Norway in a Nutshell - Part I

While current passengers were disembarking and new passengers were getting on the Viking Venus, Tim and I were embarking on an independent Norway in a Nutshell (NIN) excursion. NIN is a packaged tour that combines a railway journey through spectacular mountains, a ride on one of the steepest standard gauge railway lines in the world, a scenic boat ride on two dramatic fjords, and a bus ride on a steep mountain road. It’s a legendary journey and Norway’s most popular tour.

Norway in a Nutshell - The Route We Were Scheduled to Follow

Today, we enjoyed some of the most spectacular scenery I have ever encountered, but the day didn’t turn out quite as planned. Thanks to the kindness of strangers, however, we returned to Bergen as scheduled after a trip we will always remember. I will detail our adventure in multiple blog posts, broken up by each segment of the tour.

Tim and I were up bright and early to catch a taxi to the Bergen Station for our 8:29 am departure on the Bergen Railway. Because we had a bit of time to kill at the station, we wandered over to Lille Lungegårdsvannet, a lake in the middle of a lovely park in central Bergen. Soon, however, we made our way back to board our train.

Bergen Station

Lille Lungegårdsvannet

Ready to Board the Bergen Railway

The Bergen Railway connects Norway’s two largest cities, Oslo and Bergen, and the ride has often been named one of the world's best railway experiences. We would not be going as far as Oslo, but we enjoyed the scenery outside our train window.

It was foggy and misty for much of the early part of the journey, lending an almost magical appearance to the scenery. We followed the Sorfjord and the Vosso River and enjoyed views of pretty villages, beautiful lakes, lush valleys, and mountains peeking out from the clouds.

A Foggy Morning

The Sorfjord in the Mist

Lush, Green Countryside

Pretty Villages below Mountains in the Clouds

Blue Skies popping Out Among the Clouds

Pretty River

Rushing Water

As we climbed higher in elevation, my favorite view from the train ride was a mountain lake covered with ice. The reflection of the snow-covered mountains completed the stunning picture.

Snow Covered Mountains

Reflections on and Ice Covered Lake

So Pretty

What a Gorgeous Setting for a House

We arrived in Myrdal at 10:44 am, and here we disembarked to begin the next segment of our adventure. Myrdal Station is said to be among the most scenic train stations in the world. I’m not sure I agree with that view, but its location high in the mountains at an altitude of 2,884 feet is lovely.

Arriving at Myrdal

Myrdal Station

We'll Transfer Here

Up next – the Flåm Mountain Railway, one of the most beautiful train journeys in the world.