Shore Excursions for Norway - 2023 Coastal Cruises

Physical Level: Difficult, participants must be in good general physical condition
Port: Urke
Season: Sept-Oct

Join a spectacular mountain hike in the Hjorundfjord region. The hike starts on an old farm road and continues on a tractor path. It’s a steep climb toward the top, and the last 1,600 ft you climb an old stone stairway. At the top you are rewarded with an absolutely amazing panoramic view of steep mountain peaks rising directly from the fjords to heights reaching 5,000 ft above sea level. Even in the summer there is snow on the mountains and numerous small hanging glaciers. At the top you can also visit an abandoned bear cave. If you follow a path even farther up the hill, you can see the village of Sæbø on the other side of the fjord. Before descending, you take a coffee break in the Leknes valley, overlooking the village of Urke, the fjord, and the beautiful mountains. You take the same farm road back down, and visit the local grocer before ending your excursion at the Kaihuset Café. There you are served an ice-cold ‘Slogen’ beer, named after the majestic mountain we see across the fjord.

Physical Level: For most guests, requires some physical effort
Port: Urke - Alesund
Season: Oct

In Hjørundfjord, we go ashore in the small village of Urke and travel by bus through the narrow Norangsdalen valley. Then we enjoy beautiful Geirangerfjord from a ferry, before traveling up into the mountains for breathtaking views at Flydalsjuvet viewpoint in Geiranger. Some of Norway’s most popular travel photos are taken here. We continue up Eagle Road (Ørnesvingen), the steepest stretch of road up the mountainside from Geiranger. We take the ferry from Eidsdal to Linge and continue to the village of Stordal where we stop for coffee and a snack. We end the day in Ålesund, a town best known for its beautiful Art Nouveau architecture. Here, we do some short sightseeing and admire the view from the town’s mountain, Aksla, before embarking on the ship.

Physical Level: Medium, participants should be in good general physical condition
Port: Urke
Season: Sept-Oct

Come along on this delightful hike to an old shieling where our welcoming hosts tell us about life on the farm in the old days. In the past, farms in the village were very small, so it was important to utilise outlying areas for summer grazing. Each year, the cows were moved to the shieling where they grazed and were milked morning and evening. The grazing space was so far from the village that it was necessary to build houses for the milk maidens. The old farmhouses at Haukås were restored in the 1990s and are reminders of a bygone era. The hosts will demonstrate some of the equipment they used on the farm, and you get to try carrying milk pails and churning butter. You also have time to explore the site on your own, and then taste the local delicacies. After the visit, we follow the road on the opposite side of the valley and make a stop at the local grocer.

Physical Level: For most guests, requires some physical effort
Port: Urke
Season: Sep-Oct

We arrive in Hjorundfjord by sea. Today, we will get "a taste of Norway" and see places that have fascinated visitors for centuries. Kaiser Wilhelm II of Germany visited this area several times. We anchor outside the village Urke, where a tender boat takes us to shore. We continue by bus through what is often referred to as "Norway's narrowest valley" - Norangsdalen. Because of its shape and location, this valley is often closed in winter. Along the way we will stop and look at some spectacular places. One of them is Lyngstol Lake. Here you can see sites of ancient settlements in the water that was naturally dammed in 1908 after a large landslide, a fascinating sight. We will also visit the historic Hotel Union Oye, which has played an important role in Norwegian history. Here we will provide you with local specialties and a drink.Next, we go to the community Urke which can offer local history in various forms. We guarantee a different experience in magnificent scenery.