Begin your adventure by spending the day in Oslo. Hemmed in by the fjord and surrounded by forests, Oslo blends old and new architecture into a stunning cityscape. It's a very walkable city with lots of museums and outdoor attractions. The National Gallery of Art contains a collection of 19th and 20th century Norwegian art, including Edvard Munch's famous painting "The Scream." The new Opera House on the waterfront is a bold architectural statement, on its way to becoming an iconic European building. The Viking Ship Museum houses two Viking longships that were built in the 9th century and later buried in ceremonial mounds; they were excavated in the early 20th century. A separate museum houses Kon-Tiki, the famous raft which Thor Heyerdahl used to cross the Pacific. The Vigeland Park is the world's largest sculpture park, with over 200 sculptures by Gustav Vigeland. Oslo's excellent public transport system will enable you to see as many of these attractions as you care to reach.

(Accommodations, Oslo)

After breakfast, you'll take the scenic rail journey from Oslo to the mountain station of Mrydal. Here you'll transfer to the Bergen Railway for the scenic rail trip to Flåm, nestled on the shores of the fjord. This rail trip, although only about 12 miles long, takes you past some of the most breathtaking scenery in Europe, with views of thundering waterfalls, high mountains, and the distant fjord. The train moves slowly, and stops so you can take in the amazing views. This evening you'll overnight in Flåm. Spend some time walking around this village at the head of the Songnefored—the longest and deepest in Europe.

(Breakfast, Oslo; Accommodations, Flåm)

After breakfast, you'll board the ferry where you can enjoy views of splendid Norwegian fjords - now on UNESCOs World Heritage List. From Aurlandsfjord and into the Naeroyfjord, the narrowest fjord in Europe. Surrounded by mountains of up to 1,800 meters high, this branch of the Sognefjord is amazingly beautiful. Then the boat moors at Gudvangen. From here you'll take a coach for the next segment of your journey, as you continue up the steep and spectacular hairpin bends of Stalheimskleiva, on the steepest road in Europe. After enjoying the wonderful views of the Stalheimsfossen and Sivlefossen waterfalls, there is a short stop at the hotel to enjoy the views before the journey continues to Voss, the "adventure capital of Norway," surrounded by mountains, lakes, rivers and fjords. Here you'll again board a train for the 60-mile trip to Bergen on Norway's western coast. Bergen is a charming city with much history; its oldest buildings are in the old Hanseatic port district of Bryggen. For 400 years, Bergen was an important part of the Hanseatic League which dominated trade in the North Sea and Baltic Sea regions. The History Museum has several exhibits that document this period. If you're a music lover, you might visit the Edvard Grieg Museum, once the home of Norway's most famous composer.

(Breakfast, Flåm; Accommodations, Bergen)

After breakfast at your hotel, continue your explorations of Bergen, or head for your next Avanti adventure.

(Breakfast, Bergen)