Please review my 3 week itinerary

I’m hoping some of you will look at my itinerary for my 3 week trip to Norway beginning next month and let me know if it seems realistic. The things I am unable to change are in caps.

May 20 - Arrive Oslo, spend the night
May 21 - Explore Oslo, spend the night
May 22 - Rental car, drive to Geilo or Ulvik (prefer Ulvik
But not sure if drive too long), spend the night
May 23 - Explore Handangerfjord, night in Ulvik, Eidfjord
Lofthus or Utne
May 24 - Drive to Bergen, NIGHT IN BERGEN
May 25 - Explore Bergen, NIGHT IN BERGEN
May 26 - Drive to Aurland or Flam, Naeroyfjord ferry,
Flamsbana train, night in Aurland (?)
May 27 - Explore Sognefjord, night in Balestrand, Urnes
or Solvorn
May 28 - Explore Sognefjord and/or drive to Stryn or
Lom, night in Solvorn, Stryn or Lom
May 29 - Drive to Geiranger either Lom Dombas
Andalsnes and down Trollstigvelen if open,
or via Stryn and Olden, night in Geiranger or
Hellesylt
May 30 – Explore Geiranger – ferry to or from Hellesylt,
kayak or hike, night in Geiranger or Hellesylt
May 31 – Drive to Alesund along E15 and E39 or through
Norangsdalen on Hjordundfjorden, night in
Alesund
June 1 - Drive to Trondheim (should we try to go along
The Atlantic Road?), night in Trondheim
June 2 – Explore Trondheim, NIGHT TRAIN TO BODO
June 3 – Arrive Bodo, Torghatten Boat to Moskenes,
Rental car, drive to Reine, spend night in Reine
June 4 – Explore Lofotens, night in Reine
June 5 – Explore Lofotens, night in Reine
June 6 – Explore Lofotens, drive to Henningsvaer,
night in Henningsvaer
June 7 – Explore Lofotens, night in Henningsvaer
June 8 – FLY SVOLVAER TO OSLO, night in Oslo
June 9 – FLY OSLO TO SEATTLE

I’m most interested in comments on the practicalities – if you see something that just won’t work due to season, ferries, etc or if you think we’re trying to do too much.

Any comments about any aspect of the itinerary will be read with great interest and gratitude.

Thank you!

Hi Heidisue,

Just looking over your itinerary it looks really ambitious! I couldn't comment on the practicalities of visiting some of the places you mention as I didn't visit them. I would however say that Norway is a huge country and I found getting around it expensive and timely. I visited Tromso, Svolvaer, Trondheim, Bergen and Oslo in 2 weeks and I struggled to see everything spending 3-4 days in each location.

I didn't have a hire car, so this may improve your ability to get around. I was reliant on public transport. I think if you are planning to non-stop travel your itinerary looks fine, but if you want to relax a bit and enjoy Norwegian life I'd suggest sacrificing a couple of places or extending your trip. Just my opinion though : )

Heidi - Thank you for your reply. I was worried that we were trying to see too much and we really do want to experience Norwegian life, as you say. We will cut at least 2 parts out of our itinerary. The things we can't change are: visiting Bergen during our first week, the overnight train from Trondheim to Bodo on day 14, and flying from Svolvaer to Olso on the next to last day. That leaves us with this:

Day 1 and 2 - Oslo
Day 3 and 4 - ?
Day 5 and 6 - Bergen (could push this forward or backward 1 day)
Days 7 - 12 - ?
Day 13 - Trondheim
Day 14 - Overnight train to Bodo
Day 15 - 19 Lofotens
Day 20 - Fly to Olso
Day 21 - Fly home

Days 3 and 4 could be spent either on Hardangerfjord or Nutshell route with stopover
Days 7 - 12 could be spent around Sognefjord +/- Alesund

Any thoughts on this? Geirangerfjord vs Sognefjord? Cut out Hardangerfjord?

Thanks!

Hi Heidisue,

I happily spent 4 days in Bergen as it's a beautiful city with a unique character. The people are lovely and there is so much to do. It's surrounded by 7 mountains so if you like hiking it is perfect. Have you thought about extending your stay in Bergen and booking return fjord tours from there? I went out of season so didn't visit any of the fjords so can't really comment on the them. There are however loads of boat trips that leave from the main quayside in Bergen, but not sure on the price and timings etc.May be worth a look?

I never made it to Alesund, but lots of people I met on my travels told me it was worth a visit.

I think everything else looks pretty doable. Trondheim is lovely, you'll see all the main stuff in a day and I think you're spending the right amount of time in Oslo and the Lofotens.

I'm excited for you!

Edited by: Heidi_Blunden

Hi Again Heidi,
Nice name! Thanks for your comments. I have thought about staying in Bergen longer. I've heard it's a very lovely city. We will be staying with friends there and so are working around their schedule. We don't want to overstay our welcome! It is possible we could stay in a hotel for a couple more days after we stay with them. I will check on that.

Thanks again for your help, your comments make me more excited about our visit.