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Escape to "Spectacular Norway"
June 15—24
July 7—16 July 31—August 9 September 2—11 Norway is known for its incredible scenery. From the forests and fjords to its sparkling glaciers, Norway is both breathtaking and humbling. This 10 day escorted tour shows you just how spectacular Norway is. Your adventure begins in Oslo where you will have an evening to relax after your transatlantic flight and a whole day to visit the wonders of this city. Vigeland Sculpture Park, the Viking Ship Museum and a visit to the Norwegian Folk Museum are all included in this tour. Take a drive through the beautiful Hallingdal Valley and the Aurland Valley to Flåm where you will board the Flåm Railway to Myrdal. In Myrdal, switch to the Oslo/Bergen Railway and continue on to Voss where you overnight in the elegant Fleischer’s Hotel. Eat a hearty breakfast the next morning and prepare for a funfilled day as you travel to the coast to visit Bergen, Norway’s second largest city. A city tour, guided walk through the Hanseatic Wharf and time for shopping and exploring await you in this historic city. 
We suggest you get a good nights sleep as you won’t want to miss a minute of the sights that welcome you the next day as you venture over the Vik Mountains, ferry across the might Sognefjord and travel along the Fjærland road to Skei. After a stop in Skei where you can purchase crafts and woven products at Audhild Viken’s Weaving Workshop, continue on for an afternoon excursion to Briksdal Glacier. From there its on to Loen where you can eat your fill and reminisce on day’s sights and experiences at the lovely Alexandra Hotel. After enjoying a sumptuous breakfast at the hotel, grab your camera and set off for a cruise of the renowned Geiranger Fjord, a UNESCO World Heritage sight since 2005. You will be moved by the picturesque mountains and waterfalls of Geiranger Fjord including the Bridal Veil and Seven Sisters. Pass through the wild landscape of Velledalen en-route to Ålesund, situated on the coast and surrounded by islands. 
Leave Ålesund behind the next morning as you continue on your journey
to the fishing village of Bud. Once an important trading center between Bergen and
Trondheim, during World War II, Bud was heavily fortified by the Germans in anticipation
of an Allied invasion. Enjoy a leisurely lunch in Bud then set off for Trondheim
along the Atlantic Ocean Road with endless ocean on one side and the majestic snow-clad
mountains peaks on the other.
Spend the next day in Trondheim, starting with a sightseeing tour that includes the magnificent Nidaros Cathedral. Your last afternoon in Norway is free for exploration. You can choose between a rich variety of historical sights, museums and art galleries. Join your travel companions for the farewell dinner before setting off to the airport the next morning. For those who wish to extend their stay, Tour A (June 15-24) participants have the opportunity to join the "Land of the Midnight Sun" tour for an 8- day extension from Trondheim to Tromsø. "Spectacular Norway" is truly a remarkable experience. From the moment your eyes first catch a glimpse of Oslo, your days will be filled with exciting adventures, stunning scenery, and anticipation of what’s to come. Join us this year for what is sure to be an unforgettable journey to Spectacular Norway! Interesting Facts:The town of Ålesund is young at heart, but with an unusually dramatic story to tell. One stormy night a hundred years ago, the whole town centre burned to the ground. Only a few houses remained, and ten thousand people were made homeless. A new town rose phoenix- like from the ashes – in the distinctive Art Nouveau style.Today, Ålesund is a modern, pulsating town with a varied cultural scene, exciting cafés and restaurants and a rich assortment of shops. Relaxing by the Sognefjord
Brekke Tours invites you
and your traveling companions
to spend a week in the
Norwegian countryside in an
apartment along the Sognefjord.
Relax and savor the breathtaking panorama of Aurland Fjord’s glassy mountain reflections in this idyllic apartment located between Flåm and Aurland. Watch cruise ships from the relaxing banks of the fjord, take a dip in the chilly water, or enjoy a trip in your own row boat during your Saturday to Saturday stay.
The cozy home-like surroundings include a kitchen/ dining/living area on ground floor with views of the fjord. On the lower level, you’ll find a bath and bed room with two twin beds. The equipped kitchen/ dining area gives you the option of meal preparation, or you can dine at a local outdoor café and observe the many international visitors to this popular destination. 
The fantastic natural
setting of mountains, waterfalls,
and breathtaking panoramas
invites nature lovers
to hike the local trails, rent a
bicycle, or picnic on a lush
green mountainside.
Short excursions by a rental car (optional) to the nearby locations of Voss, Bergen, Lærdal, Flåm Valley, and Nærøyfjord give variety to the week’s experience. For only $950 per week, this apartment is comfortable, convenient, and economical. Owned by a member of the Brekke family, this cottage is perfect for couples, people wanting a peaceful vacation or for those that wish to experience the authentic Norwegian lifestyle. Contact Brekke Tours at 1-800-437-5302 to book your stay in this charming retreat. Tracing Your Roots
A famous quote by Alex Haley
states “in all of us there is a
hunger, marrow deep, to know
our heritage - to know who we
are and where we came from.
Without this enriching knowledge,
there is a hollow yearning.
No matter what our attainments
in life, there is still a
vacuum, an emptiness, and the
most disquieting loneliness.”
Nearly 1 million people left their homeland of Norway in the late 1800’s to travel to the land of opportunity, America. As they poured into the country, many of their names were anglicized. Because of this, when trying to research family history, many are unable to find their roots. Family names, an integral part of a family’s heritage, are not only a source of great pride,they also serve as a crucial link to our past. With extensive records of Norwegian family names in conjunction with our vast knowledge of the ways Norwegian names have been anglicized, we are able to trace the names of Norwegian- Americans back to their ancestral villages and farms. Although its not always easy, you’d be surprised what you can discover with information such as: names written in family bibles and other documents, grave yards, birth dates and the year the family immigrated. But the journey doesn’t stop with the research. For many of our clients, this is just the first step. To complete the journey, people are signing up to travel back to the land of their ancestors on our “Sogn/Voss/Valdres Heritage” Tour from July 29 to August 10, 2008. If you have ever wondered what your family’s true name is or perhaps where your family originated, let Brekke Tours assist you with your pursuit. We have been helping people discover their family’s heritage and connecting them with the land of their ancestors for over 50 years. As Hodding S. Carter once said, “there are only two lasting bequests we can give our children - one is roots, and the other, wings.” Although we cannot help you give your children wings, we can help you give your children an appreciation for their roots and heritage that they may pass it on to the next generation. The Seven Wonders of Norway
As discussed in our last issue, the
United Nations Educational, Scientific
and Cultural Organization
(UNESCO) seeks to encourage the
identification, protection and preservation
of cultural and natural
heritage around the world considered
to be of outstanding value to
humanity. Over the past 3 decades,
Norway has become a home
to seven UNESCO World Heritage
Sites. From man-made structures
to breathtaking sights created by
nature, each one is considered a
treasure that should be shared with
all of humanity.
1) The first World Heritage site can be found in Norway’s second largest city, Bergen. Bryggen, the old wharf of Bergen, is a reminder of the Hanseatic League’s trading empire from the 14th to the mid- 16th century and the importance of Bergen and Norway’s role in it. Although ravaged by fire several times over its history, the rebuilding of the wooden houses has followed the traditional style and method of the original structures. There are about 62 buildings that remain along the wharf today. 2) The Urnes Stave Church, the second World Heritage site, was built in the 12th and 13th centuries. It stands in the natural setting of the Sogn og Fjordane and is an excellent example of wooden architecture that combines Celtic art, Viking traditions and Romanesque spatial structures. 3) The mining town of Røros is number three on our list of World Heritage sites in Norway. The history of Røros, which stands in a mountainous setting, is linked to the copper mines: they were developed in the 17th century and exploited for 333 years until 1977. Completely rebuilt after its destruction by Swedish troops in 1679, the city has some 80 wooden houses, most of them standing around courtyards. Many retain their dark pitch-log facades, giving the town a medieval appearance. 4) Number four on the list is the rock art of Alta, near the Arctic Circle. This group of petro glyphs in the Alta Fjord, bears the traces of a settlement dating from c. 4200 to 500 B.C. The thousands of paintings and engravings add to our understanding of the environment and human activities on the fringes of the Far North in prehistoric times. 5) In 2004, a cluster of dozens of islands centered on Vega, just south of the Arctic Circle, were added to the list. The Vega Archipelago bears testimony to a distinctive frugal way of life based on fishing and the harvesting of the down of eider ducks, in an inhospitable environment. There are fishing villages, quays, warehouses, eider houses (built for eider ducks to nest in), farming landscapes, lighthouses and beacons. There is evidence of human settlement from the Stone Age onwards. The Vega Archipelago reflects the way fishermen/farmers have, over the past 1,500 years, maintained a sustainable living and the contribution of women to eiderdown harvesting. 6) In 2005, two sites were added to the list in Norway. The fist was the Struve Arc, a chain of survey triangulations stretching from Hammerfest in Norway to the Black Sea, through 10 countries and over 2,820 km. These are points of a survey, carried out between 1816 and 1855 by the astronomer Friedrich Georg Wilhelm Struve, which represented the first accurate measuring of a long segment of a meridian. This helped to establish the exact size and shape of the planet and marked an important step in the development of earth sciences and topographic mapping. It is an extraordinary example of scientific collaboration among scientists from different countries, and of collaboration between monarchs for a scientific cause. 7) The second site to be added in 2005 was the west Norwegian Fjords—Geirangerfjord and Nærøyfjord. The fjords, set 120 km from one another, are considered as archetypical fjord landscapes and among the most scenically outstanding anywhere. Their exceptional natural beauty is derived from their narrow and steepsided crystalline rock walls that rise up to 1,400 m from the Norwegian Sea and extend 500 m below sea level. The sheer walls of the fjords have numerous waterfalls while free-flowing rivers cross their deciduous and coniferous forests to glacial lakes, glaciers and rugged mountains. The landscape features a range of supporting natural phenomena, both terrestrial and marine, such as submarine moraines and marine mammals. If you plan to visit Norway, we suggest taking time to discover these and all the other wonders of Norway for yourself! Enhance your Travel Experience
It seems that when you travel to an
area filled with ancient memories
that you suddenly find yourself
craving knowledge of the people,
culture and the land. A great way
to enhance your travel experience
is to learn the history and stories of
the places you will visit and see.
Visit the Brekke Store >>Connect with the voices from the past through the lives portrayed in a well written book. By expanding your knowledge, you also extend your horizons. Even after the last page has been read, the lives and events that you have touched remain to haunt you.Whether your desire is to learn more about the land, people or culture in Scandinavia, the Brekke Store has the information you seek. From stories about kings and heroes to tales of the families on which Scandinavian countries were built, all can be found in our collection. To help you on your way in Scandinavia, we also offer maps, travel guides and other information to assist you on your journey. In addition to providing independent travelers to Scandinavia with numerous travel options, Brekke Tours also offers a variety of escorted tour packages. Brekke Tours is currently serving as a tour operator and destination specialist to Scandinavia. After designing our own itineraries, we package and market our product on a national basis. The diverse tour itineraries encompassing Norway include visits to areas which are not always presented in other tour programs. Brekke Tours also specializes in heritage tours and through our extensive Nordic heritage network, we have developed a unique ability to locate ancestral farms and present family in Norway. Based on the company's close ties to Norway, we are pleased to combine our love of travel, our enthusiasm for Scandinavia and the Midwest, with our work. We truly enjoy sharing the information, experience and wisdom we have gathered through the years as a tour operator. We would be happy to assist with travel arrangements here at home in the Midwest or to our favorite corner of the world - Scandinavia. Hurtigruten Summer Sails
Hurtigruten recently announced
a wide variety of sales and discounts
for Summer 2008!
Request More Information >>Escorted Vacations SaleWith discounts of up to $500 per person, you don’t want to miss this opportunity! If you have been wanting to take an escorted cruise, now is the time to take advantage of the sale! Tours included in this special are:
For those that wish to travel independently, save on your airfare with Hurtigruten. Book a 12-day Norwegian Coastal Voyage and receive FREE transatlantic air. Book a 6-day or 7-day voyage and receive FREE airfare for your companion. This is for select sailing dates only, so please call for details. Repeat Passenger Discount Clients that have sailed with Hurtigruten before can save big with this discount. Save up to $500 per person if you have traveled with Hurtigruten since 2000. These offers are not combinable and are only valid for new bookings. All offers are subject to availability so contact Brekke Tours today to request your cabin space aboard the “World’s Most Beautiful Voyage!” |
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