PRIVATE GUIDED TOUR: Norway's Highlights – Viking Special, 11-12 hours – WINTER
Description
Meet the Vikings and experience the highlights of Western Norway on our special tour to Gudvangen and the Nærøyfjord. This tour starts and ends in Bergen. You will visit Voss, Gudvangen and Flåm, witness the majestic beauty of this region: lush valleys and magnificent fjords surrounded by sheer mountains. We travel to the Nærøyfjord – a part of UNESCO World Heritage site: West-Norwegian Fjord Landscape area. Our main destination is the Viking Village, where you can meet the real modern day Vikings and learn about their history and culture. For a complete experience, we recommend taking a fjord cruise. Your own professional driver-guide is with you all the time (except the fjord cruise) and provides interesting commentary to the sights and general information about Norway. Duration is approx. 11.5 hours. Car on this tour is one of our Mercedes minivans. When only 1-4 people are going on this tour, we may use our Tesla Model X. All of our cars have Norwegian Passenger Transport Licence.
Tour Options
Itinerary
Our tour starts in the city of Bergen - the Gateway to the Fjords. The city was founded in 1070 and contains many historical and cultural landmarks. We will pass some of them on our way from the city and also on our return to Bergen.
We pass through the town of Voss on our way to Gudvangen. The main historical attractions are Vangskyrkja - church from 1277, and the St.Olaf's cross from 1023.
We make a stop at Tvindefossen waterfall, locaded 12 km (7.5 miles) to the north of Voss town center. We can come close this cascading 110 meters (360 ft) tall waterfall. In autumn and spring Tvindefossen is usually at its fullest flow, due to the autumn rainfalls and melting snow in spring. During winter months the waterfall can be frozen.
Our next stop is at Stalheim Hotel, an establishment which history is closely related to postal service in Norway and goes back all the way to 1647. The hotel and its outlook terrace is closed from the end of September till May. We can visit another view point close by - a short walk up a moderately steep path is required.
Stalheimsfossen waterfall is one of the 2 waterfalls on each side of the hairpin turn road Stalheimskleiva (the road is closed for car traffic this time of year). We can take a short walk to come closer to the waterfall. Stalheimsfossen is 126 meter / 413 feet tall.
Alternatively, we can take a short walk uphill to come closer to another waterfall: Sivlefossen waterfall is one of the 2 waterfalls on each side of the hairpin turn road Stalheimskleiva (the road is closed for car traffic this time of year). Sivlefossen is 142 meter / 466 feet tall.
Our main destination on this tour is a small village of Gudvangen, in the very end of the Nærøyfjord. This cosy little village, snuggly located under the tallest waterfall in Norway, Kjelfossen (840 meters / 2755 feet), has attracted tourists ever since the 19th century. When we arrive here, it will be time for lunch, which we can have at the local hotel's restaurant/cafe or inside the Viking Village.
Njardarheimr is the name of the Viking Village in Gudvangen. We visit the village with a guided tour and learn about the Viking history, culture and society, and take part in activities like archery and axe throwing. There are also some interesting people to meet: real modern day Vikings who come to live in the Village and engage in their authentic arts and crafts. You have 2 options when visiting the Viking Village: 1) Regular: Entrance tickets to the Village are included. You can participate in a scheduled tour around the Village with a local guide. 2) Private Viking: Entrance tickets to the Village are included. Your tour around the Village is with a private Viking guide, who is with your party for a whole hour.
The Nærøyfjord is one of the most gorgeous fjords in Norway (and the world!). Its unique and pristine beauty was the reason for including it on the World Heritage list by UNESCO in 2005. We recommend seeing it on a 2-hour fjord cruise. You have 2 options here: 1) Travel from Gudvangen to Flåm aboard a passenger ferry, or 2) Take a private fjord cruise on a RIB (rigid inflatable boat). As this tour is an open schedule tour, the fjord cruise is not included. We can offer several alternatives which are available, help you with purchasing tickets or making a booking for you. The fjord cruise should be arranged in advance to guarantee the best experience. Alternatively, we can visit other places other like Aurland and the Stegasein lookout.
After leaving Gudvangen - by either ferry, private RIB or car - you come to Flåm, a village located at the very end of the Aurlandsfjord. This busy cruise ship destination clearly stands out from the tranquil Norwegian scenery with its souvenir shops, restaurants and cafés.
An alternative to the fjord cruise is a trip to Stegastein lookout, located at the top of a hairpin turn road overlooking the Aurlandsfjord at 640 meters / 2099 feet above sea level. Wonderful ride and a stunning view!
On our way back to Bergen we pass the town of Voss again. This time we can make a stop here to take Voss Gondol cable car to the top of Mount Hangur (2690 ft / 820 m above sea level). Additional payment for extra time and cable car tickets is required.
Our tour ends in Bergen. Scheduled time for return is 7:30pm.
Highlights
What's included
Pickup Locations & Times
Suggested start time for this tour is 08:00am. Pick up in Bergen city center: Any hotel or cruise ship port in Bergen city center, any hotel in the vicinity of Bergen airport, rented apartment or private residence located within 1.5 miles (2.5 km) radius from Bryggen embankment, i.e. Bergen city center. If not departing from a hotel, please, provide the address. Pick up at Bergen airport: Bergen International Aitport Flesland, Domestic or International arrival hall.
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Specialized infant seats are available
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Reviews(3)
Our tour guide, Mr Vlad is very professional, knowledgeable and attentive. He picked us up from our hotel in a luxurious black Mercedes Benz v class and he specially selected songs for different parts of the tours. He even prepared fruits, cookies and homemade ginger tea for us when we reached Stegastein viewpoint. The mountains, river and Viking village are so beautiful during winter! This is definitely one of the best tours we ever had before. Highly recommended!
Dear Ann, thank you very much for booking this tour and so nice review. We are very happy that you enjoyed our tour. Hope to see you again in Norway. Sincerely, Vlad
Vlad took the 4 of us in a new Mercedes van to see the Viking Village and the fyords. We rode the ferry to Flam where he reconnected with us and took us yo a spectacular viewing spot to see the fyord from above. He surprised us with a Norwegian snack to enjoy the view. I highly recommend booking with Vlad. You won’t be disappointed. This was a highlight of our trip
Dear Donita, thank you very much for so kind words! Hope to sea you again! Sincerely, Vlad
We’ve been on many private guided tours in different countries over the years and this is the best one we’ve taken. Vlad was an outstanding tour guide who took us on a full day tour to so many stunning sites to see the beautiful country sides of Norway including waterfalls, lakes, mountains, small villages, fun and informative Viking village, and an amazing 90 min cruise through fjord (you MUST add this extra to the tour and have the guide book it - it’s SO worth it. The views on this cruise are best described as majestic - seeing so many natural waterfalls and storybook houses, small villages along the water. I do travel photography and this was some of the best photo opps I’ve ever had in one day. Vlad is amazing tour guide and I promise you will love this day in Norway.
We are very happy that you enjoyed this private tour from Bergen with Vlad! We appreciate a lot that you used your time to leave us the review, thank you! Best regards, Jana Morozova
