The fjord tour described a guided adventure though wilderness and a guided commentary cruise through the fjord at Fläm to Gudvagen by way of the Fläm Railway. The overall experience was pleasant. While we expected a more hands-on and informative guided tour rather than what felt like a primarily chauffeured experience, we did enjoy ourselves. Here's my review of the tour:
From the moment we were picked up in a comfortable vehicle by a courteous and professional driver, we was greeted with a welcoming demeanor and warm smiles. The vehicle itself was clean and well-maintained, providing a comfortable ride throughout the journey. The driver's punctuality and adherence to the agreed-upon schedule were commendable, ensuring that we stayed on track and made the most of our time. The driver made sure we got to our train in Geilo, we were on our own to Fläm (one transfer). At Fläm, our driver was there waiting for us and showed us the boat we were to take and gave suggestions for eating before our departure. Our driver met us at the end of the fjord cruise where he greeted us and drove us back to our hotel.
The tour's "guided" aspect fell somewhat short of my expectations. While the driver was friendly and accommodating, there was a noticeable lack of in-depth information and storytelling that one typically expects from a guided tour. We were thinking we were going to get a lot of commentary, historical context, and interesting facts about our journey.
Instead, the driver primarily focused on navigating the roadways and providing basic directions, occasionally offering brief descriptions of landmarks as we passed by, and general conversation. While these tidbits were informative to some extent, they lacked the depth and storytelling elements that would have made the tour more in alignment with the expectation laid out in the TripAdvisor description.
I understand that the line between a driver service and a guided tour can be blurred, and perhaps the company should consider clarifying their offerings to manage customer expectations better. If the intention is to provide a primarily chauffeured experience with limited commentary, it would be beneficial to highlight that aspect more clearly in their promotional material. The experience was great and there probably wasn't much commentary worth giving so I would say this is more on Tripadvisor than the driver.
The fjord tour was more like a glorified ferry service that gave some consideration to sightseeing. There was no guided commentary. If there was one, it was strictly inside...who wants to be inside when outside is where you want to be.
That being said, I will say that the driver was accommodating to our requests and receptive to answering any questions we had along the way. His willingness to provide suggestions and adapt the itinerary to our preferences was a positive aspect of the experience. The driver's friendly demeanor and professionalism certainly contributed to an overall pleasant journey.
In conclusion, while my guided tour experience leaned more towards a chauffeured service, the comfort and convenience provided were undeniable. However, I do believe the excursion description should better explain what to expect. I don't think this excursion needed to incorporate more informative and engaging commentary. Given the type of excursion provided, our driver could not accompany us on the train or boat. The cost was a bit high but for piece of mind, it was worth it.
Despite its shortcomings as a guided tour, the chauffeured experience was enjoyable, and I would recommend it to individuals seeking a relaxed and comfortable means of getting to Fläm. However, if you're specifically looking for a tour filled with captivating storytelling and detailed historical insights, it may be worth exploring other options that prioritize those aspects more prominently.
Der Fahrer war fantastisch! Alex war großartig. Sie können jedoch auch einfach den Zug von Oslo S nehmen und diese Reise auf eigene Faust unternehmen. Es ist ein langer Fahrtag und alles, was Sie wirklich kriegen, ist der Verlust Ihres Hotelfrühstücks und aller Mahlzeiten außer Kreis K. Sparen Sie Geld und reisen Sie bequemer, indem Sie den Zug nehmen.
Wir hatten einen speziellen sachkundigen Führer (Agnis), der uns zu einem Bahnhof fuhr, der uns in eine Stadt brachte, und dann stiegen wir in eine Flam-Eisenbahn. Die ganze Zeit sahen wir die schönsten und unterschiedlichsten Farben der Bäume und natürlich das Schöne am Sogneffjord.