Bergen & Fjords: Sauna in the unique Norwegian way
Get ready for a journey in Norway’s most famous landscape: the fjords! This trip will take you on the scenic railway over the Hardangervidda mountains, and down the iconic Flåm railway to the Sognefjord, where you will sauna in the most spectacular surroundings you have ever seen.
With a stop in the award winning sauna in Ulvik, famous for its apple orchards and cider production, you’ll then head on to Bergen, the capital of the fjords and Norway’s second biggest city, known for its rich history and beautiful architecture. Here you will sauna with the locals in the iconic community sauna Laugaren, and stay at the newly opened boutique Skostredet Hotel & Spa.
Get your camera out and your towel ready!
Length: 4 days/3 nights
Dates: September 20th–23rd (before Congress) and September 26th–30th (after Congress)
Capacity: Minimum 4, maximum 12 people per trip.
Price: NOK 13.000 (approx. EUR 1200) per person (+ potential add ons for return travel to Oslo)
The trip is organized by Norwegian Sauna Society (Norges Badstulaug) and offered to participants at XIX International Sauna Congress on a non-profit basis. Norges Badstulaug has the right to cancel every trip for a refund of costs or offer to change to another trip if not the minimum required number of participants sign up.
Day 1
Norway in a Nutshell: Epic mountain train to the fjords
The day starts at Oslo Central Station, where you will board the train heading towards Bergen, on the famous “Norway in a Nutshell” tour. The comfortable train will take you up the Hallingdal valley to the Hardangervidda – Europe’s largest high mountain plateau – to Myrdal. Here, you’ll get on the Flåm railway, one of the world's steepest standard-gauge railway lines, winding through breathtaking Norwegian fjord and mountain scenery on its dramatic 20-kilometre descent from the high mountain plateau at Myrdal down to the Aurlandsfjord at Flåm.
At Flåm, the hospitable people at Fjord Sauna will receive you, and give you a real sweat in their floating saunas with the most spectacular fjord views you could ever imagine!
After the sauna, a high tech catamaran with large, panoramic windows takes you out the Aurlandsfjord and into the Gudvangen fjord, where you will dock and spend the night at Gudvangen Hotel, with a nice evening dinner.
Day 2
Viking village and iconic boat house sauna in cider village UIvik
Start the day with a visit to the Viking village at Gudvangen, before being taken to the village of Ulvik on the Hardangerfjord, known for its scenic surroundings and apple orchards. The locals will take you to Laugarstovo, the old, traditional boathouse that was converted into a sauna in 2025, and the epicenter of the new Hardanger Sauna Festival, which was started in 2026. After an evening cider tasting, you’ll enjoy dinner and lodging at the classic Brakanes hotel.
Day 3
Bergen: The gateway to the fjords
After a good breakfast in Ulvik, you’ll do the final stretch to Bergen, Norway’s second biggest city, Viking era capital and gateway to the fjords, surrounded by its famous 7 mountains. You’ll be received by the local sauna community, who will take you to Laugaren – the iconic floating community sauna. Stroll the streets of Bergen, enjoy dinner in one of its many good restaurants and enjoy the view from the Fløibanen viewpoint.
You’ll be staying at Skostredet Hotel & Spa, the newly opened boutique hotel tucked away in an alley in the historic city center.
Day 4
Morning sauna and Bergen sightseeing
After breakfast at Skostredet, you’ll have time to enjoy the spa or outdoors sauna, and a stroll around Bergen. In the afternoon, you’ll be heading back to Oslo, where you’ll either get ready for the Congress or for your trip back home.
For the return trip from Bergen to Oslo, you can choose between the following options:
Flight at 15:00 (1 hour to Oslo airport + 30 minutes by train to Oslo Central Station)
Day train at 15:38, arriving at Oslo Central Station at 22:27 same day.
Night train departing at 23:01, arriving at Oslo Central Station at 6:27 the next morning.
