Norway and Sweden Culinary experience
Visiting Bergen - Loftus - Balestrand - Sogne - Loen - Loen - Lom - Oslo - Värmland
A suggested program for small groups and family reunions
wanting an extension to have an unusual Scandinavian experience.
Pricing is based on season and availability.
Day 1, USA – Bergen
Depart USA for Bergen, Norway.
Day 2, Bergen- Os
Arrive Bergen late afternoon and transfer to your first historic hotel stay, nestled comfortably in the outskirts of Bergen on the picturesque Bjørnefjord: Late afternoon tour of Bergen ending with a private piano recital at Troldhaugen, Edvard Grieg's Home!
Hotel: Solstrand Fjord Hotel, in Os. A historic hotel built for Bergen merchant princes!
Menu: Fish soup, scallops for starters - LAMB main course - including wine (W)!
Day 3, Os - Rosendal Loftus
After breakfast at the hotel, travel via deluxe coach to Rosendal, site of The Barony, a 17th century renaissance castle/manor. Enjoy Lunch and then a short drive over to Lofthus, site of the classic Hotel Ullensvang. This beautiful hotel is situated in the garden of Hardangerfjorden lying beneath the shadows of the Foglefonn Glacier. Time to enjoy this relaxing, Utne family hotel setting, which inspired so many of Grieg's compositions.
Hotel: Hotel Ullensvang, in Lofthus
Menu: Mountain Trout - Reindeer medallions, and sorbet of cloudberries and plums
Day 4 Loftus - Voss - Myrdal - Flåm – Balestrand
After breakfast at the hotel have a leisurely morning. Mid morning departure for Sognefjord via Voss ad Myrdal including a ride on the famous Flåm Railway down to Flåm. Lunch is followed by a spectatular cruise through the Nærøyfjord to Gudvangen. Continue up Stalheim Canyon and over the mountain passes to Vik. Visit the 12th Century Hopperstad Stave Church, taking ferry connections to Balholm, Balestrand - home of the 4th generation family owned historic hotel - Kvikne's. Many Soft-Hiking possibilities in the area!
Hotel: Kvikne's Hotel, in the historic wing !
Menu: Reindeer capriccio with fresh Parmesan cheese. Mushrooms filled with Saffron Lobster - on Oppland salad topped with raspberry dressing. Leg of Duck braised in Burgundywine sauce with fresh vegetables. Chestnut parfait - Tyttbær mousse and pumpkin pie - Preceded by special Wine Tasting (W) hosted by our good friend, General Mgr. Sigurd Kvikne, in the wine cellar!
Day 5, Balestrand – Fjærland – Jostedal Glacier - Loen
After breakfast at the hotel, board the morning ferry from Balestrand to Fjærland; fjord crusing along the green foothills of the Jostedalbreen - glacier. Visit the glacier museum, plus the Boyum and Supplebreen Glaciers - a photographers dream! Continue by tunnel to Skei, visit Auhild Vixen Vevestove sweater and souvenir shop, and on to Loen, romantically situated at the end of the Nordfjord. Enjoy a restful night after a dining feast for the eyes as well as the pallet.
Hotel: Hotel Alexandra, B, L, GD - Loen with fresh mountain air and a breathtaking fjord view!
Menu: Surprise GD - gourmet dinner proceeded by a Wine Tasting (W) party in the hotel's amazing wine cellar!
Day 6, Loen
After breakfast look forward to an exhilating day at Lake Loen starting with a ferry to Kjenndal Glacier, and Lunch on the lakeshore. Choice of a soft Glacier Walk or Horse Carriage ride included! Enjoy a gentle hike into the mountains upon our return to hotel. Evening smorgasbord dining with delicious selections from the best traditional recipes drawn from Loen's bounty.
Hotel: Hotel Alexandra, B, L, D - evening on your own!
Day 7, Loen – Dalsnibba – Gudbrandsdal
After breakfast continue north to Dalsnibba, high atop the Geirangerfjord, and on over the Jotenheimen Mountains range to Lom - visit the Lom Stave Church, the Mountain Museum with Lunch at the Fossheim Hotel. Welcome to the traditional Gudbrandsdalen farm preserved from the 16th Century with loving care:
Hotel: Røisheim Hotell, "the right place for a quiet holiday in an old fashioned atmoshpere!"
"Visit by Queen Sonja on her fall Holiday in 2002" deep in Boverdalen!
Menu: Surprise gourmet dinner proceeded by host, Haavard's special Wine Tasting (W) party!
Day 8, Gudbrandsdalen
After breakfast experience a relaxing day in the mountains with a "soft hike" guided by our host, Haavard, including a packed lunch. Your evening is spent relaxing and basking in this unique mountain setting atmosphere.
Hotel: Røisheim Hotell,
Menu: Dinner selection from Chef Ingrid's standard menu - a gourmet treat in itself!
Day 9, Dudbrandsdalen – Lillehammer – Losby Manor
After breakfast continue down into Gudbrandsalen past Vinstra, to Lillehammer - stroll on the streets of the Olympic Village, which remains just as quaint as before the successful OL Winter Games! Those who have not visited Maihaugen, the fabulous folk museum, may do so. Afternoon lunch on our friend's farm in BROTTUM - with Ole and Jorunn's at Halla Gård. Drive down Lake Mjøsa to the outskirts of Oslo for our stay at the historic Losby's Gods Manor, a large country estate, steeped in 150 years of traditions, history and glorious culture dating back to the 1850's!
Hotel: Losby Gods, Kings and noblemen came here to hunt and celebrate! Our stay includes a trip into the past as well as the opportunity to enjoy a plush 18-hole golf course, tennis courts, riding stables, superb accommodations, hiking and hunting all spread over 10,000 acres. Our host, Lars Christian, and special friend, has turned Losby Gods into a truly remarkable manor and resort.
Menu: Exceptionally served in the supreme wine cellar and selected from the standard menu tonight
Day 10, Losby Manor
After breakfast spend the day enjoying your favorite past time - listed above, followed by a memorable evening taking us back into old world traditions:
Hotel: Losby Gods,
Early evening veranda cocktail party outside the doors of our dining room overlooking the lush grounds!
Menu: Home Smoked Breast of Duck and Cauliflower soup with Truffle oil. Halibut with wild mushrooms and morels - Rosti potatoes. Chocolate Fondante with wild berries from the area
Day 11, Losby Manor Värmland, Sweden -
After biding farewell to Losby Gods, we head to Sweden via Värmland in Western Sweden stopping in Arvika, home of part of our own heritage. We continue on to Märbacka, near Sunne, into the countryside lake resort area just north of Karlstad. Overnight in a charming and historic Värmland manor house!
Hotel :Länsmansgarden (The sheriff's manor) from the 16th century ,
Menu: Surprise - in traditional Svenske gourmet style! Plenty of time to relax with ample hiking, rowing, and canoeing opportunities in the vicinity.
Day 12, Värmland - Filipstad
After breakfast e continue even deeper into the Värmland district to Filipstad for our last stop at an idyllic, but sophisticated manor house. The lake setting in this beautiful folklore countryside enhances the excellent culinary delights and charm! But first, a stop en-route @ Märbacka to visit Selma Lagerlöf's - Nobel Prize for Literature - home, well known author of "The story of Gösta Berling".
Hotel: Hennickenhammars Herrgård. Wine Tasting (W) before dinner!
Menu: Standard daily menu selections chosen from local game or freshwater fish, berries, herbs, and mushrooms from the area.
Day 13, Filipstad
After breakfast spend the day in complete relaxation enjoying canoeing, hiking, or boating. A side trip over to what else, as a culmination to our Culinary Tour, The Svenske House of Culinary Art, Måltildens Hus I Norden for lunch, cookbook shopping, gardens and tour!
Hotel: Hennickehammers Herrgård,
Menu: Compete surprise - a "FAREWELL GOURMET DINNER" feast with selected wines (W) you have chosen from the previous day's wine tasting part.
Day 14, Filipstad – Karlstad – Copenhagen - Home
After breakfast prepare to depart mid morning departure for Karlstad and our SAS connecting flight in Copenhagen.
For additional optional extensions see our program suggestions in Scandinavia Finland Esonia and Russia, possibly stopover in Iceland.
Greenland Iceland Denmark Norway Sweden Baltics St Petersburg Russia Hurtigruten Coastal Voyage Faroe Islands Jensen World Travel Arctic Adventure Robinson of Scandinavia Nordic Company Scantours Passage Tours Scanam Tours Five Stars of Scandinavia Picasso Nordique Tours Borton Overseas Tours Brekke Tours Ferries Danish Castles Norwegian Fjords Gota Canal Stockholm Gothenburg Oslo Bergen Lofoten Islands
Trondheim Stavanger, Copenhagen aalborg aarhus odense Helsinki Turku
Sibilius Train Pushkin Palace