Norway is a country renowned for its exceptional natural environment, which is characterized by countless fjords, lakes, and mountains. The long coastline in the west is influenced by the warm waters of the Gulf Stream, resulting in milder temperatures, even during the polar night when temperatures above freezing are common.
With the 4th highest per capita income in the world, Norway is a prosperous nation, largely due to its large oil and gas production. It also boasts a comprehensive social security system, universal healthcare, and well-organized services. It is no wonder that Norway consistently ranks in the top positions in various global indexes, including the Global Happiness Index, the Better Life Index, the Public Integrity Index, and the Democracy Index. Additionally, Norway has one of the lowest crime rates in the world.
Our trip aims to introduce participants to some of the most representative parts of Norway. Starting from the Oslo and Bergen area, we will explore the stunning peaks of the Lofoten island cluster, experience the phenomenon of the midnight sun, and reach the North Cape.
The tour begins with a flight from Athens to Oslo on Aegean airlines with a departure time of 22:35 and arrival time of 01:25. Upon arrival, the group will spend the night in a 3-star hotel located near the airport. The rooms are double occupancy with private bathrooms and breakfast included.
We will start our first day in Oslo with a visit to two museums in the morning. The Norwegian Folklore Museum is an open-air museum showcasing the life of Norwegians from the 16th century until today, while the Polar Exploration Museum features the polar ship Flam, the most powerful wooden ship ever built.
In the afternoon, we will depart for the village of Eidfjord, following a mountainous route on the trail of the first road connecting Oslo and Bergen, which was built in the 19th century. The last part of the route is especially impressive, with deep gorges and waterfalls. We will stop for a visit to the stunning Voringsfossen waterfall, one of the largest in Norway with a drop height of 163 m. We will spend the night in a 3* hotel in double rooms with a bathroom and breakfast included.
The total distance covered on this day will be 360 km, with a driving time of approximately 5 and a half hours.
We will start the day with a transfer to the nearby village of Kinsarvik (30 km, 40 min) in the morning, for a 6-hour hike in the Husedal valley, which features a series of four impressive waterfalls: Tveitafossen, Nyastolfossen, Nykkjesoyfossen, and Sotefossen at the top of the route.
As the return journey follows the same trail, there is the option to choose how high you would like to go. The trail up to the highest waterfall, Sotefossen, requires a 13 km walk, including the return journey and a 665 m ascent.
In the evening, we will arrive in Bergen (154 km, 2 ½ hours) for an overnight stay in a 3* hotel in double rooms with a bathroom and breakfast included.
Total day trip distance: 185 km (3 ½ hours of driving).
Bergen, Norway's second-largest city with a population of 280,000, was founded in 1020 AD and is known as the "city of seven mountains". It is considered the capital of street arts.
On this day, we will explore the city, starting with a tour of the old dock, Brügen, which is full of traditional wooden buildings and listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. We will then take a leisurely walk through the streets, fish taverns, and cafes of the picturesque town. For those interested, there is an option to take the cable car to the top of Floyen Hill, where panoramic views of Bergen and the fjord can be enjoyed. Accommodation will be at the same hotel.
After breakfast, we will begin our journey to the famous Naeroyfiord fjord and the small village of Gudvangen. The village is 147 km away from Bergen, and it takes 2 hours and 15 minutes to reach there. We will start the cruise to the Naeroyfiord fjord at 12:00 pm, which is one of the narrowest fjords in Europe and is included in the UNESCO list of monuments. The fjord's beauty is home to wildlife such as seals and eagles. We will disembark in the village of Aurlandsvangen after about 2 hours, where the van will be waiting for us. From there, we will ascend to the Stegastein Viewpoint, which is just 8 km away and a 15-minute drive. It is a point with a panoramic view of the fjord from above. We will then drive to Flam, which is 17 km away and will take us around 30 minutes, for a short visit to the railway museum.
In the afternoon, we will board the train to Mydral station, which is on the famous Flam railway line. The train ride is 20 km long and is one of the steepest standard gauge lines in the world, with an OD of 864 m. The railway line offers panoramic views of some of Norway's wildest and most magnificent scenery, including the famous Kjosfossen waterfall. It passes through 20 tunnels, 18 of which were built by hand between 1923 and 1940.
We will change trains in Mydral and head to Gol, where we will spend the night in a Motel. We will stay in double rooms with a private bathroom and breakfast will be included.
After breakfast, we will drive to Oslo airport (181 km, 2 ½ hours) to catch the midday flight to Bodo (Norwegian 13:20 - 14:50).
In the afternoon, we will cross to Lofoten by ferry and arrive in the evening. We will then immediately transfer to the quiet village of Sund (22 km, ½ hour) for an overnight stay in rorbu-type holiday homes with a kitchen and bathroom in each home.
Depending on our fatigue and mood, before arriving at the lodge we can take a detour to enjoy the midnight sun.
Note that all of Northern Norway from Bodo upwards is located in the Northern Arctic Circle, which means that during the time of our travel, the sun will last for 24 hours, also known as the "Midnight Sun."
After having breakfast that we prepare ourselves in the kitchens of the rorbu, we head to the village of Reine (18 km, 25 min). We will climb to the top of Reinebringen (altitude 350 m) from a built path with 1800 steps, a walk that takes about 1 to 1½ hours depending on the physical condition of the group. We end up on a summit with spectacular views of the fjords, lakes, islands, and the villages of Reine and Hamnoy.
Next, we move to the picturesque village of A (10km, 15'), where we can have lunch and, if desired, take an afternoon walk to nearby Lake Agvatnet or the rocky shores south of the village.
In the afternoon, we return to our accommodation to prepare our evening meal and relax while enjoying the view of the sea from our balcony. If we did not observe the midnight sun the night before, we can do so tonight.
After enjoying breakfast, we will set out for a refreshing hike to the secluded Kvalvika Beach. The trail ascends to a gap and then descends to the beach, covering a total distance of 2.2 km with an altitude of 165 m, and takes about 1 ½ hours each way. Upon our return, we will depart for Flakstadoya and Vestagyua islands to visit the scenic Haukland Beach and Uttakleiv Beach.
In the afternoon, we will head to the Lofotr Viking Museum, an open-air museum showcasing the Viking way of life, complete with a replica of a period dwelling. Here, we will have the opportunity to try a traditional Viking lunch of lamb soup, cooked on the fire of that time (not included in the price). Later, we will arrive at Austvagoya Island and the charming village of Henningsvaer, where we will spend the night in traditional 3* rorbu-style accommodation in two cottages, each equipped with a bathroom and kitchen.
The total day trip by car covers 125 km and takes 1 ½ hours.
In the morning, we will climb Mount Floya, which has an altitude of 590 meters and dominates over Svolvaer, offering a spectacular panoramic view of the town and the islands. On the way, we will visit the "Devil's Gate" (Djevelporten), and for those who are not afraid of heights and want to try, climb up. The route covers an altitude difference of 580 meters and takes 3 to 4 hours. After that, we will depart for Narvik (220 km, 3 hours), with stops along the way for photos and short explorations.
We will stay overnight at a 4-star hotel in double rooms with en-suite facilities and breakfast.
In the morning, we will set off on a visit to the Polar Park, a natural wildlife park that is home to various polar animals. Here, we will have the chance to see semi-captive bears, wolves, moose, polar foxes, lynx, and many others roaming around in large fenced areas, which together cover 1,100 acres of land.
After the visit, we will continue on an amazing route that will take us through many fjords, waterfalls, and glaciers, ultimately leading us to Alta. The route is 470 km long and takes around 6.5 hours to complete. Upon arrival, we will check into our 3-star hotel, where we will be accommodated in double rooms with private bathrooms, and enjoy a breakfast.
Following that, we will visit the open-air petroglyph museum, a UNESCO monument.
We will embark on a day trip to the Northern Cape "Nord Kap Globus", the northernmost point of continental Europe. During the trip, we will take a walk and marvel at the stunning coastline.
Upon arrival, we will visit the Cape's theme park, which includes an exhibition, a showroom with the theme "The 4 seasons in the Northern Cape," and a souvenir shop with a coffee corner. The open-air area houses the Globe sculpture, which symbolizes and serves as a landmark for the Northern Cape. We will return in the afternoon via the same route to our hotel in Alta. The total day trip covers 472 km and takes 7 hours of driving.
Early in the morning, we will transfer to the airport to catch the Norwegian flight (07:00 - 09:55) from Alta to Oslo. This marks the end of our program, and the Trekking Hellas guide will not join the flight.
In the afternoon, you will catch an Aegean flight (15:40 - 20:25) back to Athens, bringing our Norway adventure to a close.
1 to 12 July 2023*
* The trip, except for the specified dates, can be arranged for ready-made groups of 5-8 persons, any date in the period from June to September each year
2.970 € for 7-8 participants
3.060 € for 6-7 participants
1.170 € difference for single room
Note: The above prices are valid for the specific trip, dates and services described. However, it is possible to implement the trip with any changes requested and for small ready-made groups of up to 8 persons, with any desired change of services upgrading hotels, transport, full board, etc., or vice versa. We are at your disposal if you contact us.
To reserve a place you must first read the terms of participation mentioned in the Participation Form, and if you accept them, then fill in the form at https://forms.gle/JYY58M7Evr3Cwx4c8
After completing the form and within 10 days you will need to send a deposit of 500 €. Another 500 € must be sent 2 months before departure and the payment of the trip must be completed in stages up to one month before departure. Air tickets in case our office is responsible for issuing them, must be prepaid. Any cancellation of air tickets is subject to the terms and restrictions of each airline and are not covered by the cancellation terms of the rest of the package.
Transportation
Local transportation is by minibus with 8 + 1 seats to ensure flexibility and personalized group management.
Air tickets are not included in the price and must be issued when the group is finalized. The flights listed in the schedule are indicative, and it is recommended to plan early due to rising airfares as the flight dates get closer. Contact us for more details.
Accommodation
Food
Tipping
Insurance
In these uncertain times, we have chosen to include travel insurance SILVER in the cost of the trip, which will protect you from unexpected situations related to Covid-19, as well as other health emergencies (such as injuries during a hike requiring transportation and hospitalization), missed flights, and other situations, including coverage for total trip cancellation for some of the covered cases. However, since the cost of insurance depends on the age of the participant, we have included the cost for the first category, which includes those up to 55 years old. Those aged 55 to 85 will pay an extra charge proportional to their age.
In the link below, you can see the coverage of the SILVER program and contact our travel advisor to resolve any questions you may have regarding the coverage.
Ταξιδιωτική Ασφάλιση από την Trekking Hellas - Ταξιδιωτική Ασφάλιση
Extra insurance fees for those over 55 years old
Ages 56-64: extra 16 €
Ages 65-70: extra 49 €
Ages 71-85: extra 82 €
Note: Due to limited space in the minibus, we recommend that you bring a soft bag instead of a hard suitcase, and pack only the essential items to avoid bulky luggage.
Price from €2970
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