5. ART NOUVEAU OR ISLAND HOPPING Picturesque Ålesund, the most important fishing harbor in Norway, spreads across seven islands on the Atlantic coast. You have a choice of sightseeing here today. One possibility is to join our local expert for a walking tour of the city’s Art Nouveau (Jugendstil) 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 Jugendstil. Or join us for a panoramic sightseeing tour, hopping from island to island; drive through the intricate network of tunnels carved from granite that links this maritime community. Spend the afternoon cruising south as our onboard expert gives a talk. Meals BLD
Visit a private home in historic Old Stavanger
4. GEIRANGERFJORD AND THE MOUNTAINS Disembark in Hellesylt in the valley at one end of deep blue Geirangerfjord for a day’s touring with a local expert. You won’t be surprised that Geirangerfjord is a UNESCO World Heritage Site for its “archetypical fjord landscape... among the most scenically outstanding anywhere.” Start with refreshments at the Hotel Union Øye, set perfectly in this dramatic glacier-carved landscape. Then you’ll ride a gondola up to the Sunnmøre “Alps” and drive through mountains surrounding Geirangerfjord. Surprisingly narrow, the fjord is banked by mountains rising nearly straight out of the water to precipitous heights. Foaming waterfalls plunge into the water, including Seven Sisters Falls and the Suitor, facing one another across the fjord; the Suitor is said to be trying to woo the sisters! Have lunch at a local restaurant before boarding a ferry to cross the fjord to the hamlet of Geiranger, where you’ll have time to poke around. Le Soléal meets you and sails toward Ålesund tonight. Meals BLD
6. STAVANGER OLD AND NEW As you get an overview of Stavanger, Norway’s oil capital, visit Swords in Rock, a symbol of unity and peace commemorating the Battle of Hafrsfjord in 872, when Harald Fairhair, Norway’s first king, united the individual states of the region as one kingdom. Step even farther back in time at the Iron Age Farm, an archaeological site where Iron Age people once lived in long buildings, with animals at one end and their owners at the other. Leaping forward a few centuries, take a walking tour of Old Stavanger, a settlement of small white wooden houses from the 1800s on narrow streets paved by ballast blocks, once used as ballast on ships that sailed into port. You’ll have an opportunity to meet the owners of one home and go inside. Then it’s on to the Norwegian Petroleum Museum. This afternoon, your yacht sails the Lysefjord. Meals BLD
7. KRISTIANSAND’S OPEN-AIR MUSEUM Enjoy your ship’s amenities and a presentation by our onboard expert. Late morning, arrive in Kristiansand, a favorite vacation spot for Norwegians on the southern coast. Discover a bygone way of life on a guided tour at the open-air Kristiansand Museum – 34 old houses, some dating back to 1580. Return to ship for lunch or join us for a culinary walking tour. Meals BLD
TAUCK’S ONBOARD EXPERT
ÅSA ÖVRELID Our regional expert, Åsa Övrelid, will sail with you on Norwegian Fjords & Coastal Treasures. A Norwegian
native who lives in Sweden, where she is a university lecturer, Åsa is a fount of insights and information about the area’s geography, marine life, history, economics, politics, and more. Her talks for Tauck guests are always popular!
8. A MORNING IN SWEDEN Welcome to Sweden’s second largest city, Göteborg, laced with canals and parks. Visit the Volvo Museum for a look at a key piece of Swedish 20th- and 21st-century design. Explore Långgatorna, a neighborhood of homegrown fashion labels, indie bands, and craft beer bars, and stroll along Kungsportsavenyn, the city’s main avenue inspired by the Champs Élysées. Enjoy a private trip aboard an antique trolley and lunch at a local gathering spot for a taste of Swedish specialties. Back onboard ship, join us for a farewell reception and dinner as you sail back to Norway... and Oslo. Meals BLD
9. ADVENTURERS AND VISIONARIES Disembark in Oslo to explore some of Norway’s heroes – from Arctic exploration to the arts. Visit the Viking Ship Museum to see two of the world’s best-preserved wooden Viking ships. Nearby, the Fram Museum is a reminder that Norway is an Arctic nation and Norwegians have undertaken many polar
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