It's been a few
years since we've been to either of these countries so it's
time. We've been to Norway back in 2021 when we combined it
with Sweden and we've been to Iceland a number of times when
we combined it with Ireland and Scotland. So this will be a
new combination for us.
This
10-day trip will take us from Alesund, Norway and the beautiful
Geiranger Fjord to Reykjavik, Iceland, the northenmost national
capital in the world with it's amazing scenery, gysers, waterfalls
and a chance to witness the Northern Lights!
NORWAY
We arrive on Wednesday, September 1st to
Alesund, which is a must see. The
city of Ålesund is known for its architecture in Art Nouveau
style, its surrounding fjords and the high peaks of the Sunnmøre
Alps. The meeting between mountain and fjord in the Alps
of Sunnmøre and in Geiranger is equally spectacular in summer
and winter. There is probably nowhere else in the world with
this unique combination. The snow clad mountaintops, the sharp,
clear winter air, the views and the nature experience refresh
both body and soul!
Thursday,
September 2nd: The next morning
we will
depart on our journey to the Geirangerfjord, so unique it has
been included on UNESCO’s world heritage list. Then we
will take our cruise of the Geirangerfjord offering one of the
very best and dramatic fjord scenery to be found anywhere in
Norway. Nature here is overwhelming – so you want to see it
close up. This is what you came for! The
deep blue Geirangerfjord is
surrounded by majestic, snow-covered mountain peaks, wild
waterfalls and lush, green vegetation. This might possibly
be the most beautiful place on earth. We will spend the night
at the highly rated Hotel Union perched high above the fjord
with incredible views.
Even our 2-hour journey by bus to Geiranger
is remarkable with amazing views while we coach and ferry our
way to this amazing place. We stopped our bus several
times along the way to take the most beautiful photos. Everyone
who went on the last trip agreed it was 
the
most scenic bus journey ever.
Friday, September 3rd: Now we continue
our journey with 3 days in Bergen. Bergen
is known for Bryggen Hanseatic Wharf, the Fish Market, and surrounding
mountains and fjords, such as the Hardangerfjord and Sognefjord.Bergen's
first buildings were erected along the old Hanseatic wharf, Bryggen,
which has been a lively and important part of the city through
the centuries. This site, which features on UNESCO’s
World Heritage List, comprises the remains of the old
harbour buildings and is one of the best known medieval city
settlements in Norway. Walking through the narrow alleyways
and dark external galleries is like traveling back in time.
Saturday, September 4th: But the highlight
of our stay in Bergen will definitely be the Norway in a Nutshell
day. This is a full-day package tour that will have us on ferry's,
trains and boating down magnificent fjords. We
start with train from Bergen and is the most popular roundtrip
in Norway. We will get to experience the
Bergen Railway
between Oslo and Bergen. We will then hop on the
Flåm Railway,
one of Norways most spectacular railways, from Myrdal Station
down to Flam and
the Aurlandsfjord. Then we will have a fjord cruise in
the Aurlandsfjord
and Nærøyfjord
(UNESCO World Heritage). We will also experience the steep hairpin
bends of Stalheimskleiva. It will be an incredibility scenic
experience and is included in this package.
Sunday, September 5th: Today we'll
take the
Fløibanen Funicular from the city centre to the top of the
Fløien Mountain where
we'll have
a golden opportunity to view the city, the mountains, the fjords
and the sea. The old wooden houses that still survive
and happily snuggle into the hillside, make wandering along
the narrow passageways called "smau", a truly Bergen
experience. We can also do a hike at Mount
Ulriken starting
with the cable car. Optional tour
ICELAND
Monday, September 6th
Today we will journey to Iceland. Your trip includes our short
flight to the capital of Rekyjavik where we will spend the next
5-nights.
Iceland, a country
rich with roaring volcanoes, monolithic glaciers, icy mountains
and deep fjords, has become a mecca for photographers looking
to capture the raw, mystical power of its natural northern beauty.
The ruggedness of and stark contrasts present in Iceland’s landscapes
makes them irresistible to photographers. Glacial floodplains,
waterfalls, towering mountains, fjords and even deserts of volcanic
ash can all be found in relative proximity to each other. Its
small population (of roughly 325,000) also means that the majority
of its natural wonder remains nearly or completely untouched.
We will be spending most of our time here exploring the outdoors
and natural beauty.
THE BLUE
LAGOON & RAYKJANES PENINSULA
Tuesday, September 7th
This
is a half-day tour that we'll start at 12 pm. On our way to
the famous Blue Lagoon we will visit the Raykjanes Peninsula.
There you can see beautiful small fishing town, a lighthouse,
old stone built church, Gunnuhver (Geyser), Krýsuvík,
Kleifarvatn and of course the Blue Lagoon. Here you can find
more about Reykjanes.
Then, we'll head to Iceland's famous Blue Lagoon for an otherworldly
dip in its geothermal waters.
This spa
is based around the unique properties of the geothermal seawater
in the lagoon and they claim to be in the 25 natural wonders
of the world. The Blue Lagoon was formed in 1976 during operation
at the nearby geothermal power plant. In the years that followed,
people began to bathe in the unique water and apply the silica
mud to their skin. Those with psoriasis noticed an incredible
improvement in their condition. Over the years, Blue Lagoon
has been innovative in harnessing this gift of nature to develop
different spa services and products. Today, Blue Lagoon is recognized
as one of the wonders of the world.
The geothermal
water originates 2,000 meters below the surface, where freshwater
and seawater combine at extreme temperatures. It is then harnessed
via drilling holes at a nearby geothermal power plant, Svartsengi,
to create electricity and hot water for nearby communities.
On its way to the surface, the water picks up silica and minerals,
before emerging at a soothing 38°C (100°F). Perfect
for a relaxing and re-energizing bathe. This is an optional
tour
GOLDEN
CIRCLE TOUR
Wednesday, September 8th
The
Golden Circle is a must-do day tour out of Reykjavik. It offers
you the opportunity to discover some of the highlights of south-west
Iceland. It also provides you with a general insight into the
Icelandic history, geology, its people and it rich cultural
heritage.
We start
the tour by driving to Iceland's first national park, the Thingvellir
National Park. This is the birth place of a nation as well as
of the first Icelandic democracy, when the Viking chieftains
decided to establish their first parliament (Althingi) or "general
assembly" in 930 AD. Many events took place in the area,
including the introduction of Christianity in the year 1000
AD, the declaration of independence from the Danish kings on
June 17, 1944. Besides
its historical and cultural importance, the park displays a
unique geology and natural landscapes. There, one can learn
and understand the tectonic activity or
the so-called the continental drift, the boundary between North
American and Eurasian plate tectonics. Thingvellir is one of
the only sites on Earth where the effects of two major tectonic
plates drifting apart can be observed. Notorious
for its outstanding natural beauty, Thingvellir National Park
served as one the main filming locations of Game of Thrones
in Iceland. There, you can experience the site the same way
encountered or seen by the cast of the White Walkers and the
trail of the Wildlings from North of the Wall.
After a
short walk through the area, we continue towards the Geyser
geothermal area. There, you have enough time to discover Strokkur,
one of the most active geysers in the world. It spouts hot water
and steam at a height of 20 - 25 meters every 5 - 8 minutes.
After lunch break in the area, we head towards Gullfoss
"Golden Waterfall", Europe's second most powerful
waterfall. It is located on the Hvítár "White
River", one of Iceland's major glacier rivers. The gorgeous
waterfall is one of the most popular attractions in the country.
Located in the canyon, which forms three step terraces, river
Hvítá plunges creating a powerful stream and Gullfoss.
There are no rails - just a natural surroundings. This tour
is included
SOUTH
SHORE TOUR
Thursday, September 9th
In
this tour we will take in the scenery of the South Coast and
go as far as Vík. Vík is Iceland's most southerly
village and one of the most popular tourist sites in Iceland.
Although this community of about 450 inhabitants faces the open
Atlantic, Vík is the only seaside settlement in Iceland
left without a harbour due to natural circumstances. We will
see The
Black Sand Beach, (Reynisfjara) a beautiful basalt-lava
rock formations and sea-made caves. The historical palagonite
mountains of Pétursey, Hjörleifshöfði and
Hafursey stand towering over the surrounding black expanse.,
Dyrhólaey, where the unique rock arch is found, is a
120-m-high promontory in the western part of the Mýrdalur
district. Dyrhólaey is Iceland's most southerly tip.
Skogafoss
Waterfall, which rivals Gullfoss
as Iceland's most famous waterfall. Seljalandsfoss Waterfall
one of the best known waterfalls in Iceland. It's possible to
walk behind the waterfall so bring a raincoat as you will get
wet from the drizzle. It's awesome especially on a sunny day
when one can catch a rainbow. And of course the beautiful town
of Vík.
On the way there they will see The Eyjafallajökull eruption
museum, Mýrdalsjökull glacier,
Skogar waterfall and much more. It is a great tour. This
is an optional tour
SKY LAGOON
Friday, September 10th
This
is the newest hot springs lagoon in Iceland and is only 20 minutes
from Reykjavik.
Embark on a journey of the senses powered by the elements at
this oceanside geothermal lagoon. This is an optional tour
NORTHERN
LIGHTS
Any evening in Iceland
The
Norhtern Lights become a real possiblity to see any time after
September 1st which is one of the reasons for our visit at the
end of September. If the Northern Lights appear the town of
Reykavik will often times turn off the city lights to make the
viewing better. We will organize a bus tour to get outside of
the city which worked out group on our last trip. Check out
my video! https://youtu.be/xgLNKHwrt24
This is an optional tour and will need to be scheduled when
we are there.
Temperature
The month of September is characterized by falling daily high
temperatures, with daily highs decreasing from 54°F to 48°F
over the course of the month, exceeding 58°F or dropping below
42°F only one day in ten. Daily low temperatures range from
39°F to 45°F, falling below 32°F or exceeding 50°F only one
day in ten.
Extra light! The
sun will set about 8:30 pm during our stay.
DEPOSIT TO SIGN
UP - $200
This is certain to be one
of our best trips ever, and certainly one with the most beautiful
scenery. By the way, there will be 16-1/2 hours of sunlight
in Norway while we are there with the sun finally setting at
about 9 p.m.!
Check
out my photos from our last trip!
Sweden
and Norway
Iceland
DEPOSIT - $200
SINGLE SUPPLEMENT:
$_____________
GROUP AIR: We
expect to have our group air contract by October
Includes:
-
10-nights
double occupancy with daily breakfast
-
Deluxe Motor
Coach
- Geirangerfjord tour
-
Norway in a Nutshell package
- Golden Circle
Tour
Not
included:
· Gratuities:
guides and bus driver are at your discretion.
·
International air (SEE ABOVE)
Sign
up for this Trip!
OUR HOTELS
Alesund: Quality
Hotel Alesund- 4-star
Welcome
to the Quality Hotel Ålesund, a full service hotel
with stunning views of the fjord and a central location.
We have 131 bright and airy rooms and suites, modern
conference facilities, two bars and a restaurant, all
right in the heart of Ålesund.
When you
stay at the Quality Hotel Ålesund, you have everything
you need for a comfortable stay and a good night's sleep.
Our 131 bright and airy rooms and suites are designed
with comfort and ease in mind. The rooms are bright,
spacious and many of them offer stunning sea views
Hotel Website
Tripadvisor Review
Geirangerfjord:
Hotel Union
In welcoming you to the
Hotel Union, we are inviting you to share with us one of the
most exceptionally beautiful landscapes in the world. The
inscription of the Geirangerfjord on the UNESCO World Heritage
List is relatively recent, but our magnificent natural surroundings
have been an attractive destination for many generations of
visitors, from far and near, who come not only to stay, but
to experience something that is truly unique.
The Hotel Union impresses
with its spaciousness. Generously proportioned, stylishly
furnished lounges and lobby areas, in warm, attractive colours.
More than enough space for many, or simply a quiet corner
for oneself. The atmosphere is relaxing. Everywhere, large
panoramic windows let in light and views of the wonderful
natural surroundings. Enjoy a cup of good coffee as you gaze
over the Geirangerfjord, the most beautiful fjord in the world
Experience the landscape
and nature. Hear the sound of rushing waterfalls. Breathe
in the clear, clean air. See the magnificent views across
the Geirangerfjord. The fjord and surrounding mountains form
a unique and fabulous backdrop to your stay. In surroundings
like these, your thoughts can take flight. Close proximity
to unspoiled nature helps the body and mind recharge with
new energy. Our hope is that your stay with us will delight
and refresh you. Many of our guests return again and again
– we hope you will, too.
Hotel
Website
Tripadvisor Review
