Norway in a Nutshell tour – 5 reasons to book
I’m not big on scheduled tours as I like to take my time and explore on my own, but so many friends recommended the Norway in a Nutshell tour that I booked Cole and I a last minute ticket. And here’s why you should too!
1. It’s the most beautiful train ride in the world
The fjords are the main attraction that bring people to book the Norway in a Nutshell tour, but the Scandinavian scenery will have you glued to your window from the minute you leave the train station. With a 6 am start time, I was planning to sleep on the initial train ride from Bergen to Myrdal but couldn’t because we were saying “wow, look at that!” about every 10 seconds.
Travel tip: Being we left so early, the train wasn’t very full from Bergen to Myrdal. If you can sit on the left side of the train for the first half and then move to the right side for the second half, you will get the best views. But if you are forced to choose, choose right!
Once you get on the Flam Railway from Myrdal to Flam, the views from both sides of the train are equally good, but if you want the best view of Flam as you approach, the left side is for you.
2. Exploring the village of Flam
Flam is the one village where you are able to spend a significant amount of time (2.5 hours to be exact) throughout your day on the Norway in a Nutshell tour. With only 350 people residing there, Flam has had a presence on the Aurlandsfjorden since the 1600s and is such a beautiful village to explore.
Two cruise ships were ported in Flam the day we were there, so instead of spending time around the port, we packed a lunch and ate it the farthest point jutting out into the fjord and spent the rest of our time escaping the crazy tourist groups by hiking up into the old part of town near the church.
3. Waterfalls and more waterfalls
Ever seen so many waterfalls in one day that you can’t keep them straight? Yeah, me either…until Norway! During the ride on the Flam Railway, you stop for 10 minutes to get up close and personal at the Kjosfossen waterfall, but this is just the beginning of a day full of spectacular falls along the fjords.
4. The famous Fjord tour
The Fjord tour – the highlight of the day! The Fjord tour from Flam to Gudvangen was breathtaking. Cole couldn’t get enough of being on the water where the Vikings once roamed, and the villages we passed on the way were some of the most picturesque I’ve ever seen. Get in line early to get a seat at the top of the boat for the 2 hour trip in order to see the fjords in all their glory.
5. There’s no planning needed
I usually have limited time in each city I visit when traveling, so doing the Norway in a Nutshell day tour to and from Bergen was perfect. If you have more time, I would highly recommend spending some extra time hiking, mountain biking, or kayaking in the fjords. There are so many options to explore on the website, and it’s so easy to customize a trip.
Here’s a snapshot of what our day looked like, and it was all booked together at one time! When you’re planning a whole Scandinavian trip on your own, sometimes it’s nice not to worry about a thing for an entire day. Just make sure to get to the ticket office the day before to pick up your packet of tickets!
Related Post: How to spend 3 days in Bergen Norway
Happy travels!
Your pics are amazing! 🙂 What an inspiration for vacationers!