Welcome to Bergen, Norway’s second largest city, founded by Vikings on a picturesque North Sea inlet. Known as the ‘gateway to the fjords’, it’s a scenic starting point for exploring the country’s convoluted coastline. You’ll be met at the airport by a private Flash Pack transfer and taken to your heritage hotel, a stone’s throw from the Unesco-listed harbor. Take a stroll through the city’s characterful streets, lined with art galleries and colorful timber cottages, or take the cable-car up to Fløyen peak for panoramic views across the bay. Tonight, you’ll get to know your Pack Leader and group over a delicious three-course dinner, fresh from the sea. Your Nordic adventure has begun. 

You’ll be up early to begin your road trip to Aurland, with some incredibly pretty stops along the way. Following coastal Route 16, you’ll feel the spray of photogenic Tvindefossen waterfall before taking in the views over the Nærøydalen Valley, gouged out by ancient glaciers. Arriving in the small village of Flåm, with its quaint 17th-century wooden church dwarfed by lofty mountains, you’ll don goggles and waterproof overalls for an exhilarating high-speed RIB excursion through Norway’s longest and deepest fjord: Sognefjord. Dry off with a hike to beautiful Mount Prest for a picnic lunch before cozying up in your chic Scandi base.

Keep your camera handy for this morning’s spectacular ride on the gravity-defying Flåm Railway. Hugging the Rauma River, you’ll climb steeply through deep canyons and jagged rock faces up onto the wild windswept plateau of Reinheimen National Park. With tunnels carved by hand in the early 20th century, it’s an incredible feat of engineering offering a vital lifeline for the remote fjord hamlets. Arriving in Myrdal, you’ll descend in an altogether different way, starting with Scandinavia’s longest zipline. From here, you’ll transfer to mountain bikes and freewheel back down the valley. A traditional Norwegian sauna awaits, followed by a five-course Viking dinner paired with five local beers. Skål!   

Another early start, but we promise it’s well worth it. Today’s star activity will see you ice-hiking the Nigardsbreen Glacier. Equipped with ice axes and crampons, you’ll be led out onto the icy spur by an expert local instructor. Roped together with your group, you’ll clamber past blue phosphorescent ice towers and across deep crevasses, even crawling through ice tunnels. Marvel at the frozen landscape as it sparkles and drips – a stark reminder that in less than a century this 5,000-year-old glacier will no longer exist. After a picnic lunch out on the ice, you’ll hike back to your minibus and return to your hotel for a relaxed evening.    

Located at the mouth of the dramatic Lodalen Valley, Loen is a base for all kinds of mountain activities. If you’ve got a good head for heights, you’ll love what’s in store today: a via ferrata excursion, high above the fjord. Translated as ‘iron path’ in Italian, these climbing routes are equipped with fixed cables, ladders and rungs to help you navigate the rocky terrain. After a safety briefing, where you’ll learn how to clip your carabinas along the cliff face, you’ll set off on one of four graded routes offering different levels of challenge – all with incredible views (do look down!). Feeling invigorated, you’ll stop for lunch in a panoramic restaurant tilted over the amazingly blue fjord, before descending on the Skylift gondola. 

Start your day with heart-stopping views from the Dalsnibba skywalk, above a 1,500-metre precipice. Then, immerse yourself in the Unesco-listed Geirangerfjord on a stunning sea kayaking adventure. One of Norway’s most scenic spots, the fjord’s turquoise water flows fresh from a glacial melt upstream, forming an inlet of cool beauty. Keep an eye out for seals and porpoises as you go, with views of the jagged mountains unfolding before you. You’ll stop for a picnic lunch in a secluded bay, and admire the beautiful Seven Sisters waterfall as it dances playfully down the towering granite cliffs. The hardy can take a bracing cold-water dip, known to increase circulation, boost your immune system and even burn off calories.

There’s a long drive in store as you wind your way back to Bergen, so download a good playlist and relax as the scenery passes you by. It’s another spectacular drive, with plenty of stops en route at waterfalls, picnic spots and local shops. Arriving in the late afternoon, you’ll have a couple of hours free to relax and explore, then it’s time for your celebratory farewell dinner. Enjoy a feast of traditional local dishes and raise a toast with your fellow Flashpackers to an incredible eight days of adventure that have seen you kayak, zipline, ice hike, mountain bike and via ferrata your way around this incredible part of the world. 

All too soon, your Norwegian adventure has come to an end. It’s over to you now to make your own way back to the airport for your onward flight. The best way to get over those post-trip blues? Start planning your next adventure. Looking for further Scandi inspiration? Take a peek at our adventures in Iceland and Finland, come snow or shine.