The King of the Fjords

Day 1: Bergen
Day 2: Bergen - Balestrand, 2.5 mi. (4 km)
Day 3: Hiking to Raudmelen, 5 mi. (8 km)
Day 4: Hiking Årøy - Solvorn, 5 mi. (8 km)
Day 5: Hiking Molden, 6 mi. (10 km)
Day 6: Hiking to the glacier; Jostedalsbreen
Day 7: Departure from Sogndal or extension

Day 1: Bergen
Time to explore Bergen! The vibrant and historic city of Bergen is Norway’s second-largest city and has much to offer. One highlight is Bryggen, one of the most well-known city areas from the Middle Ages in Norway. The wooden buildings on Bergen's iconic wharf are reflections of its history in the Hanseatic League. St. Mary's Church is Bryggen's tallest and oldest structure, dating to 1180. The Hanseatic museum provides wonderful insight into the daily life of German merchants living and working here during the Hanseatic era. Just beside it, is one of Norway's best-preserved fortresses; Bergenhus. The oldest structure on-site, Håkon's Hall, dates to 1250, and was a royal residence during the Middle Ages. Enjoy the lively fish market next to Bryggen, where you find fresh fish, seafood, and several restaurants serving a large selection of local dishes. You can visit the Bergen Aquarium close to Nordnes Park and the city center. 

Meals: None
Overnight: Bergen
Accommodation: Comfort Hotel Holberg or Hotel Havnekontoret depending on category requested

If arriving to Bergen early and spending an extra night here, or if you will return to Bergen for an additional night,  the following are two suggestions for some hikes around the city:

Hike from your hotel to Mount Fløyen, or, cable car up, and walk down again (1.5 h)
A walk that’s suitable for all! This is a golden opportunity to photograph the best that Bergen has to offer, assuring you of a great view. If you want to take the Fløibanen some of the way down as well, you can hop off at one of the middle stations, such as Fjellveien, and do the last bit of the journey by foot. The route winds its way down from the mountain with many twists and turns, but it’s very easy to find your way. Make sure you leave plenty of time to relax on one of the many benches along the route. They are placed so that you can really take in the great view. When you are almost at the bottom, you pass the lovely Skansedammen, a perfect place for a picnic.

Hike from Mount Ulriken to Mount Fløyen, 9 mi. (15 km)
The bus from the city center takes you to Ulriken Cable car to transport up to Mount Ulriken, the highest of Bergen’s seven mountains. (Tickets can be booked online.) From the summit, you can enjoy magnificent views of Bergen with the sea, the islands, fjords, and mountains. The ensuing hike is a journey through varied nature with incredible views and exciting sights along the route. It is recommended to stop at Storefjellet, or to lunch at Borgaskaret. You can get a free map of the hike at Ulriken's upper station, where all of the exciting stops are marked for you. Arriving at the top of the famous Mount Fløyen, you can enjoy a bird's eye view 1049 feet above the city. You can then take the cable car back down to the city center, or return by hiking down if you want some extra km. Elevation: 20-662 meters (5 hours)

Optional (require advance booking):
Guided tour in Bergen, 2 hours: 700 NOK per person. Invoicing for this will be included in your tour invoice.
Bus fare for Ulriken Express bus and cable car to top of the mountain:  approx. 300 NOK per person

There are several possibilities to do a shorter hike.

Day 2: Bergen - Balestrand with hike in the afternoon, 2.5 mi. (4 km)
The coastal express boat leaves Bergen at 8.00 am; be sure to allow a few minutes to walk from your hotel to the port. The boat takes you to the western islands before entering Sognefjorden, whose glacier waters mirror snow-covered majestic mountains. You can admire small villages along the fjord and the cascading waterfalls in all sizes. You will arrive at Kviknes Hotel in Balestrand at 11.50 am. As early as the 18th century Balestrand was known as a popular tourist destination in Europe. Wealthy and distinguished people and artists from other parts of the country and from abroad came to the shores of Balestrand, attracted to the special fjord landscape. You will want to walk along the fjord on what is now called King Bele's Road. A number of artists built their summer residences in the dragon style, another popular architectural style from the same period. Many of these houses are well preserved today, providing an environment that is unique, even in a national context and Scandinavia's largest concentration of dragon style houses. You will be accommodated in Kvikne's Hotel (built in 1877). Its imposing façade facing the fjord is an excellent example of the so-called Swiss style, a very popular building style in this period.

The Pilgrim Hike:
The hike starts about 6 km from Balestrand. You can take a taxi (up to 4 people) and the total cost is €60. Maxitaxi for up to 7 and minibus for larger groups can also be requested.  In total it is around 4.4 km to walk and you end in Kvamsøy, a small community by the fjord on the west side of Balestrand. The hike is easy and has some sculptures along the tour as two artists live in Kvamsøy. The path goes through the forest, with a lot of different trees and flowers, and some nice places for rest as well. In Kvamsøy there is a beautiful place by the fjord with tables, a nice place for a picnic. It is also possible to visit the tiny church on the small island (you need a boat to get there but it is only a few meters).  The boat can be booked locally.

Overnight: Balestrand
Accommodations:  Kviknes Hotel. You can upgrade here to a demi suite in the historic building.
Meals: Breakfast and packed lunch

Optional, can be reserved online and paid on the spot or reserve and pay upon arrival:
Cider tasting at Ciderhuset (book and pay on the spot) approx: €27

Optional, reserve and pay on the spot:
Transfer to the trailhead (approx. 6 km from Balestrand) with taxi, one way (book and pay on the spot) approx.  €60 for a group of four. To return, there are two buses in the late afternoon/evening at 4:30 and 6 pm.

Day 3: Hiking to Raudmelen, 5 mi. (8 km)
Today’s hike starts from the hotel. You will walk to the Belehalli Sport Hall where the path begins and follow the well-marked red route to Raudmelen. After following the relatively steep path up through the woods, it is nice to take a break at Orrabenken (370 m). From here you get a wonderful view over Balestrand and the Sognefjord. From Orrabenken, you follow the path upwards to Buråsi at 575 m. You will enjoy a marvelous view over Sognefjord and Esefjella. On one side you overlook the green slopes to Balestrand and on the other, dramatic rocky mountainsides towards Esedalen. You continue along the ridge towards the highest top, Raudmelen with wonderful views on both sides. There are plenty of options to take shorter routes in case of inclement weather.

Overnight: Balestrand
Accommodations: Kviknes Hotel
Meals: Breakfast, packed lunch, and dinner
Elevation: 0 - 978 m

Optional (requires advance booking):
Kreklingen Nature Trail - approx 5 km, ending with a cider tasting at Ciderhuset: €27

Day 4: Hiking Årøy - Solvorn, 5 mi. (8 km)
Transfer from Balestrand to Årøy. This will be provided by luggage transfer vehicle. A time will be agreed upon when you meet with our local representative in Balestrand. From Årøy at the end of Barsnesfjorden you pass the mighty Årøy River and start the hike at the other side of the bridge. You follow the same road that the King Holy Olav took in 1023 with his men. On this path they found fresh water from the source and after that came the name Olav Source. The path goes up to Hafslo and Hafslo Lake and continues along the lake until Galden, where you hike down to picturesque Solvorn. Because of its location by the fjord, Solvorn was once a very important place for trade, travel and business, which all took place here for several centuries. Nowadays, Solvorn is a small village with white wooden houses that is busy in the summertime with its public beach, ferry to Urnes and nice summer atmosphere. Solvorn has a small café, the hotel has a nice art gallery in one of the old boathouses. Overnight in Solvorn at the historic Walaker Hotel. Walaker Hotel is over 370 years old and has been owned by the Nitter family since 1690. The hotel has been inherited from generation to generation and is now an attraction in itself.

Overnight: Solvorn
Accommodations: Walaker Hotel
Meals: Breakfast, packed lunch, and dinner
Elevation: 240 m

Day 5: Hiking Moden, 6 mi. (10 km)
An included transfer will be provided to Molden (ca. 6 km) to reach the trailhead. The first few kilometers finds you following trails through the forest. From here, the path rises steeply and after a little climb, you reach Svarthiller, with its spectacular view over the fjord towards Ornes on the other side. Leaving Svarthiller, the path turns and winds its way past steep crags before leveling out. You reach the top of Molden, at 1116 m above sea level. The best view is to the east, over the innermost parts of Lusterfjorden with Nes and Høyheimsvik in the foreground. Molden provides the finest viewpoint of the Sognefjord, with a panoramic view of the fjord arms and the high mountains of Jotunheimen. Return to Solvorn to relax and have dinner.

Overnight: Solvorn
Accommodations: Historic Walaker Hotel
Meals: Breakfast, packed lunch, and dinner
Elevation: 1116 m

Optional, book, and pay on spot:
Ferry to Urnes: 42 NOK
Visit the inside of Urnes Church: 90 Kr

Day 6: Hiking to the glacier; Jostedalsbreen, 3.1 mi. (5 km)
After breakfast, you can take a  bus to Jostedalen National Park and the Breheimsenter.  The bus departs from the main road at 8:51 am. You will arrive at Breheimsenter at 9:55 am. The Breheimsenter is an authorized National Park Center for Breheimen and Jostedalsbreen National Parks. These two National Parks have 9 of the 30 largest glaciers in Norway, with Jostedalsbreen as the largest, at 474 km2.  Nigardsbreen is the most visited. From where the bus will stop to the glacier is about a 45-minute walk. The Breheimsenter can be visited before or after you walk up to the glacier.

The Breheimsenter has an interactive exhibition that covers Jostedalen, Jostedalsbreen, and  Breheimen National Parks and focuses on climate and glaciers. In addition, there is a cinema which takes you on a tour around the glaciers throughout the years. 

If you do not wish to walk to the glacier, another option would be to take a boat (Jostedalsrypa) over the lake toward the glacier. The boat travels back and forth over the lake each day between the hours of 10 am and 6 pm. The cost is approx. 60 NOK per person.

 It is also possible to hike to Tunsbergdalsglacier which is a more demanding walk.

After your visit, you will take the bus to Sogndal (52 km) for your overnight at Hofslund Hotel. 

Overnight: Sogndal
Accommodations: Hofslund Hotel
Meals: Breakfast and packed lunch

Day 7: Departure from Sogndal
If you want to return to Bergen, the coastal express boat  departs just a few meters walk from your hotel to Bergen. It is also possible to take the bus to Bergen or if you are returning to Oslo,  there are two buses that depart at 11:30 am arriving in Oslo at 6:20. Flåm railway can also be included, the biggest tourist attraction in Sogn. See details below.

Meals: Breakfast

More details on departure options:

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You will be accommodated in charming 3 and 4-star establishments. Preferred hotels are Hotel Holberg in Bergen, Kviknes Hotel in Balestrand, and the Walaker Hotel in Solvorn. There is the option to upgrade your accommodations to the Hotel Havnekontoret (seaview) in Bergen, a demi suite in the Kviknes Hotel in Balestrand with spectacular views of the Sognefjord, and in the historic building of the Walaker Hotel.