03/09/2026
🇳🇴 Norway in a Nutshell®: From Blueprint to Reality!
For over three decades, I have been selling the iconic Norway in a Nutshell® travel package to eager adventurers. This year, I finally stepped out from behind the desk to navigate this bucket-list journey first-hand and wow, what an absolute dream experience!
Our adventure kicked off in vibrant Bergen, where we rode the famous Fløibanen Funicular up the mountain, strolled around the peaceful lake, sampled locally brewed b**r in the brilliant sunshine, and indulged in the freshest seafood straight from the historic Fish Market.
From there, the true transit masterpiece began. We boarded the train from Bergen to Voss, hopped a scenic bus over to Gudvangen, and boarded our vessel for a magical, two-hour cruise. Gliding through the dramatic, towering rock walls of the UNESCO-listed Nærøyfjord and Aurlandsfjord, we were surrounded by dozens of cascading waterfalls, including the immense, roaring Kjelfossen.
We decided to base ourselves in Flåm for an extra night, giving us a much-needed full day to truly slow down and immerse ourselves in the breathtaking valley. Taking advantage of the extra time, we booked a rigid inflatable boat (RIB) 3 hour fjord safari as an added extra, which turned out to be an absolute highlight!
The safari took us to up close and personal to all the waterfalls of the fjords but a special highlight was the fairytale village of Underdal, where goats outnumber people 6 to 1.
We spent some time here having a traditional Norwegian cheese tasting, sampling their famous white goat cheese and that rich, sweet Norwegian brown cheese called brunost which is especially delicious with some blueberry jam!
Between the dramatic fjord views, the historic 12th-century stave church, and the local goats roaming around, "Wonder Valley" completely stole our hearts. 🐐🧀🇳🇴 This picture-perfect spot actually served as the visual inspiration for Arendelle in Disney’s Frozen!
The grand finale? Boarding the legendary Flåm Railway (Flåmsbana) from Flåm up to Myrdal, climbing one of the steepest standard-gauge tracks in the world past the roaring Kjosfossen waterfall, before catching our connecting train straight into Oslo.
The Verdict: If this journey isn’t on your travel wishlist yet, it should be. You will not be disappointed! Just a quick insider pro-tip for your wallet: the astounding costs of food, drinks
and everyday items in this part of Norway are no joke, consider this your personal disclaimer - go prepared.