Drive through the city of Oslo passing the Akershus Fortress, the Opera House and the Royal Palace, on your way to the Vigeland Sculpture Park. Centrally placed in the park is a 55-foot-high monolith featuring 121 stone figures of men, women, and children in their struggle for life. There are more than 200 sculptures, all symbolizing the different stages in the life of mankind. Your guide will explain the different sculptures and monuments. Your scenic drive takes you to the Bygdoy Peninsula for a visit to the Open-Air Folk Museum. Here, you can get a glimpse of traditional Norwegian culture and history. Among the 150 wooden buildings constituting the museum, is one of Norway’s unique Stave churches, dating back to around the year 1200. You’ll also visit the Kon Tiki Museum, housing a range of boats and artifacts from Thor Heyerdahl’s expeditions. See the original balsawood raft, Kon Tiki, used to cross the Pacific Ocean in 1947. The museum also contains the reed boat RA II and an exciting collection of archaeological finds from Peru, Polynesia and Easter Island.

Settle in and enjoy an immensely panoramic drive across the sparsely populated West Cape, an area little changed over the centuries. You will take in one spectacular view after another as you travel along the wild, rocky coastline to the westernmost point on mainland Norway. Its flat-topped seaside mountain provides stunning views in all directions, especially from the clifftops. The weather and seas there are notorious for changing at a moment’s notice. That’s the beauty of this pristine location; you never know what you will encounter or how long before the scenery dramatically changes. A bit further down the coast, you will find a cluster of homes overlooking Selja beach. This magical setting attracts surfers worldwide as the powerful seas often produce ideal waves.

HIGHLIGHTS
• Travel across the gorgeous West Cape, the westernmost point on Norway’s mainland.
• Take in the stunning views in every direction, especially from the seaside cliffs.
• Follow a snaking road down to the beach at Selja, a favorite site for surfing.
• Pass Selje, a village overlooking a sacred island that was Norway’s first pilgrimage site.

OVERVIEW

Take a leisurely and enlightening walk through the heart of Leirvik, a compact maritime town toward the southern end of Stord Island. Along the way, the guide will describe the points of interest and how Leirvik has evolved from its Viking roots and economy that focused solely on herring fishing. On one of the low hills behind town, you will find Sunnhordland, an open-air museum with a collection of meticulously restored buildings from different time periods. You might browse a smokehouse from the 1500s, a timber home from the 1700s, a historical church and numerous commercial buildings, including a mill store and a blacksmith shop. Each one will present a window into the past. For an interactive experience, you can try band weaving and wool carding in the textile exhibition. Back in town, you will pause outside of Stord Kyrkje, a white-washed 19th-century parish church overlooking the sea.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Walk through downtown Lervik at a leisurely pace with an entertaining local guide.
• Hear commentary about the Vikings that settled Stord Island in the 9th century.
• Browse an open-air museum with historical buildings from different centuries.
• Pause to snap photos of a seaside church from the 19th century.

HELPFUL HINTS

• Dress in weather-appropriate clothing.
• Wear flat comfortable walking shoes.

Discover the lush natural beauty and marine life of Stavanger's archipelago during this scenic boat cruise to Lysefjord. It's a brief walk along the pier to one of the sightseeing boats where upon embarkation you will take a guided boat trip in the Stavanger archipelago. Here, you might see quite a few residents spending a summer day on board their pleasure boats. You will then cruise through an area dotted with numerous small, idyllic islands and view the homes along the coastline. Cruise on to Lysefjord to view one of Norway's most spectacular wonders, the Pulpit Rock, which juts out over 1,500 feet above the sea. You will then slow down near a steep hillside where goats usually come close to the boats and are given bread by the crew. Before returning to Stavanger, you’ll enjoy a stop for coffee and waffles served with sour cream. Sit back and relax on the return journey as you take in splendid views of the city en route to the pier.

OVERVIEW

Cruise past the naturally beautiful islands and skerries off Bergen before returning to Bergen by driving through the glorious countryside. The coastal views will be stunning, especially once you enter Lysefjord, Fana, whose pristine landscape is considered even wilder than that of other fjords. You can’t help but be awed by its majesty. Keep an eye out for waterfalls, mountain goats and adventurous hikers along the edges of the sheer cliffs. The scenery will be decidedly different but equally spectacular once you disembark at the Buena pier and take to the highway. The landscape between there and Bergen is mountainous, forested, shaped by ancient glaciers and absolutely breathtaking. It has changed little over the centuries. Similarly, the Bryggen harbor in Bergen looks much like it did in medieval times, although it was rebuilt after a devastating fire in 1955. A walking tour will reveal why the area earned a UNESCO World Heritage site designation.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Behold Bergen’s coastal beauty by cruising through the archipelago and into a glacial fjord.
• Marvel at the untamed countryside on a panoramic drive between the fjord and Bergen.
• Walk through Bergen’s medieval wharf district, which is a UNESCO World Heritage site.
• See the best of Bergen and the surrounding area by land and sea.

HELPFUL HINTS

• Dress in weather-appropriate clothing.
• Wear flat comfortable walking shoes.

OVERVIEW

Settle in for an immensely scenic drive to Brandasund, a tiny fishing hamlet on the island of Gisøya. To reach this remote spot on the edge of western Norway, you will travel along a circuitous coastal route and over a series of modern bridges that connect the islands of the archipelago. The area’s natural beauty will be on display the entire way as the islands are sparsely populated and relatively undeveloped. You can expect to pass rugged mountain peaks, deep steep-walled fjords and picturesque fishing villages tucked along the North Sea. Brandasund is a fine example. Founded as an old trading post, it hasn’t grown much since it was first established. You might wander along the quay and modest marina, browse a few of the waterfront stores or simply soak up the fresh sea air while admiring the picture-postcard setting. Here, the star attraction is nature.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Enjoy an incredibly scenic drive through the surrounding archipelago.
• Pass through pristine, largely undeveloped islands where nature rules supreme.
• Spend free time exploring the picturesque fishing hamlet of Brandasund..

HELPFUL HINTS

• Dress in weather-appropriate clothing.
• Wear flat comfortable walking shoes.

OVERVIEW

Explore the medieval monastery on Selja, a sacred island where Sunniva – Norway’s only female saint – lived in the 10th century. You will reach Selja on an extraordinarily scenic cruise through the Ulvesundet Strait, past a number of other barren islands and on to the stark monastery. Benedictine monks built this holy site, whose stone tower still remains, rising above the excavated ruins of the other structures. While wandering about the serene setting, you will hear the legend of Saint Sunniva, which is recorded in three differences sources, all more than a thousand years old. In essence, she was an Irish princess that fled an arranged marriage to a heathen Viking chief. Sunniva lived in a cave on Selja, where a miracle occurred resulting in her sainthood. If you climb the tower steps, you will be rewarded with an incredible view. You might also drink from a spring whose waters can supposedly heal.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Cruise to sacred Selja Island, a pilgrimage site with a medieval monastery.
• Hear the legend of Sunniva and the miracle that led to her being sainted.
• See the cave where Sunniva lived in the 10th century and explore the monastery.
• Take in the gorgeous views from the monastery tower and drink from a sacred spring.

HELPFUL HINTS

• Dress in weather-appropriate clothing.
• Wear flat comfortable walking shoes.

OVERVIEW

Admire the beauty of western Sunnhordland, a district of deep fjords, majestic mountains and awe-inspiring landscapes. While crossing bridges such as Klubbasundet that connect one island to the next, the views of the glacially formed skerries that dot the sea will be inspiring. One of the islands that you will visit is Moster, where in the 11th century King Olav II – who later became Saint Olav – adopted a law code based on Christian values in accordance with Biblical laws and standards. Known as the Kristenretten, it dictated that conflicts should be resolved by law rather than violence. It also strengthened the rights of women, children and the poor. For yet another view of the surrounding natural beauty, you will walk along narrow Kulleseid Canal, a one-mile-long waterway built on Bømlo Island in 1856. Its original purpose was to provide a shortcut between herring fishing grounds.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Drive through Sunnhordland, a western district known for its stunning natural beauty..
• Gaze out over Moster Island from a lookout that captures its scenic beauty.
• Learn about Norway’s Christian heritage and how it evolved over the centuries..
• Walk along the narrow 19th-century Kullseid Canal as the guide describes its construction..

HELPFUL HINTS

• Dress in weather-appropriate clothing.
• Wear flat comfortable walking shoes.

OVERVIEW

Behold some of Norway’s most gorgeous fjords from ferries that cruise between the endless string of islands along the country’s western coast. The views will be dramatic the entire way, as you will cruise past towering mountain peaks, precipitous cliffs and teeny villages such as Urke along the northern shore of Norangsfjorden. Some of the fjords are arms of larger waterways such as HJØRUNDFJORD, which cuts inland between the jagged Sunnmøre Alps. When not on the water, you will drive through wild areas such as the Norangsdalen Valley, a narrow landscape that rockslides and avalanches have shaped through the centuries. In 1908, one of those natural disasters dammed the Lygna River and permanently submerged the surrounding village, parts of which can be seen in the shallows. After ascending to the Ljoen lookout, you will enjoy a spectacular view of Geirangerfjord, a fjord that UNESCO has declared a World Heritage site for its outstanding natural beauty.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Ride several ferries through the pristine fjords that wind their way inland.
• Marvel at the seemingly endless natural beauty of western Norway.
• Drive through spectacularly scenic areas such as the narrow Norangsdalen Valley.
• Behold the UNESCO World Heritage site fjord Geirangerfjord from a lookout point.
• Enjoy a four-course lunch of locally sourced Norwegian specialties at an inland restaurant.

HELPFUL HINTS

• Dress in weather-appropriate clothing.
• Wear flat comfortable walking shoes.

OVERVIEW

Cruise through some of the most photogenic fjords along Norway’s western coast while taking in the surrounding natural beauty. It won’t take long to reach the open water from Måløy as it is nestled along the southeastern tip of Vågsøy Island. This is fjord country, a landscape distinguished by long, narrow fingers of water that cut into the coastline. Over the eons, massive glaciation has carved out these deep-water fjords, whose steep rocky cliffs are stunning to behold. You will see Hornelen long before passing it as it is the highest sea cliff in all of Europe. This iconic mass of sandstone rises straight up more than 2,800 above the sea and if you look closely you may spot the silhouettes of intrepid hikers that have scaled its towering summit. You will also pass a number of lovely villages tucked the shores of the fjords wherever the land flattens out.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Cruise through the beautiful fjords that cut through this part of Norway.
• Pass dramatic Hornelen, the highest sea cliff in Europe.
• Gain an understanding of how massive glaciation created the fjords over eons.

HELPFUL HINTS

• Dress in weather-appropriate clothing.
• Wear flat comfortable walking shoes.

OVERVIEW

Zip through Lysefjord – the southernmost large fjord in Norway – on a RIB, a rigid inflatable boat known for its speed and stability. It will be an exhilarating, adrenaline-charged ride as you first race through the expansive waters of island-dotted Hogsfjorden. The small farming village of Oanes and the somewhat larger village of Forsand lie across from each other at the entrance to Lysefjord. You will soon pass under a modern suspension bridge that spans the steep-walled fjord. The further you cruise into Lyseford, the more spectacular the scenery. Majestic mountains loom in the background and occasional farms cling to postage stamp-sized plots of less hilly land. The open-air RIB will provide uninterrupted views of the natural beauty in every direction. The highlight will surely be the Pulpit, a dramatic rock that rises straight up nearly 2,000 feet above Lysefjord. Chances are, you will see hikers looking down from its flat summit.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Marvel at the majestic landscape as you cruise through Lysefjord, the region’s largest fjord.
• Ride in an open-air, high-speed rigid inflatable boat known as a RIB.
• Pass sheer cliffs, towering mountains, roaring cascades and epic rock formations.

HELPFUL HINTS

• Dress in weather-appropriate clothing.
• Wear flat comfortable walking shoes.

OVERVIEW

Follow a well-marked trail that winds along the slopes of Stord Mountain and passes through a biodiverse landscape of forests and open moorland. Your ascent will begin in Heio and continue to Kattnakken, where your reward will be an absolutely gorgeous view of the North Sea and the surrounding peaks. If the day is clear, you may even spot distant Folgefonna, one of the largest glaciers in Norway. Although nature has shaped much of the terrain, the Sherpa Steps were added to make the steepest part of the trail easier to negotiate. Named for the legendary Nepalese mountain climbers and guides, these stone steps and the occasional benches on them provide plenty of areas to pause, rest and take in the spectacular views. The top of Kattnakken stands at nearly 2,400 feet above sea level, offering sweeping views of the islands below, which include Huglo, Tysnesøy and Halsnøya.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Ascend Stord Mountain by following a challenging but highly rewarding trail.
• Be rewarded with sweeping, unobstructed views of the islands and sea below.
• Climb the Sherpa Steps in the steeper areas and rest on them along the way..
• Hear enlightening commentary that describes the attractions below.

HELPFUL HINTS

• Dress in weather-appropriate clothing.
• Wear flat comfortable walking shoes.