petrol kiosk with a mini supermart called Joker where you could buy food for your meals and even cook them in your cottage!
Transport:
Train from Bergen to Voss: 149KR/person
Bus from Voss to Gudvangen: 100KR/person
Accommodation: Gudvangen Camping
Step 2: Gudvangen to Flam
We booked a ferry ticket that crosses the fjords and you can be assured that the journey was breathtaking and they were all postcard-worthy! You can book the ferry ticket from here! Tip: Take the morning ferry as there would be lesser tourists!
The moment you alight from the ferry, go straight to the Flam Museum as it closes at 3pm. Pictures of the fjord can be taken later as it would never change!
After that, we checked into our hostel - Flam Hostel. You could buy from snacks and drinks from the shops there, find a spot to chill by the fjord, embrace the weak wifi and immerse yourself in the lovely views.
The hostel was truly an experience as we were given tokens to exchange for hot water for our showers! We had to challenge ourselves to shower in record time as our token only allowed us to have warm/hot water for showering for a few minutes only!
Transport: Ferry ride from Gudvangen to Flam (about 310nok/person)
Accommodation: Flam Hostel
Step 3: Flam to Oslo
We took the Flam Railway from Flam to Oslo and we booked the 9am - 2.45pm train ride. It was truly pretty where you could see the snow-capped mountains and skiers!
In Oslo, I'd recommend you to get the 1-day or 2-days pass where you could visit the museums and attractions for a fixed price! It was really worth it!
Transport: Train from Flam to Oslo (849kr/person)
Accommodation: Oslo Airbnb
Now that you have virtually reached Oslo from Bergen, I hope you really enjoyed the accommodations, the breathtaking views and have decided to take things slower, and transform the 1-day Norway in a Nutshell Tour to a 3d2n Norway in a Nutshell DIY Tour!!
This was one of the BEST decisions I have made during my Europe trip and I hope you make the same decision as me as well! :) Planning this short 3d2n DIY Norway in a Nutshell Tour felt like death to me and I hope my research has cut you some slack in having to do your research!
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