Norwegian Fjords

Positioned at the end of Byfjorden, Bergen served as Norway’s capital during the 12th and 13th centuries and retains several royal-era landmarks. Walking through the city takes you into its historical core, where UNESCO-listed sites stand among old streets. Bergen also supports a strong arts scene, with painters, potters, and jewelers active throughout the city. Ride the Bergen Cable Car for wide views of the harbor and nearby fjords. Explore the old quarter, where narrow lanes and preserved buildings reflect Bergen’s role in the Hanseatic League and its medieval trade power.

Ålesund sits among islands, fjords, and steep mountains, and it is known worldwide for its Art Nouveau architecture. After the 1904 fire destroyed much of the town, Norwegian architects rebuilt it in the Art Nouveau style, creating the look you see today. Near Ålesund, you can visit Giske, the birthplace of Viking leader Gange Rolv (Rollo), and Godøy Island, where the village of Alnes faces the Atlantic and offers wide ocean views.

Included Excursions

Giske and Godoy Islands
Duration : 3h00
Travel by coach through Alesund’s Art Nouveau district, then cross undersea tunnels and bridges to reach the islands. Giske is a flat, fertile island known as “Saga Island.” You stop to view the exterior of Giske Chapel, a Romanesque marble church from 1135 restored in 1756. Continue to Godøy and walk through Alnes, a small fishing village on the Atlantic. Return to Alesund by coach. This tour involves moderate walking on mostly flat ground with some gravel paths. Wheelchair access is limited; wear sturdy closed-toe shoes

City Walk and Art Nouveau Museum
Duration : 2h30
Ålesund spreads across three islands and sits near the ocean with mountain peaks in the background. The town center was rebuilt after the 1904 fire in the Art Nouveau style. Start at the pier and walk to the Art Nouveau Museum, located in an old pharmacy building, to learn about the fire and reconstruction period. Continue through the town to learn about fisheries at Norway’s largest fish export harbor and view many Art Nouveau buildings. The tour then climbs to the park at the foot of Mount Aksla, where you see a memorial stone to German Emperor Wilhelm II and the statue of Viking Gange-Rolf. You may choose to continue up Mount Aksla for a panoramic view or return to the pier. This tour covers about 2 miles (3 km) on paved and cobblestone surfaces with inclines. Wear comfortable shoes and rain protection. The tour operates in all weather; if a religious service occurs, the church is viewed from the outside.

A must-see stopover in Norway, located halfway between Bergen and Trondheim, Geiranger offers the stunning beauty of a natural decor, listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site. You will be able to admire the splendor of the sheer cliffs, dark rocks and crystal-clear water that make the place famous, like the majestic and mythical Seven Sisters waterfall. The sides of the fjord offer many possibilities for hiking: the Eagle’s Road takes you up to a steep stretch offering a gorgeous panoramic view. A visit to Geiranger village will immerse you in the rhythm of life in the little local community.

Included Excursions:

From Geiranger to Hellesylt
Duration : 7h00
From the pier, leave Geiranger by coach on a journey of discovery through the countryside in the west of Norway, a land majestic mountains and emerald green lakes. For more than 100 years the Geirangerfjord   considered by many the world's most beautiful   has been visited by cruise ships.
You will head for Mount Dalsnibba, climbing up through a beautiful landscape of mountains, waterfalls and lakes that follow one after the other, before arriving at Lake Djupvaten. A fantastic spectacle awaits as you enter a world of naked rock, ice and snow. Your route continues on up Mount Dalsnibba to a height of 4,930 feet (1,495 m) from where you will have an exceptional view (weather permitting). At this altitude, all the snow-capped peaks cast light on a scene that appears inaccessible.

You will then take a break for lunch in local restaurant. After lunch, you will head to the summer ski resort of Tystigen to capture the stunning panorama. Drive along the shores of Lake Stryn, the emerald-green color of which is so typical of the area, due to the melting Jostedalen glacier that you will see further on. You will continue your route along the River Stryn, an excellent spot for salmon fishing, to Nordfjord and the village of Stryn, where you will be at leisure to stretch your legs and stroll around the streets. You last stop will be Hornindalsvatnet, one of the deepest lakes in Europe at 1,695 feet (514 m) deep. For this excursion, it is advised you wear comfortable shoes and protect yourself from the sun and rain.

Fjord Center and Geiranger Vistas
Duration : 3h00
The Geirangerfjord is without doubt one of the most beautiful of the Norwegian fjords. Incredible mountain sights, summit vistas and a spectacular slideshow featuring Geiranger’s four seasons make this tour wonderfully intriguing. Geirangerfjord’s crystalline beauty is this panoramic tour’s setting.
See fairyland snow-capped mountains, sparkling streams and dizzying heights while ascending a winding hairpin mountain road. On your way, enjoy beautiful photostops such as Eagle’s Bend viewpoint and Flydal Gorge viewpoint.

At Geiranger Fjord Center, enjoy a brilliant changing-seasons slideshow, and exhibits featuring fjord life. The center is meant to be both an information and an experience center. Visitors can discover exhibitions around various themes such as nature, culture and history. The center provides an insight into life on the inaccessible farms that cling to the sheer mountainsides around the fjord.  

During winter season, participants must wear warm-thermal, water- and wind-proof clothes. Landscapes can still be snow-covered in the early season. This excursion involves walking on mostly flat ground with some steps at the Geiranger Fjord Center. This tour is a panoramic tour, including a 1h40 drive. Order of sights may vary.

Hellesylt is a small village located 20 kilometers from the Geiranger site. Here, you’ll get a taste of a traditional Norwegian village. Colorful houses, wooden walkways, rustic stalls where you can have a refreshment before heading off to discover more of the local color. The surroundings are simply magnificent with cliffs, mountains and lakes with peaceful waters. The village is crossed by a river whose charming cascade tumbles into the fjord waters.

Nordfjordeid is a small town lying south of Alesund, nestling in one of the arms of the Nordfjorden and its wild and magnificent shores. Between valleys with abundant vegetation and mountainous terrain, nature here offers a 360-degree view which was conducive to the early settlement of Viking communities, judging by the large number of tombs, among the country’s largest and richest. You may get to deepen your knowledge of the Nordic culture and traditions at Sagastad, a surprising museum with interactive exhibitions and home, among other sights, to the Myklebust, one of the world’s largest Viking ships, measuring 30 meters (98 feet) in length.

Included Excursions:

Nordfjordeid walk and Sagastad
Duration : 3h00
From the pier, meet your local guide and start your walking exploration.
Walk past Malakoff, the old military camp which is now used to host an annual rock festival for the past 20 years for up to thirty thousand people. Pass several memory stones where the locals pay their respect to the soldiers who died in the different wars. Especially the statue «Sørgande Mor», by Dyre Vaa, the grieving mother, depicting the mothers` loss due to a war.

Continue and discover other sites of interest during your stroll such as the old wooden houses with green gardens in between, the church of Eid, the Opera House. While on the walk, you will be treated with a local cinnamon bun and a cup of coffee or tea.

Then, reach Sagastad and the Myklebust Viking Ship, Norway’s largest viking ship that had ever been found has been reconstructed. The ship is exhibited in the Sagastad Visitor Center where the ship was found. There is a digital and a physical exhibition about the Vikings, the findings and boat building traditions.

This excursion involves walking approximately 2 ½ hours on mostly flat ground. The team recommend you wear comfortable walking shoes and a windproof jacket.

You will sail into the heart of one of Norway’s most breathtaking fjords, its marvelous décor dominated by pristine nature, between vertiginous granite cliffs, crystal-clear waters and luxuriant vegetation. Very close to Stavanger, the quiet waters of Lysefjorden stretch out over around forty kilometers, beneath impressive rocks. Admire the world-famous site of Preikestolen (Pulpit Rock), a majestic cliff in the shape of a pulpit that rises to more than 600 meters above the waters. A bit further on, Florli, from the top of its 4,444 steps, is the world’s longest wooden stairway, whereas the Kjerag, with its mythical boulder wedged between two rock faces, provides an unusual and unforgettable spectacle. 

A pretty little town of around 3,000 inhabitants, Skudeneshavn stretches out around a naturally sheltered port, on the southern tip of the island of Karmoy. It owes its growth to herring fishing, the heart of its economic activity until 1870. Today, Skudeneshavn will invite you to relax and to explore its rich maritime heritage. Classed as a protected national heritage site, its old town, built on a narrow strip of land between the Havnafjellet rock and the sea, is home to period residences and boat houses, a museum and various charming restaurants and cafés, testifying to its cultural vitality.

Like a painter’s palette, the former industrial town of Egersund unveils its colors as if to better charm its passing visitors. Its small wooden houses, among the best conserved in Norway, certainly display colorful façades that distinguish them from the other municipalities of the southern Norwegian coast, which opted for white at a time when this was a sign of wealth. Admire the façades of Strandgaten, the former main street of the town, and wander the old district of Hauen, which is now full of cafés, galleries and boutiques. Also make a detour to the Heidningeholmen Church, whose foundations date back to the 17th century, and dive into Egersund’s past.

Included Excursions:

Panoramic Egersund
Duration : 3h30
The charming little town of Egersund, protected by Eger island, dates back to early 17th century. The town used to be the largest harbor in Norway when measured in quantity of fish brought in each. Today, the main industry is situated on Eger island, shipyards and workshops of various kinds.
From the pier, board your local coach and start your panoramic exploration through Egersund surroundings. Your trip takes you inland via the main road running from Oslo to Stavanger. Discover the beautiful hilly landscape dotted with lakes before turning off towards the coast at Heskestad.

Reach Hauge i Dalane where you will enjoy a stop at Sokndal church which was built in 1803. This is one of the few Louis-Seize-style churches in Norway with local rococo-ornaments that were rediscovered during its restoration in 1928. After your visit, re-board your coach for a little detour down to the idyllic Sokndalstrand, which used to be a vital port in bygone days. The dwellings are close to 200 years old and so are the picturesque warehouses along the river.
Continue in easterly direction via hairpin-bends and tunnels through the very special landscape of Dalane. Here close to the coast, the hard Labrador-rock dominates. Descend to the Joessingfjord, a name that became known all over Norway and beyond when the British battleship Cossack forced its way in the 3 km long fjord arm to free 300 British sailors who were captured onboard the German ship Altmark. Your return journey goes via Sogndal back to Egersund.

The team recommend you wear comfortable shoes and windproof clothes. This tour is a panoramic tour including a 2h45 drive and photostops.

Egersund City Walk and Tasting
Duration : 3h00
The charming little town of Egersund, protected by Eger island, dates back to early 17th century. The town used to be the largest harbor in Norway when measured in quantity of fish brought in each. Today, the main industry is situated on Eger island, shipyards and workshops of various kinds.
From the pier, meet your local guide and start your exploration of the town. Discover the residential area along the fjord before reaching the town center for a closer look. Luckily the old timber houses have survived through the ages. There were plans all through this century to demolish the old buildings and put up modern blocks, but due to lack of funds the plans were never put into practice. 

Then, stroll through the streets, passing the old wooden church, before arriving "Berentsens Bryggehus", the area's local brewery dating back to 1895. Take the opportunity to discover this historic distillery, proud of the inhabitants of the region. Enjoy a guided walk of the brewery and distillery and learn more about its production. Finally, you will participate to a tasting experience of 4 different types of beer. 
After the visit, get back to the ship with your guide.

This excursion involves walking approximately 1h15 on mostly flat ground. The team recommend you wear comfortable walking shoes and a windproof jacket. Order of the visits may vary.

Trollpikken Hike
Duration : 3h00
An emblematic rock in the region, Trollpikken stands in a mineral landscape shaped by glaciers over 10,000 years ago. On a hike, discover this natural phenomenon that attracts crowds each year due its shape, which is surprising to say the least.

The history of Trollpikken goes back to time immemorial, long before the appearance of the first civilizations and even before dinosaurs roamed the Earth. Nestled in the heart of the mountains, this imposing monolith was born from molten rock thousands of years ago. Over the ages, the unrelenting forces of nature shaped and eroded the mountain, gradually revealing this astonishing rock formation.
On a guided hike, explore the geological history of the region, between lunar rock and slow glacial motion, revealing that mother nature clearly has a sense of humor.

This excursion involves walking a distance of approximately 4.6 km (2.9 miles) on uneven and sometimes steep ground. the team recommend wearing comfortable walking shoes, wind-resistant and waterproof clothing as well as a fleece, and bringing a backpack. The excursion is not accessible for persons with reduced mobility.

A port city located on Norway’s southern coast, Arendal is considered as the municipality enjoying the best climate in the country. This town in the Sorlandet region has also long been renowned for its iron ore mines: their operation in the 19th century produced a particularly resistant magnetite ore. The Raet National Park, the only protected area on the eastern coast of Norway, is not far away; here, you will fall in love with its raw nature, with silver and emerald reflections, dotted with immense coniferous forests and long pebble beaches.

Nestling on the shores of the Glomma estuary, Fredrikstad captivates with its rich historical heritage, picturesque canals and warm atmosphere. Founded in 1567, the fortified old town still has traces of its rich past. Fall under the spell of its cobbled narrow streets, edged with traditional old wooden buildings, boutiques and lively cafes, and also discover the extremely well-preserved ramparts, built almost 5 centuries ago. Nature enthusiasts will also appreciate the magnificent hiking paths along the Oslo fjord and surrounding islands, such as Hanko, with its idyllic beaches and lush plains.