8 days / 7 nights from £1,345 pp
The Norwegian coastline is 2600 km long. The coast is made up of many small islands and beautiful fjords. The fjords are divided by fjord ‘arms’ all of them offering a different type of charm. This tour allows you to discover unimaginable beauty, majestic fjords, snow capped glaciers and mountains. Norway is one of the countries that still boasts splendid glaciers. On this tour you can visit Norway’s largest glacier and enjoy this country in all it’s splendour.
Departures: 01-05 to 30-09 2010
Package price is £ 1,345 p.p. based on availability and two people sharing a double room. Single supplement £ 250 p.p.
Package price includes:
- Direct return flights from London Heathrow to Oslo on SAS – Scandinavian Airlines (we can arrange connecting flights from other UK airports upon request).
- 7 nights accommodation in 3* - 4* hotels during your tour
- 7 x Breakfasts
- Train Oslo – Myrdal - Flåm
- Boat Flåm - Balestrand
- Fjærland and Glacier Excursion (full day)
- Boat Balestrand - Bergen
- Bus Bergen - Norheimsund
- Boat Norheimsund - Eidfjord
- Boat Eidfjord - Ulvik
- Bus Ulvik - Voss
- Train Voss - Oslo
- Taxes
Norwegian Fjord Experience Itinerary
DAY 1: ARRIVAL IN OSLO Arrive in Oslo, the capital of Norway. Transfer to your hotel. Oslo is situated at the end of the Oslo fjord and is the largest city in Norway with closeness to the nature few other capitals can provide. Afternoon at your own disposal. Walk through Karl Johans gate, leading to the Royal Palace and a walk through Aker Brygge, the beautiful harbour area with lots of shops and restaurants. A visit to the National Art Gallery is also recommended. Accommodation at centrally located Thon Hotel Opera, or similar.
DAY 2: Oslo – Balestrand (train/boat) Breakfast at the hotel. Morning departure by train from Oslo to Myrdal, part of the Bergen Railway. The railway connects Norway’s two largest cities and shows the diversity of the Norwegian landscape and scenery. It is classed as one of the finest train journeys in the world. At Myrdal you will change to the Flåm Railway, passing through wild and beautiful mountain scenery with waterfalls and steep mountain sides from a height of up to 900 metres and down to the Sognefjord. There is no other adhesion railway in the world running on normal tracks that is so steep over a long distance. From Flåm you continue by boat on the Sognefjord, the world’s longest and deepest fjord, to Balestrand. Overnight at Kvikne’s Hotel
DAY 3: Fjærland and Glacier Excursion Breakfast at the hotel. Today you will go on an excursion to Fjærland and the Glacier Museum.
Travel on the Fjærlandsfjord and experience one of the most beautiful fjord arms in Norway.
Along the fjord, the old hamlets and farms are reminders of the struggle for existence in past
times. Local busses will transport you to the Glacier Museum, where you will learn more about
the glaciers and how the fjords were formed.
From there you will continue to two different extensions of the Jostedal Glacier; Supphellebreen and Bøyabreen glaciers (not possible to walk on the glaciers). Return by ferry to Balestrand. Overnight at the Kvikness hotel
DAY 4: Balestrand – Sognefjord – Bergen (boat) Breakfast at the hotel. Continue by boat on the Sognefjord and then along the coast in southern direction to Bergen – the Gateway to the Fjords. Bergen is Norway’s second largest city and the world’s only city surrounded by 7 mountains and 7 fjords. Overnight at the Augustin Hotel
DAY 5: Bergen Breakfast at the hotel. This day is at your own leisure in Bergen. Attractions in Bergen include the Hanseatic Bryggen Wharf, Fløibanen Funicular, Troldhaugen, the Fish and Flower market, Bergen Aquarium and Gamle Bergen (Old Bergen Open Air Museum). Overnight at the Augustin Hotel
DAY 6: Bergen – Hardangerfjord – Ulvik (bus/boat) Breakfast at the hotel before departing from Bergen by bus. Just before reaching Norheimsund you will pas the impressive Steindalsfossen Waterfall. From Norheimsund you will depart on a 3-hour cruise on the Hardangerfjord to Eidfjord. The Hardangerfjord is the second largest fjord in Norway, and famous for it’s fruit orchards. The contrast created by green hillsides, orchards in blossom and snow-clad mountains has inspired many, and among them the well known Norwegian composer Edvard Grieg with his famous composition «Spring». If travelling in May you will have the possibility to see the lovely blossoming of the fruit trees. In Eidfjord you will have 3 hours at leisure, which can be spent relaxing by the fjord, exploring the village or you can go on
an optional sightseeing tour to Hardangervidda Nature Centre and the spectacular Vøringsfossen Waterfall, Norway’s highest waterfall (tickets for the excursion is available onboard). The last part of today’s journey is a 30-minute cruise to the small village of Ulvik, beautifully located by the
Hardangerfjord. Overnight at the Rica Strand Fjordhotel
DAY 7: Ulvik – Voss – Oslo (bus/train)
Breakfast at the hotel. This day is at leisure in Ulvik before departing by bus to Voss in the afternoon. During the bus ride you will pass through attractive farmland. In Voss you will change to the Bergen Railway, bringing you back to Oslo (evening arrival). Overnight at the Thon Hotel Opera or similar.
DAY8: Departure from Oslo Breakfast at the hotel. Departure from Oslo according to your own itinerary.