7. AROUND OSLO / VIKING SHIP MUSEUM Wake up to a parade of inspiring sights along the coastline as your ship heads up the narrows of the Oslo Fjord to Norway’s lively capital city of Oslo. Once ashore, an overview tour of the city includes a visit to Vigeland Sculpture Park, showcasing some 212 bronze and granite works by Norwegian sculptor Gustav Vigeland. Guided sightseeing continues at the Viking Ship Museum on the Bygdøy Peninsula, featuring ships and artifacts that conjure up the legends and lore of the Viking era. The remainder of the day is free to do as you wish. Your landmark hotel is ideally located in the heart of city, nestled between a beach-lined fjord and the forest-clad hills. Dinner is on your own tonight. Meals BL
Renaissance treasures enrich your visit to Frederiksborg Castle; history is preserved in the Stave Church in Laerdal; palace guards watch over Old Town Stockholm; and Hotel Alexandra awes with scenic beauty in Nordfjord
8. OSLO / GOL / THE FLÅM RAILWAY Leave the city behind and venture into the countryside, stopping for lunch in Gol before departing on a journey on the Norwegian Railway System to Myrdal – your incredible descent 2,600 feet past waterfalls, ravines and sheer cliffs to Flåm via an electric train on the Flåm Railway (Flåmsbana) is sure to be a highlight of your journey. This masterpiece of Norwegian engineering is one of the world’s steepest railway lines on normal gauge and has been billed as the most thrilling train ride in Scandinavia. Overnight at the Flåmsbrygga Hotel in Flåm, where a beer tasting and regional cuisine enrich your experience. Meals BLD
9. STAVE CHURCH / NAEROYFJORD / LOEN Drive to Laerdal, passing through the longest land tunnel in Europe – providing a weather-free underground link from eastern Norway to the coastal Bergen area – for a visit to the Borgund Stave Church, among the best-preserved of Norway’s iconic stave churches; it’s changed little over the past 800 years! A ferry cruise and lunch on the Naeroyfjord, one of Norway’s narrowest fjords, follows and includes a visit to the Norwegian Glacier Museum in Fjaerland; learn how the flowing ice has sculpted the landscapes you have seen today through multi-screen presentations and exhibits. Your destination tonight is Loen, home to some of the oldest farms in Norway. Spend the next three nights at a family-run landmark hotel set amidst the towering mountains and the spectacular Nordfjord – the views are awe-inspiring everywhere you look. Get a real taste of Norwegian hospitality at tonight’s barbecue dinner. Meals BLD
10. VISIT TO BRIKSDAL GLACIER
Some of the country’s most magnificent glacial landscapes can be found close to your hotel. Journey to Briksdal Glacier today, one of Norway’s most inspirational natural wonders and the most accessible. Water flowing from the glacier has formed a trio of emerald-green lakes that are wondrous to behold. Ride aboard a “Troll Car” past waterfalls and lush terrain, then take a short hike to the foot of the glacier for astounding views. After a family-style lunch, return to your Loen hotel to explore, swim or enjoy the spa, attend a lecture and have dinner. Meals BLD
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