Hamilton & Chase Tours
Essence of Norway — Private Package 7-day Scandinavia tour: Oslo, the Flåm Railway, the Nærøyfjord, and Bergen — the essential Norwegian circuit.

7-Day Private Package Journey

Essence of Norway

Oslo, the Flåm Railway, the Nærøyfjord, and Bergen — the essential Norwegian circuit.

Available as Private Semi-Private Self-Guided
From €3,290 per person 7 days / 6 nights
View Itinerary

Tour Overview

7 days across Scandinavia.

Norway is the country that invented the fjord as a landscape category — a glacially carved sea inlet whose walls rise vertically from the water to 1,400 metres and whose depth can exceed 1,300 metres. The Sognefjord is the longest and deepest fjord in Norway: 205 kilometres from the sea to its innermost arm, a body of water so vast that the Hardangerfjord, the second-longest fjord in the world, is its minor tributary. Flåm is the village at the innermost arm of the Aurlandsfjord (a branch of the Sognefjord) whose railway — the Flåm Railway, descending 864 metres in 20 kilometres on a gradient that required twenty years of engineering to make possible — is consistently rated among the most scenic railway journeys in the world. Bergen is the old capital of Norway and the gateway to the fjords: a Hanseatic trading city of wooden wharf buildings whose Bryggen quayside is UNESCO World Heritage, and whose fish market has been operating since the Middle Ages. Oslo is where Norway's wealth, museums, and political life are concentrated — and where the Viking Ship Museum contains the best-preserved Viking longships in existence. This seven-day private journey covers the essential Norwegian circuit from Oslo through the Sognefjord to Bergen.

Detailed Itinerary

Your journey, day by day.

Every day is designed with breathing room. Sleep in, take a detour, linger at lunch — the itinerary flexes around you, not the other way around.

Day 1 — Arrival in Oslo
Day 1
1

Day 1

Arrival in Oslo

The capital between the fjord and the forest.

Oslo sits at the head of the Oslofjord between the Nordmarka forest and the sea — a capital of 700,000 people whose compactness, wealth, and quality of civic infrastructure make it one of the easiest cities in Europe to enjoy immediately. Your private driver meets you at Oslo Gardermoen Airport. The Royal Palace at the top of Karl Johans gate — the ceremonial boulevard that runs from the palace to the Central Station — is open for guided tours in summer. The Opera House on the harbour: the 2008 Snøhetta building whose sloping white marble roof is designed to be walked upon, giving a view of the Oslofjord and the Aker Brygge waterfront. Aker Brygge: the former shipyard converted to a waterfront district of restaurants and bars whose terraces face the water from May to September. Welcome dinner overlooking the Oslofjord.

  • Private airport transfer to Oslo
  • Oslo Opera House — the 2008 Snøhetta building on the harbour
  • Karl Johans gate and the Royal Palace
  • Aker Brygge waterfront and welcome dinner
4–5★ hotel, Oslo city centre
Day 2 — Oslo — Museums and the Vigeland Park
Day 2
2

Day 2

Oslo — Museums and the Vigeland Park

Viking ships, the Munch Scream, and 212 sculptures in granite.

The Viking Ship Museum on the Bygdøy peninsula houses the three best-preserved Viking longships in the world: the Oseberg ship (834 AD), the Gokstad ship (890 AD), and the Tune ship — all excavated from burial mounds in Vestfold and preserved in the anaerobic blue clay that kept the oak intact for over a thousand years. The Oseberg ship is the most elaborately decorated Viking object in existence: its carved prow, the burial goods recovered alongside it (sledges, beds, tapestries, and the bodies of two women), and its scale change the perception of what the Viking Age actually was. The National Museum: the new building that opened in 2022 is the largest art museum in Scandinavia, whose collection includes Edvard Munch's The Scream (1893) — the most reproduced painting in art history after the Mona Lisa. The Vigeland Sculpture Park in the afternoon: the 212 bronze and granite figures by Gustav Vigeland arranged in the Frogner Park, the largest sculpture installation by a single artist in the world, depicting the full span of human experience from birth to death.

  • Viking Ship Museum — the Oseberg and Gokstad longships from 834–890 AD
  • National Museum — Munch's The Scream and the Scandinavian collection
  • Vigeland Sculpture Park — 212 figures in granite and bronze
  • Bygdøy peninsula museums
Meals: Breakfast 4–5★ hotel, Oslo city centre
Day 3 — Oslo to Flåm — The Mountain Crossing
Day 3
3

Day 3

Oslo to Flåm — The Mountain Crossing

The train through the Hardangervidda plateau to the fjord.

The Bergen Railway from Oslo to Myrdal is the highest mainline railway in northern Europe, crossing the Hardangervidda plateau at 1,237 metres above sea level — a sub-Arctic landscape of snow-covered fells, frozen lakes, and the Finse station where the exterior of the Hoth scenes in The Empire Strikes Back were filmed in 1979. The Flåm Railway branches off at Myrdal and descends 864 metres in 20 kilometres to the Aurlandsfjord — the steepest standard-gauge railway line in the world, passing through 20 tunnels and stopping at the Kjosfossen waterfall (93 metres, accessible from the train platform). Flåm village at the foot of the fjord: population 350, set at the innermost point of the Aurlandsfjord where the mountains rise immediately behind the village to 1,400 metres. The evening belongs to the fjord — the light changes through the valley from late afternoon to the late Nordic sunset.

  • Bergen Railway over the Hardangervidda plateau — 1,237 metres above sea level
  • Flåm Railway — the steepest standard-gauge railway in the world
  • Kjosfossen waterfall stop — 93 metres from the train platform
  • Flåm village at the innermost point of the Aurlandsfjord
Meals: Breakfast 4★ hotel, Flåm fjordside
Day 4 — Sognefjord Cruise
Day 4
4

Day 4

Sognefjord Cruise

The longest and deepest fjord in Norway — 205 kilometres of vertical walls.

The Sognefjord is the Queen of the Fjords: 205 kilometres long, 1,308 metres deep at its maximum, and flanked by walls that rise to 1,400 metres from the water's surface. The fjord cruise from Flåm to Gudvangen via the Nærøyfjord — the UNESCO World Heritage branch of the Sognefjord — passes through the narrowest navigable fjord in Europe: 250 metres wide at its narrowest point, with walls rising 1,700 metres on both sides. The waterfalls that fall directly into the fjord during the snowmelt season (May–June) give the Nærøyfjord its name — Narrow Fjord. From Gudvangen the Stalheimskleiva road — the steepest public road in Norway at 13% gradient — climbs through 13 hairpin bends to the Stalheim Hotel, whose terrace gives the most celebrated panoramic view in the Norwegian fjords: the two waterfalls and the valley floor 200 metres below.

  • Nærøyfjord UNESCO cruise — the narrowest navigable fjord in Europe
  • Waterfall-lined fjord walls during snowmelt
  • Stalheimskleiva road — 13 hairpin bends at 13% gradient
  • Stalheim panoramic viewpoint above the fjord valley
Meals: Breakfast 4★ hotel, Voss or Gudvangen
Day 5 — Bergen — The Hanseatic City
Day 5
5

Day 5

Bergen — The Hanseatic City

Bryggen, the fish market, and the funicular above the seven mountains.

Bergen is enclosed by seven mountains — the Sju Fjell — and has been a trading city since the Hanseatic merchants established their wharf here in the 14th century. Bryggen: the row of timber-framed warehouses on the eastern quayside that are the surviving remnant of the Hanseatic trading post — UNESCO World Heritage, repeatedly rebuilt after fires, and now housing artisan shops and restaurants in the original footprint of the 14th-century settlement. The Bergen Fish Market at the harbour foot: one of the oldest markets in Norway, where the fish are laid out on ice by the same families who have been fishing these waters for generations — salmon, halibut, king crab, and the small shrimps that Bergen people eat by the bag. The Fløibanen funicular ascends 320 metres to Mount Fløyen in eight minutes — the view from the top takes in the city, all seven mountains, and the Byfjord on a clear day. Bergen is the rainiest city in Europe (with a recorded 239 rain days in one year) and is magnificent in rain as well as sun.

  • Bryggen — the 14th-century Hanseatic wharf, UNESCO World Heritage
  • Bergen Fish Market — salmon, king crab, and fjord shrimps
  • Fløibanen funicular — 320 metres to Mount Fløyen in 8 minutes
  • Bergen surrounded by seven mountains
Meals: Breakfast 4–5★ hotel, Bergen city centre
Day 6 — Bergen and the Hardangerfjord
Day 6
6

Day 6

Bergen and the Hardangerfjord

The fjord of the apple orchards and the Vøringsfossen waterfall.

The Hardangerfjord is the second-longest fjord in the world and the most cultivated: the sheltered microclimate produced by the fjord walls warms the shoreline enough to grow apples and cherries in orchards that have been here since the 17th century. In May the orchards are in blossom — a wall of white and pink flowers against the blue fjord water and the snow-capped mountains above. The Vøringsfossen waterfall near Eidfjord: the most visited waterfall in Norway, dropping 182 metres in two stages down the wall of the Måbødalen canyon — the viewpoint is a short walk from the road. The Hardangerfjord Cider Route: the farmhouse cider producers who have been fermenting Hardanger apples since the 19th century now produce a range that has attracted international attention. Return to Bergen by the late afternoon via the ferry crossing at Jondal or by the tunnel road.

  • Hardangerfjord — the second-longest fjord in the world
  • Hardanger orchards in blossom — apples and cherries against fjord water
  • Vøringsfossen — Norway's most visited waterfall, 182-metre drop
  • Hardanger Cider Route — the farmhouse apple producers
Meals: Breakfast 4–5★ hotel, Bergen
Day 7 — Departure from Bergen
Day 7
7

Day 7

Departure from Bergen

One last Norwegian morning.

Bergen in the morning: the Fisketorget and the flower market on the Torget, the Hanseatic Museum inside one of the Bryggen warehouses, and the Kode art museums whose collection includes the most important group of Edvard Munch paintings outside Oslo. Bergen Airport is 20 minutes from the city centre. Flights from Bergen connect to Oslo, Copenhagen, London, and the major European hubs. Your private driver transfers you to Bergen Flesland Airport at the agreed time.

  • Bergen Fisketorget and the flower market
  • Hanseatic Museum inside the Bryggen warehouses
  • Kode art museums — Munch paintings in Bergen
  • Private transfer to Bergen Airport
Meals: Breakfast

Where You'll Stay

Hand-picked hotels, every night.

We choose properties for character, location, and the kind of service that makes you feel looked after — not just checked in. Every hotel can be swapped for an alternative if you prefer.

4–5★ hotel, Oslo

Oslo

2 nights

4–5★ hotel

City centre or Aker Brygge

Two nights allows both Oslo museum days — the Aker Brygge location gives the fjord view and waterfront restaurants

4★ hotel, Flåm

Flåm

1 night

4★ hotel

Fjordside village

The Fretheim Hotel is the historic fjordside property; the Flåm Marina & Apartments give direct fjord access

4★ hotel, Voss or Gudvangen

Voss or Gudvangen

1 night

4★ hotel

Fjord valley

Voss is a larger town with better hotel choice; Gudvangen puts you at the Nærøyfjord head

4–5★ hotel, Bergen

Bergen

2 nights

4–5★ hotel

City centre or Bryggen

Two nights allows Bergen proper and the Hardangerfjord day — Bryggen location is the most atmospheric

Hotels shown are indicative of the standard we book. Upon request, we will provide a detailed itinerary with specific hotel options tailored to your preferences and budget.

What's in the Price

Included

  • 6 nights in 4–5★ hotels and fjordside lodges
  • Daily breakfast at each property
  • Private airport transfer at Oslo
  • Private vehicle and fjord ferry transfers throughout
  • Oslo guided visits — Viking Ship Museum, National Museum, Vigeland Park
  • Bergen Railway and Flåm Railway tickets
  • Nærøyfjord UNESCO fjord cruise
  • Bergen guided visits — Bryggen, Fish Market, Fløibanen funicular
  • Hardangerfjord circuit with Vøringsfossen
  • All entrance fees for guided visits
  • 24/7 travel specialist support
  • Hamilton & Chase digital travel booklet

Not Included

  • International flights to Oslo / from Bergen
  • Travel insurance (required — we can arrange on request)
  • Meals not listed
  • Personal expenses
  • Gratuities for guides and drivers
  • City tax (collected by hotels)

Good to Know

  • Norway is among the most expensive countries in Europe — restaurant and activity prices reflect this. The itinerary includes all principal entrance fees; meals outside the included dinner and breakfasts will be at Norwegian price levels.
  • The Flåm Railway and Nærøyfjord cruise are extremely popular in July and August — Hamilton & Chase pre-books all transport well in advance.
  • The Hardangerfjord apple blossom is typically at its peak in the second half of May — timing the tour for this window is recommended for the orchard experience.
  • Bergen weather is unpredictable and frequently rainy — the city is magnificent in rain and the mountains are dramatically atmospheric in low cloud. Waterproofs are essential.

Make It Yours

Optional add-ons & upgrades.

Every trip is different. These extras can be woven into your itinerary — just let your travel specialist know what catches your eye.

Fjord kayaking

A guided kayak session on the Aurlandsfjord from Flåm — two hours on the water at the level of the fjord walls, with a guide who explains the geology and ecology of the Sognefjord system. Suitable for beginners.

From €95 pp

Stave church visits

The Borgund Stave Church (1150 AD) near Lærdal — the best-preserved stave church in Norway, built entirely of wood using Viking shipbuilding techniques. En route from Flåm to Voss.

From €35 pp

Norway in a Nutshell upgrade

The full Norway in a Nutshell circuit — adding the Voss to Bergen leg by bus via the Stalheim road and the Tvindefossen waterfall to the standard fjord cruise routing.

From €65 pp

Bergen evening concert

A performance at Troldhaugen — the villa outside Bergen where Edvard Grieg composed from 1885 until his death in 1907, now a museum and concert hall with summer recitals in the purpose-built 200-seat auditorium above the fjord.

From €75 pp

"The Nærøyfjord from the boat — the walls rising on both sides, the waterfalls falling directly into the water, and no sound except the engine and the birds — was the most extraordinary natural experience of our travelling lives. We had been warned it would be crowded. In the early morning it was not. Hamilton & Chase timed everything perfectly."

Peter & Anna H.

Vienna, Austria · Essence of Norway, July 2025

Common Questions

Questions about this trip.

What is the difference between the Sognefjord and the Hardangerfjord?

The Sognefjord is the longest and deepest — 205km, stark vertical walls, the wildest character. The Hardangerfjord is the most cultivated — apple orchards, waterfalls, and a slightly softer landscape. Both are extraordinary; this tour includes a cruise on the Sognefjord's Nærøyfjord branch and a day on the Hardangerfjord.

Is this tour suitable in winter?

The fjord cruises and some mountain roads close or reduce in winter. This tour operates May–September. For winter Norway (Northern Lights, dog sledding, Tromsø), see the Norway Fjords and Northern Lights tour, which is designed specifically for the autumn and winter season.

Private Package Journey

Essence of Norway

7 days / 6 nights

From €3,290

per person

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