Norway

Upon your arrival at the Bergen International Airport (BGO), you will be welcomed by a Rahhalah representative, and transferred to the hotel. Note: There will be only 1 group transfer from the airport to the hotel. The exact time will be advised in due course. Enjoy the rest of the day at leisure, before the group re-assembles for a briefing meeting. Accommodation: Comfort hotel, Bergen or similar.

After breakfast, you will check-out from the hotel and embark on a guided walking tour around Bergen: the former Viking capital (2-3 hours). Bergen is perched by the Bergen fjord, in the middle of Fjord Norway: an excellent starting point for exploring the Norwegian fjords. In the town, you can explore the UNESCO Bryggen wooden wharf houses and other charming, authentic areas with tiny wooden buildings and narrow streets. A funicular takes you to the top pf Mt. Fløyen offers, from where you can enjoy magnificent panoramic views of the city, while a cable car takes you to the top of Mt. Ulriken – the highest of the 7 mountains surrounding Bergen – for stunning views of the surrounding fjords and islands. The guided tour will include the famous historical sites of the city like Bryggen, the fish market, and a ride up to Mt Fløyen with the funicular (with a hike down). The laced coastal line of Norway, though, is not meant to be explored only from the land. As such, you will join a 4-hour boat trip to relish at the scenic fjord landscape, ultimately reaching Smørhamn on Bremanger island near the Nordfjord. This boat is used mostly by the locals, so, on the way, you will stop at a few quaint seaside towns, getting an additional feel of life in the Norwegian countryside. Upon arrival at Smørhamn, you will be transferred to your hotel in Kalvag (a 5-min drive) for a relaxing evening. Accommodation: Seaside Knutholmen hotel in Kalvåg or similar.

After breakfast, you will drive to the starting point of the Seacliff hike (a 30-min scenic drive over the island). Along the hiking trail, you will enjoy the beautiful Norwegian landscape, while, at the top, marveling at the breathtaking views of the ocean and the fjords. Hiking time: 3-4 hrs. Elevation: 450 m. Afterwards, you will return to the sandy beach, and those of you who are brave enough may dive in the crystal but very cold water. The rest will relax by the sea, basking under the sun. Spend the afternoon exploring the area at your own pace, maybe also shopping at the local shops where you can find traditional woolen products. Or you may choose to join an optional activity: a Harbour Spa or a fishing trip (cost not included). Accommodation: Seaside Knutholmen hotel in Kalvåg or similar.

After breakfast, you will check-out from the hotel and drive along the Nordfjord, using at some point the ferry to cross to the other side. The scenery will be enchanting, as the coastal line unravels in beautiful formations and secret bays. When you reach near Nordfjordeid, you will embark on a unique horse-riding adventure in the forest, roaming for 1-2 hours on the back of the famous Fjord horse. Nordfjordeid is known as ‘the Mecca of the Fjord horse’: a local breed with which you may already be familiar from Walt Disney’s movie “Frost”. The village has a long-standing horse tradition and, even today, there is an active community of Fjord-horse owners and breeders. After the ride, you will continue towards Nordfjordeid where you have the option, if you wish, to visit the Vikings ship in Sagaparken. You will finally stop at your hotel near the lake (the deepest lake in Western Europe with a depth of over 500 m), and you will spend the rest of the evening relaxing, enjoying the serene landscape. Accommodation: Havila hotel, Hornindal or similar.

After breakfast, you will check-out and head to the magnificent Norangsdalen valley. On the way, you will stop at a modern waterpower plant. Norangsdalen is described as the wildest and most spectacular valley of Norway. Its steep mountains, culture, history, and wild nature are unique, turning the place into a must-see attraction for all hikers, divers, and tourists. The bottom of the valley is full of scree. The houses were built into the ground as protection against snow avalanches. The lake known as Lygnstøylvatnet was formed by a rock that fell from Keipen in 1908. Beneath the waters of the lake, you can still see remains of the old road, the foundations of the farmhouses, and the gateway. You will stop in the middle of the valley to observe a drowned farm at the bottom of the lake, and then you will continue towards the small village of Urke from where you will embark on a guided kayaking adventure in the Hjørundfjord (3-4 hours). On the way back, you may stop at the historical Union hotel in Øye, used, once upon a time, by emperors and other royalty. Hjørundfjorden is a fjord in the traditional district of Sunnmøre and remains a hidden gem as it is less crowded then Geiranger. Yet, it is spectacular, with big waterfalls and the majestic mount Slogen towering above, with an almost 1500 m high granite wall. You will use stable tandem kayaks that are easy to paddle and a perfect means to explore the fjords. During the activity, there are good chances to spot eagles, porpoise, otters and other animals of the local wildlife. On your way back to the hotel, you may stop for photos at a viewpoint looking into the Geirangerfjord. Accommodation: Havila hotel, Hornindal or similar.

After an early breakfast, you will check-out once more to take the Fjordcruise from Kaupanger to the UNESCO-listed Nærøyfjord and Gudvangen, where you are expected to arrive at 11.30 am. This cruise between Gudvangen and Kaupanger will take you on a journey through some of the most beautiful fjord landscapes in Norway. You will sail through fjords recognized as UNESCO World Heritage sites, featuring majestic mountains, wild nature, and idyllic villages. So, you will pass by the Nærøyfjord, Aurlandsfjord and Sognefjord, all inhabited since time immemorial. On the way, you will also see small homesteads clinging to the sides of the steep slopes that plunge into the fjord, surrounded by mountains up to 1800 m. high, and snow-covered peaks that stand in striking contrast against the dark, deep crevasse. After the cruise, if time allows, you will briefly visit the Viking village in Gudvangen to get a better understanding of the local life, before reaching Flåm (a 15-min drive), from where you will take the Flåmsbana mountain train called Myrdal to the top. From the top, you can either walk down the beautiful valley to the Blomhelleren station, or you can take the ZIP-line (1,3km long, 300m high and you reach a speed of 100 km/h // cost not included in the price). In Blomhelleren, you will retake the train back to Flam, where you can spend a few hours at leisure, relaxing or shopping. The Flåm Railway has been described as one of the most beautiful train journeys in the world and is one of the leading attractions in Norway. The train runs from the end of Aurlandsfjord (a Sognefjord tributary), up to Myrdal station at the mountain top. The journey features the most exceptional aspects of the stunning scenery of Western Norway. Late in the afternoon, you will drive back to Bergen (a 2-3-hour drive), to enjoy your last evening in Norway. Accommodation: Comfort Hotel, Bergen or similar.

After breakfast and depending on your departure time, you will be transferred to the Bergen airport for your flight back home. Note: There will be only 1 group transfer from the hotel to the airport. The exact time will be advised in due course.