Norway in a nutshell – Do it yourself

While I was researching information about travelling to Norway, I came across the “Norway in a Nutshell” tour. This tour connects Oslo and Bergen through a combination of scenic train journeys, a bus ride, a waterfall stop, and a fjord cruise. The appealing photos I saw online piqued my interest, and I decided to include in my recent trip to Norway.

Initially, I thought it was a traditional organized tour, but it turned out to be more of a ticket bundling service rather than a guided tour. I realised that I can actually book the components of the trip individually, which is a more cost-effective option.

Let me explain about it a bit. Norway in a nutshell tour has following sections.

• Train from Oslo to Myrdal
• Train from Myrdal to Flam. This is the famous Flam railway route.
• Cruise between Flam and Gudvangen.
• Gudvangen to Voss bus ride.
• Voss to Bergen Train.

I did this trip from Oslo to Bergen. But it is also possible to do it the other way and as a roundtrip from either of the cities.

So, how can I book it individually?

First, go to the website of Norway in a nutshell and select the plan. You will get an idea of the train, bus and cruise schedules.

Booking train tickets

Vy is the company that runs the trains between the Oslo-Bergen section. You can go to their website and book the train on the Oslo-Myrdal-Flam and Voss-Bergen routes. The earlier you book, the cheaper it will be.

The Oslo-Myrdal route also requires you to select the seat. On other trains, it allows for free seating.

Cruise ticket

Norway in a nutshell is linked with “The fjords” cruise. You can go to their website and book it directly.

Bus ticket

There is no option to book bus ticket between Gudvangen and Voss online. You can directly get the ticket from the driver.

My experience

I did this as a day trip from Oslo to Bergen. Since I was travelling in October, an offseason, there was no need to book early. I made the booking two weeks before my travel. The websites worked nicely, and I had no issues in booking.

On the day of the journey, I arrived at Oslo Central Station. I noticed a large group of Chinese tourists, making up about 60% of the train travellers. Most of the travellers seemed to have booked through the agency based on their ticket printouts.

Oslo to Myrdal train journey

The train left 40 minutes late that day due to a signal issue in Oslo Station, a huge delay in Nordic standards. This delay caused a bit of concern as there was only a 10-minute gap between trains in Myrdal. As more than 90% of the passengers on the train were also part of the same tour, so I wasn’t alone in this experience. Later, they announced that the Flam train would wait for us!!

The train ride from Oslo was incredibly scenic, with the beginning of the autumn season showcasing colourful foliage. Regardless of the season and weather, Norway’s beauty always shines in its unique way.

Ticket collectors checked our tickets on the train, doing so at each station. After the town of Gol, the train started to climb in altitude, and the landscape transformed dramatically. It began to snow, and the train passed through snowy fields, a surprising sight in October, but that’s Norway for you! It was a new and unexpected experience.

The train finally arrived in Myrdal 40 minutes behind schedule, with the Flam train waiting on the next platform. We hurried over to the train amidst a snowfall!

Flam railway

The Flam Railway is an incredible feat of engineering. It goes from a high point at 850 meters in Myrdal to a low point at just 2 meters in Flam, covering a distance of 18 km. This journey takes about an hour.

As the train moved along, they made regular announcements to explain the railway and point out landmarks. One notable stop was at Kjosfossen falls, which is 738 feet high. It was right next to the station, and we had 5 minutes to appreciate its beauty. It was an amazing and well-organized experience!

In comparison, the Doodhsagar waterfall At Karnataka-Goa border is similar, but government departments make it a stressful place to visit. Unfortunately, we have very incompetent people in government and its departments.

Waterfalls were all around us, likely due to the recent rains and snowfall. It was truly an incredible journey, I must say.

Fjord cruise

Upon our arrival in Flam, we hurried to catch the cruise. Typically, there’s a 45-minute gap between the Flam Railway and the start of the cruise. However, due to our train’s delay, that buffer time was used up. Otherwise, we could have enjoyed some extra time exploring Flam before boarding the cruise ship.

Norway is known for its many fjords. What exactly is a fjord, you might wonder? Well, a fjord is a deep, narrow, and elongated body of water, surrounded by steep land on three sides. As part of the “Norway in a Nutshell” experience, the cruise ship navigates Aurlandsfjord and Nærøyfjord. It reminded me of New Zealand’s Milford Sound, although we had clear skies there, while in Norway, it was raining during our cruise. Nevertheless, the scenery was absolutely spectacular.

Despite the rain, wind, and cold, I couldn’t resist going out on the deck from time to time to soak in the breathtaking beauty of the place. It felt like a slice of heaven on Earth, I must say.

Bus journey and the train to Bergen

Like all good things, our delightful 2-hour cruise came to an end as we reached Gudvangen village. Stepping off the boat, we spotted three tour buses waiting to whisk away the Chinese tourists. After their departure, the area fell quiet, with only a few people waiting for the scheduled bus, and we still had some time to spare.

As mentioned earlier, I hadn’t booked a ticket for this part of the journey, but it wasn’t a problem at all. I could conveniently purchase a ticket on the bus using my credit card. It’s worth noting that when visiting Norway, having a credit or forex card is a must, as cash isn’t widely accepted, and even restrooms have card payments. It’s a highly digital country.

The bus ride itself was picturesque, with numerous waterfalls along the route. After an hour’s drive, we arrived at Voss station. The train journey from Voss to Bergen was uneventful, as it was already dark. I disembarked in Bergen at 8:40 in the evening, feeling content after a long but truly amazing day!

My view about the trip

Norway in a nutshell is a great option to see Norway if you’re short on time, like I was. But if you have your car and more time, there are plenty of other ways to enjoy Norway.

Information and tips

• It is better to pack some lunch in Oslo. Food is available on the Oslo-Myrdal train, but it is expensive.
• It does not matter which side of the train you sit on. The views are great on both sides
• I did this trip in one day. It is possible to take breaks and take side trips.
• Book this trip in advance as it gets filled up. I went in the off-season and did not feel the rush, but tourists will flock in big numbers in summer.
• This is a very expensive trip in spite of booking it myself. Norway is an expensive country. Period!
• This trip runs throughout the year. Looking at the amount of snow in October, I wonder how they manage things in winter!