Norway by Rail & Boat

This exciting journey starts by flying into Oslo International Airport where your driver will be waiting to provide a warm welcome and a private transfer to your hotel in Oslo. With the rest of the day yours, after settling in, you might enjoy wandering through the city center or strolling the waterfront while taking in the scenic views and sampling the many venues at Aker Brygge. You’ll find many art galleries, shops, and restaurants for dining with a sea view, several of which specialize in fresh seafood. One of the perfect ways to energize and refresh is to take a dip in the ocean followed by a soothing soak in one of the floating saunas right along the waterfront.

Your hotel includes breakfast, so you can enjoy it complimentary before taking a private tour of the city. Choose a tour based on culture, art, or the highlights. No matter which you select, you’ll have your own expert local guide for insight. The recommendations for art enthusiasts include the Munch Museum, the New National Museum, Astrup Fearnley Museum, and Vigeland Sculpture Park. Culture lovers can visit the Oslo City Hall, Norwegian Folk Museum, Munch Museum, and sculpture park while a highlights tour features the Opera House, Holmenkollen Ski Jump, Fram Museum, and sculpture park.

One of the world’s most scenic rides is on the itinerary today. You’ll travel to Bergen via the Over the Roof of Norway train, passing stunning fjords, forested valleys, waterfalls, and rushing rivers on the unforgettable seven-hour journey. Upon checkout at your hotel, your driver will provide a private transfer to Oslo Central Station, and upon arrival to Bergen, another driver will be there to greet you for a private transfer to your hotel in Norway’s second-largest city, located along the country’s southwestern coast. After checking in, you can enjoy the rest of the day relaxing. You’ll find many eateries for dining with a view around the famous harbor in Bryggen, a UNESCO World Heritage Site with colorful, historic wooden homes.

Today you’ll get to know Bergen more in depth with a private city tour of the highlights, including UNESCO-listed Bryggen where you can take in the sights while learning more about them from your expert guide. Dating back to the Middle Ages, it’s one of Norway’s most famous historic areas. Visiting Bergen’s popular mountains, Mount Uriken and Mount Floyen, you’ll also take in some of the most awe-inspiring panoramic views of the city and its magnificent surrounds. The afternoon can be enjoyed at your leisure, or you might join an optional private cruise that sails through the beautiful fjords while you soak up the vistas of mountain peaks and waterfalls, perhaps stopping to taste the fresh mountain water.

It’s time to travel by ship on a northbound voyage from Bergen that will bring you to Alesund and Trondheim. Spend the day at leisure, storing your luggage at your hotel before meeting your driver this afternoon for a private transfer to Bergen Quay where you’ll embark on this incredible journey where you’ll overnight in a deluxe cabin on a half-board basis. The ship itself is sure to delight with its decor inspired by the glaciers, mountains, sea, and sky, while dining is focused on traditional dishes from the destinations visited along the route where the chef picks up ingredients from local producers. One of the other highlights is the Jacuzzi where you can even take in the views while soaking for an especially memorable experience.

Alesund is your first stop, renowned for its art nouveau architecture. Upon disembarkation, you’ll see our driver waiting to provide a private transfer from the port to your hotel. After checking in, apart from the picturesque buildings and coastline that make the town look like something from a fairytale, you can take in some of the many photo opportunities. If you have the energy, climb the 418 steps to the Aksla viewpoint for a postcard-perfect view of the town center, archipelago, and mountains. Or, enjoy a leisurely walk around the harbor, snapping shots of the ships that come and go. When the sun goes down it often fills the sky with a spectacular orange glow, beautifully captured here.

Today you’ll enjoy a private city tour of Alesund that’s tailored entirely to your interests and desires. Some of the highlights to consider include the 150-year-old Molja Lighthouse at the edge of the harbor and the colorful art nouveau district with its beautiful houses featuring turrets and spires built shortly after the 1904 fire that nearly destroyed the entire city center. The Alesund Church, built in 1909 after the original 1854 building was leveled in the fire, is worth a look too. Built from Norwegian marble and concrete with stained-glass windows, it displays some lovely frescoes. A visit to the top of Mount Aksla can be included too for a view overlooking the town center, the Sunnmore Alps, and nearby islands.

It’s time to board the ship once again to continue your voyage north. Your driver will provide a private transfer from your hotel to the Alesund quay for embarkation. You’ll enjoy another night in a deluxe cabin on a half-board basis while cruising toward Trondheim. Traveling the 186 miles between the towns is one of the most scenic journeys one can take in Norway. While you’ll probably want to take advantage of the numerous photo opportunities if you haven’t already (and even if you have), be sure to enjoy the views while relaxing in the Jacuzzi, practically guaranteed to be a highlight of your time in Norway.

When the ship reaches Trondheim, you’ll be in your final destination, a grand ending to this amazing trip with a history dating to 997 as the second-oldest in Norway behind only Tonsberg, established a century earlier. Upon arrival, you’ll see your driver waiting at the quay to provide a private transfer to your hotel. After checking in, you might wander through this “city of saints and kings” to visit the world’s northernmost Gothic cathedral. Construction began in the late 11th century, right over the grave of the Viking king who brought Christianity to Norway, St. Olav. Or, explore the many independent shops and eateries with an emphasis on locally sourced food that can be enjoyed with a local brew.

Today you’ll discover Trondheim by boat for a different perspective of the city and its surroundings with an exclusive private adventure on the fjord. Accompanied by a local guide who will reveal the town’s tales, old and new, the captain will cruise along the Nidelva River, traveling through historical surroundings while revealing the stunning nature in the Trondheimsfjord. You’ll have the guide and boat, a traditional wooden vessel built in the UNESCO-recognized clinker style, all to yourself, which means this thrilling experience can be customized if you have particular interests in mind. Some of the typical highlights include the old harbor, channel area, Nidaros cathedral, the old city bridge, and colorful wharves in Bryggerekka.

For the final leg of your journey, you’ll take a private transfer from your hotel in Trondheim to the Trondheim Central Station. Catch the train to Oslo for the approximately seven-hour ride that rolls through small towns, mountains, the Gubrandsdalen Valley, and national parks along the way. When crossing the Dovrefjell mountain plateau, keep an eye out for wild musk ox that can occasionally be spotted right from your seat. In the vast Saltfjellet Mountains, you can see the botanical divide between the northern and southern parts. Once you’ve reached the station in Oslo, your driver will be there to welcome you back, providing a private transfer to your hotel in the city and another opportunity to sample the dining scene.

After discovering Norway by rail and boat, your adventure comes to an end by checking out of your Oslo hotel and taking a private transfer to Oslo International Airport. Of course, the fun doesn’t have to end if you aren’t ready to return home just yet. You can always reach out to our travel experts who will be happy to create a bespoke addition to your itinerary, allowing you to explore more of Norway or perhaps one of the other beautiful Scandinavian countries. For those returning home, we hope you’ve made memories of a lifetime on this thrilling journey through some of the world’s most incredible scenery.