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Norway in a Nutshell – Scenic Train Rides to Fantastic Fjords

Updated: August 18, 2019 by Dave And Deb

Norway in a Nutshell – Scenic Train Rides to Fantastic Fjords

Norway is famous for its fjords, there's no doubt about it. But when you have limited time and funding, how do you choose where to go? Our trip through Scandinavia with Go Ahead gave us the chance to explore the Norway in a Nutshell tour of the fjords, which offers a perfect way to sample the best of Norway's magnificent fjords while getting to see the capital cities of Scandinavia.

see the Norwegian Fjords on the Norway in the Nutshell Tour

Norway in a Nutshell

Norway in Nutshell

We spent 14 glorious days traveling through Scandinavia by train, bus, and boat. I think the water portions of our Capitals and Fjords tour were my favourite.

Norway in a nutshell

Norwegian Fjords

There is something calming and wonderful about floating through the fjords and channels while watching spectacular scenery from the deck of a ship.

Norway in a Nutshell

While we will definitely go back to explore more of the Fjords of Norway, I can relax knowing that I was exposed to one of Norway's most breathtaking fjords when we spent a day doing Norway in a Nutshell.

Norway in a Nutshell is probably the most popular tour in the country, which explores Sognefjord, the largest and best-known fjord of Norway.

About the Norwegian Fjords

Stretching inland 205 km from the sea, it could take days to properly cruise and explore this spectacular fjord. We only had one day to see it, but our tour took us to the most beautiful portion of Sognefjord; the Nærøyfjord.

Sognefjord; the Nærøyfjord

At only 20 km long, we cruised through this narrow arm of the Sognefjord surrounded by mountains reaching 1700 metres up to the sky.

Norway Fjords

Starburst Sun over the Norwegian Fjords

Starting in Bergen, Norway in a Nutshell is just that. It gives you a taste of everything Norway has to offer, including stops in cities with views of mountains, lakes, a ride on historic and modern railways and of course a tour through Norway's fjords.

Read: The Best of Bergen: What to do in Norway's Most Beautiful City

Boarding an early morning train, we settled into a two-hour ride to Voss where we hopped on a bus taking us through a winding mountain road to the mouth of the fjord.

norway cruise

Views from the cruise

I wasn't expecting such beauty, but the views from both the train and bus were magnificent.

The bus drive was approximately an hour. The driver paused regularly on hairpin turns allowing passengers to snap photos of waterfalls and deep valleys below.

Norway tours to the fjords

By the time we got to the ferry, we were excited for the scenes ahead. If this is what the valley looked like, imagine what the cruise would be like!

Norway Fjords

Our Ferry awaits at the mouth of the fjords.

The amount of time we spent in Gudvangen was far too short. We could have spent the morning hiking and taking photographs of the scene before our eyes.

However, there isn't a lot of tourist infrastructure here yet and only has a welcome centre, restaurant and small hotel, so we only had enough time to snap a few photographs before boarding our ferry to Flam.

norway fjords tour

Everywhere you looked there were beautiful scenes like this.

We were near the end of the crowd and felt the anxiety rising as we saw more and more people board the boat before us. Would we be stuck with a middle seat inside?

It ended up that most people congregated on the back deck and didn't venture toward the front.

Dave and I made our way quickly to the front of the boat where we settled into a front row view of the fjord cruise.

fjord cruise deb

Deb enjoys the view

I highly recommend staking your mark at the beginning of the trip and never moving.

Once the ferry took off, people looked at us with envy as we had the perfect position – looking straight down the fjord.

norway in a nutshell tour

The beauty was never ending in the Fjords

Fjords of Norway

We couldn't have asked for a better day. Derek, our Go Ahead tour guide told us that he hadn't seen it this clear on a tour in five years. We felt privileged to have such luck!

fjord cruise

The walls seemed to tower above us.

The cruise lasted for two hours weaving through the fjords as we slowly passed by small villages dotting the shores of this UNESCO World Heritage Site.

fjords tour

Small villages dotted the landscape along cruise

We passed waterfalls and farms dating back to the Viking era where goats grazed in the long grassy fields.

The wind can be brisk and when the sun goes in or behind one of the tall mountains, it can cool down quickly so be sure to pack an extra sweater and wind jacket.

We felt completely comfortable, but we saw other passengers shivering.

waterfall at fjord of norway

It seemed like waterfalls were everywhere

The cruise finished at the picturesque village of Flam. We only had about an hour to look around, but if you are traveling on your own, I highly recommend staying overnight here.

This town is located in the heart of the fjord filled with restaurants, shops, hotels, and a museum. But the true star of the village is the scenery.

With fjords on one side and mountains on the other, it is the picture-perfect setting for a Norway getaway.

the flam railway

The flam railway

It is also here, from Flam, that we caught the Flam Railway to Myrdal. Starting at just 2 metres above sea level and rising to 866 metres in Myrdal, it is the steepest incline railway in Northern Europe.

It is also one of the most picturesque train trips on earth.

views from the flam railway

Views from the Flam Railway are impressive

A highlight of our journey was the very quick, yet exciting stop at the Kjosfossen Waterfall.

You have exactly five minutes to take photographs and the obligatory selfie before being herded back onto the train.

Derek warned us that it was short and suggested we run to the viewing platform. I am so glad we did. We managed to snap plenty of photographs before anyone else from the train arrived.

kjosfossen waterfall flam railway stop

The Kjosfossen Waterfall on our Norway

We took in the power and the beauty and were back on board feeling satisfied with our score. – Just another perk to having an experienced guide along for the ride.

goahead tours norway

Our Go Ahead Guide Derrek

The final leg of our Norway in a Nutshell tour ended with another rail journey back to Bergen where we caught the sun setting over lakes and mountains as we sat in comfort in the passenger compartment.

tour of Norwegian Fjords

Traveling in comfort and style on the Flam Railway

We were back in Bergen in time for dinner with visions of rolling mountains dancing in our heads.

This post is in partnership with Go Ahead Tours who sponsored our trip to Scandinavia. As usual, all our opinions are our own. With more than 150 guided tours across all 7 continents, Go Ahead Tours has dedicated travel sites for both U.S. and Canadian travellers.


Read More:

How to Visit Stockholm without Breaking the Bank

The Best of Bergen, What to do in Norway's Most Beautiful City

Why a Guided Tour is Right for Scandinavia

12 Terrific Things to Do in Copenhagen in Two Days

17 of the Most Beautiful Cities in Europe

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About Dave And Deb

Dave and Deb are the owners and founders of The Planet D. Since launching in 2008 they have continued to inspire "Adventure in Everyone" and show that you don't have to be an uber athlete or super-rich in order to be an adventurer.

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Comments

  1. visit to world says

    October 14, 2019 at 8:41 am

    Really nice article. Very nice work, you are really good. Thank you for sharing this. Carry on

    Reply
  2. Rivaldo says

    August 15, 2019 at 4:24 pm

    What a beautiful place, I’m in love

    Reply
  3. Different Gates says

    August 12, 2019 at 2:55 am

    Norway is so beautiful place to visit..Pictures are really amazing..thank you for sharing…

    Reply
  4. Sabonete Artesanal says

    February 26, 2019 at 7:04 pm

    Norway its a beautiful place, i hope i can visit some day!

    Reply
  5. Don says

    January 20, 2019 at 12:42 pm

    I really, Really, REally, REAlly, REAL, REALLY need to get on a train trip through Norway. Been watching the train channel on Pluto TV and am ADDICTED. Can you tell I am beside myself? LOL

    Reply
  6. akash says

    December 29, 2018 at 6:36 am

    I am big fan for photography

    Reply
  7. cassio says

    December 15, 2018 at 2:53 pm

    The most beautiful european country,fantastic

    Reply
  8. Culinária says

    July 5, 2018 at 5:44 pm

    Indisputably beautiful! They are travel destinations that not only amuse, but add knowledge as well.

    Reply
  9. Anjana says

    June 6, 2018 at 3:07 am

    Fantastic pictures…
    I have heard that Norway is an alluring place where we can many colorful wooden houses and it’s the best place for fishing…
    thanks for posting this article…

    Reply
  10. Fotógrafo em Sorocaba says

    May 31, 2018 at 1:32 pm

    Great places!! I’d like to go there someday

    Reply
  11. Agradecer Sempre says

    May 25, 2018 at 11:39 pm

    Those places are so wonderfull!!

    I’d like to go to them all 😮

    Reply
  12. super caixa de som says

    May 23, 2018 at 12:47 pm

    These photos are simply fantastic, I bet that riding a train through these mountains should be very tasty and fun.

    Reply
  13. Vincanda Adams says

    April 19, 2018 at 10:23 am

    OH my God, this place is amazing!

    Reply
  14. alex vargas says

    April 5, 2018 at 9:16 pm

    Norway is really a great country to live

    Reply
  15. Cath says

    April 2, 2018 at 4:45 pm

    Be aware not all “Norway in a Nutshell” are guided. We had prebooked our tour which left from Bergen. Arrived at train station expecting a guide only to be told it is self guiding. After some confusion we found the right train to board as there was no indication of which train to board. Found some busses waiting for us to take us to the boat. After some confusion we found the right boat to board. Cruise was great. Arrived to board Flam train. And luckily, after asking a staff member discovered if we did not get on the next flam train we would be stuck there as it was the final one for the day. We were stuffed into the train only to be sitting on the wrong side as we could not see the gorge on our side. To add to it all an employee had sat on the scenic side, taking up a double seat, and promptly had fallen asleep!! Expensive tour, was disappointed and stressed. Had come from Australia to see this area specifically. So be aware of what you book.

    Reply
  16. João Vieira says

    March 25, 2018 at 3:35 pm

    Thanks for sharing.

    Reply
  17. ana santos says

    March 25, 2018 at 3:33 pm

    The most beautiful european country

    Reply
  18. Julia says

    March 14, 2018 at 12:06 pm

    what a fantastic place, consuming dream to visit this place!

    Reply
  19. nesse site says

    February 15, 2018 at 2:51 pm

    Thank you for the beautiful photos.

    Reply
  20. Renata Santos says

    February 13, 2018 at 9:15 am

    this is very beautfful, Hopefully I can take a trip to Norway soon and experience all these!i have no word for that
    i have no word for that…keep it up

    Reply
  21. Veronica Cavanaugh says

    January 23, 2018 at 10:36 am

    I’m planning a trip to Norway this summer! This is all so beautiful.

    Reply
  22. Denise Brownell says

    January 13, 2018 at 9:20 pm

    We drove from Bergen to Trondheim exploring numerous fjords and hiked Mt Saksa. Geiranger fjord was beautiful, and it was shoulder season, so not a lot of tourists around (and hard to find services, luckily we had accommodations all pre-booked).

    Reply
  23. Dennis says

    January 12, 2018 at 6:54 pm

    This website is very nice. Beautiful pictures!

    Reply
  24. como abrir uma loja de móveis planejados says

    December 18, 2017 at 7:58 am

    Looks wonderful! i’d like to go there soon!

    Reply
  25. gabriel says

    December 13, 2017 at 2:23 am

    Nice place, I want to go and live there.

    Reply
  26. marcelo says

    December 12, 2017 at 10:12 am

    What a beautiful place, I hope to meet places like this one day.

    Reply
  27. Como Curar Hemorroidas says

    December 6, 2017 at 4:17 pm

    The world is beautiful. In a life you can not explore everything.
    But let’s do our best to enjoy it while we can.
    beautiful images

    Reply
  28. marcos says

    December 6, 2017 at 12:52 pm

    am big fan for photography and this blog

    Reply
  29. Vania says

    November 24, 2017 at 8:59 pm

    This website is very good. The pictures are beautiful.

    Reply
  30. como fazer tiaras da moda says

    November 24, 2017 at 8:58 pm

    This website is very good. The pictures are beautiful. Congratulations!

    Reply
  31. Empreendedor Digital Iniciante says

    November 6, 2017 at 5:28 pm

    i’d like to go there one day!!

    Reply
  32. Carolyn | Holidays to Europe says

    September 8, 2017 at 3:31 am

    I really enjoyed your post, Dave and Deb, as it brought back fond memories of my short visit to Norway a few years ago. We did the Norway in a Nutshell tour as independent travelers and opted to stay overnight in Flam. I’m really glad we did as it was nice to explore the village after all the day trippers had left! We enjoyed the ride on the Flam Railway, too.

    I can’t wait to go back and see more of Norway, in particular Geiranger Fjord. Your photos have me thinking it should be sooner rather than later 🙂

    Reply
  33. Maria de jesus barbosa says

    August 30, 2017 at 4:42 pm

    Beautiful photos! Norway is truly an amazing place!

    Reply
  34. Luiz says

    July 17, 2017 at 2:13 pm

    Thank you for sharing! What a lovely trip and your pictures are sooooo beautiful! Hopefully I can take a trip to Norway soon and experience all these!

    Reply
  35. Amilton says

    June 28, 2017 at 9:15 am

    Very Good

    Reply
  36. rosa says

    June 24, 2017 at 10:16 am

    me leva junto

    Reply
  37. Metodo Kaching says

    June 20, 2017 at 4:55 pm

    I love your photos, they are beautiful. I planned to visit Norway next year I loved blog ..

    Reply
  38. Fabio says

    June 15, 2017 at 12:05 pm

    Congratulations and enjoy your honeymoon!

    Reply
  39. Taís says

    June 9, 2017 at 2:02 pm

    Beautiful photos! Norway is truly an amazing place!

    Reply
  40. Mark says

    May 13, 2017 at 3:31 pm

    Very good

    Reply
  41. Ricardo says

    May 4, 2017 at 7:27 am

    I was in Norway last year. It’s a fantastic place!

    Reply
  42. Luziane says

    May 3, 2017 at 4:52 pm

    very nice

    Reply
  43. Mariane says

    April 27, 2017 at 4:45 am

    What a beautiful place, I’m in love

    Reply
  44. Jeff Dobbins says

    April 25, 2017 at 8:21 am

    I was debating whether to attempt Norway’s fjords on my upcoming trip to Scandinavia. You just inspired a trip. Thanks for tipping my scales.

    Reply
  45. TCC says

    April 3, 2017 at 2:17 pm

    My dream is to get to know Norway and I’m going to do this trip this year. Thank you for the tips!

    Reply
  46. Filipe Barcellos says

    March 21, 2017 at 9:03 am

    I am crazy to know Norway, even more after seeing these beautiful and lovely photos, I will program and next vacations I go to Norway with my fiancée.

    Reply
  47. Travographer says

    March 15, 2017 at 8:06 am

    Thanks alot, finally i found some travel blog sites with commentluv enable in your blog
    Thanks

    Reply
  48. website design Ranchi says

    March 8, 2017 at 6:13 am

    Great photography! thanks for sharing.

    Reply
  49. Curso Epoxitec says

    March 7, 2017 at 8:13 pm

    beatiful post

    Reply
  50. Chrisbacke says

    February 13, 2017 at 9:42 am

    Wonderful norway pictures and information

    Reply
  51. Cesta de café says

    January 28, 2017 at 7:59 am

    Hi Dave and Deb

    Guys, what a beautiful thing!

    I loved the post, I loved the blog!

    Congratulations!

    I’ll follow the tips!

    Reply
  52. damião says

    January 24, 2017 at 9:31 pm

    Congratulations on the blog beautiful images.

    Reply
  53. bing ads express says

    January 19, 2017 at 12:29 pm

    I’m getting married soon and have already scheduled my Honeymoon in Norway, this place should be really charming. Thank you for the beautiful photos.

    Reply
    • Dave and Deb says

      January 20, 2017 at 11:56 am

      Congratulations and enjoy your honeymoon!

      Reply
  54. Ana says

    January 16, 2017 at 12:33 pm

    Fantastic 😉

    Reply
  55. Carol says

    January 3, 2017 at 12:47 am

    This place is amazing

    Reply
    • Dave and Deb says

      February 1, 2017 at 8:22 pm

      I agree, Norway is beautiful.

      Reply
  56. Gaby says

    January 1, 2017 at 10:01 pm

    omg nice pictures s2

    Reply
  57. Marie says

    December 27, 2016 at 1:11 pm

    I love your photos, so beautiful. I planned visit Norway next year 🙂

    Reply
  58. Edward says

    December 27, 2016 at 1:08 pm

    I think this will be my next destination. I am big fan for photography. Thank you for sharing!

    Reply
  59. francisco says

    December 21, 2016 at 10:53 am

    Wow! Nice pictures what a wonderful place

    Reply
  60. Ricardo says

    December 16, 2016 at 10:51 pm

    I never imagined that Norway would be so incredible, very beautiful the photos

    Reply
    • Dave and Deb says

      December 18, 2016 at 10:56 am

      Thanks! Norway was outstanding and very beautiful with a diverse landscape. Definitely worth visiting.

      Reply
  61. Tiago Bastos says

    December 16, 2016 at 10:49 pm

    I would love to visit any of these places, it must be something unforgettable.

    Reply
  62. Daniela says

    December 8, 2016 at 11:58 pm

    I loved your photos, thank you for making my day more beautiful

    Reply
  63. Karianne says

    November 19, 2016 at 1:12 pm

    Stunning photos! We have very recently returned from our first trip to Norway and took the train between Oslo and Bergen – described as one of the most beautiful train rides in the world. And my goodness, it was!!

    Highly recommend Norway to anyone – one of the most beautiful places I have been to.

    Reply
  64. L. DOBLER says

    November 10, 2016 at 12:47 pm

    I’ve had the opportunity to get to know Norway for about two years. It is a fantastic and lovely place.

    Reply
  65. Barcelo says

    November 10, 2016 at 12:43 pm

    Our photos are really amazing and wonderful, I need to know Norway urgently, what a stunning place.

    Reply
  66. Zirif Uaf says

    November 8, 2016 at 1:25 pm

    What a goldmine tourist idea in the Norway trip.Thanks for the idea and trip guide in the Norway Travellers.Your all picture are mindblowing and asome.Thanks For this.

    Reply
  67. Raoi Mase says

    November 5, 2016 at 12:11 pm

    Hei all the Norway travellers that a great knows every thing to doing and important thing travel to nowray.Really amesing all the picture and nicely decorated by Travel lovers

    Thanks for a nicely introduce in Norway.

    Reply
  68. Faim de Voyages says

    November 2, 2016 at 5:47 pm

    Whoa ! Those photos are Amazing ! Now I want to go to Norway ! Maybe this will be our next destination when we will be back on Europe 🙂

    Reply
  69. Colleen.L says

    November 1, 2016 at 5:49 pm

    Thank you for sharing! What a lovely trip and your pictures are sooooo beautiful! Hopefully I can take a trip to Norway soon and experience all these!

    Reply
  70. Louise Brown says

    October 31, 2016 at 8:51 pm

    Hi Dave and Deb!

    I love your photos, so beautiful, so excited!. I planned visit Scandinavia with my friends from Nov, 25 to Dec, 10. Have any tips for the trip?

    Thank you!

    Reply
  71. PNR Status says

    October 31, 2016 at 4:45 pm

    I am big fan for photography and this blog. You know photo that you capture it always amaze me and the way you share you experience, i have no word for that…keep it up

    Reply

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Hi we’re Dave and Deb, a Canadian adventure couple who left our careers in the film industry 10 years ago to travel the world. We’ve been to 115 countries on all seven continents and were named one of the top travel influencers on earth by Forbes.

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