+ winter cruise snowshoes: "Ice & Hike" format
When the cruise ships go into hibernation, the fjords fall silent: the water transforms into a steel mirror, the rocks glisten with frost, and the sound of the engine becomes a soothing whisper compared to the rustle of a down jacket. The winter Ice & Hike format is an absolute dream, combining a silent cruise on a hybrid catamaran with short snowshoe hikes on untouched snow. In just seven to eight hours, you'll be treated to the breathtaking sight of the blue Aurlandsfjord, you'll be able to walk through "champagne" snow to the observation deck and then you'll be able to return to the warmth of your cabin while the ice quietly cracks beneath the hull.
❄️ Classic Route "Aurland Blue" — 2 Days / 1 Night (Dec–Mar)
| Day | Transport & Route | Active Part | Features |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 — Bergen → Flåm | 06:00 Bergensbanen train 3h 20m |
Tea with a view of the white Hardanger plateau | Heated windows — no fogging |
| Flåm → Aurland | 09:45 Future of the Fjords electric catamaran 75 min |
Frosty waterfall pillars, complete silence | Ponchos are handed out on deck |
| Aurland → Stegastein Loop | 4 km / +250 m Snowshoe to viewpoint |
Fjord's icy swirls, beginner-level trail | Snow packed, guided route |
| Night in Aurland | Fjordhytt cabin | Wood-burning stove, rassolnik soup | 16A sockets for gadget charging |
| 2 — Flåm → Vatnahalsen | 08:50 Flåmsbana 55 min |
Snow basin at 860 m | Panoramic windows at 63° |
| Vatnahalsen → Reinungavatnet | 6 km loop / ±180 m Snowshoe hike |
"Moon valley", tea from ice water | Frequent hare tracks |
| Flåm → Bergen | 13:05 train | Drying gear, photo backup | Onboard Wi-Fi available |
Total: 160 km by rail and water, 10 km of snow trail, zero cars — a perfect low-impact winter adventure.
Why it's safe and accessible
● Catamaran "thermos": open deck (10 minutes for photos) and a warm cabin with huge windows.
● Passive avalanche terrain: all snowshoe trails are on slopes <30°, sheltered from the wind by spruce forest.
● Daylight hours: in January — 5 hours; the route is designed so that the active part takes place during the "blue" hours from 10:30 to 14:30, when the sky provides soft, diffused light.
🎒 Equipment: 8 kg on your shoulders
| What | Weight (kg) | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Snowshoes (< 1.8 kg) + telescopic poles | 2.5 | Budget models MSR Evo |
| Membrane jacket 20K / down mid-layer | 1 | Onion system for –4 to –10 °C |
| Thermos 0.75 l + dry pack (~800 kcal) | 0 | Hot cloudberry tea — the best life hack |
| Powerbank 10,000 mAh | 0 | Cold drains camera batteries twice as fast |
| Mini flashlight 200 lm | 0.09 | The blue hour is long, but night comes quickly |
💰 Budget Skeleton (2025 Prices)
| Item | NOK |
|---|---|
| Bergen → Flåm RT ticket (Low Fare) | 39 |
| Cruise Flåm → Aurland RT | 55 |
| Snowshoe rental for 2 days | 35 |
| Night in Aurland Fjordhytt (2 persons) | 750 |
| Total (per person, double occupancy) | ≈ 2,050 |
The winter Ice & Hike is an amazing experience! The fjord feels almost private, with the crunch of snow underfoot and the sound of nature all around you. Instead of the hustle and bustle of tourists, you get to enjoy the company of a squirrel checking your backpack! You glide effortlessly through the icy silence, step onto a fluffy carpet to the observation deck and return to your warm cabin, feeling like the world has shrunk to the perfect proportions of water, snow and sky.
Go for it! Try out the route and get creative with your own variations — why not add an ice cave or an evening gløgg in the cabin bar? And then let us know all about it: tell us how the ice rang under the hull! Your story will become a new part of our best national park hikes Norway catalogue, proving that the fjord lives and shines even in the shortest Norwegian sun.
