Norway – the summer National Park

“The fjordscapes of Western Norway are so utterly unique and so profoundly beautiful that many people rate them as the most impressive landscapes on the planet”. – Lonely Planet

The National Parks are the cherished jewels for nature lovers worldwide. Nothing like a trip to the Rockies, Smokies or any of the several National Parks to have a communion with nature and take a break from the routine. No such need to plan an escape to nature for the Norwegians with pretty much the entire country transforming into a National Park, especially come summer. Abundantly decorated with mountains, streams and home to some of the famous majestic fjords and Europe’s biggest glaciers, Norway has been richly pampered by Mother nature.

The best way to travel in Norway is by train or to just rent a car and drive through the picteresque country. Driving gives you the flexibility to halt where you please and pose for some clicks in nature’s canvas or just get mesmerized by nature’s art or set out for hikes. Roads are in great shape and easy to drive on but you have to observe the speed limits religiously what with several sharp turns and bends as the roads wind through mountain passes and valleys. Furthermore, most of the roads are single lane and in many places, the lanes narrow as the road carves through rocks and cliffs. Hence, you have to exercise abundant caution while driving and resist the urge to Ooh-Aah the many majestic views you will pass. You will drive through several tunnels burrowing the hills and make your way through several roundabouts. Throughout our drive of close to 1000 km, we encountered a solitary traffic light (note that we did not drive through Oslo downtown). Norway is sparsely populated, so the roads have little traffic even in populated areas.
Another option is to do the Norway in a Nutshell tour which includes a combination of trains, bus and ferry. Or you could combine driving with the “Norway in a Nutshell” tour since the tour can be undertaken from Oslo, Flam, Voss or Bergen. Some folks also do the “Norway in a Nutshell” tour on their own by following the same itin but booking the rental car and ferry on their own.

We went in  June and the weather was quite cool in the plains and a good break from the tropical summer heat of Florida. It was cloudy for the most part with the sun playing hide and seek. There was quite a bit of snow and chilly weather at the higher altitudes. Advisable to always carry a good winter jacket, though you dont need a snow jacket unless you plan to trek high up in the mountains. We were informed May and August are the best months in Norway with mostly to enjoy sunny and warm weather.

Food was pretty easy to find but will leave the wallets quite a bit lighter as with most Nordic countries. The variety is a bit limited as you head out of Oslo, and vegetarians and vegans will definitely not put on any extra pounds! However, it is sufficient to keep you satiated and fuel your energy cells.

The country looked to be very safe for traveling and exploring. Pickpocketing seemed not so much of a problem compared to other European cities. However, as with any travel, follow some basic precautions and stay vigilant of your personal belongings and surroundings.

Goes without saying that the Fjords are the crown jewels of Norways natural landscapes. The city of Oslo itself sits on a fjord and can be experienced at a 30 minute drive from Oslo. However, they are considered to be pale in comparison to the Western Norway fjords.

• Flam –
  If you are short on time, Flam is the closest location to Oslo from where you can enjoy the western Fjords. You can do the Nærøyfjord Fjord cruise, which is about a 2 hour boat cruise, from Flam. The Nærøyfjord Fjord is a UNESCO World Heritage site. It is a branch of the main Sognefjord fjord (Norway’s longest fjord) and offers stunning vistas of narrow fjords nestled among towering mountains. The cruise ends in the small village of Gudvangen.
  From Gudvangen, you can take the bus back to Flam or take the bus to Voss if you are taking the tour.
  From Flam, you can also take a speedboat cruise all the way to Bergen. This is a 6 hour journey and passes through the majestic Sognefjord.
• Stegastein Viewpoint –
  About a short 30 minute ride from Flam in the village of Aurland is the Stegastein viewpoint, where you can get dramatic and panoramic views of the Aurlandsfjord, another branch of the main Sognefjord Flord. There is a viewing deck that juts out 30 metres out of the mountain top and provides iconic views of the fjord.
• Gudvangen –
  From Gudvangen, you can take the Sognefjord Fjord cruise to Kaupanger. The Sognefjord is the largest and deepest fjord in Norway and is nicknamed the King of the fjords. The Sognefjord cruise is also a car ferry, so you can take the car in the ferry to Kaupanger and continue your driving from there. It is a 2-4 hour cruise and you can see three fjords in this cruise (Nærøyfjord , Aurlandsfjord, Sognefjord )
• Balestrand/Hella –
  Balestrand or Hella are about 2 hours drive Northwest from Flam and from here one can take the Fjaerlandsfjord cruise which takes you over the Fjaerlandsfjord Fjord to the town of Fjaerland. In Fjaerland, multiple glaciers (Bøyabreen, Jostedalen) meet the Fjord. The Jostadalen is Europe’s biggest glacier. There are half day or full day tours available and include bus rides to the glaciers from Fjaerland.
• Bergen –
• Borgund Stave Church –
  In Laerdal municipality, a small detour if you are enroute to Balestrand/Hella from Flam OR if you are heading to Flam/Bergen from Oslo (you have to take the route that goes via Laerdal), is a 13th century Stave Church with very unique architecture. The Church is no longer regularly used and is run as a museum. It is good small detour if you are driving along the route that goes via Laerdal