As you know, DRoamings is all about roaming the Earth’s natural playground. In Norway, your right to roam Earth is actually a law. The right to roam comes from ancient times and states that it is everyone’s God-given right to experience nature. This means that you can hike nearly anywhere you want, which is amazing since Norway is drop-dead gorgeous. It is the land of lakes, fjords, and green mountains. Summertime in Norway is extra special: due to its proximity to the Arctic Circle, there can be over 20 hours of sun during the day! That’s why we planned our road trip to Norway for June. Unfortunately, we had some bad Scandic-lucken and got rain most of our week which prevented us from our original plan of camping… but we still had an amazing week exploring the southwestern fjords. Check out our Road Trip Norway video below and read our guide in case you ever want to do a similar trip!
DAY 1: STAVANGER to ODDA
Driving time: 3-4 hours
Stavanger is on the southwestern edge of Norway. A quaint town with an international airport, this is where we flew into and out of. We spent the night at an Airbnb hosted by a nice Norwegian family and headed out in the morning. The nice thing about the Norway Summer is that you can sleep in and still have plenty of sunlight for the day. We had sun for almost 20 hours per day on our trip!
Take Route 13 AKA Ryfylke Scenic Route and enjoy the easy drive through several tunnels, past green pastures, and around beautiful lakes. Drop a pin for cities Arden and Sand along the way to stay on the scenic route.
Take the ferry crossing and follow the 13 all the way up to Odda which is in between Folgefonna National Park and Hardangervidda National Park. This is a good jump-off point to do the famous Trolltunga hike.
Odda is an adorable little town right on the water full of flowers and picturesque homes. If we weren’t camping, this would be a great spot to spend the night. There are a few hotels, campgrounds, and AirBnbs in Odda, as well as the surrounding towns, to stay in.
DAY 2: ODDA TO VOSS & TROLLTUNGA HIKE
Driving Time: ~2 hours
The Trolltunga hike is one of the most famous hikes in Norway. You will cross over rocky landscapes, to the top of fjords, ending with the famous “troll’s tongue” jutting cliff that you have probably seen in photos. You can do this hike as a day hike (takes between 8-12 hours) or even camp at several sites along the hike.
We recommend reserving a spot in the P3 parking lot for the day/nights of your hike. This will save you three hours of total hiking roundtrip as that portion is mostly just switchbacking up the mountain with the same view the entire time. If you are not able to reserve a spot in P3, there is a shuttle bus that can take you from the P1 or P2 parking lots up to P3. You do not need to reserve this shuttle in advance.
Trolltunga can get crowded in the summer and you may have to wait in line to take the famous cliff photo. Camping overnight gives you the opportunity to explore the area at times with fewer crowds. Check out the trail map below with camping areas marked in green.
Unfortunately, we were unlucky and got horrible weather which forced us to turn around at the halfway mark. Will have to come back to conquer this troll another time. Add it to the bucket list.
After the hike, we had a short drive to Voss AKA Vossevangen where we stayed at another amazing Airbnb. You can have this guesthouse all to yourself with fjord views and comfy accommodations. Nice shower, a pretty neighborhood, waterfront property, and friendly hosts. Highly recommend.
DAY 3: VOSS TO LOEN & LAKE LOVATNET
Driving Time: 4-5 hours
The drive from Voss to Loen becomes exceptionally beautiful as you pass through several gorgeous coastal towns and epic fjord views. Don’t miss the stunning Tvindefossen waterfall on your way north up the 13 towards Jostedalsbreen National Park. The scenery gets more and more beautiful as you approach closer to the park.
One of our favorite parts of this Norway Roadtrip was spending time at the scenic Lake Lovatnet near Loen. This glacial lake shines bright green and is surrounded by 360-degree panoramic views. Jump in for a cold but refreshing swim or hop onto a paddleboard or boat to float across its majesty.
Tragically, Lake Lovatnet’s prior population has been nearly wiped out twice due to falling boulders resulting in 200 ft tsunamis. You will see memorials in the area to honor past residents. You can also drive or hike up to Kjenndalen Glacier which feeds the lake. Try some Lovatnet trout at the restaurant Kjenndalstova on the far side of the lake, which also has a nice deck to access the water.
There are multiple accommodations around the lake for camping, including campsites, cabins, and fancier stays. We stayed at Loenvatn Holiday Center– you can’t miss these picturesque red wooden cabins on your way in. Basic cabins with platforms to jump into the water from. Friendly hosts and they do boat rentals too. Make reservations ahead at http://www.loenvatn.com/.
If you have extra time, stop by the Meditation Path Viewpoint or hike nearby Mount Skåla. You can also take the nearby Loen Skylift to get views of the Jostedal glacier.
DAY 4: LOEN TO ÅLESUND
Driving Time: 3-4 hours
The drive from Loen to Ålesund is probably the most beautiful drive of the entire trip. Take the 15 to 63 towards Geiranger. You will take some winding roads up the fjords onto snowy mountain tops and back down to crystal clear lakes.
Make sure to stop by the following viewpoints on your journey: Breiddalen Valley, Dalsnibba 1500 Moh, Flydalsjuvet, and Ørnesvingen. This area is also home to multiple famous waterfalls including Gjerdefossen, Gomsdalfossen, Seven Sisters, and the Bridal Veil. The road is a little windy and a little crazy, so take it slow and soak it all in.
To stay on the scenic route after leaving Loen, add the cities Geiranger and Linge as stops on the way to Ålesund. The slow drive and multiple ferry crossings mean this drive may end up taking longer than expected. Good thing for long summer days!
Reaching Ålesund in the evening is very easy on the eyes. An adorable waterfront town consisting of seven islands off the fjord, it is so picturesque with Amsterdam feels. Part of the traditional port shipping district of Sunnmøre, Ålesund is known for its Art Nouveau architecture. Walk along the waterfront, eat some seafood, and enjoy this colorful coastal town.
We chose to stay at the hotel Scandic Parken because it was super central, right in the heart of town. Nice rooms although the views were eh. Basic gym with a bench, barbell, dumbbells, and treadmills. The sauna was closed at the time of our visit. Their included breakfast spread was grand and delicious.
DAY 5: ÅLESUND TO FLÅM
Driving Time: 6-7 hours
Take E39 southeast for an epically beautiful drive that will meander past Jostedalsbreen National Park. Two ferry crossings and an approximately 6-hour drive will get you to Flåm.
Flåm is known to have one of the most beautiful train rides in the world: The Flamsbana. Book a 1 hour trip to Myrdal and back at https://vy.no/en. Try to grab a seat on the right side for impressive views of the valleys and towns on the way to the Høgabru waterfall.
This entire region looks straight out of a Disney movie. To spend more time in the area (highly recommend) you can overnight at Vatnahalsen Hotel or this absolutely stunning Airbnb we found which sits on top of Høgabru waterfall.
The French hosts Lucie and Paul have truly made this special place into an extraordinarily serene and eco-friendly experience. The cabin home is luxurious with stunning views and there is even an option for a home-cooked, organic breakfast by Lucie. Truly one of the highlights of our trip, this Airbnb is only accessible by foot, bicycle, or the Flamsbana train. Make sure to tell the conductor to let you off at the Reinuga stop or else they might just continue onto Myrdal since it’s such a tiny town!
You can also hike or rent bikes to Reinuga from Flåm, approximately 20km.
DAY 6: FLÅM TO BERGEN
Driving Time: 2-3 hours
Before leaving the next morning, get your adrenaline up by riding Scandinavia’s longest zipline as a shortcut to the Blomheller train station, where you can continue back to Flåm. Overpriced for sure, but beautiful nonetheless. There is a famous bicycle route through the Flåm valley, and the zipline can even transport your bike down!
At the bottom of the zipline is a cute little farm shop where you can buy pancakes, coffee, and fresh goat cheese made on site. If you have time, the bike route through the Flåm valley seems incredible. This area is also known for its lakes and skiing.
The drive from Flåm to Bergen is a shorter one. You will mostly stay on the E16 all the way west.
In Bergen, we booked a night at Moxy Bergen by Marriott. Cool, hip, and definitely marketed to attract a young adult crowd, this hotel had a great location on the water and a very energetic bar. The rooms were modern and chic. Breakfast was expansive with many options. Would definitely stay here again.
While in Bergen, catch a romantic dinner at the tiny but incredibly delicious restaurant Moon. One of the few restaurants that stay open past 9 pm, we stumbled upon this plant-covered place and were absolutely blown away by the flavors. French chefs in the kitchen with a tiny menu means every dish is perfection. My favorite halibut to date. The portions are small, but the tastes are exquisite and the ambiance is perfect for a moody date night. 5 stars.
DAY 7: BERGEN TO STAVANGER
Driving Time: 4-5 hours
Unfortunately, all good things must come to an end. Luckily your return to Stavanger on the E39 is just as beautiful and easy as the rest of Norway. Blessed with breathtaking natural beauty, endless waterfalls, easy living, and so much outdoor adventure, Norway is a country we will return to very soon.
MAP
Here is a link to our Road Trip Norway Google Map with recommendations along the entire west coast. Let us know if you followed any of our journeys, or used it as inspiration to create your own!
