Bergen, Flam, Stegastein: A Review of the Complete Tour

Norway, with its mind blowing fjords and staggering landscapes, just a bit, is a total feast for the senses. You know, like your next door neighbor bragging about their vacation, only times ten. I mean it’s almost unfairly gorgeous! One of the top, most hyped routes to soak up this dramatic scenery involves a combination of the Bergen Railway, the super hyped Flam Railway, a fjord cruise, and a visit to the super impressive Stegastein Viewpoint. Sound awesome, does it? It should, just slightly. But what is the actual experience of taking the whole trip all at once? And what should you actually keep in mind if you’re planning this experience yourself? Let’s have a closer look, almost like you are right here with me, experiencing Norway without having to get on the flight, yet, or deal with any sort of jet lag.

Setting off From Bergen: What To Know

Okay, your adventure very likely begins in Bergen, just, Norway’s second-biggest city. Bergen itself is super charming, that. I mean, seriously picture perfect. Now, like, try and spend at least a day, by the way, exploring its colorful wharf (Bryggen), checking out the fish market, and riding the Floibanen funicular up for a killer view of the city, that is, or maybe just kick back in one of the town squares and sip a cup of coffee and maybe watch the day just simply melt away around you. Then, when you’re actually ready to roll, you head to the train station for the beginning part of your epic, multi leg fjord escapade. So, just remember to get yourself organized and all set up beforehand with any of those important tickets for your train to Myrdal. It is totally essential that you do all of this ahead of time, or even potentially find yourself stuck somewhere along the track later!

Riding the Rails: The Bergen to Myrdal Train Line

So, the Bergen Railway, as it heads towards Myrdal, is very gorgeous in parts, yet in a practical sense it may be quite similar to your trip on a metro bus, depending on your personal expectations. As a matter of fact, prepare yourself for a ride of a few hours. And if you were, perhaps, envisioning yourself with your nose practically glued to the window, absorbing majestic views nonstop… well you should know, in reality the stretches that pass by endless trees are, more or less, quite long. Like anything really worthwhile though, those brief moments of true magic are something to behold and totally make all the dull parts feel like an acceptable price to pay. Now, it really gives you an unbelievable look at just how wonderfully untamed some parts of Norway still actually are. You get to watch as the train slowly winds up higher and higher. Pay extra close attention for the moment you find yourself crossing the Hardangervidda plateau – like, as far as the eye can see you get wild, open moorland! You’re more or less going to pass glaciers and mountains if you really pay attention. Now you’re in proper ‘Lord of the Rings’ landscape. Even when it is perhaps only viewable through the gaps in trees.

The Flam Railway: An Iconic Descent

From Myrdal, you will swap onto the world famous Flam Railway. And let’s get this out of the way, you are almost certain to have heard of this particular stretch of track and railway. Many folks will report, very highly, the truly mind blowing, dramatic change when you change trains in Myrdal and go onto the tiny Flam Railway. And you should know, in practice, that, the change is every bit as super amazing as folks tend to say it is. So, prepare yourself for roughly a 20-kilometer trip down the valley toward the village of Flam, passing waterfalls, crazy steep mountainsides, and idyllic scenery that just looks too unbelievably pretty to be actually real. By the way, the train ride is slow, almost to the point of calling it agonizing, but very deliberate, specifically for letting all the visitors thoroughly soak up every ounce of incredible surroundings. I mean you are totally able to get the perfect snapshot. Now pay special attention for the Kjosfossen waterfall – it’s totally a highlight where the train even pauses briefly, just for folks to drink it all in.

Fjord Cruise: Sailing Through Aurlandsfjord and Nærøyfjord

Flam itself is located by the stunning Aurlandsfjord, just about there. Now, as far as your trip goes you’re likely to hop straight onto a fjord cruise, depending, for you to travel through both the Aurlandsfjord and the really stunning Nærøyfjord. Now that specific part, the Nærøyfjord, is actually a UNESCO World Heritage site, too, and once you are actually sailing it should quickly become apparent as to the exact reasons why. By the way, it’s super enclosed, with sheer rock faces climbing steeply, way, way up out of the deep water. So expect that you get a feeling of pure peace and isolation away from reality. Watch out for waterfalls. As a matter of fact there may also be small farms precariously perched on the edge of the cliffs, and if you’re super lucky perhaps some seals chilling on the rocks.

Stegastein Viewpoint: A Different Perspective

As a matter of fact there’s no shortage of cruises, depending on which tour plan that you opt for. You know like some boat trips will, sometimes, whisk you straight back to Bergen again. Now, some tour options will actually take you onward from Flam via a bus tour incorporating a trip to the famous Stegastein Viewpoint. By the way, if the Stegastein Viewpoint ends up included on the day’s itinerary I really want to emphasize that it is more than worthwhile to ensure that you’re part of it! This really interesting construction, more or less, extends outwards from the cliff face giving insane panoramic views out right over the Aurlandsfjord. On a more clear day, the vista is, in some respects, actually unreal! So it just simply has to be seen to be believed! What this actually means is an opportunity to get super amazing vacation photographs that’ll induce crazy jealousy from every one of your friends and family, if you were to actually post the photos for all of them to admire back home.

Things to Remember if You are Planning

Here are a few pointers worth taking note of:

• Book Ahead: By the way, Norway, like the tours, might tend to get booked way up in advance, specifically when it’s during peak tourist season. This especially counts when thinking of the Flam Railway and fjord cruises. Book your tickets and your spots well in advance. Seriously, that way, and only that way, are you definitely going to prevent disappointments!
• Timings: Keep an eye on the time, yet, specifically in the middle of changes between trains, boats, or any kind of buses. I mean it’s almost vital. You want to avoid a massive headache by not missing a connection! It can seriously throw your tour day all off kilter!
• What to Pack: Like seriously bring layers, but you want to plan and check what the weather report looks like before you depart, so it could be like planning for everything from radiant sunshine to some super unexpected showers all in one go! Packing for almost everything is something I suggest. And of course it’s basically essential that you do not forget the camera!
• Food and Drink: When you are thinking of packing food and beverages or just purchasing some as you are going. Norway, like most things, does have incredibly high food costs. Pack wisely. Like perhaps snacks and a water bottle. That way, you might find yourself grateful to not be having to buy this once you have arrived, so you may find yourself, by accident, not having to re mortgage your house just to afford a simple bottle of sparkling water!

There you have it, my friend. What a totally wonderful and beautiful tour. If you enjoy majestic scenery you are going to appreciate Norway. Now what are you waiting for?

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