Oslo to Bergen: Rail and Hike
About this trip.
The Bergen Railway climbs from Oslo's harbour to an altitude above most of Britain's mountains, then drops to the edge of the North Atlantic at Bergen — a crossing of plateau and fjord country that forms the spine of this ten-day holiday. Rather than treating the train as a means of getting somewhere, the itinerary uses it as a connective thread, breaking the route into stages with walks on foot along the way.
Why pair the train with the walking
Norway from a carriage window is already something, but the country that counts is a short walk from any station. Pairing the rail legs with hikes means stepping out at key points — onto the open plateau, beside a glacier-fed lake, above a valley — rather than watching it all pass at window speed. The walking is the pay-off; the train does the lifting.
The Oslo to Bergen route in nine nights
The holiday runs ten days and nine nights, west from Oslo and finishing in Bergen, with the Bergen Line as its backbone. The line itself is one of the higher railways in northern Europe, crossing the treeless expanse of the Hardangervidda before descending towards the coast. Days are split between rail stages and walks, with overnight stops arranged at points along the way.
Expect two quite different kinds of terrain. The interior is plateau country — open, sparsely wooded, weather-exposed, with a particular austerity that some walkers love and others find bleak. Closer to the coast the landscape turns greener and far steeper, folded by fjords. Bergen at the end is a working port with wooden warehouses on the Bryggen quay and a reputation for rain. It is not a toy-town postcard but an actual lived-in city, which, depending on your taste, is either the appeal or the drawback.
Booking and the practical side
Macs Adventure run this as a self-guided holiday from £2,445, which places it at the higher end of their range. That reflects Norwegian costs more than anything else — food, accommodation and rail in Norway are expensive, and there is no way to engineer that away.
Self-guided means you walk independently using route notes and maps rather than with a leader or a group. It suits people who are comfortable with their own navigation and prefer to set their own pace over breakfast rather than to the rhythm of a party of fifteen. You will want a reasonable level of hill fitness: the walking on offer is not technical scrambling, but Norwegian terrain does not flatter the unprepared, and weather up on the plateau can turn in the space of a carriage stop.
The combination is the point — a proper long rail line, with proper walks broken out of it, rather than a coach tour with photo halts.
The shape of the trip.
What's typically in the price, what isn't.
A general guide for walking holidays of this kind. Check the operator's booking page for the final inclusions on this specific trip.
Typically included
- ✓Hotel accommodation, double or twin en-suite rooms
- ✓Daily breakfast at each hotel
- ✓Luggage transfer between hotels on every walking day
- ✓Detailed route notes with maps and GPX files
- ✓24/7 support line in English for the duration of the trip
Typically not included
- ×Flights to and from the country of travel
- ×Travel insurance (strongly recommended)
- ×Lunches — typically a village picnic or café stop
- ×Some evening meals — depends on the specific itinerary
- ×Alcohol beyond any wine included with set dinners
- ×Optional room or transfer upgrades
Everything you might be wondering.
Q1How hard is it really?
The grading is set by the operator and usually reflects daily distance and total ascent. As a rule of thumb: if you can comfortably manage a 5-6 hour hillwalk at home on a weekend, a moderate-graded route will be fine. Read the day-by-day notes carefully, and train with a loaded pack in the months before.
Q2Can I do this solo?
Yes — self-guided walking holidays are well suited to solo travellers, and some operators waive the single-room supplement on certain departures. The route notes are written for confident independent walkers, and most operators run a 24/7 support line.
Q3Do I need to speak the language?
No. Hotels and restaurants on the route are used to English-speaking walkers. A phrasebook for menus and a few polite basics (hello, thank you, please) is all you really need. The operator's support line speaks English.
Q4Can I bring my dog?
Some routes are dog-friendly, others aren't — it depends on whether all the accommodation on the itinerary accepts dogs. Check with the operator before booking. If you do bring a dog, you'll need a pet passport, up-to-date rabies vaccination, and a lead for villages.
Q5What if it rains?
The route is walkable in rain — your luggage travels ahead regardless, so you'll always arrive somewhere dry. Some trails get slippery in wet weather and the operator's support line can arrange a taxi for any stage if conditions are properly bad.
Q6How do I get there from the UK?
Most routes are reachable by a short flight to a nearby airport, followed by train or transfer. The operator will usually point you at the nearest airport and can advise on rail connections. Some will book train tickets on your behalf for a small fee.
Q7Can I shorten or extend it?
Usually yes. Many operators offer shorter versions of a route as a standalone, and most will add extra nights at the start or end at their own rates. Ask when you enquire — they'll tailor it before booking.
Q8What about cancellation?
Typically a deposit (usually 20-25%) is taken at booking, with the balance due 8-10 weeks before departure. The operator's own terms apply — Mooch doesn't handle the booking or refunds. Travel insurance is strongly recommended.
Three walking holidays, side-by-side.
Other walking holidays on Mooch in the same spirit. All prices per person, from the operator.
