Norway - Telemark & the Fjords

Day 1

Leave home and travel to Hull for the overnight crossing to Rotterdam. Cabin and evening meal included.

Day 2

Breakfast on board before arriving in Rotterdam and continuing to Bremen for dinner and an overnight stay at the Atlantic Hotel.

Day 3

Continue through Germany and cross the border into Denmark near Flensburg for our overnight stop at the Comwell Kolding Hotel. Dinner in the hotel.

Day 4

THE VIKING CONNECTION After an early breakfast, travel north through Jutland to Hirtshals for our fast-craft ferry crossing to Norway. There will be time to relax on board, enjoy refreshments and make use of the ship's facilities. On arrival in Larvik, we head inland and begin to experience the pristine landscapes for which Norway is renowned. Travelling through beautiful lakeland scenery, we pass through Bø and cross the famous Telemark Canal before arriving in Vrådal, where we stay for the next three nights at the Straand Hotel. Dinner will be served at the hotel.

Day 5

AT LEISURE IN VRÅDAL A free day to unwind, enjoy the hotel and its wonderful location. Facilities include an indoor swimming pool, large panoramic terrace, lounge and a beautiful garden sweeping down to the lakeshore and beach. Dinner in the hotel.

Day 6

THE HEROES OF TELEMARK A full-day panoramic journey across the Hardangervidda Plateau, Europe's largest mountain plain, passing through Brunkeberg, Morgedal, Åmot and Rauland before arriving in Rjukan. Enjoy spectacular mountain and lake scenery before visiting Vemork Power Station, site of the famous Norwegian heavy- water sabotage during WWII. Explore the museum, watch a film and visit the heavy-water cellar to discover how Norwegian partisans disrupted Nazi Germany's efforts to develop a nuclear bomb. Dinner in the hotel.

Day 7

FROM TELEMARK TO THE WESTERN FJORDS This morning, we leave the beautiful Telemark region and travel to Brunkeberg before taking the scenic mountain road towards the Sørfjord. We make a short stop in Odda before continuing along the western shore of the spectacular Hardangerfjord. Overlooked by the Folgefonna Glacier, the route offers stunning scenery, with fruit orchards on one side and the deep blue waters of the fjord on the other. We then cross the Hardangerfjord by ferry to Kvanndal, continuing via Voss before climbing towards the historic Stalheim Hotel, our base for the next three nights. Dinner at the hotel.

Day 8

SOGNEFJORD CIRCULAR Today's spectacular full-day excursion takes us around the magnificent Sognefjord, with two scenic ferry crossings along the way. We travel over the Vik Mountains to Vik before Norway's finest and best-preserved medieval stave churches. We then travel through the impressive Lærdal-Aurland Tunnel, one of the longest road tunnels in the world. After a memorable day exploring the fjords, glaciers and historic landmarks of western Norway, we return to our hotel for dinner.

Day 9

NORWAY IN A NUTSHELL The Norway in a Nutshell excursion is considered one of Norway's tourist highlights. The day starts with a coach transfer from Stalheim to the port of Gudvangen, where we board the Fjord Cruise for the leisurely journey to Flåm, sailing down the narrow Nærøyfjord and Aurlandsfjord, with steep cliffs rising on both sides. There will be a little time at leisure before joining the fantastic Flåm Railway for the return journey to Myrdal, with unforgettable views of mountains and waterfalls en route. Dinner in the hotel.

Day 10

FROM THE FJORDS TO THE SKAGERRAK COAST Departing Stalheim, we make our way through stunning scenery via Noresund and Krøderen to southern Norway and the town of Horten for an overnight dinner, bed and breakfast stay at the Thon Hotel.

Day 11

An early breakfast before departing the hotel and joining the Color Line fast ferry from Norway to Denmark. On arrival in Hirtshals, we cross the German border and continue to Hamburg and the Leonardo Hotel. Dinner in the hotel.

Day 12

From Hamburg, we cross northern Germany and then travel through the Netherlands to Rotterdam for the relaxing overnight crossing to Hull. Cabins and meals included.

Day 13

After a relaxing night on board, we arrive in Hull and disembark following breakfast, bringing our unforgettable Norwegian adventure to a close. With wonderful memories of breathtaking fjords, spectacular mountain scenery and fascinating experiences, we are due home in the early afternoon.

B=Breakfast, D=Dinner