Norway Complete - Cruise and Rail 

This tour is a combination of what many consider to be the world’s most beautiful cruise voyage and rail excursion. The package includes many of Norway’s greatest highlights, including the capital Oslo, the Flåm Railway, Bergen, Geirangerfjord, Tromsø, Lofoten Islands, North Cape and Kirkenes. You start by taking the Norway in a Nutshell© rail excursion from Oslo to Bergen. In Bergen, you will embark on the famous Norwegian Coastal Voyage for a unique cruise, taking you from Bergen to Kirkenes. The cruise takes 6 days, calling at 34 ports, offering you the option of various land excursions. Enjoy a relaxing holiday in Norway’s highest mountains and deepest fjords.

Accommodation Details
The accommodation is in well-appointed comfort hotels. All rooms have private shower or bath and WC. On the Hurtigruten coastal voyage, your accommodation is an outside cabin with private facilities (P category). Breakfast is always provided and is included in the price. All the hotels have their own restaurant. Upgrade is available.

Season
High Season from 1st May to 30th September
Low Season from 1st October to 30th April

Included in the package:
* Return direct flight from Dublin to Oslo
* Comfort accommodation for 6 nights, with breakfast
* Hurtigruten coastal voyage from Bergen to Kirkenes (including outside cabin with private facilities, P category), 6 nights.
* Full board during the stay on the Norwegian Coastal Voyage (6x Breakfast, 5x Lunch, 6x Dinner)
* Meet-and-greet transfer to/from Gardermoen Airport to your accommodation in Oslo
* Norway in a Nutshell® train tour from Oslo to Bergen
* Flight from Kirkenes to Oslo
* Information meeting with our travel consultant
* Map of Norway and itinerary
* 24-hour emergency service
* Taxes and service fees

Excluded in the package:

* Meals, drinks at restaurants and entrance fees (unless otherwise stated)
* Drinks during the Hurtigruten
* Transfer to and from your hotel in Kirkenes (paid locally)
* Optional shore excursions
* Personal travel insurance (from €30 per person)

Holiday Details

Duration 13 Days - Cruise and Rail From 23-12-2007 to 23-12-2008
Accomodation
Simple/Comfort/Quality Depart
Dublin
Bedroom
Twin Prices From
€ 4,199 Per Person (excl. taxes) - High Season
€ 3,399 Per Person (excl. taxes) - Low Season
Includes Please contact Cindy on
+353 1 2412320 or email cstein@gohop.com for more information and availability.

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Itinerary

Day 10: Tromsø, “Paris of the North”

In the morning you’ll pass the medieval Trondenes Church, before calling at Harstad. Afterward, the ship will sail across the Vagsfjord and to a magnificent archipelago in the north. Later this day, you will stop in Tromsø, a lively town and by far the largest in northern Norway, with 52,000 inhabitants. Tromsø, often called “Paris of the North,” was a port of call for Russian, British, Dutch, and German ships in the 19th century, before they headed off on Arctic expeditions to hunt whales, walruses and seals, making their mark on the town. Optional shore excursions available.

Day 11: North Cape

Finnmark's landscape and wildlife is not to be missed. Rookeries of puffins and gannets along the cliffs and pods of Orca hunting for herring is a unique sight. The ship stops at Honningsvåg, where you will board a bus for a short excursion to the famous North Cape. After you receive a North Cape certificate, we’ll head back to the ship and navigate east toward the pretty fishing villages of Kjollefjord, Mehamn, and Berlevag.

Day 12: Kirkenes, the Land of the Midnight Sun

On the last day of your coastal voyage, we arrive at Kirkenes at around 10:00 in the morning. Kirkenes, the home of the midnight sun, is a border town with Russia and the end of the line. This extreme location is home to some 3,300 inhabitants, mostly with a Norwegian background, but Kirkenes is also inhabited by the Sámi people. For such a small town, Kirkenes offers an impressive range of visits and activities. Try out one of the optional excursions or enjoy the day at leisure. Spend the night in Kirkenes.

Day 13: Kirkenes

Flight from Kirkenes Airport to Gardermoen Airport in Oslo for your afternoon flight back home.

If your onward flight does not match with your arrival time at Gardermoen Airport, an additional night may need to be added to your package. Contact our travel consultant for further information.

Day 1: The Capital of Norway

Arrival at Gardermoen Airport; meet-and-greet, followed by transfer to your accommodation, situated in the heart of Oslo City. If you arrive early, we recommend getting the Oslo Tourist Pass, which provides free travel on all public transport, free admission to over 25 museums and sites, and discounts on further attractions and sightseeing, restaurants and shops. Stay the night in Oslo.

Day 2: The Highlights of Oslo

Today you’ll have the opportunity to get to know the capital of Norway. Included in the package is a four-hour guided city sightseeing tour by boat and bus, which will take you to many of Oslo’s most impressive sights, including the Holmenkollen Ski Jump and Ski Museum, the Viking Ship Museum, the Vigeland Sculpture Park, the Royal Palace, the Polar ship “Fram,” Akershus Fortress and central Oslo. After the tour, you will have the rest of the day free to explore the city, with the chance to dive deeper into the features you find most attractive. Try the shopping street, Bogstadveien, some of the cozy restaurants downtown, or just relax in one of Oslo’s many parks. Stay the night in Oslo.

Day 3: From Oslo to Flåm, Norway in a Nutshell: Pa

Today you’ll start early and head to Oslo Central Station, where you’ll board the Bergensbanen train, which will take you over the mountain roof of Norway on your way to Bergen. The ride, voted one of the 20 best railways in the world, will take you through the charming villages of Gol and Geilo on your way to Myrdal Station. In Myrdal, you’ll switch trains to take the Flåm Railway, an incredible 20 km ride with a difference in altitude of 900 meters, taking you down to the beautiful town of Flåm. In Flåm, you’ll have free admission to the Flåm Railway Documentation Center, located right beside Flåm Station, where you can learn about the construction of the world’s steepest railway line. Stay the night in the Flåm area.

Day 4: From Flåm to Bergen, Norway in a Nutshell:

From Flåm, you’ll be transported by boat onto the Aurlandsfjord and into the World Heritage-listed Nærøyfjord, the narrowest fjord in Europe. This is perhaps the most beautiful and wildest arm of the Sognefjord, with its tall mountains, mighty waterfalls and small farms clinging to the steep mountainsides, bound to leave you breathless. The boat will take you to Gudvangen, and from there you’ll be transported by bus up Stalheimskleiva, Northern Europe’s steepest stretch of road, which winds through 13 hairpin bends on its way up to Stalheim Hotel, with its beautiful panoramic view. You will then continue to Voss, where you’ll board the train, taking you the last stretch to Bergen. Stay the night in Bergen.

Day 5: Highlights of Bergen

Despite being an international city, Bergen has kept the atmosphere and charm of a small town. Your accommodation in the center of the city makes an excellent starting point for exploring the “capital of the fjords.” Bergen is a wonderful, must-visit city, full of life and culture. In Bergen you’ll find Bryggen, listed by UNESCO as a World Heritage site; exceptional old houses; the vibrant fish and flower market; cable cars offering stunning views; great museums, and more. The stay includes a one-hour “mini-train” express sightseeing tour through the city center, giving you a panoramic view of the city from the Fjellveien Road, as well as the Maria Church, King Håkon’s Hall and the Rosenkrantz Tower. Stay the night in Bergen.

Day 6: Bergen and the Norwegian Coastal Voyage

Enjoy the day in Bergen. In the evening you’ll enter the next stage of your journey as you embark on the Norwegian Coastal Voyage, Hurtigruten. Norway’s dramatic, 2,000 km west coast is one of Europe’s great attractions, and for more than 100 years, this popular journey has been offering travelers a unique combination of history, culture and incredible vistas. Onboard you’ll stay in a comfortable outside cabin with private facilities (P category). Suite upgrades available on request.

Day 7: Ålesund and then amazing Geirangerfjord

Among the highlights on today’s journey is the Art Nouveau town of Ålesund and the UNESCO world heritage site, Geirangerfjord. The cruise liner passes snow-peaked mountains and magnificent and impressive waterfalls, such as the Seven Sisters and the Bridal Veil, as it navigates carefully from one fjord to another. Optional shore excursions available.

Day 8: The Historic Town of Trondheim

Today, in the early morning, the ship arrives in the historic city of Trondheim. Here you will have about 3.5 hours to explore the city on your own or take an optional sightseeing tour. Trondheim is the original capital of Norway, and until the 16th century, Trondheim was known as Nidaros. Here you will find Nidaros Cathedral, which is one of Scandinavia’s largest buildings from the Middle Ages, and tiny, picturesque old wooden houses. From Trondheim, the ship sails on to Rorvik, where the southbound and northbound coastal ships meet.

Day 9: Over the Arctic Circle

Today you’ll cross the Arctic Circle as the ship heads to the beautiful Lofoten Islands. You’ll enjoy spectacular sights, including islands and skerries with majestic rock formations, whose origins are the stuff of legend. Optional shore excursions available.

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