9 days / 8 nights - from £1,275 pp
This tour takes you round the highlights of Norway by train, coach and ship. From the Winter Olympic town of Lillehammer, through the mountains to Alesund, along the coastal fjords to Bergen and back to Oslo, you will experience Norway's spectacular nature first hand.
Package price from £ 1,275 pp based on availability and sharing a double room. Single supplement £245 pp.
Tour operates from 15 June - 5 September 2010.
(Tour can be slightly altered outside these dates as some ferries only run during the summer months.)
Package price includes:
- Direct return flights from London to Oslo on SAS – Scandinavian Airlines or Norwegian Airlines (we can arrange flights from other UK airport upon request)
- 8 nights accommodation in 3 - 4* hotels sharing a twin or double room
- 8 x Scandinavian breakfast buffet
- Train tickets Gardermoen – Lillehammer
- Train tickets Lillehammer – Åndalsnes
- Bus tickets Åndalsnes - Geiranger
- Ferry tickets Geiranger - Ålesund
- Express boat tickets Ålesund – Hareid
- Bus tickets Hareid – Måløy
- Ferry tickets Måløy – Florø
- Ferry tickets Florø – Bergen
- Train tickets Bergen – Oslo
DAY 1: OSLO – LILLEHAMMER Arrive at Oslo Airport, Gardermoen. Continue by train to Lillehammer the host town of the 1994 Winter Olympics. In Lillehammer you can visit Maihaugen Open Air Museum, which tells the story of people in the Gudbrandsdalen Valley the last 300 years, of life between the wars in the inland town of Lillehammer and of homes and domestic environments in the 20th century. Also recommendable is a visit at the Olympic Museum and the Olympic Arena (Lysgårdsbakken). Accomodation at Rica Victoria Hotel.
DAY 2: LILLEHAMMER – ÅNDALSNES - GEIRANGER. Breakfast at the hotel. Morning departure from Lillehammer by train. The journey heads north through the Romsdalen Valley and continue from Dombås on the spectacular Raumabanen Railway along the Rauma River all the way to Åndalsnes. The railway is 114 km long and offers amazing view of the passing scenery. One of the highlights of the tour is the Kylling Bridge, the most famous and photographed stone railway bridge in Norway. Departure from Åndalsnes by local bus. The journey goes up the Troll Road, one of Norway’s best known tourist attractions. The road has 11 turns and the highest point is 858 meters above sea level. Dramatic, exciting and the ultimate nature experience - this is the best way to describe it. A short ferry crossing will take you to the Eagle Road and to Geiranger. Accommodation at Hotel Geiranger.
DAY 3: GEIRANGER– GEIRANGER FJORD – ÅLESUND Breakfast at the hotel. Depart from Geiranger where you will embark on the Hurtigruten Coastal Steamer on a 4 hour cruise to Ålesund. The cruise follows the well known Geirangerfjord, with its waterfalls and mountain farms situated high up on the mountainsides, in places you wouldn’t believe people and livestock could survive. Arrival in Ålesund in the evening. Accommodation at Radisson Blu Alesund Hotel.
DAY 4: ÅLESUND Breakfast at the hotel. Day at your own disposal. Ålesund was completely destroyed by a devastating town fire in 1904, and rebuilt again in the Art Nouveau style, making it a truly unique town in Europe. The town centre reveals a lively urban scene with pleasant restaurants and cafés, and the picturesque Brosundet canal with its fishing boats. Sights of interest are the Atlantic Sea-Park, one of the largest aquariums in Northern Europe and the Sunnmøre Museum, an open air museum with an impressive boat collection and more than 50 old houses in beautiful surroundings (entrances not included). The beauty of the town can be appreciated from Mount Aksla, with a breathtaking view of the town and its mountains, islands and fjords. Accommodation at Radisson Blu Alesund Hotel.
DAY 5: ÅLESUND – HAREID – MÅLØY – FLORØ Breakfast at the hotel. Today you will experience the West Norwegian coastal landscape as the journey continues in southern direction from Ålesund to Florø. Departure from Ålesund around noon by express boat. The 30 minute cruise will take you to Hareid where the journey continues by local bus to Måløy. The last part of today’s trip will be a scenic 1 ½ hour cruise between islands and narrow sounds to Florø, Norway’s most western city. Accommodation at Quality Hotel Florø
DAY 6: FLORØ – BERGEN Breakfast at the hotel. Morning departure from Florø by Hurtigruten Coastal Steamer. The 6 ½ hour journey takes you along the west coast to Bergen. Accommodation at Augustin Hotel.
DAY 7: BERGEN: Bergen is Norway’s second largest city and the world’s only city surrounded by 7 mountains and 7 fjords. Sights of interests are the Hanseatic harbour Bryggen, Fløibanen Funicular, Troldhaugen, the Fish and Flower market, Bergen Aquarium and Gamle Bergen (Old Bergen Open Air Museum). Accommodation at Augustin Hotel.
DAY 8 BERGEN – OSLO Breakfast at the hotel. Departure from Bergen by train to Oslo. The Oslo – Bergen Railway is classed as one of the finest train journeys in the world. The railway connects Norway’s two largest cities and presents the variety of Norwegian scenery. The Norwegian capital is beautifully situated at the head of the Oslo Fjord and surrounded by forested ridges. Oslo offers many well know sights such as the Vigeland Sculpture Park, the Viking Ship Museum, the Munch Museum and Holmenkollen Ski Jump. Accommodation at Rica Oslo Hotel.
DAY 9: DEPARTURE FROM OSLO Breakfast at the hotel. Transfer to the airport for your flights back home.