Trip to Norway Helsinki-Oslo-Myrdal

Always wanted to visit norway as I have seen some stunning pictures of the scenic nature, mountains and rivers and the beautiful fjords

So I finally got a chance to visit norway in Aug, 2012 with my wife. We took a flight from helsinki to oslo and arrived at 5.30 pm in the evening. We spent a few hours in oslo city center by just looking at the friday evening joyful crowd as we have a night train from oslo to Myrdal starting at 9.30 pm. On a first glance Oslo is a nice place with lively crowd in the city center. After taking a leisurely stroll in the city center we had our dinner in Mcdonalds and no surprises there, it was way too costly than helsinki. before i have visited norway i have heard from friends who already visited norway that it is a damn expensive place and i have experienced it my self. When we visited norway there was some Track maintenance was ongoing and so they had to take us by bus from oslo to Drammen and there by train to Myrdal. The transfer was very smooth and well organized so no problems there. When we reached Drammen it was about 11.30 and our train was waiting. We boarded the train and we had a settled down in our seats. As the train journey was only 4 hours to Myrdal we did not book any sleeper but just had only seats to sit which are were comfortable enough to have a small nap. As train started the train conductor has come to check the tickets and asked us if we are getting down in Myrdal and offered help to wake us up when train reaches Myrdal as it would be 4.30 in the early morning. That was very nice and a great help as we know it would be difficult to be awake especially in the early mornings.

I was unable to sleep well in the train and I got up in the morning by 3.30 to a beautiful scenery with mountains, lakes and waterfalls. That was best scenic sight have seen after being woken up from sleep during a train journey. the scenery was just amazing with waterfall after waterfalls and mountains. While the journey continued through amazing scenery the conductor has told us that the station is arriving in 10 minutes as promised, so that we are ready with our bags to get down in Myrdal.

Short Stay in Myrdal Railway station

The train reached on time in Myrdal at 5.00 am and there were two other groups that have got down with us in Myrdal. It was very chilly and cold in the early morning and we have a train to catch to Flam at 9.40 am. There was a nice warm reception room in Myrdal attached to a restaurant which was closed when we reached. Quickly we settled down on the benches available in the waiting room. I just took a short walk out from the railway station and saw some beautiful scenery. there is a bike trail from the station to Flam also for the people who are more adventurous. The track is called rallarvegen which is down hill from Myrdal to Flam which is easier than the other way.

we spent the 4 hours sleeping and we also had a very nice restroom to freshen up before we take the amazing Flam railway.

Flam Railway

First trip of the Flam railway from Myrdal starts at 9.40 am and we took the first train and bought the tickets on board from the conductor. The whole joureny was just amazing and as the compartment was empty we were just moving from right to left to catch the best scenery on both sides of the train. On the train you will have a commentary about the culture and highligts of the places along the journey. At the middle of the journey the train stops at the Kjosfossen waterfall for few minutes for the travellers to take pictures and enjoy the waterfall which is just amazing. There is also a small act at the waterfall with a lady singing a mystic song to entertain the guests visiting the waterfall. Then the train starts again and time to shuffle between both sides of the train to beautiful scenery and you just cant get enough. The one hour journey ends so quickly that you would have wanted to have that journey to go on forever.