The UNESCO Protected Fjords of Western Norway

Day 1: Bergen

You will love picturesque Bergen. Tucked in the middle of the mountains and fjords of Norway, it is a small quaint city easily explored by foot and bike. The historic center, Bryggen, is close to the harbor, characterized by charming streets and historic buildings. In the afternoon you will enjoy a guided walk through the old center followed by dinner. Your first hotel is located here next to the port.

Day 2: Vik
4 miles/6 km

You catch the early fast ferry to Vik, navigating around the islands and fjords close to Bergen. You will arrive in Vik before lunch, pick up your bikes, and go for a short ride around the old village. Vik is tiny with much to offer, including the beautiful Hopperstad Stave Church, Hove stone church, and beach dweller settlement of Vikøyri.

A stop at a small shop will have you sampling the local cheese, "gamalost", a distinctly Norwegian cheese. The production is quite lengthy and complicated and is not made in mass quantities. It is extremely rare to find it outside Norway and Vik is known for this delicacy.

Day 3: Vik - Arnafjord -Vik
32 miles/52 km

You will cycle along the fjord to Arnafjord, a tiny settlement at the end of a country road. Once a bustling fishermen’s village, today there are only a few inhabitants. If you feel the hills are going to be a bit much, you can cut the route short.

Day 4: Vik - Dragsvik -
Menes- Balestrand (14 miles to 38 miles/22 to 62 km

You cycle along the fjord in the direction of Dragsvk, a tiny fruit-growing village. First, you will visit the statue of Fridtjof and learn about the legend. After a ferry crossing, you can either have a break here or have a snack on the ferry.

Once you disembark, you can either cycle to Balestrand (10 km) or do a longer extra ride to Menes and back to Balestrand (50 km).

The longer option is an out-and-back so you could actually simply turn around when you want.

Your accommodation this evening is the historic Hotel Kviknes. The main rooms are in the comfortable “modern” part and dining takes place in the main building. This establishment has been owned by the same family since 1877. The hotel is graced with an extensive collection of artworks and antiques, creating a unique environment. Even the Emperor of Germany visited every year and brought his entourage along.

Day 5: Balestrand - Fjaerland
13 miles/20 km

The morning is yours to enjoy. Sleep in, linger over breakfast and stroll the picturesque town. At noon, you depart by ferry to the glacier village of Fjaerland. The Fjaerland Fjord is beautiful to sail through. Until relatively recently, this was the only way to get to the little hamlet. Today there are tunnels and roads but arriving by water is simply lovely.

Fjaerland is where the Sognefjord meets Jostedalsbreen Glacier. The village with just 300 inhabitants is officially an international Book Town, with 10 second-hand bookshops in various abandoned buildings – from ferry waiting rooms, stables and local banks to the post office and grocery shop.

You then cycle from Fjaerland to the foot of the Supphellbrren Glacier located inside Jostedalsbreen National Park. At the Norsk Bremuseum, watch a panoramic film about Jostedalsbreen National Park, and experience the climate exhibition which takes you on a journey through Earth's climate history.

Once again this evening, your accommodation is very historic and you will learn about the village, its history, and the hotel.

Day 6: Fjaerland - Solvorn
24 miles/40 km

Your day begins with a transfer through a tunnel to then begin your cycling day with a lovely downhill. Your route leads far from any major thoroughfare.

Lunch is on your own in Sognal and then the route leads close to the water, lined with wooden houses standing on poles.

Accommodations this evening are in the historic Hotel Walaker in Solvorn.

Day 7: Solvorn - Skjolden - Solvorn or Marifjorda
24 + 10 miles/ 39 + extra 16 km

Today you cross the fjord one more time with your bikes to cycle to the stave church of Urnes to enjoy a guided tour.

Then it is onward to Skjolden, following the "romantic road" along the southern shores of the Lusterfjord. The ride is beautiful, highlighted by the cascading waterfall, the Feigefossen, well worth the hike.

Today if you would like you can add a bit more cycling. From the hotel, ride to the border of a national park, along waterfalls, beautiful sheds, houses, and on the way back a lovely view of the very end of the Sognefjord.

Day 8: Sightseeing Day

You will have an early transfer to the Kaupanger Ferry for navigation to the village of Gudvangen. The ferry motors through the Naeroyfjord, the narrowest and best-known of the many arms of the Sognefjord. With its steep mountainsides, hanging valleys, towering peaks, snowfields, waterfalls, and small hamlets, this fjord is perhaps the most outstanding natural attraction in Norway. From Gudvangen, you take a bus to Flam and then a very beautiful train ride up to a mountain hotel. There are no roads that lead here which makes this train ride extra scenic and unique.

Day 9: Departure from Myrdal

You will leave with the first train at around 10 am in the morning for Myrdal. Travel time is very short, only 6 minutes. From Myrdal there are two options: one train goes to Bergen, the other goes to Oslo. Both are rides of multiple hours, the train has a resto wagon, and you can book reserved seats. Both rides are very scenic.