Hi we are touring Oslo,Norway on aug 23,24,25. can we get to see any good Fjords/trekking/beaches with 200 Km

Question

We wanted to spend one day at oslo (probably the first day) and for the other two days, we like to see any natural scenaries. BUt everything is very far. We look for mountain trekking, especially good fjords and beaches within 200 km circle in oslo. If you could help us in providing info, which would be very grateful.

Answer 1

The closest of the western fjords is around 250 km away (300 km driving).  It's possible to reach Sognefjord by train in a few hours, though, so it may still be a possibility. There's a very popular tourist route called "Norway in a Nutshell" that runs from Oslo out to FlÃ¥m, where it catches a ferry through Sognefjord, including the UNESCO-listed Nærøyfjord.  You can get more information (including schedules) on the website www.norwaynutshell.com  It's possible to do the same route on your own, and you might be able to save a little over the package price if you can get the discounted MiniPris tickets for the train from their site (www.nsb.no).  FYI - I have the cost breakdown of the trip here:  http://blog.megdesk.com/norway-in-our-ow...

Also, technically Oslo is on a fjord itself (Oslofjord), but it's a very large, very wide fjord and not much like the towering valleys you see in photos of Sognefjord, Geirangerfjord, etc.

For mountain trekking, Jotunheim Nat'l Park is very popular among Oslo residents.  It's around the 200km mark driving, and takes about 5 hours.  There are plenty of trekking routes and camping locations.

Another option is to catch the train towards Bergen and get off at one of the small towns along the way.  There are lots of trekking and cycling routes.  Near Finse, there's even a glacier that still provides a snowy landscape in late August.

Closer to Oslo, it's very easy to take the subway (T-bane) routes out to the edges of the city for a day hike or a quick overnight.  The scenery isn't nearly as dramatic, but it can still be pretty and pleasant.  Popular options include the hill around the Holmenkollen ski jump and the areas around the lakes Sognsvann and Mariadalsvann.

For beaches, the best option is to catch a ferry from downtown Oslo and head out to one of the islands in the Oslofjord.  The ferries are part of the regular city transit system, and most run once an hour.  Langøyene probably has the nicest beach in Oslo, though Norway isn't really known for its beaches (aside from some beautiful strands up in the Lofoten Islands).  Huk beach is the most popular and on a warm day, it's crowded with locals out for an icy swim in the fjord, so this is a great choice for people watching.

Farther afield, there are beaches and swimming spots all along the Oslofjord and down to Kristiansand, which is kind of the domestic summer vacation destination of Norway.

If you want to get out into the less-traveled bits of the country, I do recommend the Lonely Planet Norway book.  Outside the main cities, Norway is almost all small towns, and the guide seems to cover at least basic information for many of them.  We've found it very useful in getting around the country.

For more information on trekking in Norway, check out the Norwegian Trekking Association:  http://www.turistforeningen.no/english/