Norway Western Fjords Cruise

Explore Norway's famous coastline on an 8-day cruise with MS Lofoten through the dramatic beauty and idyllic settings of Norway’s Western Fjords plus a night in Bergen

Situated in Norway’s mild southern regions, the Western Fjords present a stunning mix of towering peaks, verdant meadows and traditional architecture – and what better way to experience it all than on the magnificent MS Lofoten.

Enjoying the delights of the spring and autumn sunshine we sail through a landscape blanketed in springtime blooms, or painted in the golds of autumn, all the time set against the awesome backdrop of majestic peaks carved out during the last ice age.

Sailing into the past
Joining MS Lofoten on our evening of arrival, we awake the next morning to the dramatic sight of Lysefjord and the famous Pulpit Rock, perched over 600 metres above the fjord.

Heading for Stavanger, we visit the capital of Norway’s North Sea oil industry, before moving on to the more traditional town of Skudeneshavn with its well-preserved 18th century timbered buildings.

Then, passing through the strait of Karmsund and Avaldsnes, once the seat of a Viking King, we set course for Hardangerfjord, famous for its orchards and spectacular scenery, where we can visit the steep Måbødal Valley and also learn about Europe’s largest mountain plateau.

Weather permitting, we may see Folgefonna, Norway’s 3rd largest glacier, rising some 1660m above sea level. Then it is on to Rosendal, where Roald Amundsen’s ship the Gjøa was built. This is one of Norway’s biggest attractions, with the smallest castle in Scandinavia.

Plunging fjords and climbing trains
At Fjærland we visit the Norwegian Glacier Museum, before sailing on to the 6 mile long Nærøyfjord, Europe’s narrowest, wildest and arguably most beautiful fjord.

Surrounded by snowclad peaks, towering mountains and cascading waterfalls this is possibly the most dramatic landscape of the voyage. From here we head for Flåm, famous for the Flåm-Myrdal Railway, a masterpiece of engineering that travels some 12 miles along a 1:18 gradient.

The views along this route are spectacular in the extreme. In Undredal we visit Norway’s smallest church, before heading for the longest and deepest fjord in Europe in the Sognefjord, which carves a valley of 125 miles into the wild and beautiful landscape surrounding it.

The western reaches
We visit the Selje Monastery, built by Benedictine monks in the early 12th century and considered to be western Norway’s oldest Christian centre.

There is an option to visit the wild untamed West Cape before we continue to Loen and Olden in the Innvik Fjord. Passing Norway’s westernmost town of Florø, we arrive at the beautiful island of Svanøy, the ‘Pearl of Sunnfjord’, where remnants of Stone and Bronze Age settlements can be found, as well as the Norwegian Deer Centre.

Continuing on to Bulandet, Norway’s most westerly inhabited fishing village, we get the opportunity to learn a little more of life in this rural outpost before embarking on the final leg of our journey through the narrow Steinsundet strait and crossing the mouth of the Sognefjord to enter the beautiful islands of Øygarden, before returning to Bergen.

NEW: take a virtual cruise along the Norwegian Coast using the special Google Earth tours we have created

Check availability of this cruise
Summer 2006 Norway cruise index

Check availability of this cruise
Summer 2006 Norway cruise index

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UK: 0845 226 2475
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