Itinerary

Arrive in Oslo by 4:00 p.m. Stay in a central 2 star Oslo hotel. Meet group for dinner together (cost not covered). Meet with our Norwegian guide and prepare for an early start the next day. The hotel will be very close to the main railroad and bus station in Oslo. We can leave a bag in the hotel with travel clothes, as well as our passports and air tickets, since we’ll return to this same hotel for our last night.

Take train and then bus from Oslo to Ål.  About 1 hr. Walk to our lodge Iungsdalshytta  a DNT staffed lodge [alt. 1111 m.]  Breakfast and dinner provided. Lunch on our own while en route.  

Hike ca. 7 hrs from Iungsdalshytte to Raggsteindalshytte. Steep hike up to Grevskardet (rocky area) with a nice view. Hike across Flyane to the lake Strandavatnet. We hail a boat to take us across the lake to the mountain lodge Raggsteindalen Høyfjellstue. All meals included.   

Hike from Raggsteindalshytte to Geiterygghytta, a DNT hut. Hike is ca. 6 hr. Climb some 600 ft. and reach high plateau area with tarns, grassy paths, buttes, and rivers. Geiterygghytte is on a small alpine tarn [1229 m.]. All meals provided.

Hike to Finsehytte, a DNT lodge situated on a large lake in the Hardangervidda Mt. Plateau and the railroad between Oslo and Bergen. About a 6 hr hike. All meals provided.

Stay the day at Finse, with an optional glacier walk. Day hikes or biking are other choices, or enjoy a rest day. All meals provided. The optional side trip to the Båisen [blue ice] glacial tongue of Hardangerjøkulen is 4 km. away. The cost will be ca. $90, and we’ll need to sign up ahead to reserve spots.  

Bike to Flåm on Aurlandsfjord. Distance is 53 km. This route is called Rallarvegen - literally "Navy Road.” The section between Haugastøl and Myrdal is by far the most popular adventure cycle route in the Norway’s mountains. Topography and road conditions require caution at times, mostly descending on hairpin curved roads, but the biking is classed as easy. Bring own helmet. We’re slated to stay at the very nice Freitheim hotel, known for its dramatic fjord views and smørgasbords. All meals provided. Bike rental and saddlebags included.  

Paddle double sea kayaks into fjord on a planned 3 hour excursion. No kayaking experience needed. Should have some time to look around Flåm and do some shopping. Late in the afternoon we take bus up to Østerbø lodge, a private mountain lodge since 1894. Today this lodge is almost a museum of Norwegian mountain life. All meals provided.

Hike beautiful, rugged Aurlandsdal valley to Vassbygdi [16 km, ca. 7 hr}. Trail is mostly down ca. 750 m. along a wild mountain river, with stunning views, waterfalls & gorges. Includes some steep sections and lose gravel. We may have a high route choice. Catch bus back to Flåm, then the famous train ride up to Myrdal. There we get the Bergen-Oslo train to return to Olso and the hotel we started out with.  Arrive in Oslo fairly late, ca. 10:30. Breakfast and lunch provided; dinner en route on train is not covered.

Trip is over after breakfast, which is provided with hotel room. Try to get flights leaving Oslo very late in the morning or later so you’re not rushed after our late arrival the night before.