European Weekend Getaway - Road Trip in Norway

This May Bank Holiday, a contingent of 5 staff members of a private college in Cambridge decided to go to Norway for a road trip on the scenic routes in this beautiful country. Despite only having three days, a 1279km road trip was planned and the challenge was accepted.

The trip started with a drive in the early morning to the airport and the traditional breakfast at the airport Wetherspoons. Once in Oslo, we picked up the duty-free beers, our rental Mercedes Benz B-Class, and started our first leg of the road trip - from Gardemoen Airport to Bjorli via the Norwegian Scenic Route Valdresflye. However, even before arriving at the scenic route, we were treated to beautiful lakes along the way. I will let the pictures do the talking below.

We were wondering whether it could get any more scenic on the designated scenic route and the answer when we got to Road 51 that runs from Garli to Hinsaeter was yes. The snow covered plateaus and the imposing mountains of Jotunheimen was a definitely a sight to behold. Again, I'll let the pictures do the talking.

After 6 hours of driving and stopping multiple times to take photos, we arrived at our pit stop for the night, an AirBnb in Bjorli. As it was off the ski season, this place was practically deserted. The search for food was successful as there was still one opened petrol station that served pretty good burgers. The search for a bar later in the night, however, was unsuccessful with nothing else opened in this town. We did have an abundance of duty free beers and therefore decided to drink (and for some reason shotgun some beers) ushering in K's birthday.

Day two started with a drive up to the next scenic route, the North Atlantic Road. It was not the best weather for driving as it was raining but the additional rain water created incredible waterfalls off the cliffs along the road.

With a cake purchased from a local grocery store along the way, we managed to have a small birthday celebration along the way. We made another pit stop at Andalsnes, having brunch at the Climbing Centre. The route that was mapped out also took us through a car ferry ride from Åfarnes to Sølsnes. Despite the rain, all of us left the shelter of the car to take photos of the fjords as typical tourists would do. It was a great journey, which didn't cost much although I think we did not follow the local etiquette of getting onto the ferry with the car - I think we jumped the queue and instead of allowing one lane to fill up first, we went in front of everyone else onto the second lane.

Compared to other routes we have taken on the trip, the route mapped for the Atlantavegen Scenic Route wasn't as impressive. The countryside and seaside was pretty but not as awesome as the others. Until we arrived at the bridges across the fjords. The main bridge was in fact quite terrifying to go onto especially as it has a blind peak. Compounding that was the arrival of a truck coming from the other direction when we were right on top, on the other lane albeit. Maybe be that's why I couldn't park properly and pulled out the bumper of the rented car (but luckily fully covered my insurance).

We then headed to Kristiansund for lunch/dinner and a quick stroll around the deserted town and seaside promenade (probably because it cold and a Sunday evening when all the shops are closed). Our rest that night was in Oppdal at a typical Norwegian cottage. It was someones holiday home rented out on Airbnb. Getting there was a challenge for the car as we had to go on unpaved roads.

On our last day, after a quick drive into the town of Oppdal for breakfast, we headed to the thrid scenic route - Rondane where the river and snowy mountains complemented each other creating postcard perfect views. This was probably the most stunning views on the trip in my opinion.

It was a long drive back to the airport but we made a stop on top of the ski jumping hill in Lillehammer. The view was as beautiful as I remembered it to be the last time I was there during the 2016 Youth Winter Olympic Games.