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Norway-Fjordlands

June 23 - July 1, 2009

Immerse yourself in the majestic, rugged beauty of Norway. Stand along the fjords and contemplate the colossal glaciers that carved these dramatic gorges and the sparkling, deep blue inlet waters they left behind. Begin your exploration in Bergen, Norway’s ancient capital and second-largest city. Discover the architecture of Norway’s wooden stave churches; visit a superb example on the outskirts of town. Admire breathtaking fjords and the charming villages and cities nestled among them. Take a cruise on the Hardangerfjord, known as the Garden Fjord because of the apple, cherry, pear and plum orchards that thrive there in the summer. See Norway’s largest waterfall, Vøringfossen. Along the way, meet the people of Norway, who invite you to experience the best of their country.

Day-by-Day Itinerary*
Day 1 Depart your gateway city for Bergen, Norway. (Flight provided for Air Program participants only.)
Day 2 Upon arrival, transfer to the Hotel Admiral. (Transfer provided for Air Program participants only.) This afternoon, an orientation walk of the hotel environs is followed by a welcome reception and dinner at the hotel.
Day 3 Educational Focus: The Vikings and Norwegian Emigration. Excursion: Bergen. Tour the ancient capital of Norway. From the cobblestoned streets to the pastel-colored wooden houses to the mountains that look over the city, there is much charm in the country’s second city. View the old and new sections of the city, King Haakon’s Hall, Rosenkrantz Tower, the old Hanseatic warehouses and St. Mary’s Church. Visit the home of Norwegian composer and pianist Edvard Grieg in Troldhaugen. Independent Exploration: After lunch, enjoy time at leisure to stroll the quay with its local market and warehouses.
Day 4 Educational Focus: The Origins and Cultural Influence of Norway’s Fjords. Excursion: The Hardangerfjord. The Hardanger district is famous for its beautiful landscape and mild climate. Travel the scenic highway that runs along the Hardangerfjord, the second-largest fjord in Norway. See the Vøringsfossen waterfall, the largest in Norway. Local Flavor: Following lunch at a local restaurant, board a boat for a memorable cruise on the Hardangerfjord.
Day 5 Excursion: The Western Fjordlands, its Culture and Time-Honored Handicrafts. Travel to the small village of Dale, home to Norway’s largest producer of sweaters. Learn the process of producing Norway’s distinctive style of knitwear. Continue to Voss and the Molstertunet, an open-air museum devoted to the culture of Nordic farm life. Then, visit the folk museum for insight into the design of the “national costume” and traditional handicrafts. Local Flavor: Lunch is served at a restaurant in Voss. Cultural Event: This evening, attend a performance of folk music in Bergen.
Day 6 Educational Focus: Contemporary Norway. Excursion and Educational Focus: Norway’s Stave Churches. Located just outside Bergen is the spectacular Fantoft Stave Church, which was originally built at Fortun in Sogn around 1150 and moved to the outskirts of Bergen in 1883. Although a 1992 fire claimed the original structure, the Fantoft Stave Church was rebuilt in 1997. Educational Focus: Meet the People.
Day 7 Excursion: Norway’s Magnificence. Journey by motorcoach, boat and rail to see some of the most thrilling and scenic wonders of Norway. Take a dramatic train ride from Flåm, just above sea level, to Myrdal, which sits at 2,841 feet. The tracks twist and turn through the breathtaking scenery for more than 12 miles. Enjoy a boat cruise to Gudvangen, before traveling over Europe’s steepest road to Voss. Return to Bergen by train. Local Flavor: Lunch is served in Flåm.
Day 8 Independent Exploration: The day is at leisure to pursue independent interests in Bergen and its environs. Tonight, gather with fellow travelers for a farewell reception and graduation ceremony, followed by dinner at the hotel.
Day 9 Transfer to the Bergen airport for the return flight to your gateway city. (Transfer and flight provided for Air Program participants only.)

* Itinerary is subject to change due to local conditions. Excursions in this program may involve an element of walking as some of the finest attractions are not always located in areas closely accessible by motorcoach.

Norway Brochure (pdf)

Cost: approximately $2,495 per person, plus airfare and V.A.T., based on double occupancy.