My 80-year-old grandfather has requested to visit Norway (and some of our distant relatives) while he is still fairly mobile. We were thinking of flying in and out of Bergen (perhaps missing Oslo completely, but that's another story). Family is likely traveling from the west coast, where fares from SMF are ~$1100. Based on my minimal knowledge of TATL fares in the summer, this seems like a decent price considering it's the same price as it would be to OSL. Can anyone with more knowledge/experience provide some context on August/September prices?
jake.123
Feb 28, 11, 9:26 am
I just booked late July travel at $1085 round trip per person (taxes included) on Iceland air (Boston to Oslo with layover in Iceland). Iceland air was the cheapest we found with some fares as low as ~$950 Other airlines I checked were SAS and Swiss Air but were either expensive or had long layovers, etc. I didn't bother checking anything involving multiple carriers to make it easy on us for connections. Hope this helps.
papabear
Apr 15, 11, 1:33 pm
Have a look at http://matrix.itasoftware.com/search.htm - it's a strong search engine in the likes of kayak.com and other.
Dans6362
Apr 15, 11, 11:10 pm
Try to be there more in August rather than September which is typically a very wet month. That said, how long do you plan to be there?
Bergen makes a great base for touring on the West Coast.
Dave
TDC
May 7, 11, 9:30 pm
We are trying to finalize an itinerary after contacting relatives, looking at ticket prices, talking to a travel agent, etc. I'd love some feedback to provide for my frustratingly indecisive family. In particular, we plan to rent cars for most of the trip (perhaps not my preference - I can sit in a car anywhere)
Day 0: Arrive BGO
Day 1: Bergen, NIAN tour
Day 2: Bergen, drive to Leirvik
Day 3: Drive/ferry to Askvoll/Bulandet (visit relatives, essential stop)
Day 4: Ferry/drive to Floro/Grov area
Day 5: Visit relatives (essential)
Day 6: Drive Floro to Lom, spend time in Jotunheimen National Park
Day 7: Hike, afternoon drive to Roros
Day 8: Visit relatives (essential)
Day 9: Drive to Trondheim. Spend night.
Day 10: Depart TRD
Some members of the family were trying to visit the Lofoten Islands either before or after this itinerary, but have no idea about how much time it might take for such a side trip, or the best way to arrange it.
Is there a better way to arrange this itinerary? Is there an easy way to avoid some car trips, perhaps substituting for a ferry? We're a pretty frugal bunch, preferring eclectic accommodations, funky eateries, scenery, outdoor excursions, and architecture. Your suggestions would be much appreciated!
ksu
May 8, 11, 4:41 am
Day 0: Arrive BGO
Day 1: Bergen, NIAN tour
Day 2: Bergen, drive to Leirvik
Day 3: Drive/ferry to Askvoll/Bulandet (visit relatives, essential stop)
Day 4: Ferry/drive to Floro/Grov area
Day 5: Visit relatives (essential)
Day 6: Drive Floro to Lom, spend time in Jotunheimen National Park
Day 7: Hike, afternoon drive to Roros
Day 8: Visit relatives (essential)
Day 9: Drive to Trondheim. Spend night.
Day 10: Depart TRD
Is there a better way to arrange this itinerary? Is there an easy way to avoid some car trips, perhaps substituting for a ferry? We're a pretty frugal bunch, preferring eclectic accommodations, funky eateries, scenery, outdoor excursions, and architecture. Your suggestions would be much appreciated!
The itinerary is workable and will give you a very nice cross section of southern Norway!
I would certainly substitute boat trips for the first couple of trips. Bergen -Leirvik is served by Flaggruten: http://www.tide.no/uploads/documents/HurtigbaatRuter/Hordaland_2011/2011-5-3_Flaggruten.pdf . Bergen-Leirvik (Stord) can easily be done as a day trip. There is also a bus/ coach.
Likewise: Bergen - Askvoll/ Florø can easily be done on a boat: http://reise2.fjord1.no/Fjord1IISStaticTables/Tables/ruter/t/23-531.htm. The drive north from Bergen is nice enough, and renting a car might be cheaper for you, but travelling by boat is certainly an option. If you need a car while in Sunnfjord, though, you'd probably be better off by taking the boat to Florø and picking up a rental car there (I would not expect to find a car rental agency offering one-way rentals in Askvoll, YMMV)
As for a side trip to Lofoten, I'd do that as an add-on from Trondheim, with a return by plane to Oslo (alternative return for the adventurous: coach from Lofoten (Leknes/Svolvær to Narvik http://www.veolia-transport.no/getfile.php/Internett/Filer/Rutetider/Vestfjord%20Buss/Lofoten/Bussruter-Lofoten2011.pdf) and train from Narvik to Stockholm, either flying home from Stockholm, or connecting by train to Oslo)
Several alternatives Trondheim - Lofoten:
1. Coastal steamer from Trondheim to Lofoten: www.hurtigruten.com
2. By air from Trondheim til Svolvær or Leknes, changing at Bodø
3. By train to Bodø (two daily, night train with sleepers, or day train) and then by boat (ferry, coastal steamer or fast local ship, similar to those mentioned above) to Lofoten.
Obvoiusly: it is also possible to go by plane to Bodø and then by sea on to Lofoten, which could be a good compromise price/ speed as Widerøes regional connections are quite pricey!
ph-ndr
May 11, 11, 5:35 pm
Day 0: Arrive BGO
Day 1: Bergen, NIAN tour
Day 2: Bergen, drive to Leirvik
Day 3: Drive/ferry to Askvoll/Bulandet (visit relatives, essential stop)
Day 4: Ferry/drive to Floro/Grov area
Day 5: Visit relatives (essential)
Day 6: Drive Floro to Lom, spend time in Jotunheimen National Park
Day 7: Hike, afternoon drive to Roros
Day 8: Visit relatives (essential)
Day 9: Drive to Trondheim. Spend night.
Day 10: Depart TRD
Unless the stop at Leirvik is required I don't see spending a whole day there will give you much joy.
I'd either use the day in Bergen or depending on how much driving you like, detour the drive via Voss and Kvandal (and a short ferry to Utne) and continue down Sørfjorden and drive under the Folgefonna glacier and then just follow Hardangerfjorden south. If you need to end up at Leirvik then just follow the Hardangerfjord south and cross over to Leirvik. This route would give a lot more dramatic scenry than the coastal strip, which you'll see a log of on your mandatory stops.
If you don't need to end up at Leirvik I'd follow the same route via Voss and the ferry from Kvandal to Kinsarvik and drive up to Eidfjord, and overnight anywhere in the area. Getting to Askvoll via the route Voss, Aurland, Lærdal, Sogndal and follow the southern edge of Jotunheimen will give you some of the most amazing scerey this part of Norway has.
Here's the valley leading to Gudvangen and Nærøyfjorden: http://login.boxed.no/~alexh/bilder/gudvangen.jpg
(Disclosure: I've grown up along the Hardangerfjord, but I'll admit the areas north of Voss along Sognefjorden and the E16 road are stunning :p)