Flam: By Train and Kayak

Our Norway in a Nutshell adventure started when we caught a train from Oslo to Myrdal (Read about our Oslo adventures here and here!). We were supposed to have a half hour layover (the plan was to grab lunch) before catching the Flam railway (Europes steepest and also one of the most beautiful).  Unfortunately, our train was delayed from Oslo, but luckily the Norway in a Nutshell plan could adapt for this and ended up holding the train in Flam until our train from Oslo got in.  We didn’t get to grab lunch at the top of the mountain, but the food on the train was surprisingly not more overpriced than food we’d found elsewhere.

The Flam railway was as scenic as promised, with waterfalls and dramatic views of fjords and snow covered mountains. Tip: Choose a window seat with a window that opens, you are allowed to keep it open except in tunnels and it greatly improves the photos.  Unfortunately, much of the view is obscured by tunnels, built to keep snow off the tracks and to keep maintenance reasonable.  Still, there are enough gorgeous views to go around.  You wont be disappointed.

When we reached the Flam Railway station, we hightailed it to our kayak tour, because of the delay we were still cutting it a bit close.  Luckily, Flam is tiny and the tour was a 5 minute walk.  We got suited (or skirted, I guess would be more appropriate) and joined our kayaking companions, the instructor and a family of four.  The kayaks were tandems, which is enough of a struggle, but they also had rudders which required you to use your feet to steer.  Lucas was too tall to sit in back and steer so it was up to me.  Not good.  The instructor told us we had “set a new record” for the most distance traveled during the tour.  Oops.  Anyway, kayaking down the Sognefjord was amazing.  You feel so tiny between the mountains on either side, and when the cruise ship went by, it put the mountains into even more perspective.  We also learned that typically the fjords are as deep in the centre as the mountains are tall on either side. Crazy. Definitely an epic experience, and one I would whole heartedly recommend.  Although maybe not the foot steering option.

We ate dinner at the Aegir Brewery in Flam, which was pricey but delicious.  We split reindeer and beef burgers and a tasting flight.  Then had to go for the desert made with the chocolate porter.  It was all excellent.  Before crashing in our hotel, we retrieved our duty free beers that we’d bought in the airport, and cracked them open to watch the sun set over the fjords.  All in all, a pretty amazing day.