NORWEGIAN
FJORD CRUISE TOURS
 SOGNEFJORD
CRUISE TOURS
 BERGEN to BERGEN
or
BERGEN to OSLO
SOGNEFJORD CRUISES
4 DAYS
Enjoy a relaxing Sognefjord cruise that will take you
through some of the most scenic parts of the Fjords. You will pass
waterfalls, steep mountainsides and small picturesque communities. We sail
between idyllic skerries and small islands on the majestic "King of the
Fjords", the Sognefjord.
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OPTION 1
BERGEN to BERGEN
Saturdays/2006:
Jun 03, 10, 17, 24
Jul 01, 08, 15, 22, 29
Aug 05, 12, 19, 26
SATURDAY
BERGEN
Individual
arrival in Bergen. Check in at the centrally located
First Marin Hotel for overnight
and breakfast.
SUNDAY
BERGEN - SOGNEFJORD - LEIKANGER
Meet you tour
escort and depart from Dreggekaien Pier at Bergen's central harbor near your
hotel at 9:00 am. Sail north on your private fjord cruiser towards Sogne
Fjord, with lunch en route. The stretch of coast between Bergen and the
Sogne Fjord consists of thousand large and small islands and is considered
Norway's most beautiful coastal archipelago. Sail into Sogne Fjord to visit
Finden Goat Farm with insights into new and old traditions. Your trip goes
on past beautiful Balestrand to Leikanger which is the largest fruit-growing
community in this region. Dinner and overnight at
Leikanger Fjord Hotel or Sognefjord Hotel.
MONDAY
LEIKANGER - GUDVANGEN - BERGEN
After
breakfast, your private fjord cruiser awaits to set sail further into the
Sogne Fjord to idyllic Undredal where there will be time to stop and visit
the smallest Stave Church in northern Europe. We continue to the beautiful
and narrow Naeroy Fjord and on to the tiny settlement of Styvi for a guided
tour of the farm. At the end of the fjord is Gudvangen where we disembark
our private cruiser and continue by coach back to Bergen. Lunch en route. A
stop is made at the fascinating White Caves - a short tour into a mine
cavern for an experience of colors, lightness, darkness, music, silence and
meditation. This is followed by majestic waterfalls along the way up and
over the Stalheim Canyon Road -one of Europe's most famous - to Voss and on
to Bergen arriving around 5:00 pm. Your tour escort will bid you farewell
at the
First Marin Hotel. You have the evening free to explore this
fascinating city on your own.
TUESDAY
BERGEN
After breakfast, your tour arrangements end.
FROM:
$1055 per
person double
$ 240 single supplement |
OPTION 2
BERGEN to
OSLO
Saturdays/2006:
Jun 03, 10,
17, 24
Jul 01, 08, 15, 22, 29
Aug 05, 12, 19, 26
SATURDAY
BERGEN
Individual
arrival in Bergen. Check in at harbor located
Radisson SAS Royal Bryggen
Hotel for overnight and breakfast.
SUNDAY
BERGEN-SOGNEFJORD - LEIKANGER
Meet you tour
escort and depart from Dreggekaien Pier at Bergen's central harbor right
across from your hotel at 9:00 am. Sail north on your private
fjord cruiser towards Sogne Fjord, with lunch enroute. The stretch of coast
between Bergen and the Sognefjord consists of thousand large and small
islands and is considered Norway's most beautiful coastal archipelago. Sail
into Sognefjord to visit Finden Goat Farm with insights into new
and old traditions. Your trip goes on past beautiful Balestrand to Leikanger
which is the largest fruit-growing community in this region. Dinner and
overnight at
Leikanger Fjord Hotel or
Sognefjord Hotel.
MONDAY
LEIKANGER - GUDVANGEN - OSLO
After
breakfast, your private fjord cruiser awaits to set sail further into the
Sogne Fjord to idyllic Undredal where there will be time to stop and visit the smallest Stave Church in northern Europe. We continue to the
beautiful and narrow Naeroy Fjord and on to the tiny settlement of Styvi for
a guided tour of the farm. Lunch en route. At the end of the fjord is
Gudvangen where we disembark our private cruiser and continue by private
coach. A stop is made at the fascinating White Caves - a short tour into a
mine cavern for an experience of colors, lightness, darkness, music, silence
and meditation. From here, you leave the tour by taxi to Flam in time for
the famous Flam Mountain Cog Railway up the mountain. At the end of the Flam
line, connect with the express train to Oslo arriving about 10:30 pm. Across
the street from the Railway Station exit is the
Thon Hotel Opera - your home for the night.
TUESDAY
OSLO
After
breakfast, your tour arrangements end.
FROM:
$1285 per person double
$ 300 single supplement |
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INCLUDES:
3 Nights at First Class and Fjord Resort Hotels
Daily Breakfast, 2 Lunches, 1 Dinner
Transportation and Shore Excursions per itinerary
Tour Escort, except during arrival day/on train
More 4 & 5 day Sognefjord Cruise Tours |
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SOGNE FJORD
CRUISE HIGHLIGHTS:
Since the 1800s, when the aristocracy and the
wealthy sailed their yachts here each summer, the Sogne Fjord has been a
“must see” for the world traveller. This grand fjord is called the King of
Fjords because it is the longest (204 km or 126 miles) and deepest (1308
meters or 4200 feet) fjord in the world. You will see the fjord at its
widest and explore its most explore narrow passages. The scenery will vary
from wild and rugged mountains masses, straight into the fjord, to verdant
farmland with storybook villages.
Our modest-sized fjord cruiser can
go into narrow fjord arms that the larger boats can only view from a
distance. Maximum capacity on our cruisers is 100 but tours rarely exceed
40-60 passengers. Unlike the scheduled public boats, ours have the
flexibility to make scenic detours and stop to take a closer look at
wildlife and sea life. All cruises are manned by a crew who know the local
fjords inside and out and by a professional guide who will be on hand to
answer questions and provide assistance.
LEIKANGER - Leikanger is situated in a
beautiful region in the heart of the Sognefjord. It is an excellent base
from which to reach everything this part of Norway has to offer. At the
same time, enjoy the mild climate allowing peaches, apricots and walnuts
to thrive here. In 1840 the first steamboat began regular traffic in the
Sognefjord. As a result, small pensions and hotels sprang up at the
stopping places. One of the so called coaching stations was located at
Leikanger. In a travel guide from 1896 you can read: “Leikanger is a
smiling, beautiful beach along the main fjord, located 260 km from Bergen.
Charming place. Rooms available."
STYVI -
Styvi is located on the east side of the well
known Nærøy fjord. People have lived here at least since the Viking Age,
living primarily off farming domestic animals. Styvi has traditionally
been an important link to both the local mail and the shipping routes. The
6 kilometer long "King's Post Road", running along the fjord between
Bleiklindi and Styvi, is a part of the old mail link between Oslo and
Bergen. The foot path was built around 1660 and was used until the advent
of the steamboat in 1860. The path was traditionally used when there was
unsafe ice on the fjord. Styvi farm is today a farm museum were you can
see a large collection of agricultural artifacts. It is possible to visit
the old farmhouse and other existing farm buildings. It is primarily the
rugged, untouched wilderness that has led to official protection. Styvi is
accessible only by boat.
UNDREDAL -Undredal is located along the
Aurlands Fjord, a branch of the massive Sogne Fjord. It is very scenic and
home to the smallest stave-church in Northern Europe.
Lovely Undredal lies wedged in
between high mountains. The village has a population of 130 people and 500
goats. Undredal is renowned for its goats' cheese, which is still made in
the traditional way. Historically, Undredal was first mentioned
when the Bishop of Bjørgvis (Bergen) placed Pål Bårdson, a known scholar,
there as a representative of the church. Pål Bårdson was the Chancellor
to King Magnus' court, and later Archbishop of Nidaros (Trondheim) during
the years of 1333 to 1346. The chapel can be dated back to 1147.
WHITE CAVES -
In Gudvangen, a new attraction that is a bit
different. Enter into the bowels of the earth on a soft carpet, listen to
Norwegian Edvard Greig's music as you pass running and dripping water, see
specially lit caverns and ponds that contrast the white mine galleries.
FINDEN FARM
- You will visit the Finden Farm -
a
hidden gem on the Sogne Fjord. Finden farm is a small settlement off the
beaten track, without any road connections. The farm is set in a fantastic
landscape and the guided tour will afford you a unique experience still
undiscovered by most tourists. Our hosts,
the only family living here, will show you round the farm and give you a
good picture of life there in old and modern times. Light refreshments and
goat’s cheese tasting can be included.
This isolated goat farm can only be reached by
boat and your visit here will give you an insight into the farmers’
tradition and way of life.
STALHEIM CANYON ROAD - A 1.3 km long, extremely steep road with 13
hairpin bends. Built in 1842-48 to improve the trans-mountain mail route,
it has seen few improvements since. It is one of Northern Europe's steepest
roads and is framed by two beautiful waterfalls, Stalheimsfossen and
Sivlefossen.
FLAM RAILWAY
- The world famous Flam Railway
is a marvel of engineering. The only thing lacking when the railway
line between Oslo and Bergen was opened in 1909, was a branch line to the
Sognefjord. In order to assure a transport route to the fjord, work was
begun on the Flåm Railway in 1920. It was to take 20 years to complete.
The most time-consuming work
was on the tunnels. These were excavated manually.
By regular gauge track it ascends 865 meters (about 2,900 ft) in less than
an hour, going through 20 tunnels and making a photo stop at the mighty
Kjoss waterfall. You will hear a chorus of "oohs" and "aahs" as the
incredible scenery shifts from one side to the other. The views on the train
varies from the wild, barren inhospitable Hardanger Plateau at the top to
the green and fertile Flam Valley that meanders down to the fjord. PLEASE NOTE: This is a
multilingual tour and is organized and operated by our Associate Office in Oslo.
Visit our new
website for more about Norway
(TRY) 111905
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