FLAM, NORWAY

We wind our way up to the Hardangervidda Mountain plateau through several tunnels, over bridges and past thundering waterfalls. Narrow paths twist up the mountainsides, used by only the deftest goats, and beautiful vistas of the valley unfold below. At Myrdal, we change trains and head to Voss.

From Flåm (meaning ‘large expanse of land between high mountains’), we board the train to take us to Myrdal. The track we will follow is an engineering wonder, ascending to 867 metres (2,844 feet) within just 50 minutes. It has a gradient of 1 in 18 over a distance of 20 kilometres (12 miles). The world famous railway was built between 1920 and 1940, and was in fact opened by German troops, who had a large military camp in Flåm. We wind our way up to the Hardangervidda Mountain plateau through several tunnels, over bridges and past thundering waterfalls. Narrow paths twist up the mountainsides, used by only the deftest goats, and beautiful vistas of the valley unfold below. At Myrdal, we change trains and head to Voss. The landscape changes as we approach the town of Voss – set amidst one of western Norway’s best agricultural areas. Here we will walk to a local hotel for our lunch. Following lunch, we join our coach and proceed past lovely farms, orchards, lakes and rivers. We will have a short stop at Tvinde Waterfall, before reaching the Stalheim Hotel, spectacularly perched upon a cliff 550 metres (1,800 feet) high, overlooking waterfalls and the valley below. After refreshments at the hotel we begin our exhilarating descent of Stalheim’s Kleivene – Europe’s steepest road with a gradient of 1 in 5. There are magnificent views at each of the 13 hairpin bends! On the valley floor, we follow the Nærøy River to rejoin our ship in Gudvangen. This tour involves some walking – to reach the station in Flåm and the hotel in Voss. We would, however, like to point out that there is a high step to board the train. Not suitable for wheelchair passengers, due to the boarding of the train, and the changing from platform to platform. Please note hairpin bends will be encountered - therefore it may not be suitable for passengers who suffer from vertigo.