SHORE EXCURSIONS

Embark the bus and go for a scenic drive to Voss where you will enjoy a lunch before embarking on the train. The first part of the train ride is on the Bergen Line to Myrdal, then you descend on the world-famous Flam Line, it’s only 12.5 miles/20 km long, but is a masterpiece of engineering and offers one of the most dramatic train rides in Europe. The valley is very narrow and steep, located between towering mountains covered by snow and ice. The train makes a stop at the impressive Kjos Waterfall where you’ll have time to take photos. The train will take you down to the Flam Railway station, located near your ship’s pier.

OVERVIEW

Behold the natural beauty surrounding Aurlandfjord – the so-called Grand Canyon of Norway – from atop Stegastein, a viewing platform that juts out 100 feet from a towering mountain. Much of the drive will follow the fjord, which is the wildest and most spectacular branch of the lengthier Sognefjord. Upon arriving in the village of Aurland, you will pause to snap photos of Vangen Church, a 13th-century landmark that is the largest of seven medieval churches in the region. To reach the Stegastein lookout, you will travel up the mountain on a steep narrow road with seven hairpin turns. The views from the top will be well worth the dizzying drive as steep-sided Aurlandfjord will stretch out before you at least 2,000 feet below. If you stand at the very end of Stegastein, you will feel as if you are hovering over the fjord because the front panel is clear glass that seems to disappear.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Take in the gorgeous views of Aurlandfjord from atop the Stegastein viewing platform.
• Be awed by the unobstructed views as the front panel of Stegastein is clear glass.
• Feel as if you are hovering above the fjord because Stegastein juts out from the mountain.
• Stop in Aurland to see a medieval stone church built in 1202.
• Drive along the coast of Aurlandfjord for another perspective of this natural wonder.

HELPFUL HINTS

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

OVERVIEW

Travel through the gorgeous countryside by train and bicycle and come away with two entirely different perspectives of Norway’s stunning natural beauty. On the ascent into the mountains that form a backdrop to Flåm, the train will pass through 20 tunnels and over numerous bridges. The scenery will be spectacular as you will look out over snow-capped peaks, deep fjords and pristine wilderness all the way to the remote alpine setting at Myrdal. There, you will change trains and begin a partial descent through the steep mountainous terrain. You will detrain at the Berekvam Station and continue on by bicycle, an experience that will present a more intimate close-up look at the dramatic countryside. You will hardly have to pedal as you will follow a winding seven-mile route, all of it downhill. Stops will be made along the way, one of them at a mountain stream whose water is pure enough to drink.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Settle in for a circuitous train ride through the majestic mountains behind Flåm.
• Ascend all the way to remote Myrdal before switching trains for a partial descent.
• Coast downhill on a bicycle for seven miles, following a mountain stream much of the way.
• Enjoy occasional stops on the bicycle for a more intimate look at the gorgeous scenery.

HELPFUL HINTS

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

Drive through the tunnels connecting Flam with the village of Gudvangen, then continue to the Stalheim Hotel, a traditional hotel with an interesting history. The present hotel is a reconstruction of the original, with Scandinavian furniture and antiques. There is also a souvenir shop. Tea, coffee and a local pastry will be served for your enjoyment. You'll have time for a stroll in the garden. You'll be able to see the Stalheim Waterfall from the hotel grounds or nearby viewpoints. Pass the villages of Oppheim and Vinje on your way to Tvinde Waterfall. Here, you'll have some time to take pictures and go for a stroll towards the waterfall. Continuing on, you will follow the course of the Nærøy-river back to Gudvangen and then through the tunnels to Flåm.

Before you board your rigid inflatable boat (RIB) you’ll be given a safety briefing and asked to wear a water and windproof buoyancy suit. This thrilling 1 hour ride takes you out through Aurlandsfjord and onwards to Mount Beitelen, where the fjord divides offering you a beautiful view out to the dramatic Naeroyfjord.

As the boat speeds through the water and your driver makes some spectacular maneuvers, enjoy the sense of freedom and exhilaration, as you travel down the fjord while looking out for wildlife. Your driver will also offer an explanation of the interesting natural and cultural history of the area.

OVERVIEW

Ride the Flåm Railway deep into the mountains following a route that winds through some of the most visually stunning scenery in Europe. Starting from the tip of Sognefjord – the longest and deepest fjord in Norway – you will soon ascend high above tiny Flåm and on into a landscape of roaring rivers, mighty waterfalls and precipitous peaks. You will also pass through 20 tunnels that were blasted through the mountains more than a century ago. The Flåm Railway is one of the steepest in the world and although the route is only 12 miles long, it rises to a dizzying height of more than a half-mile above sea level. Upon arriving in Vatnahalsen, you will stop for waffles and coffee at its namesake hotel, a destination that can only be reached by train. It was built as a sanatorium in 1896 but was never used for that purpose.

HELPFUL HINTS

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