We will meet our private van and local tour leader at the airport and transfer to our hotel to drop off our luggage. We will then have lunch and go on a guided tour of Ålesund, considered the most beautiful city in Norway by Norwegians themselves!  Ålesund is a wonderous archipelago connected by bridges and spread over several islands that stretch into the Atlantic Ocean.

During the early hours of January 1904 a terrible fire raged through Ålesund. In the space of 16 hours, 850 houses burned to the ground, and ten thousand people were left homeless. Miraculously only one person died as a result of the fire. The town was quickly rebuilt in the period from 1904-1907. The reconstruction of the town took place at a time of economic depression and extensive unemployment in Norway. Craftsmen and architects streamed to Ålesund in the hope of finding work. The buildings are decorated with towers, turrets and imaginative and colorful ornamentation. As we walk through town, look at all parts of the buildings - that's when you will notice all the small details which make these houses so beautiful. Ålesund is a member of "Rèseau Art Nouveau Network", a European network of Art Nouveau cities, including among others Glasgow, Barcelona and Vienna.

After our tour, enjoy free time to explore the town or take the 418 steps up to the Aksla Viewpoint. Get a snack or drink on the terrace of the Fjellstua Aksla Restaurant and enjoy the breathtaking view of the city.

Overnight in Ålesund.

After breakfast at the hotel we will head out on an incredibly scenic 2.5 hour drive to Geiranger, with plenty of needed photo stops! We'll take the ferry to Eidsdal and drive the famous Eagle road to the Ørnevegen viewpoint overlooking the Geirangerfjord before descending to the small fjord village of Geiranger.  Upon arrival, enjoy a brief walking tour of the village and we'll pass by the Geiranger Church. Enjoy a photo stop at Fossevandring scenic viewing platform and ending at the Norwegian Fjord Centre, where you can learn how people lived along the steep edges of the fjords.  

Later in the afternoon, cruise along the incredible Geirangerfjord, with its waterfalls and mountain farms situated high up on the mountainsides, in places you will be amazed that people and livestock could survive. The Geirangerfjord is known as the crown Jewel of all the Norwegian fjords and has been included on UNESCO's World Heritage list. Afterwards choose to hike to Storseterfossen, a waterfall you can walk behind, or maybe kayak or just relax in town.

Overnight in Geiranger.

After breakfast, we'll explore the mountains and enjoy a fantastic view from Flydalsjuvet Viewpoint. We'll continue to the village of Lom, located in the heart of the highest mountains in Northern Europe, and enjoy lunch and a visit to Lom Stave Church.

A stave church is a medieval wooden Christian church of post and lintel construction. A foundation of boulders supports a horizontal wooden frame on which rest four corner posts, or staves. The staves are connected above by a rectangle of beams that complete a boxlike frame; all elements are joined by wooden pegs or by dovetailing. The churches’ wooden doors and finials are beautifully carved. The decorations feature an intriguing combination of Christian motifs and what is often assumed to be pre-Christian Viking themes with animals and dragons.

Next we'll continue to Jotunheimen National Park to visit Klimapark. This outdoor discovery center is located 1800 meters above sea level. As you walk along the 1000m long walkway across Juvflye, you will learn about the climate, history, geology, and biology of this high-mountain area. The trip ends in the spectacular ice tunnel in the Juvfonne ice patch designed by Norwegian artist and sculptor Peder Istad. Carved 60 meters down into the ice patch, it features a network of corridors and rooms – and also a cinema.  Ice samples were taken from this tunnel and sent to the Paul Scherrer Institute in Switzerland for carbon dating. The results came back that the ice was 7600 years old.

Overnight in Jotunheimen.

Today, after a hardy breakfast at our hotel, we will tackle a glacier and ascend to the highest summit in Norway and in in Northern Europe - the spectacular Galdhøpiggen mountain. There is a small cabin at the summit selling soft drinks, chocolate bars, postcards and other items. Earlier, the Norwegian Postal Authority had a small post office here, the highest in Northern Europe, but has since been closed.

Our hike begins at 10:00am. It is an easy hour walk to the edge of the glacier. There will be a long break as we prepare to cross the glacier. It does not require crampons as the glacier is fairly level, however good hiking boots are required. We will attach to a rope line before crossing the glacier which will take less than an hour. After another break, we will begin the only "hard" part, hiking to the summit. It takes most people 30 mins. to an hour, we can take as long as we need. There will be a long break at the top to enjoy the breathtaking views and eat our packed lunch. Maybe buy a coke or a coffee and a souvenir at the cabin. We then head back the same way we came, then back to our hotel to relax and have dinner.

Overnight in Jotunheimen.

It's breakfast at the hotel then off to Flåm (pronounced 'Flome' like Rome). We will continue driving down the stunning and dramatic route 55, northern Europe’s highest mountain pass. Along the road there are plenty of viewing points to soak in the beauty of the natural surroundings. At the Mefjellet stop you will find Knut Wold’s (a Norwegian sculptor) stone sculpture which allows us to view the mountain landscape from a different perspective. Continuing down towards the Sognefjord the mountain region appears untamed. Where the Hurrungane mountain peaks tower up to the heavens then suddenly open up and the landscape changes once again. Towards Skjolden, the final point on this stretch, the road descends to the beautiful Sognefjord whose clear waters change color from green to blue in tune with the light and the weather. 

Shortly after the Sognefjord ferry crossing, the next highlight on our 3 hour drive to Flåm, we enter the longest road tunnel in the world, 15.23 miles! The design of the tunnel takes into consideration the mental strain on drivers. The tunnel is divided into four sections, separated by three large mountain caves at 3.7 mile intervals where drivers can pull over and rest. While the main tunnel has white lights, the caves have blue lighting with yellow lights at the fringes to give the impression of a sunrise.

About 10 to 15 minutes after exiting the tunnel we will arrive in Flåm. There we will take the Flamsbana train up the valley to Myrdal Station, widely recognized as one of the most beautiful rail journeys in the world.. The Flamsbana is a train line connecting the Sognefjord to the Bergen Line at Myrdal Station which can only be accessed by train. There are ten stations on this line, twenty tunnels, one bridge, stunning views and waterfalls. Myrdal Station is where we will mount our bicycles and ride down a path to the Rallarvegen, a road built to access and construct the railroad. Most of this road is closed to cars. On the way down we can stop at Rallarrosa Stølsysteri farm where you can get a snack of meats and freshly made goat cheese. Our 2 to 3 hour ride down the valley (depending on how many times we stop to admire the views) will end in the village of Flåm where we began. There you will have time to explore the town, get some dinner and visit the Ægir Brewery for a tasting. *If you do not want to bike ride, you can just take the train back down*

At 7, we will board the Ferry to Gudvangen, traveling through Nærøyfjord, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The Nærøyfjord is an adventure that UNESCO describes as "the most scenically outstanding landscapes in the world.” The fjord is steep and deep, shallow and wide, wild and gentle. Breath in the fresh air, listen to the silence, to the nature, to the sounds from the waterfalls and the fjord.

Overnight in Gudvangen.

Breakfast at the hotel then a 2-hour drive to Bergen, the second  largest city in Norway, serving as the country’s capital from 1200 till 1299. It’s known as the “gateway to the fjords” and surrounded by 7 mountains and 7 fjords.

On the way we will stop in the small village of Dale (pronounced Dolla) and tour the Dale of Norway Factory Outlet and Museum. The village of Dale is nestled between steep mountains on the west coast of Norway, between Bergen and Voss. The historic Factory was founded in this valley utilizing the natural power of the local waterfalls, and the community of Dale was built as a result of this industry. Dale of Norway is one of the few textile industries that still produces in Norway. We will visit the “living museum” to learn about the history of the village and the Factory, and you will see how the iconic sweaters are made today from design to a finished garment. If you are in the market for a traditional, well-made Norwegian sweater, this is the place to go. Afterwards, you can shop at their store which carries everything they make and also offers a large selection of sweaters, coats, and accessories at a 50% discount (plus tax savings too!).

Once in Bergen, we will have lunch then go on a Guided tour of Bergen. We will visit sites such as the Bergenhus Fortress, and Custom House pier to view the city center and harbor.  Its Bryggen wharf with its multi-colored clapboard houses will make you feel like you’re back in medieval Norway. You may also choose to take a ride on the funicular up Mount Fløyen for a magnificent view of the city.

Overnight in Bergen.

After breakfast at our hotel we make our way to Stavanger located on the southern coast. Stavanger is a university city and home to a number of institutions of higher education and research. This is reflected in the city’s lively atmosphere, and various assortment of shopping and dining opportunities. It is also Europe’s oil and energy capital. This industry attracts different nationalities to the region, making it a highly international destination. Old Stavanger offers Europe’s best preserved wooden house settlement, consisting of more than 170 white wooden houses.

On our way to Stavanger, after a fun 40 minute ferry ride through the islands, we'll stop in the charming seaside town of Haugesund for lunch. Then on to nearby Avaldsnes, homeland of Viking Kings. This is the area where Vikings used to live and where the Viking Kings had their Royal seat. For 3000 years princes and kings ruled at Avaldsnes and controlled the ships that were forced to sail through the narrow strait Karmsund along “Nordvegen” – “the way to the north”, the shipping route that gave Norway its name. In Avaldsnes we will visit Olav’s Church and “Mary’s Needle”, Nordvegen History Center and The Viking Farm.

We then have a 2-hour journey including another super scenic ferry ride on the way to Stavanger where we will check in to our hotel.

Overnight in Stavanger.

After breakfast at the hotel, we will drive 1.5 hours from Stavanger to Pulpit Rock, or Preikestolen in Norwegian, which is one of the most famous and iconic attractions in Norway. The viewing platform of about 25×25 meters towers 604 meters above the Lysefjord, and was probably formed by melting frost 10,000 years ago. Lonely Planet describes it as the number one most breathtaking viewing platform in the world. The Lysefjord is not only long and narrow, in places it is as deep as the mountains are high! Our hike will meander through rocky meadows and beautiful pine forests. You won't be disappointed when you reach the "pulpit" with it's dizzying heights, and epic postcard-perfect view of Lysefjord. After our hike back to the trailhead we will transfer back to Stavanger for a free evening and our last dinner in Norway.

Option:  Instead of the hike, feel free to spend your last day relaxing in Stavanger. Go shopping, visit a museum, enjoy a harbor-side cafe or maybe rent a bike to see more of the city.

Overnight in Stavanger.

Sadly today we must leave the grandeur and majesty of this Norewegian wonderland and its fabulous fjords behind. We will have an early breakfast then transfer to the Stavanger airport for our flight home.