With our self-guided tours, you travel independently between destinations by train, boat and/or bus. These eco-friendly tours combine elements such as overnight cruise ferries, scenic railway and bus tours, fjord cruises and Norwegian coastal cruises with Hurtigruten or Havila.
We provide you with everything you need to confidently navigate each stretch independently – including directions, timetables and local public transport information. Sit back and enjoy the spectacular scenery without having to worry about traffic, driving conditions or parking.
On a self-guided tour, you will not travel as part of a group or with a guide. However, most of the included and optional experiences (activities, sightseeing, etc.) will take place in a group and with a guide.
You will find our self-guided tours clearly tagged with the tour type ‘self-guided’ just below the tour intro with an icon of a person with a suitcase.
You can also search for self-guided tours on the following page by selecting the relevant filter option under ‘tour type’: https://www.authentic-scandinavia.com/tours
Airport and hotel transfers are normally not included in the tour price, as public transport options in most locations are affordable, easy and efficient. Our travel documents include details on how to navigate every step of the journey, including to/from the airport.
However, in cases where it is impossible or complicated to travel by public transport, transfers are included. Please refer to the ‘services included’ section of each tour (located near the bottom of the tour page).
While we also offer private airport transfers in the bigger cities, we do not necessarily recommend them for most customers, as the public transport options are easy to use and a much better value for the money.
You will receive detailed information in your travel documents on how to find your way from your hotel(s) to the transport terminals and any other items on your itinerary. This information will enable you to confidently navigate the entire journey independently.
Hotels are reachable either on foot or just a short ride away with public transport.
Gold/Platinum category hotels are generally more conveniently located. Silver category hotels are also central, but may be located a bit further from train stations, etc. Public transport in all places is reliable, affordable and easy to navigate, and you will receive detailed information from us about how to buy tickets, which stops to disembark at, etc. It is also possible to book a taxi from the airport/at the hotel reception.
Reviews from previous travellers highlight the benefits of our detailed itineraries. See Tripadvisor and Google for more information.
Our Gold and Platinum tour categories generally include hotels that are located within walking distance of the train station/ferry terminal/bus station/pier. Silver category hotels are also centrally located, but in some cases may require a short journey with public transport. This might also be the case for Gold/Platinum hotels in a particular city due to hotel availability and/or the location of the transport terminals. In these cases, we include detailed information in the travel documents on how to travel by public transport.
On days with multiple transport changes, the walking distance between changes is short (normally no more than 200 metres).
Luggage transport/assistance is not included in the price. There is storage space for luggage on board the different modes of transport (one suitcase and one carry-on per person is recommended), but you are responsible for lifting and carrying it yourself.
It is possible to book luggage transport between Oslo and Bergen (both directions). For more information, see the next question below.
The journey between Oslo and Bergen involves several train, ferry and bus changes. We recommend booking luggage service during high travel season (June-August) and/or if you have a lot of luggage. There is space for storing luggage on each stretch and the walking distance between these is short; however, it can be more difficult to manage during high season when transport tends to be at full capacity. Note that there is free seating on the Flåm Railway and fjord cruises, so travelling light makes it easier to quickly grab window seats / find seating together for your group.
If you are travelling outside of high season, are a light packer and/or do not mind managing your luggage between changes, it is doable to bring your luggage with you.
You can add luggage transport in Step 2 of the booking process (‘Extras’). Open the relevant day by clicking on ‘View details’ on the day of the train departure from Oslo/Bergen.
Please note that luggage is delivered directly to the end destination on the same day. Therefore, if an overnight is included between Oslo and Bergen, you must bring a carry-on bag with your essentials for that night.
A complete overview of included services is specified near the bottom of each tour page.
Travel documents will be sent by e-mail approximately one month before travel. For last-minute bookings, they will be sent as soon as possible after receipt of full payment.
Included in the travel documents are a detailed travel itinerary that will make it easy for you to find your way during your trip, as well as the required proof of payment (vouchers and e-tickets) to present to the individual service providers.
Public transportation in the Nordic countries is quite dependable. If your itinerary has a close connection, please rest assured that we have selected corresponding connections with sufficient transfer time.
However, in case of delays we always recommend informing the driver/conductor about your connection. They can often call ahead to notify the connecting transport and/or will be able to advise you directly.
Please be sure to show up in plenty of time, as tickets and vouchers cannot be used for a later departure or activity. No refund can be offered if you show up too late – unless the cause of the delay is connecting transport booked through Authentic Scandinavia. In this event, we ask you to call us immediately so we can advise you.
There is normally a 40-50% child discount on self-guided tours when 1-2 children share a room with two full-paying adults. The child age cutoff varies between 12 and 15, depending on the tour in question.
To find the exact price for all travellers for a specific tour, please enter a travel date, travellers, room type and hotel category (Silver, Gold or Platinum) on the tour page (‘Check price & book now’).
We regret that we cannot offer a senior discount, as our contracted supplier rates do not allow additional discounts.