Norway is the land of breathtaking fjords. The most spectacular are located in the west of the country – and they are easily accessible from Oslo, the vibrant Norwegian capital. The Fabulous Fjordland itinerary unveils a tapestry of majestic fjords, snow-capped mountains, lush green valleys and picturesque shoreline villages. It’s a memorable journey through never-ending scenic wonders.

Total drive approx: 1,526 kms

Oslo -- gateway to the fjords

Day 1. Depart: Oslo    O/night: Geilo    Approx: 300 kms

The first leg of the journey takes you from Oslo, the oldest of the Scandinavian capitals, to Geilo. You begin by travelling west along Oslofjord, a soft  introduction to what lies ahead on this drive. As Norwegian fjords go, it is not the most spectacular, but the scores of islets enhance the seascape. Further north you come to Tyrifjord.

Sitting below the towering Norefjell mountain range, Tyrifjord is Norway’s fifth largest lake. It’s a popular place for boaters, bathers, bird-watchers and mountain hikers.

A tip for golfers: Tyrifjord Golf Club on the island Storoen is reckoned to be one of the most beautiful courses in Scandinavia, and the most-visited golf course in Norway during the last years.

At Honefoss you continue along Krøderfjord to Gol. Honefoss, which is divided by the River Begna and named after a waterfall in the middle of the town, is home to the Norske Skog Follum paper mill, one of the largest producers of newsprint in Europe.

Take time to explore the Langedrag Nature Park in Gol. It has a farm area where you’ll find animals you probably haven’t encountered before: sturdy fjordponies, long-horned Mouflon sheep and Norway’s very own Telemark cattle. Beyond the farm you have the opportunity to get up close, but not too close, to wolves, lynx, reindeer and the Arctic fox. The fox has fur that changes colour with the seasons: in the winter it is white to blend in with snow, while in the summer months it changes to brown.

You’ll find traditional glass blowers at HallingGlass in Gol — have a go at blowing your own glass ornament. And at the old tannery of Skinnfellmakern, they use an age-old method of turning skins of a special breed of Norwegian sheep into high quality leather – their suede coats are a big selling item.

Travelling on to Torpo you’ll want to explore the village’s medieval stave church. Norway’s old wooden architecture is a rich cultural treasure, and while there were once more than a thousand ancient stave churches dotted around the country, today there are less than thirty. The one in Torpo is possibly the best example, dating back to the end of the 12th century.

Ancient stave church in Torpo

Torpo was once a stop on the high altitude Bergen Railway. The old Art Nouveau station is closed but it’s still there – beloved by photographers and rail enthusiasts alike.

From Torpo continue to the mountain village of Geilo, Norway’s most developed ski destination. Geilo is located halfway between Oslo and Bergen on the Hardangervidda Mountain Plateau, Norway’s biggest national park and Northern Europe’s largest mountain plateau.

In fact, Geilo has two national parks on its doorstep, Hardangervidda and Hallingskarvet -- and the village itself also has a national park status.

Take the Geilolia Lift to the top of Geilo -- a fantastic starting point for a little hiking in the months outside of winter.

For foodies: The rustic style Hallingstuene restaurant is located in the centre of Geilo and is run by Frode Aga, a Norwegian celebrity chef. The restaurant specialises in game dishes such as grouse, elk and red deer.Hallingstuene is also known for its well-stocked wine cellar. The Norwegian Mountain Food Centre is also situated in Geilo. Here you can taste and buy delicious mountain food from all over Norway

Accommodation options. Ro Hotel, Bardola Hotel and Dr Holms Hotel (one of the most famous spa resort hotels in Norway).

Day 2. Depart: Geilo   O/night: Bergen    Approx: 245 kms

Today you head for Bergen and travel across the Hardangervidda Mountain Plateau, with its snow capped mountain peaks. A short detour to visit the Voringsfossen waterfall is a ‘must’. It is Norway's most famous waterfall, and has a fall of 182 metres; of which 145 metres is a roaring, sheer drop. View the falls from the upper lookout or (for the more adventurous) follow a path down to the foot of the waterfall.

Your next point of interest is Hardangervidda Nature Centre at Eidfjord where one of the attractions is the panoramic movie shown on five huge screens – experience the feeling of being in a helicopter -- one moment whirring through deep valleys, then rising high above snow-topped mountains, deep valleys, rushing waterfalls and crystal-like glaciers.

From Eidfjord you drive on to Brimsnes to catch the ferry across to Bruravik. The ferry takes ten minutes to cross the fjord, and during the summer months there are departures every twenty minutes, the first ferry leaving at 06.00 and the last at 01.00.

The ferry from Brimsnes

Before leaving Oslo, you should visit Oslo Tourist Information Office and ask for up-to-date timetables. There are three tourist information offices in Oslo: one by the Central Station (open 365 days a year), one by City Hall (also open all year) and one at the cruise ship terminal (open only when cruise ships call). You can also call them on +47 81530555.

The drive continues along the scenic Hardangerfjord, which, at 179 kilometres, is the third largest fjord in the world and the second largest in Norway. The area is known for its fruit orchards. Morello cherries, apples, pears and plums have been grown in Hardanger since monks introduced fruit farming to the area several hundred years ago. Almost half the fruit produced in Norway now comes from this region.

If you have the time (and its worth making time in the summer), Hardanger Fruit Trail takes you on a ramble that has several farms along the way where you can drop by and taste the fruit, cider and other treats.

Hardanger in the cherry season

Reaching Nordheimsund be sure visit Steindalsfossen, another of Norway's most visited waterfalls – the big attraction being that you can actually walk behind the falls without getting wet. With the water roaring down above your head you get a real sense of the forces of nature. You might want to have some waterproof clothing – just in case.

Continue from Nordheimsund to Bergen.

Accommodation options.  Scandic Neptun Hotel, Grand Hotel Terminus, Thon Hotel Rosenkrantz.

Day 3. O/night: Bergen

Bergen -- an old Hanseatic port

Take time out today to discover Bergen, Norway’s second largest city --  and the only city in the world to be surrounded by seven mountains and seven fjords: the scenery is breathtaking.

Bergen is full of history and tradition. Its first buildings were erected along the old Hanseatic wharf known as Bryggen, one of the best known medieval city settlements in Norway. Bergen was the northernmost of the Hanseatic ports back in the 13th century.

There are guided walking tours of Bryggen, and tickets are available at the local museum. Wander through nine hundred years of Bergens' history. The tour will take you through the ancient wooden buildings and alleyways, which are World Heritage-listed to the Hanseatic Museum (Hanseatisk). Along the way you'll get a feel of what it was like to live in the town during the middle ages.  There are a few steep staircases at the Hanseatic Museum -- that's centuries-old architecture for you. Guides  give tours in several different languages, and will also answer your questions about the days when wealthy merchants ruled much of northern Europe.

Guide books will point you in the direction of the Fisketorget, or fish market. Once a marketplace where hardy fishermen sold a wide variety of fresh fish, it has (alas) turned into a general marketplace, with lots of souvenir stalls. The days when foodies could indulge in oysters or freshly boiled shrimps have all but disappeared at the Fisketorget -- you are more likely to find a kebab.

If you’re looking for one of the best views over the city you should include a trip on popular Funicular cable car. It takes you from the city centre to the top of Mount Floyen. From here you can enjoy the magnificent views over the Bergen’s surroundings islands.

Day 4. Depart: Bergen  O/night: Orsta or Alesund   Approx: 350 kms

Departing Bergen, travel on to Orsta, a drive of around 350 kilometres. (You may want to continue on from Orsta to Alesund, which would add another 120 kilometres to the day’s driving).

The route from Bergen leads you north to the ferry terminal at Oppedal, a village sitting on the southern shore of Sognefjord, the world’s longest and deepest fjord (it stretches for just over 200 kilometres) Along the way you will cross the Nordhordland Bridge, the longest floating bridge in the world.

It’s a twenty-minutes ferry ride from Oppedal to Lavik on the northern shoreline of Sognefjord, from where you journey on to Fjorde and Nordfjord. The high mountains and mighty glaciers make skiing in the area possible almost all the year round. At Nordfjord you can enjoy summer skiing and the same day walk barefoot along warm, white sandy beaches.

You might want to stop and take a photo of The Salmon in Fjorde; it’s 65-metres long and is the largest individual stone sculpture in Norway. And if fishing is your thing, you will enjoy the next stop along the route, Naustdal, where you can hire a small boat and try your hand at salmon fishing. Keen anglers come from all over the world to fish for salmon on the nearby River Nausta.

You then pass through the picturesque villages of Storebru and Sandane, continuing to Anda where you take a ten-minute ferry ride to Lote and travel on along the E 39 to Volda and Orsta.

The village of Orsta is located at the end of the Orstafjorden, surrounded by the Sunnmorsalpene, an alpine range very popular with skiers during the winter: the mountains rise to a height of up to 1,600 metres and are absolutely breathtaking.

As an alternative to Orsta, you may choose to continue to Alesund, where there is a wider choice of accommodation.

This day’s drive is possibly the hardest part of the Fabulous Fjordland route, and your time of arrival in Alesund depends on the ferry connections along the way. You should be able to arrive in Alesund in the early evening if you have not stopped to visit every attraction along the route from Bergen.

Alesund -- Norway's Art Deco city

Where you choose to spend the night depends a lot on your interests. If it is mainly nature, you will want to enjoy a day exploring the region around Orsta. If your preference is for historic towns and fascinating architecture, you might choose to carry on to Alesund.

Accommodation options: The Vikingfjord Hotel and Ivar Aasen Hotel in Orsta; or the Clarion Collection Bryggen, Rica Hotel Scandinavie, Scandic Alesund and Radisson Blu Hotel, Alesun

Day 5. O/night: Orsta or Alesund

If you chose to stay the previous night in Orsta or Volda, you may want to enjoy one of the popular local summer activities -- horse riding, bathing, diving, fishing or boat-tours are just a few ideas. One of the great features of Orsta is that you can hike from the main street straight into open countryside.

Brudavoll is a complete farm complex dating from the early 19th century, situated five kilometres up the valley from the Orsta town centre. The buildings are set in a beautiful landscape with a large walled garden and colourfully flowered meadows.

Alesund was destroyed by fire at the beginning of the last century and rebuilt in the Art Nouveau style. The lively town centre offers a choice of pleasant restaurants and cafés, and you will want to explore the picturesque Brosundet canal with its fishing boats.

Also worth discovering is the Atlantic Sea Park, one of the largest aquariums in Northern Europe, and the Sunnmore Museum, with its impressive collection of boats.

If you are feeling energetic,  it’s only 418 steps to the top of Mount Aksla for an unforgettable panoramic view of Alesund and beyond to the mountains, islands and fjords.

Day 6. Depart: Ortsa/Alesund   O/night: Dombas   Approx:  225 kms

From Orsta you will continue to Geirangerfjord, the Troll Road and Dombas. You will want to set off early if you have spent the night in Alesund, to retrace your journey to Orsta.

You head for Saebo and the ferry to Lekneset, where you continue to Hellesylt for a one-hour ferry cruise to Geirangerfjord. The ferry, which departs every 90 minutes, can be very busy in the summer months, so you will want to plan this part of the journey with some precision.

The Geirangerfjord is also on the World Heritage list, a spectacular sight with its tremendous waterfalls and steep hills. In Geiranger visit the Norwegian Fjord Centre, where you can experience the way people lived along the fjord in years gone by.

Another short ferry crossing leads you to Linge, where you put your driving skills to the test on the Trollstigen mountain road. One of Norway’s best known driving attractions, the road has a steep incline and eleven dramatic hairpin bends: the highest point is at Stigrora, 858 metres above sea level.

The twists and turns of the Troll road

Lofty mountains encircle the Trollstigen mountain road and they have such names as Kongen (the King), Dronningen (the Queen) and Bispen (the Bishop).

Reaching the bottom of the road you will see the well-known Troll Wall -- the highest vertical mountain wall in Europe.

From here you continue along the Romsdal Valley to Dombas. The village lies at an important junction: south leads to the Oslo; west via Lesja leads to the sea at Andalsnes and north takes you to Norway’s former capital, Trondheim.

Accommodation options.  Norlandia Dovredfjell Hotel,  Trolltun Gjestegard Hotel, Rica Dombas Hotel.

Day 7. Depart: Dombas   O/night: Lillehammer   Approx: 210 kms

You leave Dombas in a southerly direction and head through the Gudbrandsdalen Valley to Lillehammer, which was the host city of the 1994 Winter Olympics.

Foodies will be on the lookout for the local cheese along the way. The reddish-brown Gudbrandsdalsost is named after the valley where it was first produced for export. It uses whey, milk and cream from cows, with added goat milk.

Arriving in Lillehammer the Maihaugen Open Air Museum is worth a visit. It tells the fascinating story of people in the Gudbrandsdalen Valley over the last three centuries. And if you have an interest in sport, the Norwegian Olympic Museum showcases the history of the summer and winter Olympics from 1896 and onwards. It's the only museum of its kind in northern Europe. While in Lillehammer you can also visit the city's former Olympic venues and try your skills at various activities.  Wheelbob at the Lillehammer Olympic bobsleigh and luge track is a popular way of pumping the adrenaline in the summer. Or how about a climb up the stairs of Lysgardsbakken ski jumping arena? There are only 954 steps to the top.

Pumping the adrenaline in Lillehammer

Accommodation options. First Hotel Breiseth is one of the oldest hotels in Lillehammer. It was once the favourite of artists. And as they rarely had cash to pay their bills, the hotel accepted a number of paintings instead, and they still decorate its walls.

You might choose to stay outside Lillehammer at the Fefor Hoifjellshotel, which is located on the shore of lake Feforvannet, beneath the glittering peaks of Jotunheimen. The hotel dates back to 1891, and the original log building has been lovingly restored.

Day 8. Depart: Lillehammer   Arrive: Oslo  Approx: 200 kms

On your drive back to Oslo, stop off in Hamar to visit the Vikingskipet, the 1994 Olympics ice skating rink, built in the shape of an overturned Viking ship. Hamar is located on the shores of lake Mjosa, Norway's largest lake.

So when is the best time to visit Norway? The summer season is rather short – from the beginning of June until the end of August. Travel out of season and you’ll find that tourist offices, museums and many attractions are opening later and closing earlier: ferries also run on reduced schedules. Late May coincides with the brief Norwegian spring; while Autumn (or fall) in September can be attractive and is often bathed in soft sunshine. Winter? Leave it to the ski crowd.