NORWEGIAN FJORDS

THE MAGNIFICENT NORWEGIAN FJORDS

This amazing driving tour through the mountains and fjords of Norway, is without doubt one of the most scenic journeys in Europe. You’ll drive through majestic mountain passes, enjoy scenic fjord ferry crossings, pass spectacular waterfalls and picturesque fjord villages, ancient stave churches and take a trip on one of the world’s steepest railways. Norway has some of the most beautiful roads you will ever experience including 18 National Tourist routes and some of the Best Drives in the World.
The Trollstigen Mountain Route is a 106-kilometre-long stretch of road through west Norwegian nature at its most powerful, with a dizzying view of sheer mountainsides, waterfalls, deep fjords and fertile valleys. The Trollstigen mountain road has a steep incline of 9 percent and consists of 11 hairpin bends. Encircling the road are lofty mountains with names such as Köngen (“the King”), Dronningen (“the Queen”) and Bispen (“the Bishop”)-confirming their majesty.
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The Sognefjellet National Tourist Route goes across the Sognefjellet mountain area between Luster and Lom. It is the highest and most impressive mountain pass in Northern Europe (highest point 1430 metres) and it has been awarded the status of National Tourist Route. This is because of the spectacular and wild mountain scenery witnessed as it passes through the Jotunheimen National Park, Norway’s highest mountains.

The Atlantic Road & Atlantic Road Bridge are a unique stretch of road which takes you right out to the ocean’s edge and is also known to be the world’s most stunning drives. It connects Averøy with the mainland, via an archipelago of small islands and islets spanned by a total of eight bridges over 8274 metres. The road was opened in 1989 and is toll free. The Atlantic Road has National Tourist Route status and the entire stretch between Bud and Kristiansund is one continuous experience packed with coastal scenery, culture and history.

Look What’s Included

• Return Overnight ferry crossings from Harwich to Hook of Holland, Hull to Rotterdam or Newcastle to Ijmuiden – see crossing options

• 1 Night at the Frommanns Landhotel, Buchholz, Near Hamburg in each direction

• Return Overnight ferry crossings from Hirtsals, to Stavanger

• 2 Berth Inside cabin accommodation on all overnight ferry crossings (upgrades available)

• 1 Night at the Fretheim Hotel, Flåm

• 1 Night at the Tørvis Hotel, Marifjøra

• 2 Nights at the Union Hotel, Geiranger

• 2 Nights at the Scandic Hotel Seilet

• 1 Night at the Thon Hotel, Jølster

• 1 Night at the Radisson Blu Royal Hotel, Bergen

• Buffet breakfast each morning & Dinners as meal basis below

• Rail Journey on the Flåm Railway

• Detailed Road Book featuring Maps, Great Drives & Local Attractions

• Commemorative Tour Rally Plate

• Car Parking at all Hotels – charges may apply locally

Day 2

Dutch Ferry Port to Hamburg

Breakfast on board followed by an early morning arrival in Holland.. After disembarkation your drive today takes you north through Holland and into Germany where you enjoy an overnight stop at the Frommanns Landhotel Buchholz, near Hamburg with dinner included at the hotel.

Mileages: Hook of Holland – 310 miles
Rotterdam – 320 miles / Ijmuiden – 290 miles
Calais 455 miles)

Day 3

Hamburg to Hirtsals

Today, your journey today takes you north into Denmark and to Hirtshals. Attractions en route include; the historic town of Kolding or if you are an Elvis fan, you could make a stop at Denmark’s replica of Graceland complete with 6,000 items of Elvis memorabilia. Check-in at Hirtshals is early evening for your overnight Fjord Line crossing to Stavanger in Norway. Your accommodation is a 2 berth inside cabin (upgrades available on request). On board, you can choose between 8 different restaurants, from Gourmet food in the Cosmopolitan Restaurant, to burgers in the Sports and Burger Bar.

Mileage approx. 320 miles.

Day 4

Stavanger to Flam

Arrival in Stavanger is at 07h00 and after disembarkation you’ll experience the magnificent fjord-land scenery as you make you way north via Norheimsund and along the Hardangerfjord, where you’ll see the new Hardangerfjord bridge which has a longer span than the Golden Gate Bridge! From here our journey takes us via Voss, through the majestic Norwegian mountain scenery, passing through Vossvangen and the Tvindefossen and Waterfall. Arrival in Flam and the Fretheim Hotel with Buffet Dinner included

Mileage approx. 215 miles

Day 5

Flam to Marifjøra & the Flam Railway

Breakfast is followed by a spectacular trip on the Flam Railway, one of the world’s steepest railway lines. On the 20km train ride you will experience more of Norway’s most dramatic and magnificent scenery including deep ravines, waterfalls, snow-capped mountain slopes and mountain farms. After lunch, you will depart Flam for the drive to Sogndal. The drive will take you via the Laerdal Tunnel, the world’s longest road tunnel (24.5km). This is then followed by a short ferry crossing from Fodnes to Mannheller, with arrival at the Tørvis Hotel in Sogndal late afternoon.

Dinner is included at the hotel.

Mileage approx. 105 miles

Day 6

Marifjøra to Geiranger

Your routing today sees you travelling through the main gateway to the Jotunheimen National Park, Norway’s highest mountains. From Gaupne, you can make a short detour to Jostedal for an ‘up-close’ viewpoint to the Jostedal Glacier. From here, you’ll join Route 55 for the drive across the Sognefjellet mountain range, the highest and most impressive mountain pass in Northern Europe (highest point 1430 meters) to Lom. This route has been awarded the status of ‘National Tourist Route’ because of the spectacular and wild mountain scenery it passes through. The final part of the journey is from Lom to Geiranger where you’ll spend the next two nights with dinner included.

Mileage approx. 152 miles

Day 7

At Leisure in Geirangerfjord

Breakfast is followed by an optional morning drive to Dalsnibba viewpoint. It is at a breathtaking 1500m above sea level, with fantastic views of Geirangerfjord and the surrounding mountains. The winding mountain road takes you from Geiranger to Djupvasshytta at 1038m above sea level. Then, you take the Nibbevegen toll road (cost approx. 100Nkr) to Dalsnibba, one of the main attractions in the Geiranger region. The afternoon is at leisure to enjoy the village of Geiranger, a famous cruise ship destination. The evening is at leisure in Geiranger.

Mileage approx. 25 miles

Day 8

Geiranger to Molde

Today, you’ll enjoy a drive on the ‘Trollstigen National Tourist Route’ where you’ll experience the Trollstigen Mountain Road, one of Norway’s most dramatic and most visited attractions. The Trollstigen National Tourist Route is a 106 km stretch of road between Lake Langvatnet on Strynefjell and the Sogge Bridge in Romsdal. It has six panoramic view and rest areas. Then it’s on to Molde via Andalsnes with accommodation at the Scandic Hotel Seilet for 2 nights with dinner included.

Mileage approx. 110 miles

Day 9

The Atlantic Road​

Today, you’ll experience the spectacular Atlantic Road, known as “The Road in the Ocean”, with seven bridges that allows the road to follow the archipelago of islands in the sea like a snake. The Atlantic Road connects the island of Averøy with the mainland, via a series of small islands and islets spanned by a total of eight bridges over 8,274 metres. The road was opened in 1989 and is toll free. Return to Molde late afternoon with the evening at leisure

Mileage approx. 220 miles

Day 10

Molde to Skei

Departing Molde, this morning you’ll enjoy a 30-minute ferry crossing to Vestnes followed by a scenic drive south to Forde. You will pass along the Old Strynefjell Mountain Road, now a National Tourist Route. In 1881, the road between Grotli and Hjelle was built and is regarded as a masterpiece of road-building and engineering. Nature displays its contrasts along this stretch of road, with the rounded, glacier-scoured forms to the east and a steeper, more precipitous topography to the west. Arrival in Skei should be late afternoon with dinner included.

Mileage approx. 140 miles

Day 11

Skei to Bergen

Breakfast is followed by departure from Skei for the final journey south to Bergen, where you should arrive mid-afternoon with the remainder of the day to explore this Hanseatic city. Your accommodation is at the excellent Radisson Royal Blu Hotel in the heart of Bergen. Underground car parking is available at the hotel, however, this is independently operated, and parking charges are payable locally.

Mileage approx. 135 miles

Day 12

At Leisure in Bergen

The morning and early afternoon are at leisure in Bergen, before boarding a mid-afternoon Fjord line ferry for the overnight sailing back to Hirtshals in Denmark.

Again, all of the ship’s facilities are at your disposal during the sailing and accommodation is a 2 berth inside cabin (upgrades available on request).

Day 13

Hirtsals to Hamburg

Morning arrival in Hirtshals. This is followed by disembarkation and the drive back through Denmark and Germany. The last overnight stop is at Frommanns Landhotel Buchholz, near Hamburg ​where dinner is included.

Mileage approx. 320 miles

Day 14

Hamburg to Ferry Port

Departing the hotel after breakfast, today you’ll make the final drive back to Holland for your chosen overnight crossing back to the UK.
Mileages from Hotel to the Port
Hook of Holland 310 miles / Ijmuiden – 290 miles
Rotterdam 315 miles / Calais 450 miles

Day 15

Arrival Back in the UK

Morning arrival back in the UK followed
by the drive home.