Norway in Depth

Suggested Norway Itinerary for small groups or individuals doing self drive vacations.

DAY 1 U.S.A - NORWAY

You board SAS SK 944 at 10:00 PM this evening headed for Norway via Copenhagen Dinner, movies and breakfast aloft.

DAY 2 Oslo, Norway

Arrive Gardermoen Airport outside of Oslo at 3:20 PM this afternoon from Copenhagen where you’ll be met by motorcoach for the transfer to your hotel. Time to freshen up and catch a "couple of winks" or stroll Karl Johans Gate a little before your "velkommen til Norge" DINNER tonight at the Holmenkollen Restaurant to meet and greet your fellow travelers and to meet our North Cape Tour people who will be saying "goodbye" from their excursion in majestic northern Norway. Hotel to be advised.

DAY 3 Oslo

After a Viking sized breakfast, you’ll meet your tour guide and board the motorcoach for sightseeing . The THREE HOUR CITY TOUR will take you out to Bygdoy Island to visit the Viking Ship Museum, onto Frogner park and the Vigeland Sculptures with 600 sculptures in granite and bronze. Then you get a magnificent view over Oslo and the Oslo fjord with a trip up to the Holmenkollen Ski Jump. The afternoon you’ll want to be free to browse and shop in this exciting Scandinavian City. This is the 1000th anniversary of Oslo and they will have special events such as concerts and musicals, etc., during the year (at time of printing, a schedule was not available). Overnight at your hotel.

DAY 4 Oslo

It’s going to be a fun day! You’re free to get out and see what makes Oslo the wonderful city it is. You may want to pick up the Oslo Card which will give you unlimited free travel on all types of public transport as well as free admission to most of the famous museums and sights, discounts on all theater tickets., etc. Stroll Karl Johan’s Gate for the many, many stores and restaurants. You’ll want to visit the City Hall with its rich frescoes and where the Nobel Peace Prize is awarded. There will be an optional day trip offered that will take you to the Hadeland Glass Works, the Brandbu Weaving Studio, the Hval family farm, the venues for Winter Olympics (Gjøvik, Lillehammer and Hamar) and Eidsvoll (location of the signing of the Constitution of 1814 on 17th of May). NOTE: Please indicate on your reservation if you’re interested in the optional tour. The optional tour price will be determined by the number of people going. Overnight at your hotel.

DAY 5 Oslo - Lofthus

This morning you leave Oslo and are off through the scenic countryside of Drammen, on to Notodden and one of Tele- mark’s loveliest and best known sights - the magnificent HEDDAL STAVE CHURCH . The existing chancel dates back to 1147! Your route will then take you along the beautiful inland Tinnsfjord to Rjukan and the VERMORK INDUS- TRIAL MUSEUM. It was here that the sabotage of the heavy water plant was carried out during World War II. Then you continue through the beautiful forest districts, charming villages and stunning views through Odda and into Lofthus, Hardanger. Overnight at your hotel.

Day 6 Loftus - Eidfjord

The days have been busy since leaving home, so today is a day to take it easy and spend some time in this scenic area of high mountains, dazzling glaciers, rushing rivers and cascading waterfalls amidst the fjords. You’ll visit the KJEÅSEN FARM, a working mountain farm with a fantastic ride up to it with an unbelievable view at the top out over the Eidfjord. You’ll visit the HARDANGERVIDDA NATURESENTER which presents information linked to the nature, culture and outdoor life of Eidfjord and the Hardanger Plateau. You’ll also have the opportunity to view VØRINGFOSSEN with its 476 foot free fall into a narrow cleft. Overnight at your hotel.

DAY 7 Eidfjord - Norheimsund

It’s going to be a day of part travel and part adventure. On your way to Norheimsund, you’ll visit the SUMMER SKI CENTER on the FOLGELFONN GLACIER. There is a lodge here for refreshments and warmth. Then it’s a short drive to Norheimsund - a typical fjord village with good shopping. Overnight at your hotel.

 DAY 8 Norheimsund - Bergen

A short drive to your first stop - STEINDLSFOSSSEN, one of Norway’s magnificent waterfalls. Not only scenic but you can actually walk up to and under it (well, behind it!). Then you’re on your way to a city rich in tradition and history, charming and lively, Bergen - "The Gateway To The Fjords", with time to get acquainted, explore and shop. Augustin Hotel (B.)

Day 9 Bergen

A morning CITY TOUR of Bergen will introduce you more thoroughly through the Fish Market, the Bryggen, and out to Troldhaugen, the home of Norway’s famed composer, Edvard Greig. The afternoon is free to explore the shops, perhaps take the Funicular Fløibaanen. There are a number of special events and activities scheduled for the summer as Bergen has been designated "European City of Culture in 2000." There are musicals, bands, special exhibits & concerts, special music at Troldhaugen, etc. Tonight, a real treat awaits as your motorcoach will take you to one of Bergen’s finest restaurants, the Bellevue, known for nearly 100 years as one of Bergen’s best cuisine’s, beautifully located in quiet surroundings. It’s a restaurant and DINNER you’ll long remember. Overnight at your hotel.

DAY Bergen - Sogndal

A wonderful treat awaits as you head into the fjords. Your private motorcoach will pick you up for your journey through the majestic scenery that is the hallmark of Norway. Your first stop will be in Voss, a charming village, home of the famed former Notre Dame football coach, Knute Rockne. Your journey then takes you up to the Stalheim Hotel for panoramic views and picture taking opportunities, then descend the hairpin turns of the Stalheim Canyon Road. From here, it’s a short drive to Gudvangen where you catch the ferry for a beautiful fjord cruise (2 hours) on one of Norway’s most famous and spectacular fjords, the Nærøyfjord (we suggest lunch at either Gudvangen or on board the ferry) on your own. On the way, you’ll stop in at the Sogn Folkmuseum, a living museum that documents life along the Sognefjord throughout the last 4-5 centuries. Then it’s on to Sogndal to check into your hotel, a wonderful traditional hotel., Overnight at your hotel.

DAY 11 Sogndal - Røros

More magnificent scenery as you leave for still another area of Norway - the eastern side across the Jotenheimen Mountains to the Rondane Mountain Plateau with stops along the way. Perhaps you’ll be ready for a coffee break in Lom and a visit to the famous Lom Stave Church. Your ultimate destination is Røros, one of the world’s cultural treasures, registered on UNESCO’s World Cultural and Natural Heritage list. Copper ore was first discovered on the Røros plateau in 1644 by Hans Olsen Aasen. Enjoy the evening with a GUIDED WALK through the "Bergstaden", the old mining area of town. The walk provides basic information and understanding of the growth of this distinctive urban society. The tour ends with a guided tour of RØROS CHURCH a major architectural feature of the town since it was built in 1650. Overnight at your hotel.

DAY 12 Røros - Stienkjer

Your travels today take you north of Trondheim to Steinkjer and on to "THE ST. OLAV PLAY" at Stiklestad with reserved center seating. The play has long been an institution among Norwegian open-air plays and attracts about 20,000 spectators to Stiklestad each year. The drama, describes the conflicts of the farming community and the clans at the time of the battle of Stiklestad in 1030. The battle is regarded as the most important event in connection with the introduction of Christianity to Norway. It was here that Olav Haraldsson was slain - an event that was to lead to his canonization as King Olav the Holy. Tonight enjoy a specially arranged "VIKING DINNER" at the hotel. Overnight at your hotel.

DAY 13 Trondheim

Trondheim is a city that you’ll really enjoy! Your GUIDED TOUR will have a short stop at a city viewpoint for taking photos, drives past the Rønelag Folk Museum, the Norwegian University of Science and Technology at Gløhaugen, the Kristiansen Fort, the Royal Residence, and the famed Nidaros Cathedral, Norway’s national sanctuary, built over the grave of St. Olav. (There is an evening mass from 5:45 PM to about 6 PM that we recommend. The mass includes a great deal of music and is intended especially for travelers visiting Trondheim). You’ll also visit the RINGVE MUSUEM, the only Norwegian museum specializing in musical instruments from all over the world. It’s located at the Ringve Estate dating back to the 1740s and on the historical Lade peninsula. Overnight at your hotel.

Day 14 Trondheim - USA

It’s time to say "good-bye". It’s been a wonderful tour covering many places and attractions generally not seen in regular tours. You’ll have lots of memories, and perhaps, lots of pictures.

Transfer this morning to the Trondeheim airport for your flight to Oslo at 11:20 AM transferring at Gardermoen at 1:30 PM for the flight home via Copenhagen, arriving in Chicago at 5:45 PM tonight. Your motorcoach is waiting to take you home. Breakfast in Norway - Dinner at home!

TOUR INCLUDES:

• *Scheduled transatlantic flights and airport transfers. Departures from other cities available
• *Coach tours & transfers in luxury motor-coach
• *Twin-bedded rooms with private bath or shower, hotel taxes, services charges
• *Baggage handling where available
• *All internal ferries, road and tunnel tolls
• *City sight-seeing in Oslo, Bergen, Røros, Trondheim

VISITS INCLUDE:

• Everything in bold upper case in the itinerary will be included with the cost of tour as well as additional picture and viewing stops.
• #Viking Ship Museum #Frogner Park
• #Heddel Stave Church
• #Vermork Industrial Museum #Kjeåson Farm
• #Hardanger Natursenter #Summer Ski Center
• #Troldhaugen #Nidaros Cathedral
• #Ringve Music Museum #St. Olav Hellige Play
• (Reserved Seating)
• 12 Breakfasts 6 Dinners

If traveling as self drive - individual travel planning may not allow some of teh events mentioned.

This is all subject to space availability and season.