If you are thinking about booking a solo holiday, a self-guided adventure surrounded by glistening fjords should be right up near the top of your list. Having recently returned from such a trip myself, I would love to share my top tips for self-guided solo travel and tell you more about why KE’s Walking Norway’s Sognefjord self-guided holiday fits the bill perfectly.

I began my trip by flying to Oslo and taking the scenic railway from Oslo to Bergen, which I organised myself (we can provide some tips if you are thinking of doing this). This train journey makes a great introduction to Norway, especially if it is your first time visiting. You sit back and watch the landscape evolving around you as you glide from Norway’s east coast, over the Hardangervidda Plateau, to Bergen on the west coast. You feel like you are travelling as you see so much over a few hours. You could even decide to break up this rail journey and stop off for a night or two en route at somewhere like Geilo, Finse, Voss or Myrdal, from where you can also reach Flåm by train, or do the route in reverse at the end of your trip. There are plenty of ways to work this self-guided adventure into a longer visit to Norway!

I was looking to go walking amongst stunning scenery; somewhere I had not walked before and where I could fully relax from everyday life by also being able to get around without relying on having a car. I wanted to spend some time in the city and to get away from the crowds whilst I was out walking, then return to a base in the countryside. I was looking for beautiful views and good food where I could feel really well looked after and simply chill out as much or as little as I liked. Norway’s Sognefjord jumped out immediately because of its splendid scenery; I could do some really good walking surrounded by majestic fjords and plunging fjells, stay at lovely hotels at the water’s edge and enjoy the dramatic landscapes of the wider area whilst travelling by train and ferry at either end of my holiday.

It was my first time trying an organised self-guided holiday, having usually planned solo adventures myself in the past. This time, the KE package handled everything: hotels, walking routes, route notes, GPX tracks, packed lunches and luggage transfers. Even transfers to and from the starts and ends of the walks were included - wonderful! Yet, I still had the flexibility and freedom to adjust my travel and linger longer in locations according to what sights and activities appealed to me most.

The itinerary included four days of walking, starting with a shorter warm-up walk, before two longer steeper days above the fjords, with a rolling walk through woodlands and farm land in between. The walks ranged from around 4km to 8-10km on terrain that was rather like finding yourself in a grander version of England’s Lake District – rocky steps, forest trails, stony trails, grassy paths and occasional wooden boardwalks. I would say that if you enjoy walking on Coniston Old Man or Helvellyn in the Lake District then you should be happy doing the walks on this trip.

If, like me, you are into mountain running and have plenty of experience in it, you could even do some of the routes as mountain runs. I personally saved the running for a scenic 15km jaunt above Bergen at the start of my trip, where I had added an extra night to get more out of my time there, then opted to walk the rest for full relaxation. This is a lovely example of the freedom and flexibility within a KE self-guided holiday!

Whether walking, running, eating or sightseeing, one of the loveliest things about this trip was having plenty of time to myself - moments where I almost had to pinch myself, realising I was experiencing yet another wonderful solitary moment out in nature. Whether I was hiking or simply sitting and soaking in the views over the fjords later in the day, if I had to choose a theme for this holiday, it would be that deep feeling of being truly immersed in nature.

Although I travelled solo, there were plenty of opportunities to socialise if and when I wanted to. There were other people out on the trails and whilst it was very quiet compared with some of our national parks in the UK, I was likely to see a handful of other hikers spread out here and there - and of course, you would cross paths with others at some point. Most locals and fellow travellers spoke good English, though I enjoyed trying out the latest Norwegian words I’d learned - krekling (crowberry) and myr (bog)! That would set us off on a conversation about where we were from and/or tips about what’s good to do in the area, it was always a pleasure.

I also decided to do some activities where I would be with other people too – some of which I organised through KE and others that I arranged myself. These included a visit to a cider farm in Balestrand; a guided glacier hike as part of a small group on the day devoted to visiting Nigardsbreen; a ferry trip to Ornes; a visit to the stave church whilst staying at Solvorn; and an evening fjord cruise in Sogndal after dinner on the last evening of my trip, from which I could see where I had hiked on one of the days earlier in the week. I found that another good way to meet other people was just to go and wander around the sights, relax in the communal areas of my accommodation or get talking in local shops. A common theme in conversations was the love for the outdoors and amazing views!

If you have often thought about going on a solo adventure yet have perhaps felt nervous about doing so, choosing a self-guided holiday is the perfect option, since you have all the support where you need it as well as the freedom and flexibility that solo travel allows.

As well as this, Norway is a very safe country and it is not seen as unusual at all for women to walk or travel solo there. In fact I almost feel that, had I not been travelling solo, I may have missed out on many of the inspiring conversations that I had with others along the way.

• Hydration is key: Bring reusable water bottles or a filtered Water2Go bottle which will allow you to top up from wild sources - 2 litres is the minimum for longer walks.

• Avoid single-use plastics: Use a reusable lunch box for the packed lunches provided on walking days.

• Take a sit pad: Perfect for peaceful breaks or journaling during your hikes - there are plenty of little off-shoots with great views just off the trail during your walks and if you are off the trail people won’t come and bother you if you really want your Greta Garbo moment!

• Start early: Beat the heat and the (minimal) crowds, this also leaves time for a post-walk swim in the fjord!

• Trekking poles help: Particularly useful on the longer, steeper walks - even when dry, I found mine a big help.

• Choose the right footwear: Good grip and broken-in shoes are a must for mixed terrain.

• Take luggage that is easy to manage yourself!

• Plan ahead: Research opening hours, local activities and public transport to make the most of your time.

• Remember you have daily support from our local agent and 24-hour emergency support from both our local agent and KE. I found our local agent to be very friendly and excellent in helping to answer any questions I had whilst I was there, assisting with restaurant bookings and taking me to and from walks at the times that worked best for me.

• Embrace the fact that this is your holiday, your way!