Travel Journal: In the Land of Vikings, Fjords, and Sheep (page 2 of 3)

Hello everyone! Wishing you all a wonderful year filled with amazing travels and discoveries!

Day 8 - Visit to Ålesund First of all, I wish you all a happy and wonderful New Year—may it bring you lots of happiness. But since a good year for us is one filled with travel, I’m taking you back to Norway, to Ålesund. That’s where we arrived the night before. After a good night’s rest and a really hearty breakfast, we’re enjoying the beautiful sunshine flooding the city. Just a little stroll with no set destination or planned visit—just wandering around.

Next, we head up Mount Aksla to its viewpoint, Fjellstua.



The climb is via a staircase of 418 steps! The ascent starts in a lovely park and continues along the mountainside. The stairs are well-maintained, with benches and platforms spaced regularly along the way.



At the top, we’re rewarded with a stunning view of the city sprawling right into the water.



To head back down, we take a different route than the one we came up. Part of the way is through the forest or surrounded by greenery. Once at the bottom, we reach a part of the city we hadn’t seen yet—with its colorful wooden houses, each more beautiful than the last. We also find a street that reminds us of San Francisco’s Lombard Street, just smaller!



Along the way, we buy some local fruit from a vendor at a small market. By early afternoon, the weather takes a sudden turn. We dash into a Kiwi supermarket to grab some groceries in the pouring rain and under a gloomy sky. The weather doesn’t improve for the rest of the afternoon, keeping us indoors and cutting our sightseeing short. By the end of the day, things calm down a bit, so we head out for a drink before heading back in the rain. A short day today—we’ll make up for it (and then some) tomorrow. We also took the chance to rest up after our very short night on the boat. See you soon!

For more photos and practical info, check it out here: Day 8 - Visit to Ålesund Thanks for stopping by! See you soon!

Hi there! Here’s the next part of the journal.

Day 9 – The Trollstigen Road

This morning, the sky is a light gray. After a good breakfast, we hit the road. Following the train, boat, and city, here’s the start of our road-trip adventure to discover Norway’s extraordinary landscapes. First things first—if you’re planning a trip to Norway too, don’t overpack your itinerary with visits, and plan for shorter drives. For example, on this first day behind the wheel, it took us 7 hours to cover 200 km because there were so many stunning landscapes to see and photograph. Leaving Ålesund this morning, we had no idea we were in for such a visual treat! After a forced detour due to a cycling race, we continue toward Andalsnes.

The rain starts falling again, but that doesn’t stop us from making regular stops to take photos. The landscapes are incredible, and every stop reveals places and views we’ve never seen before. The colors, the greenery, the reflections in the fjords—it’s all truly beautiful, even under a gray sky!



After Andalsnes, we head toward Trollstigen, or the “Trolls’ Ladder.” We’re definitely in troll country—they’re everywhere, from souvenir shops to the road itself! When we arrive at the base of Trollstigen, we’re really disappointed—it’s literally in the clouds, and we can’t even see it. After just a few minutes, though, the clouds start to lift. We decide to stop for a bit and have a picnic while we wait for the road to clear.

We’d spotted a short 2 km hike we were ready to do while waiting, but the clouds end up disappearing completely—off to Trollstigen! We’ll notice this several times during the trip: the weather changes quickly here, and sometimes all it takes is a little patience for the horizon to clear. Trollstigen is a steep road with lots of hairpin turns and a massive waterfall running through it. We stop several times along the way to admire the cascade and the valley views. By the time we reach the top, it’s almost sunny. We park the car in a large (free) parking lot. There are a few souvenir shops and a paved path with stairs leading to platforms overlooking the road.

The view from up here is absolutely breathtaking! This road is truly impressive, and the valley is stunning.



After a quick stop in a shop where we meet the owner—a 22-year-old French guy on a world trip who decided to settle in Norway for a while—we get back on the road. We make several stops along the way to better enjoy and observe the nature, which offers incredible colors.

When we arrive in Linge, we take our very first ferry. The system is well thought out: numbered rows are marked on the ground, and cars line up one after another, filling row 1 first, then row 2, and so on. The boat finally arrives, opens its large “jaws,” and “swallows” us. It drops us off in Eidsdal after a short ten-minute crossing. We continue toward the Geirangerfjord, a UNESCO World Heritage site. We reach it from the Ørnevegen (Eagle Road) coming from the north, which gives us a fantastic view of the fjord. To top it off, the sun is out!

Around 5 PM, we arrive at our host’s place. He’s really nice and speaks French, which makes conversation much easier and lets us ask questions more freely. In the house, shoes are not allowed, so he lends us some sandals—so sexy!

The typical Norwegian house overlooks the fjord, offering an incredible view from the window. We settle in quietly and relax a bit before heading back down to the village.

The large cruise ship that had been anchored in the fjord since our arrival finally leaves, blasting its foghorn—the sound echoes impressively through the fjord. Once again, visiting the country off-season has a clear advantage: there’s almost no one around, so we can really enjoy the village and its small harbor. The serene atmosphere of the place is very appealing. The almost-perfect reflections in the blue-green waters of the fjord are striking.

We eventually head back to our little wooden house. We go outside to sit in the garden and try to take some night photos. We don’t really succeed (we’ll need to practice a bit more!), but it lets us experience the place in near-total darkness and silence, and hear the truly impressive sound of the many waterfalls pouring into the fjord. This day was absolutely amazing—we go to bed with so many beautiful images in our heads!

If you want to see more photos, check them out here: Day 9 – The Trollstigen Road

See you soon!

J10 - Exploring the Geirangerfjord

Woke up at 7:30 AM, took a quick peek out the window… the weather is gorgeous! It’s the first time we’ve had a clear blue sky since we arrived in Norway! We’re savoring our luck: today is all about hiking. We head to the other side of the fjord, to Hom, for the starting point of our first hike. Parking isn’t that easy—the road is narrow, and parking is banned in some spots… we finally find a spot and wonder how it must be in peak season when there are more cars… This hike isn’t as easy as we thought. We start with a steep path with sections on wet, slippery rock. Once we reach the top of this first climb, the view of the Geirangerfjord is absolutely stunning.

We continue our route through the forest. The path is steep, long, and sometimes a bit tricky.

We eventually decide not to finish this first hike, choosing to turn back so we have time for another hike this afternoon. We pass through the village center to grab a few groceries at the supermarket. We take the chance to have a picnic by the fjord. The weather is nice, it’s really pleasant, and we enjoy this lovely moment. From the house where we dropped off our groceries, we set off on foot for the second hike. The path is pleasant and lets us scout the route to the restaurant for tonight. The sky starts to cloud over, but nothing serious.

This 2 km hike, much easier and shorter, is supposed to take us to Storseterfossen, a large waterfall. Along the way, we come across sheep resting while grazing on the grass within reach. We finally hear the loud sound of water, spot the waterfall from a distance… and make out tiny-looking people next to this massive waterfall! It’s impressive to hear and see!!

We’re only on the other side of the fjord, but the landscapes are so different from this morning… here, the area is lush and green—it’s incredible. We descend along the small path carved into the rock, allowing us to go behind the waterfall. The 300-meter waterfall is even more impressive from this side! Time is passing, so we head back down toward the starting point. We don’t take the exact same path as on the way up—bad idea! The path is just as tough as this morning’s, full of mud and very slippery. We finally make it back and return to our host, who makes my partner do some stretches and offers him a pine-scented foot bath! After a good shower, we set off on foot to the restaurant. It’s an old farm with a stunning view of the fjord… another great moment, especially since the food is delicious. We head back as night falls, exhausted from this day of hiking. For practical info and photos, meet up here: J10 - Exploring the Geirangerfjord

Day 11: On the Historic Route 258 After saying goodbye to our host, we hit the road toward Olden, further south. Before leaving, our host strongly recommends taking Route 258 between Grotli and Stryn instead of the tunnel—shorter, sure, but far less interesting. So, we take their advice. The road before Grotli takes us through landscapes that change rapidly. In less than an hour, we find ourselves in lunar-like scenery, very rocky, with stunning gray and green hues. The wind picks up, it’s cold, but we savor our luck to be here, almost alone to enjoy it. Along the way, we stop at the Dalsnibba viewpoint. The road is toll-based, but the view is absolutely worth it. It starts raining, but that doesn’t really spoil the journey, which takes us through extraordinary landscapes.



We descend and continue driving. The scenery shifts as we go, skirting vast stretches of water—wow! We’re loving it! We finally reach Route 258 at Grotli. The road isn’t paved, but it’s so breathtaking that we never feel like speeding—we stop constantly to take in the views and snap photos. We pass lakes with striking turquoise waters, drive through vegetation in equally incredible colors—we’re in paradise! Of course, it starts raining again, but in return, we’re treated to a gorgeous rainbow.



The road is about 20-25 km long, and it takes us 1.5 hours to cover it! Between a picnic stop in the middle of nowhere (magical!) and photo breaks every 5 minutes, we make the most of it! We leave Route 258 to take the main road again and decide to stop once more for photos. We spot sheep in the distance. I slowly approach to take a picture when one of them notices me from afar. It starts walking toward me gently, then picks up the pace until it’s galloping...



I obviously start running, but that animal is fast!! Its friends join in—big scare for me! In the end, they weren’t trying to attack us, just checking if we had any food to give them (but they left empty-hoofed!). There’s just under an hour of driving left, first through a steep valley, then skimming the fjord. By late afternoon, we arrive in Olden, the village where we’ll be staying for the next two nights. We’re a little disappointed to find our campsite right by the road—we were expecting to be in the middle of nowhere... Still, the place is nice, and the view from our room is really not bad at all!



We settle in and start some laundry while enjoying a little apéritif in our room. A quiet end to a day so full of adventure...

More info and photos here: Day 11: On the Historic Route 258

Hello!

Day 12 – Exploring the Glaciers This morning, we wake up facing the fjord, invaded by two enormous cruise ships. We’ve already wondered about taking a cruise someday, but I think this Norwegian experience has made us a bit hesitant (or maybe just on a smaller boat!). After a good breakfast and a few photos of our vacation spot in this perfect setting, we prepare the day’s program.

We plan to explore two glaciers, easily accessible from Olden. These two glacier tongues come from the Jostedalsbreen, Europe’s largest ice cap, covering around 480 km². Off we go! Along the Lodalen Valley, we follow the shore of Lovatnet, a stunning glacial lake with incredible colors (no filter needed on these photos). In the middle of the lake, you can spot a few small “islands” formed by falling rock blocks (some of which have been deadly). The road is sometimes very narrow, making us wonder how it must be in the summer when buses pass each other.

The end of the road leads us to the entrance of Kjenndalsbreen. We pass through a small, unmanned toll booth—the Norwegians must assume people are responsible and honest. At first, we struggle to understand how it works, but it’s actually quite simple: just write your license plate number on the envelope (which has carbon paper so you can keep a copy to place behind your windshield), insert the money, and seal it. The envelope then goes into a box. After parting with 40 kroner, we continue the last stretch of road to a parking lot where we leave our car.

After a short walk at the foot of the glacier (it’s too high for us to reach), we turn back (the glacier is a dead end). Everything is closed—the tourist season has just ended, and there’s no one around except a few employees from what seems to be a restaurant/canoe rental spot. We’re a little disappointed because we thought we could rent one—nope, it’s “closed”! We console ourselves with the incredible view, which we decide to admire quietly during our picnic break. We soak in the tranquility, serenity, colors, and fabulous scenery! The water’s color seems so unreal—it’s truly mesmerizing!



We head back through Olden to go a bit further south and reach another arm of the glacier: Briksdalsbreen. In just an hour’s drive, the landscapes change completely compared to this morning—it’s amazing!

We leave the car in the designated parking lot, which is also paid. At the start, there are two paths: one for pedestrians, the other for “troll cars.” We set off on foot to reach the glacier. This time, we’re not alone—there are a few other tourists, some on foot like us, others in groups in the famous “troll cars.” The path is well-marked; we won’t get lost here… unless we foolishly follow a sign at a crossroads, thinking it’s the way to the glacier. Off we go on a hike—flat but a bit muddy at first, then through a dense forest with rough terrain, fallen trees, rocks, and all the rest. We finally emerge from the forest onto a huge, steep rock. We climb and discover the breathtaking view of the lake and glacier. After a good hour of climbing, we realize we’re not actually getting closer to the glacier (just going up and away from it), so we turn back. Back at the crossroads, we take the right path this time, not giving up, and set off to (hopefully!) discover the glacier. The valley is lush and green, covered in grass and filled with trees—it’s an impressive setting. This time, we make it all the way! The sight was absolutely worth seeing up close, and all our afternoon efforts are rewarded the minute we reach the edge of the lake. There’s only one family there, like us, enjoying the view and taking souvenir photos.

On the way back, we take advantage of the nearly empty path to snap some photos of the enormous waterfall from below. We learn that 10,000 liters of water fall every second—yikes! We return to Olden after a quick stop for supplies on the way. Another truly beautiful day, with colors we’d never seen in real life before!

For practical info and photos, check it out here: Day 12 – Exploring the Glaciers

Day 13 – On Europe’s Highest Mountain Road

We woke up at dawn this morning—we’ve got a long drive ahead and plenty of beautiful sights to discover (though we don’t know that yet). We backtracked and took the tunnel we’d skipped a few days ago, opting instead for the Route 258. After exiting the tunnel, we headed south and, after passing Grotli, continued toward Lom. Along the way, we met some new friends 🐑 and discovered autumn landscapes that reminded us of Canada in places—even though we’ve never actually been there.

We arrived in Lom, which I’d noted on our itinerary for its stave church. Unfortunately, we saw a sign and a group of people outside, letting us know the church was closed for a funeral. It wouldn’t reopen until 1 PM, so we left disappointed we couldn’t visit.

We took Route 55, or Sognefjellet, Europe’s highest road, built in 1939 by unemployed workers. The first part of the route took us through forests, tiny charming churches, and already offered some lovely viewpoints. But the real highlight came at the top, where snow lined the road and turned the blue/green/yellow landscapes into something like a watercolor painting.



We were incredibly lucky—the sun was gorgeous, letting us soak in the scenery to the fullest. We got out of the car to walk right up to the rocks and water expanses. Everything was stunning, the landscapes breathtaking—we couldn’t get over it! We even took the chance to touch the big snow blocks melting from underneath to feed the lakes.



In Skjolden, we turned off to follow the southern shore of the Lustrafjorden toward Urnes. This narrow little road with unlit tunnels was a bit tiring, especially since we’d gotten up so early. We stopped along the way for a quick nap before continuing, refreshed.

Urnes is a tiny village known for its own stave church. Though it’s a UNESCO World Heritage site, the entry fee seemed a bit steep, so we decided to just walk around it—oh well, no inside visit! As we stepped back, we realized how beautiful the setting was: a nearly black church standing out against a gorgeous green and turquoise backdrop.

We headed to the Urnes ferry dock to catch the boat to Solvorn, just across the Lustrafjord. We missed one ferry by minutes, but no rush—we had time to wait for the next.

There was a little hut with trays of fruit for sale, self-service style. A sign listed the prices, and a small metal box was ready for coins—we couldn’t believe our eyes! We grabbed a little tray of plums to use as a cheap snack and dessert for the next few days.

The ferry came back, and we got ready to board. This time, it was a bit unusual—we backed into the boat! Naturally, first on meant last off (not a big deal, since there were only five cars!).

Arriving in Solvorn was amazing—the village, though small, looked really charming from here.

Tonight, we’re staying here. We found our accommodation quickly in this tiny village. The guesthouse is at the top of the orchard cultivated by our hosts. They’re super nice, the house is really cozy, and we feel right at home! The window in our room looks out over the fjord and the village—it’s gorgeous!

We settled in quickly and wandered around the village.

Back at the house, with a stunning view of the fjord.

We met a young French couple and chatted with them for a bit before getting dinner ready. Today was packed again, and Route 55 is one of my best memories from this trip!

For practical info and all the photos, check it out here: Day 13 – On Europe’s Highest Mountain Road

Thanks for reading! 😉

Hi Minibou,

I’m still following your travel journal with great pleasure! 🙂

And I’m discovering spots we hadn’t been to that are absolutely stunning, like Kjenndalsbreen. It’s certain—I’ll have to go back to Norway because the landscapes there are extraordinary. I especially hope to return to the Lofoten Islands. If you’re planning another trip to Norway in the coming years, make sure to include them in your itinerary—the scenery there is among the most beautiful I’ve seen so far.

Looking forward to the next update! [;]

Thanks so much for your message!! 🙂 Yes, we’re planning to visit Norway again, including the Lofoten Islands, during the northern lights season. We were thinking of going in October, but apparently, that’s the worst time weather-wise... We’ll have to think about another time!

Hello again! I'm back with the next installment! Day 14: Another day among the glaciers

This morning, the glaciers are waiting for us! The view of the fjord from the living room is still just as breathtaking—we take the time to enjoy a peaceful breakfast with this extraordinary view. I booked a glacier hike on Nigardsbreen a few days earlier. So, we hit the road toward the Visitor Center. There’s a bit of mist, the sky is gray, but it’s not bothersome and even adds a mysterious touch that we really like.

We arrive at the Breheimsenteret, the glacier’s visitor center. It has a funny helmet-like shape that we love. The employee tells us we’re late and need to hurry so we don’t miss our group—what?! We thought we were on time... He informs us there’s still a ten-minute drive to the glacier parking lot, then about a 45-minute walk to the foot of the glacier.

When we arrive at the parking lot, we don’t see anyone or anything, but we spot a group that’s already started the hike to reach the foot of the glacier. We rush to catch up, thinking we’re really late. In 35 minutes, we reach them—but the guide tells us it’s not our group, that the meet-up spot is at the parking lot, and that he can’t help us because all the equipment is in a cabin there—no!!! What a letdown! It’s clearly stated on the website and the ticket that the parking lot is the meet-up spot, but the visitor center employee misled us, and with the stress of not seeing anyone there, we started the hike when we should’ve waited for our guide. We take a moment to recover from the disappointment, regain some energy (after a tiring, fast-paced hike over rocks!!), and still enjoy the magnificent scenery.

Once again, the colors are extraordinary, and there are very few people, which lets us fully soak in the place. Seeing the glacier up close is still incredibly impressive—it’s a real feast for the eyes. Disappointed, we eventually head back down to our car. We need to do some shopping and fill up the gas tank. We decide to check out the Styggevatnet dam, located further north. We cross beautiful valleys and arrive in front of an enormous wall of rocks—impressive!

On the way back, we take the time to visit the Kaupanger Stave Church. It’s closed, but the view from the outside is really nice.

To "drown" our disappointment, we have a little apéritif in the B&B’s lounge before eating and going to bed with beautiful memories, despite everything.

Thanks for reading! Link to our blog: Day 14: Another day among the glaciers

See you soon!

Hi Minibou,

I’ve been following your travel journal from the start but only now have the time to leave you a message. 😊 Your photos are really great, and your story is super nice.

Hi Bluequark,

Thanks so much for taking the time to leave me a little note. It really made my day! And thank you for my photos/my travel journal! To be honest, it’s pretty easy in front of such wonders 🙂

Thanks again😉

Day 15 – On the Snow Road

We're off again for another day!

Early start today—it’s a driving day. We reluctantly leave our accommodation and our hosts… we could’ve happily stayed a few more days to rest!! We soon reach a long tunnel that ends in a dual carriageway leading straight to the ferry dock! We take our last ferry of the trip at Mannheller. It’s a big boat, with two decks for cars, a lounge, and somewhere to grab a coffee… though we don’t really get to enjoy it, as the crossing is pretty quick (about half an hour). We head toward Borgund, which we reach 40 minutes later. Along the way, we find ourselves deep in small valleys, following river branches—a unique feeling! We arrive in Borgund to visit another stave church. From a distance, the exterior looks really unusual, like a burnt wooden model. Before starting the tour, disaster strikes: my camera battery is dead!!! We try everything and ask the info center if we can leave the battery to charge while we visit. They kindly agree… phew! Saved!! We begin the visit at the information center, where the construction principles of these churches are explained. Then we head outside to see the church itself.



The burnt-wood look is actually due to tar covering and protecting the wood. The inside of the church is tiny, very dark, and unfurnished, but you really get a sense of the building’s unique construction. This church is one of only 28 left out of the 1,000 built in the country. We feel lucky to experience it. We take our time with the visit to let the battery charge a bit. Plus, the place and the tour are really enjoyable. There aren’t too many people, which makes the moment even nicer. We leave this charming church and its pretty cemetery to backtrack a little and head toward the Snow Road (Aurlandsfjellet) in Lærdal. We start by driving through woods, then find ourselves higher up with a stunning view of the trees dressed in autumn colors. Finally, we reach a barren, rocky plateau, partly covered in snow. Unfortunately, the rain starts pouring, and the fog rolls in, forcing us to stop for a while. We take the time to eat in the car, waiting for the rain to ease and visibility to improve. The weather eventually gets a little better, and we hit the road again. Even if the conditions aren’t ideal, the views are still breathtaking!



We stop at the famous Stegastein Point, a wooden structure jutting out over a fjord arm. The effect is incredible! For even more “thrills,” head to the restrooms (yes, really—the restrooms!) where a large picture window offers an amazing view of the fjord… pretty surprising!



We begin the descent with plenty of hairpin turns to reach Flåm. We’re honestly disappointed by this village. We expected something incredible, but instead, there are buses in the parking lot and people everywhere… we didn’t really connect with it, which is a shame because the area has potential!! After a quick photo stop, we’re back on the road toward our final destination: our hotel! But not just any hotel—this is the “splurge” hotel of the trip! We’ve had a little tradition for our summer vacations for a few years now: we treat ourselves to one night in an extraordinary hotel. Last year, we stayed in a beautiful hotel in the Douro Valley in Portugal, and the year before, it was a crazy hotel in Las Vegas… so this year, I found us a hotel straight out of Stephen King’s *The Shining* (but way less scary!!). The exterior isn’t much to look at, but the inside is absolutely stunning, and the view is amazing! We discover our room with a view of a rock that reminds us of El Capitan in Yosemite. The room’s decor takes us back in time! The hotel lounge is also jaw-dropping, blending old and modern. And the park around the hotel is just as impressive, offering incredible views of the surrounding mountains and the steep valley.



After enjoying the park, we head back up to shower, though the hot water takes a while to arrive (it has to travel through the whole hotel to reach our room—old-school style!!). We grab a drink at the bar before heading to the restaurant (the buffet is a bit disappointing, though). Later in the evening, we relax in the lounge before calling it a night. All in all, today was pretty relaxing—some driving, but not too much, so we could take our time and go at our own pace. We discovered more beautiful viewpoints, even if the Snow Road crossing was unfortunately a bit ruined by the bad weather.

For more details, check it out here: Day 15 – On the Snow Road Thanks for reading! See you soon for the next (and nearly final) part of the adventure!

Day 16: Heading South

Hello! When we woke up, we could see the sky was gray and overcast from our window. Eventually, the low clouds cleared just in time for us to get up and head down for breakfast. Today, we don’t have much driving to do—we need to rest up for tomorrow. So, we take our time and leave the hotel around 11 AM. We stop along the way in a village to pick up a few supplies since tomorrow’s big hike means we won’t have a chance to shop. It’s Sunday, so the store is only half-open (just a tiny section accessible, the rest blocked off by a gate—how odd!). The drive is still gorgeous, winding through rivers, forests, and plains. We go through another roundabout—this one’s really unusual…

… there’s a roundabout *inside* it!!! Un-be-lievable!!! We’d never seen anything like it before—it’s such a weird effect! We come across a massive suspension bridge—so impressive!

Nothing’s on the schedule, so we enjoy the drive and make a few stops. We decide to check out a huge waterfall called Voringfossen, which is actually a collection of several falls. It’s truly breathtaking. A paved path leads to different viewpoints so you can really take in the scenery.

Next to the parking lot, there’s a restaurant open and picnic tables outside. We grab a bite—me, a sandwich, and my husband, a huge bowl of salmon soup with a slice of bread he bought from the restaurant. We hit the road again and spot quite a few orchards along the way. Every now and then, we see little roadside huts selling fruit—honor-system style! We arrive in Odda in the late afternoon and decide to scout out the parking spot for tomorrow’s hike so we’re not caught off guard or waste time looking for it. The nerves are starting to kick in a little… this hike is *the* hike, and we’re hoping we’re prepared enough. We see people coming back down, looking completely wiped out—definitely not reassuring! After scouting, we head to our hotel, just 20 minutes from the parking lot. The staff gives us tons of tips for tomorrow (so nice!) and upgrades us: we get a huge room with a big bathtub and a balcony overlooking the fjord—amazing! The sun’s back out, and it’s perfect. We explore this little town, which seems to have had a big industrial past but now looks a bit abandoned. The town itself is super cute with its colorful facades, and we really like it.



In the center, there’s a big playground with games for kids (though we adults had fun with them too!). We go back to eat on our terrace with the incredible view and prep sandwiches for tomorrow. We’re psyched up, a little anxious, but ready! Tonight, early bedtime—we’re getting up super early, and it’s going to be a long day! See you soon for the next part of the adventure.

For more photos and useful tips, check it out here: Day 16: Heading South Thanks for taking a look!

Day 17: Hiking Trolltunga

The adventure continues with a pretty intense day ahead of us. 5:30 AM: wake-up



6:00 AM: breakfast 6:30 AM: hit the road by car 7:00 AM: we’re in front of the sign marking the start of the hike—only 11 km, it says! We left the car at the highest parking lot. The machine to pay for our spot isn’t working, so we decide not to waste time and leave a note on the windshield saying we’ll pay when we get back tonight. But 11 km for what? To end up at Trolltunga! This 22 km round-trip hike (11 km each way) with a 950 m elevation gain is a real challenge for us since we haven’t done much exercise lately. Like the morning of an exam, we set off a little (okay, a lot) stressed. We’re not alone—plenty of other hikers are taking on this incredible challenge too. The weather’s nice, no rain, which is absolutely essential because the first kilometer is steep (450 m elevation gain in the first 1000 m), and we have to climb over rocks. Some spots are slippery and would’ve been downright dangerous in the rain. The climb is pretty brutal—we’re sweating, but we’re not the only ones struggling! Then we reach a slightly flatter part of the trail. The sun rises over the mountains—gorgeous!



At the 3rd kilometer, it’s back to a massive climb—tough, but we push through! We keep moving and slowly see the kilometer markers counting down the remaining distance. The kilometers pass, and we feel like we’ve landed on Mars. The landscapes are super rocky, and the snow-capped peaks in the distance add to the beauty of the place. The night before, the hotel employee told us to bring water but not to overpack since we’d find some along the way—but we forgot to ask how we were supposed to find it. Of course, no faucets, no huts, nothing to refill our slowly emptying bottles. After 4 hours and 15 minutes, we finally reach the end of the 11 km trail and discover the famous Trolltunga!!!! What a relief and what a joy to have made it!!! A few groups are already there—it’s really impressive—and a little stressful to see people lining up to get their shot on that rock over the void! We take our place in the small queue and manage to get our photo pretty quickly. We timed it well because after eating a sandwich, the line got *a lot* longer!

Up there, the wind is freezing, and the picnic is chilly, but the sun is absolutely stunning. We finally start the descent after an hour and a half break. The water problem is quickly solved—we refill our bottles from natural springs flowing down the rocks. The water’s good and refreshing, which is great! We start to really feel the kilometers with a few energy dips, and some parts are done in silence. But the beauty of the landscapes keeps us going.

The last kilometer is just like the first—vertigo-inducing! We descend from rock to rock, and our joints take a beating. But we finally make it back at 5:30 PM after 10 hours and 30 minutes of hiking (9 hours of actual walking)—we’re exhausted but so proud of ourselves!!! We pay for the parking at the shop, stretch, clean our muddy shoes, and head back to the hotel. After a well-deserved shower, we treat ourselves to a little bar/snack restaurant. It’s not gourmet, but it’s good enough to feel like we’ve earned it after such an amazing day! We’re sore all over and fall asleep like babies by 9:30 PM! WE DID IT!!!

For photos and info on Trolltunga: Day 17 - Hiking Trolltunga Thanks for stopping by!

Finale... Day 18 - Under the Sun in Bergen

Hi there! After yesterday’s big day, we slept like babies. This morning, we take our time and leave Odda around 9:30 AM. The weather is gorgeous—the sun decided to show up and treat us to a beautiful day.

We drive along the fjords and pass through villages where fruit farming is well-developed. We spot those famous little huts with self-service fruit stands by the roadside. We finally arrive in Bergen around noon. We drop off our bags at the hotel (a chain hotel with no charm, chosen for its proximity to the bus station) and head to fill up the gas tank before returning the car. The guy asks if we want to check the car together or if he’ll do it alone later… No way! We check the car right away together (and we’re glad we didn’t let him do it alone…). He inspects the car *super* carefully (unlike when we picked it up, when we were alone, as usual), making sure the doors don’t have the slightest scratch, running his hand under the bumper and over the windshield… O_O Just as we’re about to give up and leave, he finally finds a tiny scratch on the windshield. Of course, since we didn’t hit any gravel during our trip, we’re sure the scratch was already there but we just didn’t see/feel it (it was raining the day we picked up the car, and we weren’t sneaky enough to run our hands over the windshield). We explain all this and leave with a bit of stress and uncertainty about how much we might be charged… In the end, we didn’t have to pay anything, but it was a good lesson for future rentals (always run your hand under the car and over the windows!!). We take the tram (less than a 5-minute walk away) back to the city center. Our trip is coming to an end—we’re heading home tomorrow. So, we scope out where to buy bus tickets to the airport before wandering around town… Turns out, we have to go to the tourist office by the harbor to buy the tickets (though apparently, you can also buy them on the spot from a vendor the same day?). Off we go! The weather is incredible—so different from what we had just a few days ago. It’s 24°C (75°F) and we’re in T-shirts!

We revisit the harbor and Bryggen, which we’d seen under gray skies before—it’s so much prettier in the sun, no denying it!

After this super pleasant stroll, we head back to the hotel to pack for tomorrow before going out for one last Norwegian meal. We’re lucky—they seat us right away. The restaurant is small and super warm, but the food is excellent (and the bill steep, as usual in this country!).

We enjoy this last evening wandering around the harbor before heading back to bed.



The next morning, we head to the bus station with our tickets bought the day before at the tourist office. We board the bus to the airport. And we take off to head home, with tons of memories in our heads, photos on our camera, and the feeling of having had an unforgettable trip. Thanks for following along patiently throughout this story, which started 7 months ago. Since Norway, we’ve been to Berlin earlier this year and are lucky enough to be leaving again soon for a completely different destination… and to fulfill an old dream. To see all the photos and details, check it out here: Day 18 - Under the Sun in Bergen

A special thanks to everyone who helped me plan my itinerary, especially Sarnia, who saved me money by suggesting we take the car on the ferry with us (and avoided one-way fees!).

See you soon!

Love your story! I read it quietly as you posted. I really like how you edited your photos.

Hello and thank you. Thank you so much for this second message—it really means a lot to me! A travel journal is a long-term project, but finishing it is such a joy! 😉 I hope to start the next one on Berlin soon... but I'm already behind—we're leaving again soon!!! 😏

Have a great evening

Thanks for these great moments of sharing that brought back such wonderful memories of this beautiful country.

Thanks so much for taking the time to leave me this message—it really made my day! Definitely a gorgeous country... we’ll be back someday for sure!

Berlin! Can't wait! We loved it so much.