27 June to 6 July, 2026Location: Norway
This holiday features two of the finest railway journeys in Europe, with the Flåm and Rauma railways offering jaw-dropping scenery as they descend steeply from the mountains to deep fjords.
We also visit maritime Bergen, home to a fine funicular railway, and, on the edge of the Arctic, Trondheim, where we enjoy a ride on the world’s most northerly tram line. Railway history is not forgotten as we call at the Norwegian railway museum in Hamar, with the chance to ride on their short narrow-gauge railway. We have city tours in the major towns, and a full day of sightseeing in the capital, Oslo, where Viking longships and gold can be seen at the Viking ship museum. Norway really is a ‘must visit’ place for anyone interested in railways, great scenery and fascinating culture. Fjords, mountains, green valleys, but also an ancient history dating back to the Viking era will accompany us on our discovery of Norway.
All trains in Norway are second class, however some have ‘Komfort’ which we will always use where possible or available.
Click to download or print the PDF itinerary.
Tour Manager is Andrea. Feel free to contact Andrea at andrea@ptg.co.uk if you have any questions regarding the itinerary and trains.
Availability
Tour Highlights
Day 1 Saturday 27 June
Today we make our way to Bergen. Flights operate from a number of UK airports, some direct and some indirect. There is a connecting bus between the airport and bus station which is only a short walk from the railway station, where our hotel is situated. Upon arrival we check in to our hotel and have some free time for a wander around Bergen. The city is famed for being on seven hills, like Rome, and the tallest of these is Mount Fløyen, the top of which can be reached by the Fløibanen funicular railway, reached by a gentle stroll around the colourful wooden buildings in the old harbour. At the summit is a restaurant and vantage point which gives a commanding view of the entire city and the islands beyond.
Day 2 Sunday 28 June (B,D)
Day dedicated to experience an authentic steam locomotive on the Old Voss Steam Railway. The steam loco is a ten-wheeler built in 1913 as the first-generation mountain locomotives for the Bergen Railway. Along with the locomotive you will find teak carriages from the 1920s and 1930s. This only runs on Sundays. We will reach the small town of Garnes where the steam train departs using public transport.
The train runs the 18-kilometer-long stretch between Garnes station and Midttun station. Along the way you can experience a beautiful landscape when the train passes through the fjord areas, close to the sea and water on one side and steep mountainside on the other. Overnight in Bergen. Welcome dinner.
Day 3 Monday 29 June (B)
We catch the train from Bergen to Myrdal, which is probably the most scenic section of the Bergen Railway. The line starts by entering the long Arna Tunnel, and then it skirts along the shore of a long and deep-sea fjord where the mountains plummet almost vertically into the water, giving a very dramatic vista.
The line passes salmon farms and grain silos, and as the line climbs it is perched on a ledge cut out from solid rock, passing white water rapids which cascade beside the train. The vegetation changes from pines, to spruces, to dwarf conifers as the line climbs ever higher. The two-hour train ride ends all too quickly as we reach Myrdal, which is the junction for the world-famous line to Flåm. This line descends nearly 4,000ft in just 16 miles but unlike other steep railways this is not a rack railway or a funicular, but a conventional adhesion worked railway which at 1in 18 (55%) is one of the world’s steepest.
The railway snakes its way through a few spiral tunnels to reach a large waterfall where trains stop to let passengers take photos, and from here you can look back and see the railway stacked on several different levels as it twists and turns down the mountainside. The train is operated by two El 18 electric locos in top and tail mode, and despite them having 7,240 horsepower each, the line is too steep for ascending trains to stop at many of the stations on the way back up for fear of burning out the traction motors. But rest assured the descent is safe as each train has six different braking systems that can act independently and each one is capable of stopping the train. At Flåm there is a small railway museum, plinthed electric locomotive, and numerous restaurants that overlook the blue-green mineral-rich waters of the Aurland Fjord.
We will travel back to Bergen on a boat along the longest Norwegian fjord: the Sognefjord, 203 km long Overnight in Bergen.
Day 4 Tuesday 30 June (B)
Today we move from Bergen to Hamar, a picturesque town on Lake Miosa just a few kilometres from Oslo and the starting point of an atmospheric railway through eastern Norway.
We will cross the Hardanger plateu reaching the highest point at Finse staion 1222 meters over sea level. Overnight in Hamar.
Day 5 Wednesday 1 July (B)
First today we visit the Norwegian railway museum, situated by the side of a lake just north of the town. This is a fascinating place and has its own narrow-gauge railway, which we will be able to ride on before boarding the Roros railway. The 431 kilometres-long journeys will take us to Trondheim. The railway runs along the glittering Glomma River, the largest wilderness area in Scandinavia, the great forests from Rena toward Koppang and the historic town of Roros. Overnight stay in Trondheim.
Day 6 Thursday 2 July (B)
Free day to relax in Trondheim or to explore the tramway – the most northerly one in the World. Overnight stay in Trondheim.
Day 7 Friday 3 July (B,D)
Today we will travel along a section of the Dovre railways to Dombas and then board the scenic Rauma railway named as one of the most beautiful railway line in Europe. 114 kilometres. Leaving Trondheim, we alight at Dombås which is situated on top of a mountain plateau surrounded by high mountains and connect with the local train to Åndalsnes. Initially the train runs on a ledge high on the valley side, but then descends steeply to a tunnel which turns through 180o and continues down to the valley floor to run alongside the Rauma River, which it crosses on the famous single span masonry arch Kylling bridge. Summer trains have a tourist commentary in three languages and travel slowly over the bridge, and also at Trollveggen, Europe’s highest perpendicular mountain wall – a favourite of base jumpers. The scenery is majestic, with summer snowmelt creating waterfalls which fall hundreds of metres down the sheer valley sides.
We arrive in the pretty coastal town of Åndalsnes in the afternoon. On the platform is the unique ‘Train Chapel’ in a carriage donated by the Norwegian State Railway and consecrated in 2003 in the presence of the country’s King and Queen. We stay overnight in Åndalsnes.
Day 8 Saturday 4 July (B)
Along the Dovre railway we will reach the capital of Norway Oslo where we will stay two nights. We have the time to discover the vibrant city of Oslo with a walk through the centre. Overnight in Oslo.
Day 9 Sunday 5 July (B,D)
Day is at leisure for a tram ride perhaps to Frogner park with the famous Vigeland statues, or a mini cruise in the Oslo Fjord.
For art lovers, one of the many museums that have enriched the Norwegian capital in recent years could be a target. (Munch Museum, National Museum, Nobel Museum, Historical Museum). Dinner in Oslo and overnight.
Day 9 Monday 6 July (B)
Flights back to the UK from Oslo or you can return by rail with overnight stops in Copenhagen and Hamburg. Extra nights in Oslo can also be arranged.
Holiday Prices (per person)
- 10-day holiday from London Gatwick: £2,295
- 10-day holiday from London Heathrow: £2,250
- 10-day holiday from Birmingham: £2,195
- 10-day holiday from Manchester: £2,195
- 10-day holiday from Edinburgh: £2,195
- 10-day holiday with own flights: £1,875
- 12-day holiday outward by air and return by rail: POA
Options
- Main hotels single use room supplement: £735
- 3-star hotels instead, single supplement: POA
Deposit
- £700 with flight option or £400 for all other options
Price Includes
- All travels as outlined in the itinerary
- Good quality en-suite hotel accommodation
- Meals as outlined in the itinerary: (B) Breakfast, (D) Dinner
- Services of our Tour Manager
Online Booking
Please note that you cannot book a flight inclusive trip on our website but if you select the flight option you prefer then we will contact you with the flight details and convert your booking into a flight inclusive package.
Our online booking system will just ask for the per person deposit. We will contact you to pay the balance of your deposit.
Click here to see our Booking Conditions
Click here to see our Privacy Policy
We recommend you also check the FCO website for the latest travel advice https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice
Flights
DY1315 08:50 Gatwick to Bergen (arr 11:45)
DY1312 14:25 Oslo to Gatwick (arr 14:25)
KM1006/1169 11:45 Heathrow via AMS to Bergen (arr 16:55)
BA763 17:10 Oslo to Heathrow (arr 18:25)
KM1042/1169 09:15 Birmingham via AMS to Bergen (arr 16:55)
KM1042/1169 11:50 Oslo via AMS to Birmingham (arr 16:50)
KM1032/1169 11:10 Manchester via AMS to Bergen (arr 16:55)
SK4607 07:50 Oslo to Manchester (arr 08:55)
Return Overland by Rail
Sunday 5 July
10:14 Oslo to Gothenburg (arr 13:45)
15:40 Gothenburg to Copenhagen (arr 19:27)
Overnight in Gothenburg
Monday 6 July
12:04 Copenhagen to Hamburg (arr 17:15)
Overnight in Hamburg
Tuesday 7 July
08:45 Hamburg to Cologne (arr 12:49)
13:43 Cologne to Brussels Midi (arr 15:35)
16:51 Brussels to London St Pancras (arr 18:05)