Norway in a nutshell ® takes you through some of Norway's most beautiful fjord scenery. You can experience the scenic Bergen Railway, the breathtaking Flam Railway, the Aurlandsfjord, the narrow Naeroyfjord (now included on UNESCO's World Heritage List) and the steep hairpin bends of Stalheimskleiva.
The Bergen Railway
The Bergen Railway is a unique experience on Northern Europe's highest-altitude railway line. One of the greatest challenges is the harsh and changeable weather. The line is exposed to deep low-pressure centres from the west, which can mean strong winds and heavy snow for part of the year. Keeping the railway open demands great effort and technical expertise. Today, skilled workers, effective equipment, tunnels and snow tunnels make the Bergen Railway one of the safest and most comfortable ways of travelling between Oslo and Bergen. The line was voted one of the 20 best railway experiences in the world in 1999.
The Flam Railway
The journey on the Flam Railway is regarded as one of the highlights of the Norway in a nutshell® tour. The 20-km-long train journey from the mountain station of Myrdal down to Flam, down beside the fjord, takes around 55 minutes. On the journey, you have views of some of the most magnificent mountain scenery in Norway with an ever-changing panorama of tall mountains and cascading waterfalls. The train moves slowly or stops at the best views.
Splendid Norwegian fjords - on UNESCO's World Heritage List!
Down at the picturesque village of Flam, there is time to eat and to wander around before continuing your journey by boat. The boat sails out the Aurlandsfjord and into the Naeroyfjord, one of the narrowest fjord in Europe. The Naeroyfjord is included on UNESCO's famous World Heritage List. Surrounded by towering mountains up to 1,800 metres high, this branch of the Sognefjord is amazingly beautiful. On the journey, you have excellent views of small traditional farms. If you are lucky, you will see goats grazing right beside the fjord and seals basking on rocks before the boat moors at Gudvangen.
Stalheimskleiva
The journey continues by coach up the steep and spectacular hairpin bends of Stalheimskleiva*. The road up to Stalheim Hotel has 13 steep bends. After enjoying the wonderful views of the Stalheimsfossen and Sivlefossen waterfalls, continues the journey on to Voss and further by train to Bergen.
Day 5: August 10: Copenhagen Denmark – Princess Cruise Ship
Today you will fly from Norway to Copenhagen, we will do a city tour on our way to your beautiful Princess Cruise Ship. This afternoon will be free to walk around the Warf and explore your ship.
Day 6: August 11: Day at Sea
Today will be a fun day at sea to relax, enjoy Fun for Less Tours own get-together.
Day 7: August 12: Stockholm Sweden
Our optional shore excursion: Includes a full day tour of Stockholm that will include the fantastic Vasa Museum. The Vasa is the world’s only surviving 17th-century ship and one of the foremost tourist sights in the world. The ship is displayed in a purpose-built museum in Stockholm. We will also enjoy a tour of the city and of an open air museum. Sweden has brought old buildings that are hundreds of years old and created a community to show what it was like in Sweden hundreds of years ago.
Day 8: August 13: Helsinki Finland
This morning early we arrive into Helsinki. Our optional shore excursion will visit the finish countryside and the charming old wooden town of Porvoo. From the red warehouses nestled on the riverbanks to the delightful old town, you'll discover a tranquil village. Porvoo retains its town plan from the Middle Ages, with small wooden houses, picturesque gardens and narrow streets. We will return in the afternoon for a tour of Helsinki before returning to our ship.
Day 9 & 10: August 14 & 15: St. Petersburg Russia
You will spend 2 days in St. Petersburg. The only way to visit St. Petersburg is to do it through the ships shore excursions. This way you are not required to purchase a separate Visa that could cost upwards of $200 per person. The ships shore excursions are expensive, but not bad when you take into consideration you do not have to pay for the Russian Visa.
Day 11: August 16: Tallinn Estonia
This morning we will arrive into Tallinn Estonia, one of the best kept secrets in Europe. Tallinn has a small, charming old town center with an architectural style reminiscent of frosted cakes, fairy tales and Teutonic knights. It’s surrounded by medieval walls and is full of windy cobblestone streets and colorful houses, many of which date back to the Hanseatic League (13th century) and the Middle Ages. We do not recommend buying a shore excursion from us or from the Ship. The ancient walled city is best explored on your own.
Day 12: August 17: Gdansk Poland
Our Optional Shore excursion will include a Gdansk City tour and the surrounding countryside area.
Day 13: August 18: Berlin Germany
Our Optional Shore excursion will take you from the port to Berlin with a full day tour of Berlin of both the West and East side of Berlin.
Day 14: August 19: Helsingborg Sweden – Copenhagen Denmark
Today will be a free day to get off the cruise ship and explore this wonderful city on your own.
Day 15: August 20: Copenhagen Denmark
We will have a full day tour of Copenhagen that will include a city tour. We will visit the Church that holds the original Christus. We will also visit one of the top 5 castles in the world: Fredericksborg Castle. We will overnight in Copenhagen. Today’s tour is included in your package, along with all transfers and deluxe hotel.
Day 16: August 21: Copenhagen – Home
Today you will transfer to the airport and your flight home.
