Deal

Your tour commences this evening in Copenhagen. Tonight, enjoy a welcome drink before dinner.

With a local guide, enjoy a panoramic tour of Copenhagen including sights such as the Little Mermaid, Christiansborg Palace, Amalienborg Palace and Nyhavn’s colourful wharf. Your afternoon and evening are at leisure to explore this wonderful city.

After flying directly to the beautiful city of Stavanger (saving two long days driving!) stop at Sverd i fjell – a massive monument of three gigantic Viking ‘Swords in the Rock’. Commemorating Norway’s unification into one kingdom in 872, they symbolise peace, unity and freedom. Later, have ‘My Time’ exploring Stavanger’s delightful cobblestoned old town, wooden wharf and the colourful houses along the Øvre Holmegate. Stay two nights in Stavanger.

Enjoy a scenic cruise down the Lysefjord, one of Norway’s most breathtaking fjords, to the Vagabond’s Caves and one of the world’s most iconic sights – Preikestolen (Pulpit Rock). For those that enjoy a good walk, instead of taking the Pulpit Rock cruise, you can hike to the top and stand on that gigantic rock slab overhanging the fjord. A magnificent experience and the views on top are sensational! Your afternoon is at leisure exploring Stavanger’s cafes, shops and excellent museums.

Your journey to Bergen today takes you along the coastal road and then inland through the spectacular landscape of mountains, glaciers and pristine fjords. Hop between lush green islands on bridges and ferries, hug the scenic shores beside deep fjords, before arriving into the famous Hanseatic city of Bergen, where you stay two nights in the heart of the old town.

A local guide will take you on a walking tour of this historic town and the old terraced houses of the UNESCO listed Bryggen on Vågen Harbour. Then, ride on the Fløibanen funicular up Mount Fløyen to take in the magnificent views over Bergen. The rest of your day is ‘My Time’ – where you can exploring this historical port city.

Catching the train, you’ll cross the undulating hills of Vestland, through Vossevangen, to Myrdal where you ride on the world-famous, scenic Flam Railway. After a stop beside the massive Kjosfossen (waterfall), follow the picturesque valley to Flam. Later, take the dramatic Vikafjellsvegen high road across the Stølsheimen plateau. At Myrkdalsvegen, a photo stop for the colossal waterfall that crashes right next to a hairpin bend.
In Vik, visit the 800-year-old Hopperstad Stave church, one of the oldest in Norway. Crossing the massive Sognefjord by ferry, reach the beautiful Balestrand set right on the fjord shores. This is the real Norway, far from the crowds, where you’ll stay two peaceful nights.

A local guide will join you to take you on a short walking tour through the historic village, passing authentic wooden Swiss-style character villas, small Viking mounds and a classic English church with a leprosy history. The rest of the day is entirely free in a perfect location. ‘My Time’ to relax, enjoy local walks, hire a bike or maybe visit The Cider House orchard and brewery?

After visiting the Fjordland Glacier Museum, enjoy a stop by the mighty Bøyabreen Glacier on the edge of the Jostedalsbreen National Park. Departing from Hellesylt, enjoy a wonderful cruise down the UNESCO listed Geiranger Fjord, passing the famous Seven Sisters waterfalls to charming Geiranger where you stay the next two nights.

This morning, drive up the Dalsnibba Pass to visit the incredible Geiranger Skywalk – Norway’s highest lookout with exceptional views across the snow-covered mountain tops. Returning to Geiranger, the rest of your day is at leisure. Opposite the hotel is the Geiranger Museum and there is a waterfall walkway down into town. Maybe hike or catch a taxi up to the rustic restaurant cabin at Westerås, with its panoramic dining terrace. For the more energetic the Storseterfossen waterfalls are a must – here you can even walk on a rocky terrace inside, behind the falls.

Winding up a dozen hairpin bends of the Eagle’s Road, stop at Ørnesvingen lookout where the waterfall has been diverted over the cliff edge on a glass shelf. After a farewell look far down onto the fjord and Geiranger, experience the zig-zag walkway that snakes its way over the Gudbrandsjuvet gorge. Next… the world-famous Trollstigen or ‘Trolls Road’. From the lookouts, gaze down on the amazing hairpin bends and the route you will soon follow down the valley, and to the craggy mountains above – folklore tells you these are Trolls turned to stone by sunlight. Later, continue to Molde. Dinner tonight is in your hotel restaurant with stunning views directly over 200 peaks. Amazing!

Travelling through Elnesvågen (home of Jarlsberg cheese) you’ll reach Bud. Here, make a fascinating visit deep down inside the WWII German artillery bunkers – an essential part of Hitler’s Atlantic Wall defence. Now it is time to experience one of the world’s greatest drives as you follow the entire length of the Atlanterhavsveien – the Atlantic Ocean Road. Voted ‘the most beautiful coastal drive in the world’, this stunning route crisscrosses islands and skerries with sweeping bridges, passing incredible scenery. Your evening is at leisure in Molde.

This morning, continue north to visit Norway’s 3rd largest city, Trondheim. Dating back to the 11th century this photogenic town has colourful warehouses along the waterside, pedestrianised walkways and the striking Nidaros Cathedral – the world’s northernmost medieval cathedral.

Crossing the Arctic Circle, take a short flight north to Bodø (avoiding 3 days of driving!). Board one of the famous Hurtigruten ships to enjoy an afternoon cruise past scenic islands and skerries, into the wonderful Lofoten Archipelago. Disembarking at Stamsund, drive south through incredible scenery to Reine where you’ll stay the next three memorable nights in historic fisherman’s cabins.

Here, in the most western part of the Lofoten archipelago, at the mouth of dramatic Reinefjorden, stay in the village of Reine, set with an almost unbelievable backdrop of the majestic Lofoten peaks rising from the Arctic Ocean. Then, go onboard a RIB boat (Rigid Inflatable Boats) to experience a ride to the tip of the Lofoten archipelago to see sea eagles and visit the giant Moskstraumen – the huge maelstrom whirlpool featured in Jules Verne’s ‘20,000 Leagues under the Sea’. The rest of your day is free. ‘My Time’ to explore your sensational location, maybe on foot or hire a bike? Kayakers – you might like to join an escorted kayaking trip up the sensational, placid Reinefjorden. No experience is necessary, and it is an incredible experience!

At the end of the road south, you’ll find the pretty harbour town simply called ‘Å’. This beautifully preserved village contains a number of heritage buildings, cafés, museums, shops, and the Lofoten’s oldest working bakery. Later, visit Flakstad Church, which honours the hundreds of sailors and fishermen from the local communities who have perished or been lost in the unforgiving sea. At your next stop, explore the ‘time capsule’ fishermen’s village of Nusfjord with its old-fashioned village store, preserved sawmill, forge and cod-liver oil workshop, before enjoying a buffet lunch in the Karoline Restaurant. As a finale, on your way home, take a break on Sakrisøy Island with its fish drying racks and seafood delicatessen.

This morning, visit the amazing Lofotr museum with its Viking Longhouse, relics and treasures. 1,200 years ago, the Lofoten Islands were heavily populated by Vikings and this enormous Longhouse is the biggest ever discovered. A local guide will take you through the authentically reconstructed rooms, where costumed characters re-enact the ancient Viking community life. Enjoy a bowl of steaming, traditional Viking lamb soup. From here the scenery is breathtaking as you follow the coastal road to the iconic harbour town of Henningsvaer. With time to explore, make sure you check out the unusual soccer stadium carved into the island rocks. Later, make your way to Leknes Airport to board a plane for the brief flight to Tromsø, capital of the North.

First stop will be at the Ishavskatedralen – the Arctic Cathedral, standing high over the Tromsø Sound. Later, visit the fascinating Polar Museum depicting the achievements of the great explorers and the harsh life of the early hunters and trappers. The rest of the day is at leisure.

Catch a flight to Norway’s capital, Oslo. Your hotel is located right in the heart of town and after checking in you will have free time to explore the nearby sights at leisure. There is a long, lively pedestrian mall. Akershus Castle and the Royal Palace are nearby. Make sure you visit the pretty port lined with excellent cafés, bars and restaurants.

This morning, visit Frognor Park to wander amongst hundreds of the artist Vigeland’s amazing giant sculptures. Next, on the Bygdøy peninsula, visit the fascinating Norsk Folkemuseum where dozens of historic regional dwellings, houses, buildings and even villages have been saved, brought in and reconstructed. As a finale, see the mighty Viking longboats and treasures in the Viking Ship Museum. The remainder of your day is at leisure in Oslo. This evening, enjoy a farewell dinner in a local restaurant.