Norway — 11 to 16 September

Day by day

Three anchors: the Geiranger day, the doorstep day (glacier + Skylift), and the slow lakes day. Put Geiranger on the clearest forecast; the lakes day works in any weather. Trollstigen and Ålesund are cut — each eats a full day you no longer have, and Geiranger gives you the best of that landscape anyway.

• 11

  Fri 11 Sep · todayLoen

  Arrive & the Lovatnet warm-up

  Check into the Airbnb ~15:00, then drive Lovatnet (15 min) for the turquoise lake in late-afternoon light. Low effort, big payoff. Dinner in Loen or Olden — or the Alexandra buffet if you're feeling it.

  book the Bergen hotel + Hoven table tonight
• 12/13

  Best-weather dayLoen

  Geiranger — the big one

  Over the Strynefjellet pass (Rv15) to the Dalsnibba Skywalk (1,476 m, NOK 385/car at the gate), down past Flydalsjuvet, then the fjord cruise past the Seven Sisters from Geiranger quay (13:00 sailing fits the loop). ~1.5–2h each way. Full details below.

  do this Sat or Sun — Rv15 convoy roadworks run Mon–Thu
• 12/13

  The other dayLoen

  Doorstep classics — Briksdal & the Skylift

  Morning: Oldedalen valley to Briksdalsbreen — walk it (~5 km round trip, free) or take the troll car. Afternoon: Loen Skylift up Mt Hoven (1,011 m), 5 minutes from base. Anchor the Skylift to the clearer half of the day — no view, no point.

  works in mixed weather
• 14

  Mon 14 SepLoen

  Slow lakes day — Lodalen & Kjenndalen

  The quiet showstopper. Drive the full length of Lovatnet into Kjenndalen glacier valley, past Ramnefjellsfossen. Short walks, coffee, no agenda. This is also the buffer — if weather killed Geiranger, it moves here. End with the Alexandra spa (below) and pack for the drive.

  any weather
• 15

  Tue 15 SepBergen

  Drive to Bergen

  Out by 10:00. ~5.5–6 hours via E39 with the Oppedal–Lavik ferry (turn up, drive on, plate-billed). Lunch at Skei or Førde. Check into a central hotel with parking; evening on Bryggen and a fish-market dinner.

• 16

  Wed 16 Sep→ home

  Bergen, then fly

  Fløibanen funicular up Mt Fløyen first (queues build), then Bryggen wharf and the fish market — all walkable. Refuel and drop the car, airport by ~17:00 for the evening flight to London.

The Geiranger day, in detail

One loop, done in order. Fill up in Stryn on the way out — fuel in Geiranger is scarce and dear.

Bookings & reservations

1. Bergen hotel for Tue 15 — the only real bookingCentral, with parking. One night. Book now.
2. Hoven Restaurant (top of the Skylift) — book a table if eatingTheir own rule: reserve ahead. À la carte 13:00–21:00. booking via resdiary or +47 57 87 59 00.
3. Alexandra spa / dinner buffet — call aheadDay access for non-guests subject to capacity; the buffet fills. +47 57 87 50 00
4. Geiranger boat — walk-up is safe100+ seats free per sailing in mid-Sept. Book at geirangerfjord.no only to lock a slot. Adult NOK 610 (75 min) / 660 (2h Silent Cruise).
5. Loen Skylift — no booking neededRuns daily 09:00–22:00, tickets not tied to a time. Adult return NOK 650. Just go when it's clear.
6. Briksdal troll car — turn upDepartures 09:00–17:00, adult return NOK 300. Pre-booking only becomes mandatory 20 Sep. Or walk it free (2.5 km each way, easy). Parking NOK 80.

The Alexandra spa card