See Norway’s staggeringly beautiful fjords, lakes and mountains, often traveling by train and on wonderfully circuitous roads, with enlightening tours of villages in between and stops at the most historical landmarks.
Note: This program is not recommended for guests with mobility restrictions.
DAY 1
Upon arrival at the Oslo International Airport, you will be met and transferred by private vehicle to the Grand Hotel Oslo. Check in is at 3:00pm. The remainder of the day is yours for discovering the city at your own pace.
As the hotel is in the city center and only a 10-minute walk from the harbor, you may enjoy a leisurely stroll on your own around Aker Brygge and Tjuvholmen, a popular area with plenty of restaurants.
DAY 2
Following breakfast at the hotel and check-out, you will take the morning train from Oslo through the breathtaking countryside to Myrdal, where you will hop aboard the Flåm Railway, locally called Flåmsbana. The scenery will become even more dramatic, as the railway is one of steepest in the world. You can expect to see roaring rivers carving their ways through steep gorges, waterfalls spilling over mountainsides and tiny farms clinging to the slopes. It will be one incredible vista after another. Lunch is included on the train.
Afterwards, you will drive to the Borgund Stave Church, the best preserved of the 28 stave churches still remaining in Norway. Dedicated to the Apostle Andrew, the church dates back to the 12th century. Its features include lavishly carved portals and carvings of dragon heads on the roof.
You will then continue descending from the mountains to one of the arms of Sognefjord, the longest fjord in Norway. Crossing by ferry, you will then follow a coastal road to the historical Kvikne Hotel in Balestrand, where you will dine and spend the evening.
Note: Early this morning, your luggage will be collected and taken by bus to Flåm. Your welcome-letter will advise the pick- up time which will be much earlier than your check out time. If guests do not have the luggage ready in time it will have to be carried on the subway and the train (there are no porters to assist so guests will be responsible for carrying their own luggage onto and off of the train).
DAY 3
After breakfast at the hotel and check out, you will take the ferry back across Sognefjord to the Urnes Stave Church, the oldest of Norway’s stave churches. This UNESCO World Heritage site church was built around 1130 AD, but the distinctive carvings on the north portal are from an even older church. Samples taken from the base timbers show that the timber was felled between 1129 and 1131.
You will then follow an immensely picturesque route that crosses the Sognefjell mountains between Luster and Lom. This mountain pass is the highest in Northern Europe and has been awarded the status of National Tourist Route because of the spectacular and wild scenery, especially the section in the Jotunheimen National Park.
In time, you will arrive in Lom for a leisurely lunch. Continuing on, you will drive to Geiranger with occasional stops along the way for photos of sights such as Mount Dalsnibba . At the Flydalsjuvet lookout, you will enjoy a stunning view of the fjord and Geiranger, where you will spend the night at the Union Hotel. Dinner will be served at the hotel with the remainder of the evening at your leisure.
DAY 4
Following breakfast at the hotel and check out, you will follow Trollstigen or the Troll’s Road as it snakes and climbs through the precipitous mountains. Most every bend in the road has a name that describes its hairpin attributes or recognizes the intrepid construction crew that built it. The road is narrow, steep and incredibly scenic so just sit back and enjoy the ride through the mountainous terrain.
At Åndalsnes, you will hop aboard the Romsdalen Gondola and head up the mountain to 1679 meters above sea. Here you will enjoy a 2-course lunch and you will have time to take in the views. Back down again you will continue by bus passing through more breathtaking mountains with the winding Rauma River sometimes in sight. Upon arriving in Lillehammer, site of the 1994 Winter Olympics, you will check into the Aksjemøllen hotel for the night. Dinner is on your own that night, your guide will share recommendations on where to eat.
There are some lovely restaurants just a short 5 minute walk from your hotel. A unique suggestion is “Bryggerikjelleren”.
DAY 5
Following breakfast at the hotel and check out, you will enjoy an enlightening drive around Lillehammer, passing landmarks such as the Lillehammer Museum of Art and the Norwegian Olympic Museum. Time will also be allotted to browse the open-air museum Maihaugen, which boasts a collection of nearly 200 historical buildings from different eras.
Continuing on into the countryside, you will pass beautiful Lake Mjøsa on the way to Hadeland Glassworks, where glass is still blown using traditional methods. Merchandise ranging from wine glasses to decorative arts is all produced by hand on the premises. Depending on the day, you might try to blow some glass yourself.
Upon reaching Oslo, you will check in to the Grand Hotel for the evening. The remainder of the day will be at your leisure with dinner on your own.
DAY 6
After breakfast at the hotel and check out, you will head for the Vigeland Sculpture Park, an 80-acre green oasis with more than 200 bronze and granite sculptures of the human form in various positions. Commissioned by the city of Oslo, Norwegian sculptor Gustav Vigeland created the sculpture park over a period of 20 years. “The Monolith,” a highly symbolic piece with 121 intertwined human bodies, is the centerpiece and took more than 14 years to create.
Continuing on, you will drive to the Holmenkollen Ski Jump, a towering monument of steel and concrete that opened in 2010 for competitive ski jumping. From the top, you will enjoy a magnificent view of Oslo, the fjord and surrounding islands. NOTE: There could be long lines to the viewpoint
Upon reaching Bygdøy Peninsula, you will find the Fram Museum. Fram is the strongest wooden ship ever built and still holds the records for sailing farthest north and farthest south (both North pole and Antarctica). At the Fram Museum you can come on board the ship and see how the crew and their dogs managed to survive in the coldest and most dangerous places on earth.
Later in the afternoon, you will arrive at the port and board the cruise ship.
Land Program Details Step by Step
• The order of sites visited may vary to avoid congestion. Program times are approximate, given here for general reference purposes and subject to change.
• Itineraries with the up-to-date details will be issued when you are emailed your final cruise documents 21 days prior to sailing. You will then receive a final itinerary from our ground operator with a Welcome Letter upon arrival or at your hotel. Please review the letter and your final itinerary carefully for further amendments.
• The hotels used for your land program will be the hotels listed in this document unless you have been advised otherwise in advance of the land program start date.
• Guests failing to arrive on Day 1 of a scheduled land program will be considered no-shows and their hotel space released.
Extra Nights
• All extra nights booked through the cruise line are confirmed at the hotel that is used on the FIRST NIGHT of your land program
• If you book extra nights through the cruise line, you will be met as per the flight details provided and transferred to your hotel. Check-in is 3:00pm (subject to change). Meals other than breakfast, as well as activities, are on your own until day 2 of the program.
• If you have an early-arriving flight, you may wish to book an extra night as your room will not be ready for occupation until approximately 3:00pm.
• If you book extra nights on your own, transfers are not included.
DAY 1
Arrive at the airport in Oslo and transfer to the hotel.
Enjoy the remainder of the day at your leisure with dinner on your own.
Check in is at 3:00pm
Overnight at the Grand Hotel Oslo or similar hotel.
Meet and Greet and transfers
• Final cruise documents will be emailed 21 days prior to sailing. The local ground agent’s telephone number will be on page 1, if you can’t locate the meet-and-greet representative upon arrival. Be aware that the representative may be assisting others and may not be in sight when you first exit Customs and the luggage claim area.
• Look for someone holding a sign with the cruise line logo and possibly your name. If in doubt, ask the airport staff to direct you to the meeting area for transfers or to page our representative.
• Meet and Greet and transfers are arranged for guests arriving on Day 1 of a land program or for extra nights booked through the cruise line and are arranged based on the flight details received by guests at least 14 days before sailing. Guests arriving independently before the program start date will not have a transfer included.
• If we have not received your flight details or your flights have changed and the Destination Services Land Team has not been notified, then a transfer cannot be provided, and guests will be responsible for getting to the land program hotel at their own expense. Please immediately contact our Reservations Department for any flight changes before departure.
DAY 2
6:30am Breakfast at the hotel
7:45am Check-out and short walk to the train station
8:25am Ride the train to Oslo-Myrdal
1:00pm Arrive in Myrdal and board the Flåm railway
1:27pm Ride the Flåm Railway including lunch
2:25pm Arrive in Flåm and enjoy free time
3:00pm Drive to Borgund Stave Church and the Stegastein viewpoint
5:00pm Outside visit of Borgund Stave Church
5:15pm Drive to the hotel with ferry crossings at Sognefjord
7:30pm Check in and dinner at the hotel
Overnight at Kviknes Hotel or similar hotel
DAY 3
7:00am Breakfast at the hotel
8:00am Drive to Urnes Stave Church with ferry crossings
10:00am Visit Urnes Stave Church
10:30am Drive to Lom along the Sognefjellet national tourist road with photo stops
1:30pm Lunch in Lom
3:00pm Drive to Dalsnibba
4:30pm Photo stop in Dalsnibba
4:50pm Transfer to the hotel with a photostop at Flydalsjuvet
5:45pm Check in and dinner at the hotel
Overnight at the Union Hotel or similar hotel
DAY 4
8:00am Breakfast at the hotel
9:00am Drive to Trollstigen including ferry ride
Photostops at Eagles Bend and Gudbrandsjuvet
11:30am Photostop at Trollstigen
12:00pm Drive to Åndalsnes
12:45pm Take the Romsdalen gondola and enjoy a 2-course lunch
02:30pm Drive to Lillehammer, photostop at Trollwall and several comfort stops/photostops en route
07:00pm Arrive in Lillehammer
Check in at the Akjsemøllen hotel, dinner on your own
Overnight at Aksjemøllen Hotel or similar hotel
DAY 5
8:00am Breakfast at the hotel
9:30am Transfer to Maihaugen
10:00am Visit Maihaugen
11:00am Drive to Hadeland
1:00pm Arrive at Hadeland and enjoy lunch
2:00pm Visit the glass factory
3:00pm Depart for Oslo
4:30pm Arrive at the hotel
Remainder of the day at your leisure
Dinner on your own
Overnight at the Grand Hotel or similar hotel
DAY 6
8:00am Breakfast at the hotel
10:00am City tour of Oslo
2:00pm Arrive at the port for embarkation
Expected Weather
As the tour covers mountain areas as well as the fjords, the temperature can vary from 5° to 30° degrees Celsius (41° to 86° Fahrenheit). Weather conditions can be sunny, windy, rainy and foggy.
What to Bring
Weather-appropriate warm clothing is recommended, including a hat, sunglasses, sunscreen and flat comfortable walking shoes.
Local Currency
Norwegian Kroner. U.S. dollars are only accepted in souvenir shops, while credit cards are accepted almost everywhere.
Electricity
European standard plugs. Bring an international travel adaptor if you have electronic devices.
Documents and Visa Requirements
A valid passport is required.
Hotels
Please note that at Kviknes, Scandic Victoria and Union hotels, guests may be required to carry their own luggage to their rooms depending on availability of porters.
Balestrand: Kviknes Hotel
Kviknevegen 8, 6899 Balestrand, Norway
Phone: +47 57 69 42 00
Geiranger: Union Hotel
Geirangervegen 100, 6216 Geiranger
Phone: +47 70268300
Lillehammer: Aksjemøllen Hotel
Elvegata 12, 2609 Lillehammer, Norway
Phone: +47 61 05 70 80
Oslo: Grand Hotel
Karl Johans gate 31, 0159 Oslo, Norway
Phone: +47 23 21 20 00
*We will only substitute a hotel in unforeseen situations. If a hotel is substituted, it will be similar and with equal ratings and standards and guests will be notified in advance. If guests are not notified of any changes before departure, then the hotel(s) listed in this program will be used.
Program Includes for guests
• 2 nights in Oslo at the Grand Hotel Oslo (or similar hotel), superior room
• 1 night in Balestrand at the Kviknes Hotel (or similar hotel), superior room with fjordview
• 1 night in Geiranger at the Union Hotel (or similar hotel), superior room with fjordview
• 1 night in Lillehammer at the Aksjemøllen (or similar hotel), superior room
• 5 breakfasts, 4 lunches including soft drinks and 2 dinners including soft drinks
• All entrances and transportation in the above itinerary
o Train Oslo-Flåm
o Entrance Urnes Stavechurch
o Dalsnibba toll-fee
o Cable Car Romsdalen Gondol
o Maihaugen Lillehammer Open Air Museum
o Hadeland Glassworks
• Private airport transfer on Day 1 – is this included for all or is it only group-transfer ?
Please Note: Guests booking their own flights independently of the cruise line are responsible for ensuring that the cruise line has the updated arrival information, so your transfer can be arranged. If you book additional nights independently of the cruise line, an arrival transfer is not provided. If we do not receive flight details a minimum of 14 days in advance, transfers will not be provided.
Program Excludes for guests:
• Any meals not listed above
• Alcoholic beverages
• Hotel incidentals including mini bar, laundry and room service
• Gratuities to drivers and guides
Please note: Land programs that encompass multiple days ashore customarily include extensive and prolonged activity, while those of shorter durations typically have more moderate activity levels. However, each program varies and participants should be prepared to negotiate a mixture of surfaces which may include inclines, cobblestones, sand, gravel or natural paths. There may be a need to climb steps or stairs on occasion. Guests who utilize a wheelchair and those with mobility concerns are advised to check with the cruise line in advance to see if any portion of the tour program may not be considered suitable for their individual situation.
All land programs are capacity controlled and subject to availability. Programs falling under the minimum number of required participants are subject to cancellation. Pricing listed is also subject to change to meet unexpected cost increases for transportation, land arrangements or currency fluctuations. Once purchased, pricing is guaranteed and not subject to change. Land programs must be purchased no later than 60 days prior to your sail date. Cancellations made within 60 days or less prior to the sail date are subject to 100% cancellation penalty. There are no refunds for unused portions of any program. Guests failing to arrive on Day 1 of a scheduled land program will be considered a no-show and their hotel space released.
Prices are per person, based on double occupancy and subject to availability.
