Norway: Scenic & Historic

NORWAY:  SCENIC & HISTORIC

July 17 – 30, 2023

HIGHLIGHTS
City sightseeing in Oslo, Røros, Trondheim and Bergen • Glass Cathedral • Maihaugen • Farm lunch • Nidaros Cathedral • Stiklestad • Atlantic Ocean Road • Ergan Kystfort • Trollstigen • Briksdal Glacier • Aurlandfjord cruise • Flåm Railway

ITINERARY INCLUDES

• Roundtrip airfare from Mpls / St. Paul, including taxes, fees & fuel surcharge
• 12 nights accommodations, double occupancy, with private facilities
• Daily breakfast [B], 2 lunches [L] and 9 dinners [D]
• 1st-class touring coach, train & ferries per itinerary
• City sightseeing in Oslo, Røros, Trondheim and Bergen
• Excursion to Briksdal Glacier
• Entrance fees to all sites including: Eidsvoll Manor House, Hamar Glass Cathedral, Ringebu Church, Stiklestad, Nidaros Cathedral, Ergan Kystfort, and Troldhaugen
• Luggage handling at hotels for 1 suitcase (subject to availability)
• Tour Director for Days 2 – 14

 

ITINERARY – 14 DAYS

DAY 1                MONDAY, JULY 17

Mpls/St. Paul – Oslo:  Depart the USA on your transatlantic flight. To request alternate dates or for estimated airfare supplements from other US cities, please note on application.

 

DAY 2               TUESDAY, JULY 18                                                  [D]

Oslo:  Arrive at Oslo Gardermoen Airport. Transfer to hotel in city center. Balance of day free to adjust to time change. Welcome dinner and overnight at the classic Grand Hotel.

 

DAY 3                WEDNESDAY, JULY 19                                           [B]

Oslo:  Sightseeing tour of Oslo includes a visit to Vigeland Sculpture Park, the largest sculpture park in the world by a single artist, boasting over 200 pieces by Norwegian sculptor Gustav Vigeland.  Afternoon and evening free for shopping and independent explorations.  Dinner on own.  Overnight at hotel.

 

DAY 4                THURSDAY, JULY 20                                             [B,D]

Oslo – Eidsvoll – Hamar – Lillehammer: Drive to Eidsvold, site of the signing of the Norwegian Constitution in 1814.   Proceed to Hamar. Tour the unique Glass Cathedral, an architectural and technological masterpiece created to protect cathedral ruins from the Middle Ages.  Continue to Lillehammer.  View the sites of the 1994 Winter Olympics in Lillehammer.  Dinner and overnight at Scandic Victoria Lillehammer Hotel.

 

DAY 5                FRIDAY, JULY 21                                                     [B,L,D]

Lillehammer – Røros:   Morning drive through the Gudbrandsdal Valley.  At Ringebu, visit the stave church built in the 13^th century followed by lunch at a local farm.  Proceed to Røros.  Dinner and overnight at Røros Hotel.

 

DAY 6                SATURDAY, JULY 22                                              [B,D]

Røros – Selbu:  Sightseeing tour of Røros, an old wooden mining town founded in 1644, listed on UNESCO’s World Heritage list for its well-preserved buildings.  Dinner and overnight at the Selbusjøen Hotel & Gjestegård.

 

DAY 7                SUNDAY, JULY 23                                                  [B,D]

Selbu – Stiklestad – Trondheim:  Depart for Stiklestad, site of the famous battle of 1030 which led to the death of St. Olav and the acceptance of Christianity in Norway.  Learn about life of the Vikings in this region during that time period.  Drive to Trondheim for dinner and overnight at the Scandic Nidelven Hotel.

 

DAY 8                MONDAY, JULY 24                                                 [B]

Trondheim:  Morning sightseeing tour of Trondheim includes a visit to the Nidaros Cathedral, one of the most splendid cathedrals in Scandinavia.  Afternoon free.  Dinner on own.  Overnight at hotel.

 

DAY 9                 TUESDAY, JULY 25                                                [B,L,D]

Trondheim – Molde:  Depart for Møre & Romsdal.  Drive the Atlantic Ocean Road with the vast and boundless ocean on one side and majestic snow-clad mountain peaks on the other.  Visit the fishing village of Bud and tour Ergan Kystfort, a defensive bunker built by the Germans during the occupation of Norway during World War II.  Salmon lunch at a local restaurant.  Continue to Molde, the “City of Roses.”  Dinner and overnight at Scandic Seilet Hotel.

 

DAY 10              WEDNESDAY, JULY 26                                           [B,D]

Molde – Geiranger – Loen:  Drive to Åndalsnes.  Travel the “Golden Route” climbing the breathtaking Troll’s Path with its steep and narrow hairpin bends and descending the Eagle Road to the famous village of Geiranger.  Cross the Stryn Mountains en route to Loen.  Dinner and overnight at Hotel Alexandra.

 

DAY 11              THURSDAY, JULY 27                                              [B,D]

Loen – Flåm:  Morning excursion to the sparkling Briksdal Glacier.  Opportunity to purchase quality crafts and woven products at Audhild Viken’s Weaving Workshop in Skei.  Ferry across the Sognefjord from Mannheller to Fodnes.  Drive through the world’s 2nd longest tunnel (15.22 miles) from Lærdal to Aurland. Continue to Flåm for dinner and overnight at Fretheim Hotel.

 

DAY 12              FRIDAY, JULY 28                                                    [B]

Flåm – Bergen:  Board the Flåm Railway.  Enjoy breathtaking views and the thundering sound of waterfalls as you ascend 2800 feet within 13 miles to the mountaintop station of Myrdal.  Change to the Oslo/Bergen Line and continue by train to Voss.  Proceed to Bergen.  Overnight at the Opus XVI Hotel.

 

DAY 13              SATURDAY, JULY 29                                              [B,D]

Bergen:  Morning sightseeing tour of Bergen includes a visit to Troldhaugen, the home of Norway’s internationally-known composer, the late Edvard Grieg.  Tour concludes with a guided walk through the historic Hanseatic Wharf.  Balance of afternoon and evening free.  Dinner and overnight at hotel.

 

DAY 14              SUNDAY, JULY 30                                                  [B]

Bergen – Depart:  Tour ends following breakfast. Transfer to Bergen Flesland Airport for return flight. Longer stays may be requested upon registration for a minimum charge of $250.