Trip to Norway
9 Days

Departure from Minneapolis-St. Paul airport in the afternoon on overnight Delta flight with meal service. Exact group flight times TBA.

Arrive into Amsterdam and change to onward KLM flight to Bergen, Norway.

After baggage collection, the group will be met by your tour leader, then transfer by private coach to your accommodation. A little time to relax before a group welcome dinner this evening at a restaurant next to Bryggen.

Overnight: Bergen Børs Hotel

Breakfast at hotel. This morning at 900A, enjoy a 2-hour guided walking tour of Bergen.

Bergen, the second largest city in Norway, is charmingly placed between mountains and fjords. The city was founded in 1070 and is the main capital of the fjord country. Admire the venerable King Haakon's Hall, Rosenkranz Tower, Bryggen - a row of Hanseatic timbered houses with characteristic pointed gables facing the harbor - and the bustling Fish and Flower Market, the City Park, and Grieg hall - the concert hall of Bergen. Board your private coach for transfer to Troldhaugen, the home of composer Edvard Grieg, now a living museum comprising an exhibition center with shop and cafe, concert hall, composers' cabin and Grieg's villa dating from 1885. As part of your visit, enjoy a 30-minute concert here, then time for lunch on own. After, will do a short visit to nearby Fantoft stave church, before continuing on to Oleana knitting factory. The group will enjoy a 45-minute guided tour here, before returning to Bergen for evening at leisure.

Overnight: Bergen Børs Hotel

Breakfast at hotel. Depart Bergen and drive for a visit and tour of Dale of Norway Factory Outlet & Museum. Dale is one of very few textile companies with their production still in Norway, and their factory sits a stone’s throw from the original Dale Factories, established in 1879. Guests will learn about their history, the village of Dale, why they use wool, and partnerships with the Norwegian Olympic and World Cup skiing teams. Guests have a chance to go down into the factory and get to see how a sweater is made, from skeins’ yarn, to knit pieces, to the assembly of the sweater. Tour duration is approx. 2 hours, including refreshments (coffee, tea, soda, cookies).

Continue the journey to Voss. Time to visit the shop of Sylvmidja in Voss, where they create the beautiful silver jewelry for decoration on the Norwegian national dress "bunad". The group will enjoy a mountain Gondola ride, a spectacular attraction and adventure arena. The journey from Voss town center up to Hangurstoppen takes less than 9 minutes. Here, you can enjoy the magnificent view of lakes and mountains surrounding Voss.

Dinner and Overnight: Fleischer’s Hotel, Voss

Breakfast at hotel. Today, the tour continues to the Hardangerfjord area. We will stop to admire Skjervefossen waterfall en route to our guided tour with tastings at Syse Gard Fruit Farm, followed by a group lunch at the farm. Afterwards, cross the Hardanger Bridge, making a little detour to see the impressive Vøringsvossen waterfall.

Drive to our historic hotel, situated next to the water. This evening thegroup will enjoy a private performance by a local Hardanger fiddler.

Dinner and Overnight: Hotel Ullensvang, Lofthus

Breakfast at hotel. We head eastward to Telemark region today. We start with a stop by the Låtefossen waterfall before arriving into the mountain village of Rjukan which is on the Unesco Heritage List. In Rjukan we will travel up to the mountain of Gauskafjell in a unique manner, a funicular operating inside the mountain. The railway consists of two sections: first, you travel approximately 850 meters horizontally into the mountain on a battery-powered tram. You then transfer to a funicular that climbs about 1,050 meters steeply upward through the tunnels. Down again we will make a stop at the Rjukan Waterfalls, if we are lucky we can see this twin waterfall roaring. Dinner at a beautiful & historic property.

Overnight: Dalen Hotel

Breakfast at hotel. Head to the Dalen pier this morning for departure at 800A on a boat ride along part of the Telemark Canal, sailing east through a series of lakes and locks. Enjoy a group lunch on board, before arriving at Lunde where the group will disembark at 110P. Your private coach will meet you here, and then head to a visit at Heddal stave church. Continue northward up to Oslo.

Overnight: Hotel Bristol, Oslo

Breakfast at hotel. Guided 4-hour tour this morning of Oslo city & nearby sights. Rest of afternoon on own to explore the capital and perhaps do some shopping. Farewell dinner this evening at a local restaurant.

Overnight: Hotel Bristol, Oslo

Breakfast at hotel. Morning coach transfer to Oslo airport for check-in for your return flight with KLM to Amsterdam. Transfer to your onward transatlantic Delta Air flight to the Twin Cities MSP.