Norway 🇳🇴 - Vatnahalsen/Flåm: Fjord Dreams and Railway Wonders

Our origian plan was to take the train from Voss to Flåm. Vatnahalsen would have just been a train stop between Myrdal (our train 'layover) and Flåm. Who knew accomodations in Flåm were sparse and fully booked? Unless we wanted to rent a house for $2,300 for two nights. Afterall... it was August at the height of tourist season. So I found us a hotel in Vatnahalsen right next to the train station. And pretty much all there was in Vatnahalsen was the hotel! But we still traveled to Flåm for one of the world's most scenic train rides and spent the day. It was majical! Flåm is a village that feels like a postcard come to life.

What did we do?

Exploring Vatnahalsen

The Myrdal switchbacks are the steepest part of Rallarvegen, with a rise in altitude of 350 m over 4 km. The road was completed in 1898 as a construction road for the Bergen railway. The 23 hairpin bends made it possible for horses to pull heavy loads up to Myrdal.

FjordSauna - just imagine yourself on a floating sauna, soaking in some of the world's most spectacular scenery, alternating between the steaming hot sauna and an invigorating dip in the refreshing fjord waters. We did just that! Well... I did. Rob did not 'dip' in the 'refreshing' water.

It's not bad

Okay I got a toe in

Yep this is as far as I'm going

I've been getting toasty, time for a real dip.

Yes the water is very
cold 🥶 55°

Nothing like jumping into freezing cold water and being told I didn't get you jumping in, do it again. 

We had the sauna for an 1 1/2 hours. This was very cool 😎 to do, highly recommend. 

Flåm Beach and River

That young lady just walked
right into the frigid water

Gorgeous 😍 😍 

Hike to Brekkefossen Waterfall about a 1/2 hr walk from the train station to the trailhead. Then a steep trail up approximately 578 steps (.5 km) to a rewarding sweeping views of Flåm and the fjord below.

We made it to the trailhead
Another .5 kilometer

A gate- do not feed the animals

Steps

He went on without me

What a view!

He made it back down.

Now a 1/2 hr walk back to town.

A Bench

A Troll

A nice house

Rode the Flåm Railway (Flåmsbana)

This legendary train climbs 867 meters over 20 km, passing waterfalls, tunnels, and dramatic valleys. The twenty-kilometer-long line between Myrdal and Flåm connects Sogn to the Bergen Railway. With a gradient of 5.5 per mille, It’s one of the steepest standard-gauge railways in the world. The line has 21 tunnels, and several of them run in loops to avoid too steep a gradient. The Flåm Railway was put into operation in 1940. 

Kjosfossen Waterfall a 738-ft. cascading waterfall.

Over the years, characters from locál folklore and tales have been observed  in the Flåmsdalen valley. The Huldra is an underground spirit who captivates travellers with her enchanting song and tries to lure men into the mountains. 

Video

The Huldra did not lure my man into the mountain.  

The countryside was gorgeous.

You could really see the switchbacks from the train.

One of the world's most
beautiful train journeys

The train ride was the highlight of this trip, I highly recommend. 

Tip purchase tickets in advance

Visit the Flåm Railway Museum and learn how this engineering marvel was built through rock and ice. Great for context before or after your ride. The entrance fee is free.

The EL9 was the first electric locomotive to run on the Flåm Railway line. Assembling started in Oslo in 1944 but was first used here in 1947. The transformers for the electric locomotives were exposed to sabotage and blown to pieces by a Norwegian resistance group in Oslo. Steam locomotives were used in the period from 1940 until 1947.

County Governor Ingolf Elster Christensen was strong proponent of the Flåm Railway and garnered county-wide support for the railway as a freight link to and from the Sognefjord. He came to be considered as the father of the Flåm Railway.

Zipline from Vatnahalsen to Kårdalen - the Flåm zipline is the longest zip line in the Nordic region.  We did not attempt but we did watch a dad and his two kids take off. Mom was afraid of heights, she was taking the train.

From here, whizz down the valley at an intense speed of up to 60mph/100 kmh! The tour ends 305 metres down from the starting point at Kårdalen, located in the upper part of Flam valley.

Short video

Restaurants

Grocery store we bought junk food.

Chocolate Bar 🍫 

Just like a Bugle with
Chocolate 

Vatnahalsen Høyfjellshotell our only choice for breakfast and dinner was their buffet. The food was good. Dinner our first night was annoying. When we came back to the table with our plates, two guys were in our seats and acted as though they didn't know what I was talking about and pretended not to understand English. I said, "Fine. I will just wait for my husband to handle this." He handled it and they moved. My hero. lol Having this picture would have helped if we needed it.

Salad

Pumpkin Soup 

Cod, Beef, Potatoes,
Vegetables

Dessert
Apple Cake, Cappuccino Fromast, Almond
Cake

Jams & Jellies

Fruit, Granola, Cereals

Meats & Cheeses

Yogurt 

Homemade bread 🍞 

Liver pate to die for!

Salmon, Dill Sauce, Chicken

Rice, Grilled Veggies, Spring Rolls

Tomato 🍅  Soup 🍲 

Where did we stay?

Vatnahalsen Høyfjellshotell: The Vatnahalsen was built as a sanatorium by Doctor Fretheim in 1896, but was never used for the original purpose. Instead, the building was used as a hotel when the construction of the Bergen railway started. 

Vatnahalsen is a car-free area and only available through the legendary Flåmsbanen that stops at the hotel's own station.

Hotel common area:

Don't forget to move the 
pillow to catch the ball

How did we get there? By Train: We took Vy to Myrdal with reserved seats then Myrdal to Flam with open seating. 

We had a 58 minute layover at Myrdal Station. Myrdal station was built on stone that was blasted out to construct the Gravhals tunnel. For many years it was the longest Railway tunnel north of the Alps.

When did we visit?

20 - 22 August, 2025

"Whether you're gliding through the fjords or zipping down a mountain, Flåm invites you to slow down and marvel. It’s not just a stop—it’s a symphony of nature, history, and heart."