![]() ![]() ![]() Many Norwegians grin and nod their heads like you're talking about some distant cousin that everyone cherishes but no one sees. When we've traveled elsewhere in Norway and have spoken with Norwegians, we usually get around to talking about the Lofotens because we loved them so. There are puffins in the Lofotens (and their northern extension the Vestervalens), but we never saw any when we were there. I think your best bet for puffins is as Helen says, on Runde off Ålesund. I'd guess in August it would be more like twenty-one hours maybe. We do well on 24 hours of sunlight (seems like grow-light therapy, but I know that may drive some folks a bit daffy). What makes the Lofotens special (at least for us) is that they're kind of like Norway in miniature: beautiful mountains, fjords, and fishing villages.I think I said all that stuff in my last post. You'll need a car there if you stay in a rorbu. Ginny: If you want to get a sense of the Lofotens, you might look at the website If you drive north as far as Bodø, you can take a ferry ride (about three and a half hours) to the Lofotens. Hotels: maybe take a look at one of the Summer discount hotel passes, like fjordpass.no with many hotels in the fjord area or skanplus.no giving you a discount and the 6th night free. probably rent a car in Bergen or Voss for a loop of the fjords, going to Flåm, Fjærland, Loen, Old Stryn mountain road past the summer ski, Down to Geiranger, Ålesund, Runde, and along the coast to Måløy or Florø getting back. Renting a car in Bergen or Voss, dooing a loop from there sounds nice. Otherwise there are several walk paths on top of the Island looking down. It is possible to join a small fishing boat going around vertical edges of the island where the birds nest. In the middle of fjord country at the western most point of Norway. If you want to see Puffins, one of the best places is not actually up north but at the Island Runde a few hours south of Ålesund town. The Hardanger platau and Vøringsfossen waterfall beeing highlights. It can be nice driving too if prepaird for the long drive. One-way rentals are expensive and you need to fly back from Harstad/Narvik airport.ĭriving Oslo-Bergen is an 8 hour+ drive. Going one-way to Lofoten would work, but don't go unless you really want to. ![]() With a couple of days in Oslo and Bergen I would probably just tour the western fjords. Buying a road map on arrival and following the road numbers would make driving easy. You will get to see the fjords from the water even if driving. You do not book these ferries you just turn up and wait until the ferry arrives. car-ferries going from one side of a fjord to the other as part of the road. You would probably get a better view driving than taking a cruise. Joined this sightseeing boat two years ago and people was doing just this. Taking a sightseeing boat on the Geiranger fjord, hop of at one of the deserted farm for a picnic and return on the next boat is nice. if you like taking pictures - this takes time. Do not plan on driving more than 250-300 km (max 180 miles a day). It's no problem driving - if you only take your time, don't rush and give way if you happen to come across some crazy locals in a hurry. Feel free to e-mail me if you have more questions. The Hellesjit to Gerainger route will give you a great 2.5 hour cruise along Geraingerfjord. However, our favorite part of Norway is the Lofoten chain (reachable by a three and a half hour ferry ride from Bodø or overland from Tromsø where you'll find lovely fishing villages, jagged mountains, fjords, and even a sandy beach or two north of the Arctic Circle. We have also done the Bergen to Oslo drive. We've done the fjord route from Bodø to Ålesund, and I don't feel that we missed much by driving. Also you will have to wait for a ferry now and again. Mountain tunnels are usually one-way, so you'll have to wait for a light to enter. Some of the roads are a bit slow for two reasons. Driving in Norway is easy (easier than in the U.S.). You do get the sense of cruising the fjords because many of the roads will require ferry crossings across fjords. Most of the roads are along the shores of the fjords. Gopack: The wonderful thing about driving through fjord country is that you can visit small towns, discover lovely vantage points, and take things at your own pace. ![]()
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