Oslo, Hardangervidda, Odda, Trolltunga, Bergen
Filled with Viking history, great hiking, breathtaking mountains, beautiful lakes, and iconic fjords. Tunnel distances can be up to 15 miles long! Travel Norway by car and train.
Although there are numerous well-known hikes in Norway, this experience focused on Trolltunga, as well as a few additional sites.
Oslo
We flew into Oslo and spent one night. The first day we strolled through the city, toured the modern Opera House and the medieval Akershus Fortress. In it’s 800 year history the fortress has served as a royal residence, military base, and prison, and currently displays a vast history with excellent exhibits. The next day, a ferry cruise took us island hopping to the Oslofjord where we enjoyed a peaceful afternoon, walking along footpaths and beaches.
Hardangervidda
After picking up our car, we drove to Rjukan and spent the night. Our goal was to explore the nearby Hardangervidda National Park, Norway’s largest national park. A trolley whisked us up to the mountain top boasting of a beautiful plateau with hours of hiking to enjoy. Taking in the stunning views, cascading waterfalls, running streams, varying terrain, and landscapes made for an adventurous day.
Odda
A town surrounded by mountains, with beautiful waterfalls, and great hiking. And, of course, known for it’s proximity to Trolltunga! We spent the night and prepared for our long hike the next day.
Trolltunga
We parked at the base parking lot and took a trolley to the starting point of our journey. The trail had just opened and it was June. Once our journey began, it was important to have taken food and water for the day, because there was no means to purchase supplies along the trail. Despite the remaining snow, the trail was busy and complex, but we took our time, paced our walk, and enjoyed the spectacular views of the fjords.
After hiking for three hours, we reached our destination, where the rock cliff extended 3,700 feet above Lake Ringedalsvatnet. There was a que for the cliff ledge, but it moved quickly, as everyone patiently waited their turn, observing those who cautiously climbed the ladder, and walked to the ledge point. It was finally our turn, and we handed our phones to the next individual in the que to take our picture. After safely making the return walk, and retrieving our phones, we headed back down the trail.
Overall, it was a long and exhilarating day!
Bergen
Our last night was in the coastal town of Bergen located in the fjords. Although the second largest city in Norway, it was not a sizeable city, but a charming place with great seafood, and the recognizable “row of houses”. It’s located on the coast, and offered a lot of the expected outdoor activities; boat cruises, fishing, hiking, and biking.
After returning the car the next day… we flew to Copenhagen.
A last parting thought–don’t speed in Norway! Tickets in Norway are one of the most costly in Europe!