In early May, we embarked on a 5-day road trip through Western Norway, which has become our tradition. The timing is perfect—fewer crowds, stunning spring colours painting the landscape, and ideal weather. We carefully planned our itinerary to make the most of our time and ensure we saw the best sights. Follow our itinerary for the best introductory trip to Norway.
Table of Contents
Day 1 - Sandefjord to Dalen
Our journey kicked off in the afternoon with a 3-hour drive to Dalen. Tucked away at the upper end of the Telemark canal amidst mountains and cascading waterfalls, Dalen boasts a must-visit attraction—a remarkable sauna Soria Moria perched on Lake Bandak. Reservation is a must for this gem.
TIP: Is sweating in the sauna your favourite activity? Check out our list of the top 10 saunas in Norway!
Vrangfoss Locks
En route to Dalen, we stopped at Vrangfoss Locks and Eidsborg stave church. Telemark canal starts in Skien which is located lower than Dalen. To overcome the 75-metre height difference, boats must use 18 locks (lifts). Vrongfoss is the biggest one.
Before reaching our destination, we squeezed in an evening hike to Rui farm, starting conveniently behind a local flower shop.
Sauna Soria Moria
As the sun began to set, we indulged in a private sauna session at Soria Moria— the perfect end to an eventful day. Costing 300 nok for two hours, it was a luxurious retreat complete with shower and toilet facilities.
Overnight spot: Wild camping by a dam in Mo
Day 2 - Mo to Fjellhaugvatn
Setting off at 7 am, we embraced the early morning glow and hit the road. The best cinnamon rolls bakery according to @helenemoo, Mjonøy, wasn’t unfortunately opened yet. Never mind. They make pretty good bakersware at Haukeliseter Fjellstue too, and that’s where our next stop is.
Haukelifjell
The mountain passage Haukelifjell was still covered by a continuous layer of snow, good enough for perfect spring skiing. We enjoyed the winter-like views with a cup of coffee and embarked on the journey again.
Låtefossen
Låtefossen waterfall, an unmissable sight, demanded more than just a quick pit stop as most other people did. You can walk up to the middle of the waterfall. The path starts on the left side of the road after you cross the bridge.
We also walked about 100 metres further to the Espelandsfossen waterfall, which is on the right side of the road and is just as beautiful as Låtefossen.
Another waterfall we decided to see was not very popular Tjørnadalsfossen. Even though it’s basically by the road, not many people stop there, despite its prettiness. It’s really long and has many streams and cascades. It wasn’t the last waterfall for a day.
Bondhusdalen
After passing through the 11 km-long Folgefonna glacier tunnel, we embarked on a stroll to Bondhusvatnet, capturing postcard-perfect views of the turquoise waters and glacier remnants.
The journey continued with a drive to Fjellhaugvatn, where we stumbled upon yet another roadside gem—Furebergfossen waterfall. This is where we found our serene lakeside camping spot, nestled amidst the rugged terrain.
Overnight spot: Wild camping by Fjellhaugvatn Lake
Day 3 - Fjellhaugvatn to Bakka
With the sun as our alarm clock, we wasted no time lying in bed. We took a ferry from Lyngstranda to Gjerdmundshamn instead of Jondal-Tørvikbygd for two reasons.
First, we didn’t want to drive back the same way and we didn’t want to miss out on natural beauty by driving in a tunnel. The decision paid off. Hardangerfjord in the full spring bloom blew our minds off. It all looked just too perfect!
Steinsdalsfossen
Since it was spring and we were in the area with the most beautiful waterfalls, no day could be completed without a waterfall. Another one on our list was Steinsdalsfossen. Uniqueness and its easy reachability made this waterfall one of the most visited ones in Norway.
Skjervsfossen
Did you know that the chances are quite high that next to any tunnel there is an old road too? Sometimes, there are hidden gems on them. Skjervsvegen is one of those roads and its treasure is Skjervsfossen waterfall with popular Instagram toilets next to it.
DNT Kiellandbu
After a couple of hours in the car, it’s always great to stretch our legs on a hike. Knowing there still might be snow on our chosen mountain, we went for it anyway.
DNT Kiellandbu is a small Norwegian Tourist Association hut promising beautiful views from its fairy-tale windows.
Unfortunately, we gave up halfway to it as we were wading through the deep snow. This doesn’t mean you can’t reach it. Opposite! Just bring skis or snowshoes even in May when there is over 20 degrees Celsius.
Now, warn your campervan passengers that it’s not the right time to take a nap!
Driving in the Bakka direction, the mountains start to rise higher and higher, forming a phenomenal landscape with random waterfalls all around. The guts tell you the spectacular fjords are finally close!
We ended our day in Nærøyfjorden camping in Bakka. This time, trust Google Maps even though the road doesn’t feel like leading into civilisation and your trust will be paid off with the most beautiful spot for the night you going to have in Norway.
Overnight spot: Nærøyfjorden Camping in Bakka
Day 4 - Bakka to Breidvatnet
Rimstigen
Awakening to another glorious day, we embarked on a rewarding hike to Rimstigen, capturing endless snapshots of the UNESCO Nærøyfjorden along the way. Even though it was very steep, we took it slowly and reached our goal in 2 hours.
Another activity we would love to do here next time is kayaking. The fjord is always calm, it’s not too wide or busy. Perfect for kayaking!
Undredal and Flåm
A brief stop in Undredal offered a glimpse of the quaint village, famed for its goat cheese. We then ventured to Flåm, a bustling hub of activity offering a plethora of experiences, from the iconic Flåmsbana train ride to scenic kayak tours.
You can spend a full day there and not be bored. However, note, that this day won’t be for free. All activities require an average of 1000 nok payments.
The Flåmsbana train ride has increased its prices and will cost you more than 100€ per person. The train ride is really nice experience in the heart of nature. But if you are on a budget, this won’t be an activity for you.
Stegastein
Our trip continued to the most accessible viewpoint of the fjord, Stegastein. It’s at this point where the Scenic Route Aurlandsfjellet (open June-September) starts or ends. The viewpoint is conveniently reachable by car and offers a view that usually only difficult hikes offer.
Be aware that the road up to the Stegastein is extremely narrow, steep and winding. If you are not a confident driver, skip driving up there.
Since the scenic route was still closed we drove back to Aurlandsvangen and through the world’s longest road tunnel Lærdalstunnelen.
Depending on the length of your trip, this is the point where you can decide whether to come back to the east side of Norway or continue further.
Our adventurous souls were filled with joy and it was time to drive back to Sandefjord. We stopped by Borgund church and Rjukandefoss and drove towards Hønefoss for the night.
Overnight spot: Wild camping by Breidvatnet lake
Day 5 - Breidvatnet to Sandefjord
Kistefos Museum
Our final day commenced with a visit to the Kistefos Museum. The most photographed piece of art is The Twist, a bridge, gallery and sculpture in one. The sculpture park is always open, even outside the opening hours.
As we journeyed homeward, the landscape transitioned, offering fewer sights but no less beauty.
Campervan Road Trip Costs
During our 5-day road trip, we covered 1200 km. The fuel cost was 1400 kr and the toll roads cost was 325 kr, including the 25% service fee. We paid only at one parking lot which was in Bondhusdalen. The price tag there is 100 kr for one day.
The private sauna Soria Moria for 2 hours was absolutely worth the 300 kr cost. The campsite in Nærøyfjorden is 400 kr for one camper and 2 adults without electricity (not needed in our self-sufficient campers).
The last expense was on grocery shopping. All food for our 5-day journey, including snacks and a disposable grill cost 1000 kr.
Map
This map suits only for the better imagination of our trip. Not all the points of interest are there and the journey may change according to the traffic conditions.
Please plan your journey yourself by searching for the locations given for each day.
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Reflecting on our Western Norway escapade, I can’t overstate how great our time was. The only problem is, while 5 days is enough for an amazing introductory visit, it’s certainly not enough time to see everything that the internet and social media sell you. Norway is a huge country where every kilometre feels like two.
