Compare Norway Fjord Trekking by G Adventures vs Norwegian Fjords & Coastal Treasures - Westbound 2022 by Tauck
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| Trip |
5 | Excellent
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4 | Great
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| Duration | 7 days | 10 days |
| Price From | $ 2,464 | $ 8,990 |
| Price Per Day | $ 352 | $ 899 |
| Highlights |
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| Trip Style | Small group tour | Small ship cruise |
| Lodging Level | Basic | Premium |
| Physical Level |
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| Travel Themes |
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| Countries Visited | ||
| Cities and Attractions |
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| Flights & Transport | Ground transport included | No |
| Activities | N/A |
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| Meals Included | 6 breakfasts | N/A |
| Description |
The Vikings were some of the toughest people to ever walk this earth, and looking at the land that spawned them, it’s not hard to see why. Carved by the relentless North Atlantic for eons, the Norwegian fjordlands are a challenge that beckons hikers and mountaineers of all ages and abilities. This trip will put you on intimate terms with the great green hills, monstrous peaks, enormous glaciers, and flat-out gorgeous scenery of this isolated chunk of Scandinavia. Lace up your hiking boots and set forth in search of your own personal Valhalla. |
Explore spectacular fjord country and Norwegian culture past and present on a seven-night Norwegian fjords cruise aboard Le Dumont d'Urville – sailing between Oslo and Bergen – stay one night at a downtown hotel in both historic cities, and spend a day in Göteborg, Sweden. |
Day 1 Bergen
Arrive at any time. Meet your group for a welcome meeting before heading out for an orientation walk of Bergen.
If you wish to explore Bergen before your tour begins, consider booking pre-tour accommodation with us. Please speak to a G Adventures representative about booking accommodations in Bergen before Day 1 of this itinerary.
Day 2 Bergen/Odda
Enjoy breakfast in the beautiful city of Bergen. Transfer by ferry and private vehicle along the Hardangerfjord to Odda, the base in the heart of the fjords. Enjoy an introductory hike.
Day 3 Odda
Known as the Valley of the Waterfalls, Oddadalen is a spectacular wooded ravine adorned with numerous beautiful waterfalls. Stretch your legs on a 10km (6.2 mi) hike along the Buerdalen valley. Consider today’s hike a warm-up to prepare for our full day Trolltunga excursion on Day 6.
Day 4 Odda/Folgefonna Glacier/Odda
Join an expert local guide for a hike across the frozen landscape of the Folgefonna Glacier. Strap on crampons, head out on the ice and take in spectacular views of the glacier.
Day 5 Odda
Enjoy free time today to relax in the beauty of the surrounding fjords, or opt to partake in any of the many activities this area has to offer.
Set in the breathtaking location of the Atlantic fjordlands, Odda is an ideal place to take a day off from hiking. For those looking to recharge today, opt to wander the quaint town that lines the coast with its multi-coloured residences or take a rib boat ride on the fjords. For those who are itching to get back out into the wild, take in the views from a bike or kayak, or consider preparing for your Trolltunga Hike by booking the Via Ferrata Sunset/Sunrise Extension for an enchanting night in the Sunrise Dome perched high above Lake Ringedalsvatnet.
Please note that if you choose to book the optional Trolltunga Via Ferrata Sunset/Sunrise Combo Upgrade on Day 5 of the tour, the transfers there and back are not included and cost approximately an additional £25 per person. This price covers the transportation both ways. For the upgraded Trolltunga experience it is recommended travellers bring a 30L day pack to carry additional supplies necessary on this option of the hike.
Day 6 Odda/Trolltunga/Odda
Gear up for the highlight of the week – a challenging full-day journey up to the most famous rock formation in Norway. Trolltunga (the "Troll's Tongue") grants breathtaking views from 700m (2,296 ft) above the Ringedalsvatnet lake.
Trolltunga is one of this area's most popular and challenging hiking destinations. It requires preparation from hikers. Prepare for 10-12 hours of hiking and rock climbing on a route almost completely on a gradient. Should you decide to opt out of the via ferrata route, you are welcome to do the hike only. Compared with our full-day hike early in the week, Trolltunga will physically demand more - with the reward of unrivalled views.
Day 7 Odda/Bergen
Leaving Odda behind, take a bus to Bergen. Trip ends on arrival in Bergen.
This tour will end upon arrival in Bergen. We suggest booking any onward travel for no earlier than 4:30pm. If you wish to extend your stay in Bergen, consider booking post-tour accommodation with us. Please speak to a G Adventures representative about booking accommodations in Bergen after your tour ends.
Day 1 Welcome to Oslo
Tour begins: 6:00 PM, Grand Hotel Oslo or Hotel Bristol Oslo. A transfer is included upon arrival from Oslo Airport to Grand Hotel Oslo or Hotel Bristol Oslo. Please join us for a welcome reception and dinner this evening.
MEALS : D
LODGING : Grand Hotel Oslo
PORTOFCALL : Oslo, Norway
Day 2 Adventurers & Visionaries
Set off to discover some of Norway's greatest heroes – from Arctic exploration to the arts. An Oslo city tour brings you to the Fram Museum, a reminder that Norway is an Arctic nation; more than 40% of it lies north of the Arctic Circle, and naturally Norwegians have undertaken many important polar expeditions over the centuries. The museum chronicles some of the most famous, and its centerpiece is the wooden polar ship Fram, used on three historic expeditions, including Roald Amundsen's voyage to Antarctica. Go onboard and take a look around her cabins, lounges, cargo hold and engine room. A guided walk around Frogner Park introduces you to the work of Norway's most beloved sculptor, Gustav Vigeland; more than 200 of his granite and bronze human figures fill the palatial and popular park with life and emotion, capturing the free-spirited sensibility of the Norwegians, their strong connection to nature, and their willingness to embrace the totality of human experience. And at the Kon-Tiki Museum, discover objects from Thor Heyerdahl's world famous expeditions including the original Kon-Tiki raft and the papyrus boat Ra II. Lunch is at a local restaurant. This afternoon, embark your vessel in Oslo and settle in. Your yacht sails for Göteborg, Sweden tonight.
MEALS : B, L, D
LODGING : Le Dumont d'Urville
PORTOFCALL : Oslo, Norway
Day 3 Sweden for a Day
Spend a relaxing morning at sea cruising south along Sweden's craggy west coast in the Skagerrak Strait en route to Göteborg. Your Tauck Director team shares insights and information about the region's geography, marine life, history, economics, politics, and more. After lunch onboard ship, disembark for an afternoon in clean, green Göteborg, Sweden's second largest city, laced with canals and dotted with parks. On both choices of sightseeing here, you'll explore the lively Långgatorna neighborhood, a hive of homegrown fashion labels, indie bands, and craft beer bars – and for contrast, see Kungsportsavenyn, the city's elegant main avenue inspired by the Champs Élysées. But you'll also choose between a tour of Göteborg's Volvo Museum, taking you on a trip through a unique piece of Swedish 20th- and 21st-century history and design; and a visit to Botaniska, Goteborg's Botanical Garden, one of the largest in Europe. This evening aboard ship, join us for the captain's welcome reception and dinner as you sail across the Skagerrak Strait to Arendal, Norway.
MEALS : B, L, D
LODGING : Le Dumont d'Urville
PORTOFCALL : Göteborg, Sweden
Day 4 The seaport town of Arendal
This morning your ship arrives in Arendal, a popular seaport town on Norway's southern coast. Established in the mid-1500s, Arendal's historic center contains an area called Tyholmen, containing a number of wooden houses dating back to the 17th century; the inner harbor area, Pollen; and the beautiful 19th-century Trinity Church. Discover the town on a guided walking tour and during some free time to explore on your own. All aboard early this afternoon, as your yacht sails north along the North Sea coast for Stavanger.
MEALS : B, L, D
LODGING : Le Dumont d'Urville
Day 5 Stavanger Old and New
Welcome to the port city of Stavanger, Norway's oil capital on the oil-rich North Sea and a lively university town, for a choice of sightseeing. You may choose an overview tour of the city, on which you'll visit massive Swords in Rock, a powerful symbol of unity and peace that commemorates the battle of Hafrsfjord in 872, when Harald Fairhair united Norway as one kingdom. You'll also step even farther back in time on a guided visit at the Iron Age Farm at Ullandhaug, an archaeological site where you'll see how the prehistoric people of the Iron Age lived – in long buildings of rock and sod, with animals housed at one end and their owners at the other! Then it's on to the Norwegian Petroleum Museum, a Stavanger Port landmark, to learn just about everything you ever wanted to know about oil and gas. Or, you can choose a Stavenger walking tour that includes the city's harborfront and Gamle Stavanger (Old Stavanger), a settlement of small white wooden houses from the 1800s set on narrow streets paved by ballast blocks, used long ago as ballast on the ships that sailed in and out of port. After lunch, your yacht sets sail through Lysefjord; keep your eyes peeled for Prekeistolen, a mammoth flat-topped cliff overlooking the water. Later, chart a course for Ålesund.
MEALS : B, L, D
LODGING : Le Dumont d'Urville
PORTOFCALL : Stavanger, Norway
Day 6 Morning Cruising to Ålesund
Enjoy a relaxing morning at sea taking advantage of the amenities onboard your ship and hearing a talk by our Tauck Exclusive lecturer. This afternoon disembark in picturesque Ålesund, the most important fishing harbor in Norway, situated on seven islands on the Atlantic coast where you'll have four choices to choose from. Join our local expert for a walking tour of the city's Art Nouveau – Jugenstil – architecture; nearly all the historic buildings went up between 1904 and 1907 after a fire had destroyed the town, making Ålesund a leading example of Jugenstil today. Enjoy a spectacular panoramic sightseeing tour of Ålesund, hopping from island to island to take in the amazing views; you'll drive through an intricate network of tunnels, carved out of granite, that link this maritime community. Head out on a guided kayaking tour around Ålesund. Or embark on a bicycle tour through town. Sail on to the village of Hellesylt, on famously scenic Geirangerfjord, this evening.
MEALS : B, L, D
LODGING : Le Dumont d'Urville
Day 7 Geirangerfjord & the Mountains
Today may be the most beautiful day of touring and sightseeing anywhere! Disembark first thing in Hellesylt in the stunning valley at one end of the deep blue Geirangerfjord for a choice of activities. On one, head off for a full day's touring with a local expert around this UNESCO World Heritage Site. All day the views just keep getting better – as you ride a gondola up to the Sunmore "Alps" and drive through the mountains surrounding Geirangerfjord, and through Fjord og Fjell. Have lunch at a local fjord-side restaurant en route. Or you can stay aboard ship this morning and visit the charming hamlet of Geiranger on your own, perhaps visiting the Norwegian Fjord Center. Another choice is a shorter trip from Geiranger up to Dalsnibba, rising from sea level to nearly a mile high. And a third alternative is a kayaking trip on the Geirangerfjord. Reboard the ship early evening and sail out of Geirangerfjord and south for Olden and Nordfjord tonight.
MEALS : B, L, D
LODGING : Le Dumont d'Urville
Day 8 Lake Loen & Kjenndalen Glacier
Awaken in Nordfjord and disembark early in Olden, a village on the shore of Nordfjord, where you'll take a quick trip to the summit of Mt. Hoven aboard the Sky-Lift cable car, prior to a choice of activities. From Mt. Hoven, you can choose an excursion into the scenic Loen valley for a short boat ride and a walk for views of the blue and white Kjenndalsbreen, an arm of Jostedal glacier, the largest glacier in Europe. The sight is definitely worth the walk! Or you can choose a drive from Mt. Hoven to Briksdalbre, where a ride on a "Troll Car" and a short hike to the foot of Briksdal Glacier lead to stunning views of one of Norway's most inspiring natural wonders, in a setting of roaring waterfalls and mountain peaks at the end of one of the Nordfjord's three branches. Return to Olden to board your yacht and continue sailing toward Bergen. This evening, enjoy a farewell reception and dinner onboard.
MEALS : B, L, D
LODGING : Le Dumont d'Urville
Day 9 Disembark – Bryggen & Edvard Grieg
Disembark your yacht in cosmopolitan Bergen, one of Northern Europe's oldest port cities, and join our local guide for a walking tour of the historic Bryggen harbor district lined with well-preserved brightly colored houses. This afternoon, continue getting to know Bergen on a city tour, and visit a traditional stave church before heading to Troldhaugen, the home of Edvard Grieg, Norway's greatest composer. Following your guided tour, enjoy a brief reception and a private piano concert featuring Grieg's music. After settling in at your hotel late afternoon, please join us this evening for a funicular ride up Mt. Floyen and a special farewell reception and dinner on the mountain featuring spectacular views of the harbor – an ideal finishing touch for your Norway cruise adventure.
MEALS : B, D
LODGING : Clarion Collection Hotel Havnekontoret
PORTOFCALL : Bergen, Norway
Day 10 Journey Home
Tour ends: Bergen. Fly home anytime. A transfer is included today to Bergen Airport from the Radisson Blu Royal Hotel, Bryggen or Clarion Collection Hotel Havnekontoret. Allow three hours for flight check-in.
MEALS : B
PORTOFCALL : Bergen, Norway
