6 Days in Norway- 8 Unique Itinerary Ideas

Itinerary #2: Hardangerfjord Road Trip

This active self-guided road trip in western Norway encompasses a slew of outdoor adventures for ambitious types who want to experience as much summer fun as they can fit in under a week.

With this outdoorsy itinerary, you’ll pick-up a rental car in Bergen and make the pretty drive to the Hardangerfjord, the 3rd largest fjord in the world at 111 miles (179 km) long. Your first overnight is Odda, a practical base for adventurists who are hiking and taking advantage of the area's glaciers, waterfalls, and fjords. Check out great bars, urban coffee shops, and unique restaurants in and around town.

Then meet your private guide for a full-day hike to Trolltunga. Together you'll climb various sections of the steep mountain to reach the famous "troll's tongue"—a smooth rock formation jutting out over Lake Ringedalsvatnet. The views from here are spectacular and are among the most photographed in all of Norway. After completing the hike, look for the sun dipping to the west behind the glacier as your guide pitches tents and prepares a campfire dinner.

From here, you'll continue the road trip along the Hardanger National Scenic Route, passing through postcard mountains, orchards, and charming villages. You’ll also have a free day to explore more hikes like the Queen's Trail —a favorite of Norway's Queen Sonja with magnificent fjord views.

If that’s not enough outdoor adventure, you’ll also take part in a guided rafting trip, suitable for both beginners and experienced paddlers! Depending on the water level, you will raft either the Stranda or Raundal rivers, both of which offer world-class white water rapids, while staying in the charming fjord-side village of Voss. Learn more

Itinerary #3: Northern Lights in Norway & Finnish Lapland

This unique winter trip allows you to spend your days frolicking in the snow and your nights hunting the aurora borealis from towns and fjords above the Arctic Circle in both Norway and Finland.  

Itinerary #4: Experience Western Norway

This gorgeous road trip checks off two UNESCO World Heritage Sites, peaceful villages, and dramatic vistas in Western Norway with overnight stays in some of Norway's best family-run hotels.

This incredibly scenic itinerary kicks off with two days in seaside Bergen where you can explore its many historic and natural treasures. Be sure to take the Fløibanen funicular (or hike the trail on foot) to the top of Mount Fløyen—one of Bergen's seven peaks—for the best views of the city. You can even hike Mt. Sandviken (2.5 hours) to visit Stoltzekliven—a local favorite consisting of 900 steps built by sherpas from Nepal. This trail is home to the steepest race in the world and features spectacular views from the top.

Then it's time to hit the road for a five-hour drive north towards the Nordfjord (Norway's second-largest fjord), situated between the largest mainland glacier in Europe and Norway's wildest coast. Expect to see mountains and valleys, rolling farmland, and glimpses of the Norwegian Sea along the route. When you arrive in the village of Sandane, you'll take an afternoon hike to Haugsvarden with a private guide who will point out area highlights and share stories about the land.

In the coming days, you’ll have free time to hike more trails and visit Fjærland's village center, called Mundal, with its Norwegian Booktown. Continue to Solvorn and stay a night in the oldest family-run hotel—they serve a four-course meal every night—before visiting a wooden church built in the 12th century. Finish the trip with a beautiful drive back to Bergen where you can stop often and take photos of the Sognefjord. Learn more

Itinerary #5: Lofoten Islands & Tromsø Winter Excursion

Jaw-dropping mountains, snow-covered islands, and the Northern Lights are highlights of this 6-day adventure above the Arctic Circle.

This trip starts with a night in Bodø where you can take a wintry walk along the beautiful Mjelle Beach or join a guided Arctic Coastal Walk to learn about the elements geology of the area. Your guide will tell you about the local history. Then ferry to the stunning Lofoten Islands and drive at your own pace through some of Norway's oldest and most colorful fishing towns. You can even stay in the original fishermen cabins (the oldest one is from the 1890s), which have been modernized with indoor facilities and Wi-Fi, providing a cozy place to stay.

Two fishing villages worth exploring are Reine and Hamnøy. Reine is particularly breathtaking from the highway with red and white fishermen’s huts from the late 1800s—called rorbuer—dotting the shoreline and surrounding peaks of granite shooting out of the Reinefjorden. It is a quiet village, but many of the best hiking trails on the Lofoten Islands are within a short distance. You can also arrange kayaking, biking, and skiing trips in the winter. Stop at the co-op market and stock up on edible supplies if you're headed on an outdoor adventure. 

Then, exchange your rental car for an overnight coastal steamer where you'll travel to Tromsø for some urban culture and dog sledding at Trapper’s Farm. During this day-trip, you’ll learn about the farm's traps and nets where you might partake in catching dinner, either game or fish, later to be served on the bonfire. Sit back and relax as your guide shares stories about the area as well as adventurous expeditions in the wild before returning to the ‘Paris of the North’. Learn more

Itinerary #6: Multi-Day Trek in the Norwegian Highlands

This active itinerary includes four days of hiking along well-marked trails in an area situated between two national parks, along with some urban exploration in Oslo and Bergen. (Note: Hiking season starts at the end of June and lasts until the snow arrives—usually October.) 

This outdoor adventure begins with a night in Olso where you can warm up your legs with a nice easy walk along the Havnepromenaden (harbor promenade)—a new five-and-a-half-mile waterfront park boasting modern architecture. In the evening you can explore the city's historic core buzzing with restaurants and cafés that offer outdoor seating during summer months.

Then it's time to hit the trail! You'll board a train to the highlands where you’ll set off on four days of trekking between Geilo and Finse while staying in staffed cabins that serve dinner and breakfast (you’ll also be able to pack your lunch). These clean and well-managed cabins, including one that has been family-owned for three generations, are a great way to meet fellow trekkers from around the world.

On the last day of the hike, you'll accomplish a 14-mile (23.3 km) route that passes by Finse Lake and the famous bike trail known as Rallarvegen. Look for the mighty Hallingskarvet mountain range on your right hand, while Northern Europe's largest mountain plateau will be on your left. Spend your last night in Bergen where you can explore the colorful UNESCO-listed Bryggen district and other historic streets, which are compact and walkable. Reward yourself by sampling the city's lively restaurant and bar scene. Learn more

Itinerary #7: Luxury Arctic Experience in Alta 

This seasonal jaunt lets you partake in a range of unique snow activities while staying in cozy igloo hotels and luxury lavvu tents for a Nordic adventure you won't soon forget.

Travelers who want to get off the tourist map will love this trip. You'll be based in and around Alta, the largest town in Norway’s northernmost county, which lies in the inner reaches of the Altafjord. You’ll spend your first and last nights of the trip in town where you can sample the dining options including a chic, cozy space called Du Verden Matbar that serves Nothern Norway's traditional dried fish.

A private guide will then pick you up and take you to a lodge outside of Alta, where the first priority is a fun dog sled ride through the snowy landscape. Once you return, you will have time to relax with a hot shower before having dinner in the dining room of the lodge's beautiful, renovated barn. When it’s time for bed, head to your tent or ‘lavvu’, private bungalows insulated against the winter’s cold, with a wood-burning stove and floor-to-top window for views. On clear nights, you can watch the stars, and—if you're lucky—the Northern Lights!

Over the next few days, you’ll choose between skiing, snowmobiling, snowshoeing, reindeer sledding, and even ice skating. You’ll also stay a night in the world's northernmost ice hotel, Sorrisniva Igloo Hotel, which uses sustainable materials like natural snow and ice to create a new theme each season with the help of a local team of builders. While staying here, you can experience Norway's peaceful nature and relax in a warm atmosphere. Have cocktails in the igloo lounge and then dine in the restaurant that serves local cuisine. Learn more

Itinerary #8: Oslo to Bergen Summer Adventure

This scenic itinerary heads through mountains, fjords, and waterfalls with a variety of travel modes between Oslo and Bergen, letting you sit back and enjoy the views.

After a day to explore Oslo, you'll take a train and a bus to Eidfjord, a small village along the Hardangerfjord with dramatic mountains and waterfall sightings. Once you arrive, it's easy to see why it is considered to be one of the most beautiful fjord-side towns in Norway. In fact, this is an ideal starting point for trips around the Hardangervidda, so there are plenty of activities to start thinking about.

Then, catch a two-hour fjordcruise headed west for the town of Utne where you can walk to your home for the next two nights—a hotel that has been in continuous operation in the same building since 1722 when Peder Larsson Børsem was granted his innkeeper’s license. From here, you're free to explore the area's hiking trails and museums, like an open-air one that features embroidery, traditional costumes, and fiddles with a café for lunch.   

Make sure to join a local cider tasting in Utne before continuing west. You'll ride one of the world's steepest and scenic trains to Flåm in order to catch another scenic fjordcruise—this time to Bergen where you'll arrive with just enough time to enjoy dinner and drinks on the city's cobbled streets. Learn more