Welcome to our 16-day private driver-guided journey through the heart of Sweden and Norway, crafted by our tour planning specialists to deliver the best of these two stunning Nordic treasures.
From the historic streets of Stockholm and the folkloric charm of Dalarna to Norway’s majestic fjords and vibrant coastal cities, this itinerary blends iconic sights with hidden gems only accessible by private vehicle and expert guidance. Whether cruising the UNESCO-listed Nærøyfjord, strolling artisan villages, or savoring Nordic cuisine by the sea, each day offers something unforgettable.
Destinations on Our 16-Day Sweden & Norway Tour
Day 2: Stockholm – Gamla Stan & Djurgården
Day 3: Stockholm – Skansen & Archipelago
Day 5: Lillehammer via Lake Mjøsa
Day 6: Oslo – Munch Museum & Vigeland Park
Day 7: Oslo – Fram Museum & Holmenkollen
Day 8: Scenic Drive to Flåm or Aurland
Day 9: Nærøyfjord or Aurlandsfjord Cruise & Flåm
Day 10: Scenic Drive to Bergen
Day 11: Bergen – Bryggen & Mount Fløyen
Day 12: Fedje & Glesvær Island Villages
Day 13: Sea Eagle Safari & Coastal Foraging
Day 14: Coastal Heritage & Artisan Visits
Day 15: Return Journey to Oslo via Geilo
A Message From Our Expert Travel Designer, Stacey
“This 16-day driver-guided journey is perfect for curious explorers who want the comfort of a private vehicle and the depth of local insight—think couples celebrating a milestone, multigenerational families looking for effortless logistics, or seasoned travelers who’ve ‘done’ Europe and crave something quieter and wilder.
What I love most is the balance: Stockholm’s stately history, Dalarna’s folklore, Oslo’s contemporary art scene, then that dramatic crescendo into the fjords before ending with handcrafted coastal moments around Fedje and Glesvær. It’s a route that never feels rushed yet manages to reveal landscapes and traditions you simply can’t reach on big-bus tours or rail alone.”
– Stacey Hamilton
Day 1 – Arrival in Stockholm
Arrive in Stockholm and be warmly welcomed by your personal driver-guide, who will be waiting to assist with your private airport transfer.
Upon arrival at your hotel, check-in and take some time to relax after your journey. For the evening, our tour planners will consult with you to suggest restaurants or walking routes around Gamla Stan tailored to your tastes.
Day 2 – Stockholm Highlights
We have dedicated your first full day in Sweden to uncovering the layers of Stockholm’s rich history as you explore the cobbled streets of Gamla Stan, admire royal landmarks, and step inside the city’s oldest cathedral.
Gamla Stan: Walking Tour
Begin your day by meeting your expert guide in the cobbled heart of Stockholm’s Old Town, Gamla Stan — a beautifully preserved island of winding alleys, ochre-colored buildings, and centuries of history.
As you stroll past crooked streets and hidden courtyards, your guide will bring the stories etched into the city’s oldest walls to life. Stand in the iconic Stortorget square, once the site of dramatic royal events, and admire the colorful merchant houses that frame this historic plaza.
Continue to the majestic Royal Palace, one of Europe’s largest and still a working residence for the Swedish monarch. Here, your guide will share tales of royal scandals, power struggles, and the foundations of modern Sweden, all while surrounded by the charm and atmosphere of medieval Europe.
Visit the Vasa Museum – A Maritime Time Capsule
Next, cross to Djurgården Island for a guided visit to the world-renowned Vasa Museum.
Your guide will reveal the history behind the awe-inspiring 17th-century warship on display here that sank on its maiden voyage and was miraculously preserved and bring to life tales of naval ambition and engineering from Sweden’s imperial age.
Discover the Stockholm Cathedral (Storkyrkan)
Conclude your first days touring the city with a visit to Storkyrkan, Stockholm’s oldest church, featuring Gothic architecture and the famous wooden statue of Saint George and the Dragon.
The cathedral offers a window into Sweden’s religious and artistic heritage before your driver-guide delivers you back to your luxurious accommodation for the evening.
Day 3 – Continue Exploring Stockholm
Spend the morning exploring Djurgården Island with your driver-guide.
Uncover Djurgården’s Natural and Cultural Gems
Home to grand parklands and historic attractions, it’s perfect for a flexible itinerary. Visit Rosendal Palace, stroll the tranquil Rosendals Trädgård, or pop into ABBA The Museum for a playful touch of pop culture.
Skansen Open-Air Museum – Swedish Life Through the Ages
Continue to Skansen, the world’s oldest open-air museum, where traditional buildings, farmsteads, and costumed interpreters offer a fascinating look at Swedish life over the centuries.
A local expert can be arranged to delve deeper into cultural traditions, crafts, and Nordic folklore.
Optional Boat Tour Through the Archipelago
For the afternoon, we propose a guided boat tour through the Stockholm Archipelago. Cruise past scenic islands and colorful waterside homes while your local guide shares maritime tales and ecological insights.
Alternatively, we can arrange for you to enjoy a Nordic food tour or a private art gallery tour.
Your driver will return you to your Stockholm accommodation for the evening.
Day 4 – Into the Heart of Dalarna
Join your driver in the morning as you set off toward Dalarna, a region beloved for its folkloric charm and timeless landscapes.
This is a day to truly soak in the countryside, with the flexibility to pause at inviting lakeside villages, cozy rural cafés, and Instagrammable beauty spots!
As you approach Dalarna, the scenery shifts to rolling hills, forests, and crimson cottages dotting the landscape. Depending on your interests, you may wish to visit a local workshop crafting the iconic Dala horses, wander through historic hamlets, or unwind by the peaceful waters of Lake Siljan.
Day 5 – From Dalarna to Lillehammer
Leave Sweden behind as you travel westward into Norway, where breathtaking scenery and charming towns await.
Scenic Drive Along Lake Mjøsa
As you progress toward Lillehammer, your guide will take you along Norway’s longest lake, Lake Mjøsa.
This picturesque route includes stopping in quaint lakeside villages, visiting historic viewpoints, or sampling local delicacies in small farm cafés nestled in the hills.
Visit to Hamar Cathedral Ruins
En route, enjoy a guided stop at the Hamar Cathedral ruins—an ethereal medieval structure housed within a striking glass shelter.
Learn how this once-mighty cathedral was partially destroyed during the Reformation and discover the region’s layered religious history.
Explore Lillehammer’s Open-Air Museum
Once in Lillehammer, visit Maihaugen Open-Air Museum.
Here, your guide will take you through preserved rural homes and traditional Norwegian farmsteads as they bring you closer to the lived experience of Norwegians throughout history.
Day 6 – Arrival in Oslo and Specialist-Guided Art & Culture Tour
Today, we arrive in the Capital of Norway, where contemporary life blends effortlessly with Nordic tradition. Upon arrival in Oslo, meet a local specialist guide for a private cultural immersion in the city’s artistic heart.
The Munch Museum – Modern Norwegian Mastery
Start with a guided visit to the Munch Museum, home to the world’s largest collection of works by Edvard Munch, including his most iconic painting, The Scream.
Whether you are a Munch afficionado, or someone who would only recognize major works, a guided tour here will be of enormous value as an art historian leads you through the exhibition, revealing the artists role in shaping expressionism and more generally modern art and revealing Your art historian guide will reveal how Munch’s emotionally charged work shaped modern art and provide context to the artist’s troubled life and influence on expressionism.
Sculptures & Symbolism at Vigeland Park
Next, delve into the surreal beauty of Vigeland Sculpture Park, an outdoor gallery of over 200 sculptures by Gustav Vigeland. Your guide will walk you through the artist’s vision, interpreting themes of human emotion, relationships, and life’s journey that unfold along the landscaped park.
Oslo City Hall
Even if you’re unfamiliar with Norwegian history, a guided visit to Oslo City Hall offers a fascinating window into the country’s culture and values.
Your guide will bring the space to life, explaining how this striking building, chosen by Alfred Noble to host the Nobel Peace Prize ceremony.
Inside, you’ll explore vast halls covered in colorful murals that tell the story of Norway’s political journey, mythology, and everyday life.
Day 7 – Leisure & Discovery in Oslo
Continue your guided exploration of Oslo as we reach the one-week point of your vacation.
The Fram Museum
Step inside the Fram Museum and board the legendary wooden ship that once braved the icy extremes of the Arctic and Antarctic.
Your guide will share the gripping stories of the explorers who risked everything to venture into the unknown. This visit offers a vivid glimpse into Norway’s deep connection to polar exploration and its proud maritime history.
Holmenkollen Ski Jump & Museum
Take a panoramic drive to Holmenkollen, where the iconic ski jump towers over the city. With your guide, explore the Ski Museum beneath the jump and soak in sweeping views of Oslo from the top viewing platform.
Akershus Fortress – Medieval Oslo Revealed
Round out the day with a guided walk through Akershus Fortress, Oslo’s medieval Castle overlooking the harbor.
Discover tales of royal intrigue, wartime defense, and local legends before returning to your hotel to enjoy your final evening in Norway’s capital.
Day 8 – Into the Fjords: Scenic Drive to Flåm or Aurland
Today, you’ll leave Oslo behind and journey into the dramatic landscapes of Norway’s western fjords.
With your private driver-guide at the helm, travel along dramatic mountain roads, past glacial rivers and alpine plateaus, stopping along the way to explore cultural treasures and take in unforgettable views.
Fjordland Drive with Your Private Driver-Guide
Head west with your private driver-guide for a day of exploration.
As you travel through picturesque valleys and fjord-dotted landscapes, take the time to enjoy impromptu strolls, scenic photo opportunities, or a coffee in a quiet village—discovering hidden corners of Norway that few tourists ever see.
Stop at Borgund Stave Church
En route, visit the remarkable Borgund Stave Church, a perfectly preserved 12th-century wooden church steeped in history.
With its dragonhead carvings and layered wooden roofs, this medieval structure is a rare surviving example of Viking-influenced Christian architecture.
Your guide will share stories of the church’s construction, spiritual significance, and survival through centuries of change.
Photo Stops at Stegastein Viewpoint and Aurlandsfjord
Before arriving at your fjordside retreat in Aurland or Flåm, stop at Stegastein Viewpoint, where a bold glass platform extends over the fjord for a bird’s-eye view of the landscape below.
Gaze across the deep, still waters of Aurlandsfjord and take in the surrounding peaks as your guide offers insight into the geology and ecology of this UNESCO-listed region.
Day 9 – Fjord Cruise & Village Discovery
Today is dedicated to Norway’s majestic fjords, both from the water and the quiet hamlets that line their shores.
Private Fjord Cruise with Local Specialist
Board a private cruise through either Nærøyfjord or Aurlandsfjord, where sheer cliffs, cascading waterfalls, and lush valleys create an awe-inspiring setting.
Your guide will explain how glaciers carved these landscapes and how fjord-dwellers lived in harmony with nature for generations.
Guided Village Walk in Flåm or Aurland
Back on land, explore one of the region’s picturesque villages with your guide, strolling past traditional wooden homes, boat docks, and local churches. Learn about life in these isolated communities and their strong connections to the land and sea.
Visit to Ægir Brewery or Local Farm
Conclude your day with a taste of the region—either at Ægir Brewery for handcrafted ales inspired by Viking lore, or at a local goat farm where cheese-making traditions thrive.
Enjoy storytelling and sampling in a scenic rural setting before returning to your fjordside accommodation to relax.
Day 10 – Scenic Drive to Bergen
Today, you’ll travel from the quiet beauty of the fjords to the cultural vibrancy of Norway’s western capital, Bergen.
Stalheimskleiva Scenic Drive & Lookout Point
We get underway as your driver collects you from your accommodation on the morning of day 10 as you prepare for the journey up the famous Stalheimskleiva road—one of Norway’s steepest and most dramatic routes.
Pause at the summit for sweeping views over the Nærøydalen Valley and capture one of the most iconic fjordlandscapes in the country.
Visit to Steinsdalsfossen Waterfall
Continue west with a stop at Steinsdalsfossen, a rare waterfall you can actually walk behind to appreciate the drop from another perspective.
Along the way you will hear all about the natural history of the region and how this geological marvel became one of Norway’s most photographed sights.
Hardangerfjord Bridge & Orchard Region Drive
Cross the stunning Hardangerfjord Bridge into a region known for its fruit orchards and cider production.
Our planning team will arrange for you to stop at a local farm for a quick tasting of apple juice or Hardanger cider before continuing to your hotel in Bergen’s city center.
Day 11 – Bergen: Bryggen & Mount Fløyen
Today’s experiences are all about revealing historic charm, vibrant culture, panoramic beauty of Bergen.
Bryggen Wharf & Hanseatic History Tour
Stroll the UNESCO-listed Bryggen Wharf with a local historian. Wander through narrow alleyways lined with colorful wooden buildings, once home to Hanseatic merchants, and learn how Bergen’s seafaring past shaped its global ties.
Funicular Ride & Guided Mount Fløyen Walk
Ride the Fløibanen funicular up Mount Fløyen for panoramic views over the city and fjords.
Once you step off the platform at the top, your guide will lead a short walk through peaceful forest trails, pointing out native flora and views rarely seen by visitors.
Art & Culture in the Nordnes District
Return to the city and explore Bergen’s creative side in the Nordnes district.
Here we suggest spending the early evening visiting a contemporary gallery to gain a sense of the modern, artistic soul of the region, while the evening can be spent at leisure, unwinding at a harborside café where local life and artistry meet.
Day 12 – Island-Hopping from Bergen
Step off the tourist trail today as your private driver-guide leads you westward along Norway’s rugged coastline.
This is a day to explore quiet harbors and forgotten fishing villages where daily life flows with the rhythm of the tides. With ferry crossings and winding seaside roads, you’ll uncover hidden corners of the Bergen archipelago that few travelers ever see.
Explore the Island of Fedje
Begin your island adventure with a scenic ferry ride to Fedje, a remote outpost battered by sea winds and rich in maritime lore.
Your driver-guide will walk with you along weathered docks, past the island’s lighthouse, and into the heart of a community shaped by centuries of seafaring tradition. Learn about shipwrecks that once dotted these shores and the resilient people who still call this wild island home.
Visit to Hjelmeland or Glesvær Fishing Village
Return to the mainland and head south to Glesvær or Hjelmeland, postcard-perfect fishing villages where colorful boathouses line narrow inlets.
Local Seafood Dinner by the Water
The natural way to end day 13 is of course with a harborside meal featuring freshly caught seafood—perhaps grilled langoustine, creamy fish soup, or cured salmon on rye.
Day 13 – Wild Nature and Nordic Foraging
Today brings a deeper connection to Norway’s wild landscapes and ancestral traditions. Accompanied by expert guides, you’ll explore the shoreline and forest paths in search of wild ingredients, then taste the flavors of the land and sea through a curated foraging experience.
Sea Eagle Safari with Wildlife Specialist
Set off by boat with a local wildlife expert on a thrilling safari to spot white-tailed sea eagles, Norway’s largest birds of prey.
Learn how these majestic creatures nest in remote coastal cliffs and discover more about the marine life thriving in these fjord-fed waters.
Coastal Foraging Walk with Culinary Guide
Later, join a foraging specialist to explore coastal trails and rocky coves. Identify edible sea greens, herbs, and berries used by generations of Norwegians, from Viking-age survival to modern Nordic cuisine.
Cap off the day with a private tasting of regional dishes crafted from your foraged finds—perhaps wildflower-infused butter, pickled beach greens, or smoked local seafood, offering a deliciously earthy end to your coastal adventure.
Day 14 – Artisans, Culture & Coastal Heritage
Join your driver-guide on day 14 to journey to villages and workshops where stories are passed through hands, tools, and tradition rather than books or screens.
Visit to a Traditional Boatbuilder’s Workshop
Begin at a traditional boatbuilder’s workshop, watching skilled craftsmen breathe new life into weathered fishing boats using techniques handed down over generations.
The scent of timber, the rhythm of hand tools, and the glow of pride in their craft offer a powerful glimpse into a fading way of life.
Stop at a Local Artisan’s Studio
Later, venture into a private artisan’s home studio—perhaps a woodturner inspired by driftwood, or a textile weaver using seaweed dyes. This is a chance not just to observe, but to connect. Hear how the coastal environment continues to shape creative expression, and if you wish, purchase a piece that captures the spirit of your journey.
Return to Bergen with time to enjoy a final dinner by the water, reflecting on the quieter corners of Norway you’ve uncovered.
Day 15 – Return Journey to Oslo
As your journey circles back to Oslo, choose how you’d like to travel—whether by panoramic train or take the scenic journey and enjoying leisurely stops with your driver-guide .
Panoramic Train Ride or Guided Scenic Drive
The Bergen Railway is an attraction in itself, offering stunning vistas across mountain ranges and snow-capped passes, with ever-shifting scenery from forest to tundra.
Alternatively, opt for a driver-guided return, allowing for curated stops en route. Pause in Geilo, a picturesque alpine village ideal for a stroll or light lunch, or take a brief detour through familiar fjord terrain—perhaps revisiting Flåm one last time under different light.
As the day draws to a close, your guide may suggest a quiet lookout point or lakeside café, where you can enjoy one last vista, one final photo, and a few moments of stillness before re-entering city life.
Day 16 – Departure from Oslo
After 15 glorious days exploring Sweden and Norway with your driver-guide, your tour comes to a close as your driver drops you off at the airport for your return journey home.
