Norway has long been on our bucket list! A destination known for its dramatic fjords, legendary Vikings, and endless sweeping mountain views. The country is renowned for its breathtaking scenery and its fjords, so much so that the UNESCO World Heritage List even calls one of its most beautiful fjords, the Nærøyfjord, “among the most scenically outstanding anywhere.”
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There are about 1,700 Norwegian fjords all over the country. It would take years to see them all, but on our recent visit to Norway, we decided to at least get a glimpse of a few.
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At the top of our bucket list was the King of the Fjords – Sognefjord.
About Sognefjord
Named after its impressive features, it is Norway’s longest and deepest fjord. It is also the second-longest fjord in the world and one of the widest fjords out there.
Sognefjord is located on the west coast of Norway. It starts just north of Bergen and extends more than 200km, reaching the national parks of Jotunheimen and Josteldasbreen.
The best way to explore the famous fjords of Sognefjord is from the small town of Flåm, which is one of the traditional fjord villages in the area. Unfortunately, we quickly discovered that this area is EXTREMELY popular with independent travellers and cruises and accommodation options in town were all booked out. I guess it’s the type of trip you need to book well in advance.
But we didn’t give up! We quickly pivoted and decided that if we couldn’t book accommodation in town, we would need to bring accommodation with us!
Enter roadsurfer.
About roadsurfer
roadsurfer is a German-founded RV rental company in Europe and North America that offers a wide range of well-equipped and stylish campervans for road trips and outdoor adventures. They provide a flexible booking system, including one-way rentals (currently only available in North America), and cater to both seasoned travellers and first-time campers.
As we discovered during our roadsurfer experience, their rentals come with unlimited miles, a free second driver option, 24/7 roadside assistance, camping equipment, and many other perks and add-ons.
Roadsurfer offers more than 10 different types of vehicles for rent in 70 locations across Europe & North America. Most are Class B or Class C RVs, averaging about $100/night.
Their Norway rental location in Oslo is one of the newer depots, perfectly located just a 15-minute drive from the airport, so you can get off the plane and into an RV in just a few hours.
For our road trip to Fjord Norway, we chose the roadsurfer Road House. The campervan was set up with a kitchenette, living/dining room, two sleeping areas, plus a bathroom with a warm water shower and a toilet. The RV came complete with a fridge, sink, 3 gas cookers, plus camping pots, a pan, espresso cooker, coffee cups, glasses, plates, small bowls and silverware, cooking utensils, and more!
roadsurfer Rental Tips
We had a pretty smooth experience renting with roadsurfer, but we wanted to share a few tips that could help others:
- Check if your campervan is manual or automatic. This can be a deal breaker for someone who is only comfortable with a manual gearbox. You can view which vehicles have a manual or automatic transmission on their handy comparison guide
- Know that your pick-up and drop-off times are firmly set (as they are with any car rental), so it’s important to notify the office if you are running late or arriving early.
- Some basic necessities are not included in the rental package, such as bedding, etc. So be sure to include them in your booking as an add-on. It is important to note that the company does not offer towels as part of their extras so keep that in mind! Each rental does come with 2 camping chair and an outdoor table, as well as a kitchen box with your cooking utensils and dining essentials.
- Norway is a very campervan-friendly country. There are plenty of wild camping spots available (read more about the “Right to Roam” here) and lots of reasonably priced privately run campgrounds. Use a website like Camping.info to search for campsites in the area.
- While it’s not mandatory, we highly recommend having travel insurance for your trip (particularly one that covers car rentals) to give you peace of mind during your travels.
Now, without further ado, let’s get into the specifics of our 4-day Norway Fjord adventure!
Our 4-Day Fjord Norway Itinerary from Oslo
Day 0: Oslo to Aurland
We left Oslo in the afternoon and drove a few hours en route to Aurland. It was a long drive, and since we left quite late, we had to make a stop en route overnight. We did a quick search in the area, and we found a great little campground called Fagernes Camping Park just off the highway. We booked online while driving, and despite arriving at the campground after 9pm, we were welcomed in with a smile.
Day 1: Aurland
The following morning, after another 2-hour drive, we arrived in Aurland, a picturesque village nestled along the Aurlandsfjord, a branch of the famous Sognefjord.
We checked into Lunde Camping, our second campsite, located right along the riverbank just outside of the village.
After hours of driving, we were ready to stretch our legs and enjoy the scenery of the area. So we set off on a 10km hike to Stegastein Viewpoint, a spectacular viewing platform located 650 meters above Aurlandsfjord. While the viewpoint is accessible by car, we opted to hike to the top. The ascent was steep, with around 500m of elevation change, but the scenery did not disappoint. The trail passed through the woods, past waterfalls, with beautiful viewpoints of Aurland town and the fjord itself. The hike took about 3-4 hours total, ending in Aurland village.
After strolling through town, we ended up having dinner at Vangsgaarden GastroPub. Our fish and chips were delicious, but at $30 per dish, it came with a bit of a sticker shock.
Day 2: Exploring Flam
On our second day, we drove a mere 30 mins and arrived in Flåm, a town that’s home to just 300-400 year-round residents. The town was busy thanks to a cruise ship in port with some 3,000-5,000 visitors. We later learned that during the summer, Flam sees daily cruises that flood the town with many more visitors than it can handle.
Despite fully booked hotel rooms in town, Flåm Campground had lots of availability, so we snagged a perfect campground spot in the heart of town for just $50/night.
That afternoon, we hopped on a sightseeing ferry for a Fjord Cruise to Nærøyfjord. To get the most out of the fjord landscape, we got the cruise and bus shuttle combo ticket. The 2-hour cruise offered an amazing view of the King of the Fjords and was the perfect introduction to this beautiful area. The photos really don’t do it justice!
The Fjord cruise finished in the town of Gudvangen, known for its rich Viking history. The Viking Village in town offers a great interactive experience with lots of activities to take part it and be transported back in time.
When it was time to head back, we took the shuttle bus to Flåm. We kept the Viking vibes going with dinner at Ægir Microbrewery, one of the best craft breweries in Norway. Dinner was incredible, but we highly recommend getting reservations. Our wait time was about an hour.
Day 3: Flam
The Flåm-Mydal Train Ride was another big drawcard for us to come to Flam, and it did not disappoint! It’s ranked as one of the most scenic train journeys in the world. So, for day 3, we left our roadsurfer campervan parked at the campsite and set off on an adventure.
We booked a one-way ticket from Flåm to Myrdal and enjoyed an hour-long ride on the Flåm Railway. The views were stunning the whole time, but there was one particularly breathtaking surprise. The train stopped en route at the Kjosfossen Falls and all passengers were advised to get out to enjoy the views. The waterfall is inaccessible by road or hiking, so getting on the train is the only way to access its viewing platform. The waterfall was impressive, but what was even more impressive was the incredible singer who performed for us at the top of the falls. Her voice reverberated through the mist and created a truly surreal and magical setting.
Once we arrived at the Myrdal station, we had the option to return to town on the train or take the adventure route down. The adventure route consists of Flam Zipline, Scandinavia’s longest zipline, combined with a 20-km bike ride. We couldn’t say no!
This part of the trip was another highlight. The bike ride was almost all downhill and offered a great way to experience the natural landscape, too.
To end the day, we relaxed at the Flåm Floating Sauna. The concept is very cool: it’s a small, floating sauna you can book for 2-hour intervals. You can choose to book a shared slot with 8 other people (which is what we did) or book the whole sauna for private use for a higher premium. Having a fjord view right in front of you really takes relaxation to the next level!
And for the cold cycle, we jumped straight to the fjord waters! The water temperature was around 10°C (50°F) so it was just right for a cold plunge.
It was the perfect adventure-filled day in Flam!
Day 4: Flam to Lærdalsøyri to Oslo
On our way back, we took the scenic drive from Flåm to Lærdalsøyri. If you’re doing the same, we recommend skipping the tunnel and going through the mountain pass via Aurlandsfjellet for a dramatic view of the bare mountain peaks and, eventually, the beautiful fjord.
After that, it was a long but equally beautiful drive back to Oslo.
Our trip to the Norwegian coast was short but sweet, and every scenic second was worth it. We found the region to be ideal for exploring in a campervan and were so happy to have made a choice to adventure in this area with roadsurfer. The campervan was perfectly set up with all the essentials needed for this trip. We slept well, had plenty of adventure, and had a fantastic trip that we would recommend to others.
It’s a beautiful area, one we hope to one day return to – we hear there’s much more to see all the way down to Southern Norway!
Disclaimer: Our roadsurfer campervan was provided courtesy of roadsurfer . But our adventure in the Fjords was planned and paid for on our own. As always, all opinions expressed in this article are our own, no matter who is footing the bill.
