Dreamy, nature-themed Norway travel itinerary for S’poreans who are tired of the office life

If you’re sitting at your desk pretending to work while trawling through the internet for a vacation spot far far away -- Far from your office cubicle, your boss, your coworkers, your lanyard with the key card, and even the instant kopi in the pantry -- This is it.

This is where you should be. 

And by this, we mean Norway.

Come, we’ll bring you on a post-lunch daydream.

Northern lights and wintry stuff in Tromsø

When you think of Norway, it’s hard not to picture the dazzling northern lights and snowy mountains.

And the area that has the highest probability of catching those elusive dancing lights is Tromsø.

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According to the locals, the best spot is near the Aurora Oval, while the best viewing period is from September to April.

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So enough of chasing sales targets. In Tromsø, you can chase the northern lights.

No worries if you don’t know where the Aurora Oval is, there are plenty of guided tours that will bring you to the exact sites.

Take your pick from polar cabin stays to private expeditions here.

Snowmobiling and skiing

Since you’re in a place where the weather is the complete opposite of Singapore’s, you gotta go all out on winter stuff like snowmobiling and skiing.

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Lyngen Alps is a popular location for snow sports because of its breathtaking scenery. 

Imagine winding through the majestic mountains and fjords -- long, narrow, deep inlets of the sea between high cliffs -- while feeling the icy slush beneath your feet.

You can choose to rent the sports equipment, or go on snow safari tours.

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After conquering snow sports, you should feel courageous enough to ask your boss about that pay raise you’ve been meaning to bring up.

Of course, Tromsø isn’t just northern lights and snow activities. 

There are other beautiful things to visit as well, such as the Arctic Cathedral.

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Plus, if you go in December, you should definitely check out the christmas markets, which offer homemade food, local produce, and traditional handicrafts.

To get to Tromsø from Oslo city, it’s best to take a plane ride, which should take slightly less than two hours.

Alternatively, you can travel to Tromsø through a mix of trains and buses, but the journey takes more than a day, and isn’t that much cheaper.

Explore the king of fjords

As one of the most beautiful natural wonders of Norway, Sognefjord is the largest and deepest fjord in the country.

There are loads of things to do at the Sognefjord area, so you should take your time to cruise, glacier-guide, trek, hike, and just relax in the majestic, snowy wilderness.

Since there are so many places to visit, it’ll be good to spend the night at one of the hotels or lodges there.

Cruise through Nærøyfjord

Nærøyfjord is a narrow fjord that branches out from the large Sognefjord, and is known to be the one with the most picturesque views.

And you know what’s one of the best ways to enjoy the landscape of this UNESCO World Heritage Site?

By cruising through the water.

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The two to three hour boat trip takes you through beautiful villages and snow-capped mountains, and is certainly a must-do when visiting the Sognefjord. 

Glacier-guide at Nigardsbreen

Now, glacier-guiding might sound intimidating but we found an area to do it that is suitable even for noobs.

The Nigardsbreen is one of the easiest and most accessible glaciers in Sognefjord, but it definitely comes with no shortage of stunning views.

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You can get your guided glacier hike tickets from the Breheimsenteret glacier museum.

Since you’ll be so high up in the Norwegian mountains with little reception, this will also be a good excuse to avoid those never-ending work emails.

Trek through Utladalen

Besides icy terrains, Sognefjord also offers some really impressive greenery.

The classic Utladalen walk brings you through tons of gorgeous waterfalls in the valley, including the Vettisfossen waterfall.

It is also a great place to have a picnic as there are several rest stops around.

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At 275 metres, the Vettisfossen waterfall is the tallest free-falling waterfall in Europe.

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Starting from Hjelle, the walk goes through Vetti farm, and ends at the foot of Vettisfossen waterfall.

The total time for the whole walk, including the trip back to Hjelle, takes three and a half hours.

Hike to the top of the fjords

If you’re looking for something more challenging, try hiking up Keipen in Balestrand. 

We promise you the view will be magnificent.

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The hike is about 12-14km, and has an altitude of nearly 1.500 m, which is why we highly recommend going on a guided hike.

You still have work to do back in Singapore, don’t forget that.

Depending on which area of the Sognefjord you want to go to, there are multiple ways you can get there from Oslo.

Driving will take about seven hours, but here’s a scenic alternative via different trains. It includes both the famous Flåm Railway and Bergen Railway.

Southern Norway

So you’ve gone up. Now it’s time to go down (literally).

To get to the three locations listed here, it’ll be a five and a half hour drive from Oslo, or an almost eight-hour journey via public transport.

The latter starts from Oslo central station and ends at Båly Kryss stop.

Under restaurant

Located at the southernmost part of Norway, Under is Europe’s first underwater restaurant.

From land, the place looks like a monstrous rock creeping out of the water.

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Go five and a half metres down, and you’ll see this:

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At Under, your dining companions are underwater creatures, and quite possibly, your meal.

The restaurant’s seasonal menu is just as dreamlike and mystifying as its interior.

It features the chef’s take on local ingredients like shellfish, wild mushrooms, and berries. Exotic things like sea arrow grass, sea rocket, and salty sea kale have also made their rounds on the menu.

Here are some of Under’s past offerings:

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Only set menus are available at Under, and they start at 850kr (S$128).

Pricey, but definitely worth the experience. And anyway, you should be expecting that pay raise from your boss, remember?

Just be sure to make reservations at Under. We heard the place can be booked six months in advance.

Address: Bålyveien 48, 4521 Lindesnes

Baly brygge

Just a short walk from Under is Baly Brygge, a peaceful area by the pier.

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If you’re lucky, you get to see cool things like people flyboarding.

Jentan pa Baly

 Another place you should check out in the area is this shop that sells everything from fresh seafood, to homemade sauces, and even ice cream.

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This way, you won’t leave southern Norway empty handed.

Address: Bålyveien 19, 4521 Lindesnes

Oslo city

You can also be in touch with nature in the city of Oslo. Here’s where you should go.

Fjord sauna

Docked right outside the Oslo Opera house, this floating sauna is built with “driftwood found at the shores of the Oslo Fjord”.

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The sauna is open for drop-ins on selected dates, but you can also book in advance for private two-hour sessions. Click here for more info.

Address: Operastranda, 0150 Oslo

Botanical garden

Better surround yourself with lush foliage before you go back to the cold, concrete buildings at Raffles Place.

Head to the botanical garden at Tøyen, which features 1,800 types of plants.

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Be sure to visit the greenhouses -- The Palm House, and The Victoria House. Inside these two places, you’ll find exotic plants from different parts of the world.

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Besides plants, there are also large woven sculptures scattered around the park.

Address: Sars' gate/Monrads gate, Tøyen, 0562 Oslo

And just like that, BOOM. Your Norway daydream is over.

Top image from @pozytywnyskok and @xoxotsumi on Instagram

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But are you ready to make your Norway daydream a reality?

Oslo is now accessible via Copenhagen, Munich or Frankfurt with Singapore Airlines and its partner airlines. 

Return ticket prices start from around S$1,268. Sale ends November 6, 2019.

This sponsored article in collaboration with Singapore Airlines was written by a Mothership.sg writer on her desk.