Norwegian Fjord

August 18 – 27, 2018

Trip Overview

On this adventure tour we visit western Norway, an area characterized by outstanding natural beauty including deep blue fjords; the rugged Sunnmore Alps shrouded in glaciers and dramatically rising up to over 5,600 feet from the glistening fjords, pristine lakes, impressive waterfalls cascading over towering rocky cliffs, small picturesque historic villages amid lush green landscapes in narrow Ice-Age carved valleys, abandoned Viking homesteads clinging to rock slopes, and many UNESCO World Heritage sites. On this tour with our knowledgeable Norwegian guide, we take short day hikes amid this awesome splendor, learn about the geology, ecology, culture and history of the area, and return each night to relax in the comfort of some of Norway’s finest hotels and enjoy a superb local and international cuisine. From our hotels we are transferred by minibus and ferry to the different areas where we hike.

Trip Highlights

• A visit to the spectacularly beautiful Geiranger Fjord, considered the best travel destination in Scandinavia; a UNESCO World Heritage site

• Hike to the Bodalsbreen Glacier, one of the arms of the Justedalsbreen Glacier, the largest in Europe

• Hike to Molladalen Lake, a beautiful fairy-tale landscape surrounded by towering peak

• Hike to Haugsvarden Mountain for a 360 degree panoramic view of the Nord and Gloppen Fjords

• Last night’s lodging in the historic four star Union Hotel, which has been welcoming European royalty for over a century.

Trip Itinerary

Day 1. Saturday, August 18. Depart USA

Day 2. Sunday, August 19. Arrive Norway
Arrive Oslo, Norway and transfer to a Norwegian Air Flight to Alesund, a picturesque fishing port town located on seven islands on the west coast at the entrance to the Geiranger Fjord. This UNESCO acclaimed town is noted for its art nouveau architecture, as much of it was rebuilt in this style following a 1904 fire, which destroyed part of the town. Upon arrival we will be met at the airport and escorted to the historic Brosundet Hotel located on the water with magnificent views to the fjord and mountains. This four star hotel has a restaurant, bar/lounge and free WiFi. The hotel, a former warehouse, has been renovated in an art nouveau style and each room is unique. Tonight we have an evening briefing by our Norwegian guide followed by a welcome dinner in the hotel restaurant. (D)

Day 3. Monday, August 20. Melshornet Hike (4.5 mi/4 hrs)
Today we take a ferryboat on the Hjorund Fjord to our hiking area. We hike up and through serene beech forests to Melshornet Peak for fantastic views of the Orsta Fjord and the town of Saebo below. The old farming village of Saebo is located beneath the Sunnmore Alps, which over the last thousand years has housed wolves, bears and Vikings. This picturesque village has a population of about 1,000. For the next two days we lodge at the Sagafjord Hotel, a boutique four star hotel in Saebo located on the water with views to the mountain. The hotel has a bar, a restaurant that serves both traditional and modern cuisines, and WiFi. (B,L,D)

Day 4. Tuesday, August 21. Molladalen Hike (4.5 mi/4 hrs)
Today we hike to the beautiful Molladalen, a fairytale landscape surrounded by the majestic Molladalstindane peaks. Our hike takes up and past sheer rock and incredible waterfalls to mountain lakes beneath the peaks of Molladalen, where we have lunch and take in the majestic view. After a relaxing picnic lunch we return to the comfort of the Sagafjord Hotel for an impressive dinner. (B,L,D)

Day 5. Wednesday, August 22.  Holmoyane Hike (4.5 mi/5 hrs)
Today we take a ferryboat and minibus ride to another area and hike to the summer farm at Utigard, which overlooks the deepest lake in Europe. We descend through an ancient forest to walk along the shore of the lake and stop at the Cove of Holmoyane for lunch.  After lunch we head to the Gloppen Hotel in Sandane, a village of about 2,000 people located on the shore of Gloppen Fjord.  Our historic hotel, a three star facility, has been renovated with modern conveniences but retains its atmosphere and warm hospitality.  It has a bar, a celebrated restaurant which serves modern, traditional, local and international cuisines, and WiFi. We lodge here for the next two nights. (B,L,D)

Day 6. Thursday, August 23.  Haugsvarden Hike (7.5 mi/6 hrs)
Today we hike to the summit of Haugsvarden Mountain where we have an awesome 360 degree panorama of the high, rugged peaks to the southeast and the blue waters of the Nord and Gloppen Fjords to the northwest. After a picnic lunch we return to our comfortable Gloppen Hotel. (B,L,D)

Day 7. Friday, August 24. Segestad Farm Hike (3 mi/3 hrs)
We take a ferryboat and taxi to the lakeside town of Hjelle, an idyllic village beautifully situated on the east side of Strynsvatnet Lake at the end of Hjelledalen Valley. We follow a pleasant trail to the Segestad, an abandoned farm on a rocky knoll. During our picnic lunch we have incredible views of the Hjelledalen and Erdalen Valleys below. We circle around and head to Styn, a village of about 2,400 people. We lodge at the Visnes Hotel, a three star Swiss style historic hotel which has been managed by six generations of the same family. It has a bar, restaurant and WiFi. We lodge here for the next two nights. (B,L,D)

Day 8. Saturday, August 25. Hike to Billingen Waterfall (4.5 mi/2.5 hrs)
Today we hike through rolling terrain across a wide valley to the Billingen Waterfall. This waterfall has an impressive volume of water and drop.  We have lunch at the waterfall and then return to the Visnes Hotel.  (B,L,D)

Day 9. Sunday, August 26.  Bodalsbreen Glacier and Geiranger Hike (4 mi/2.5 hrs)
Today by minibus we head for the Geiranger Fjord and along the way stop for a hike to the Bodalsbreen Glacier, an arm of the great Jostedalsbreen Glacier, whose thick glacial ice appears blue in the sunlight. After this hike we continue via minibus and then hike to Dalsnibba (4,843 feet), high above the UNESCO listed Geiranger Fjord and continue on to Lake Mollsvatnet.  After the hike we take a ferryboat ride across the fjord and drive along the Norangs Valley to the village of Oye and the Union Hotel at the foot of Mount Slogen.  Our four star hotel is one of the most distinct hotels in all of Europe. It has been a place where visitors come to savor the good life and the tranquility in magnificent surroundings since 1891. This hotel has been a favorite venue of royalty, writers and lovers for generations. (B,L,D)

Day 10. Monday, August 27. Depart for Oslo
We take a morning ferryboat back across the Hjorund Fjord to the Alesund airport for our flight to Oslo. (B)

COSTS

LAND COST: $4,185 per person based on double room occupancy. Single supplement $736.

Cost Includes: Lodging, buffet breakfasts, all lunches, all dinners at our hotels, airport transfers, all land and water transfers (minibus and ferryboat), Norwegian guide, American guide, and luggage transfer between hotels.

Cost Does Not Include: International airfare, flight from Oslo to Alesund, drinks or alcoholic beverages with meals.

We hike on well-maintained trails for 3 to 7.5 hours for distances of 2.5 to 6.0 miles. The ascents and descents are generally less than 2,000 feet and the maximum elevation is about 4,700 feet. The trails are steep in places; therefore, these hikes are rated as moderate.

REGISTRATION AND INFORMATION
If you would like additional information, e-mail us at info@adventureboundmen.com, or call us locally at 303-449-0990 or toll free at 1-877-440-0990. Our office hours are 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. and 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. (Mountain Time) Monday through Friday.

You may also download our trip registration form, and mail it in to us.

Hjelle Valley