Introduction to Flam

96km (60 miles) SE of Balestrand; 165km (102 miles) E of Bergen; 131km (81 miles) E of Voss

Flåm (pronounced "Flawm") lies on the Aurlandsfjord, a tip of the more famous Sognefjord. In the village you can visit the old church (1667), with painted walls done in typical Norwegian country style. But, believe us, the thrill is in the getting there, not in any fantastic attractions once you've arrived.

The best and most exciting way to approach Flåm is aboard the electric train from Myrdal, which connects to trains from Bergen and Oslo. The Flåm Railway is the most thrilling train ride in Scandinavia, and possibly the world. The gradient is 55/1,000 (that is, a gradient of 1 in 18) on almost 80% of the line. The twisting tunnels that spiral in and out of the mountain are manifestations of the most daring and skillful engineering in Norwegian railway history. The electric train follows a 19km (12-mile) route overlooking an 883m (2,896-ft.) drop, stopping occasionally for passengers to photograph spectacular waterfalls. The trip takes 50 minutes. In winter, about four or five trains a day make the run to Flåm. In summer, depending on business, service begins at 7:40am and runs throughout the day. Tickets must be purchased in advance. The one-way fare from Myrdal to Flåm is NOK210 ($42/£21).