This is a brand new trip by Explore, and given that we were the ‘test’ group, I was super impressed at how well organised and free of drama it all was. Pretty much everything went like clockwork- the hotel rooms, the transport, and the guided tours.
All 3 countries are stunningly beautiful. From the fjords, mountains, and misty waterfalls to the colourful waterside houses and the scent of cinammon in the towns, it all felt very clean, fresh and safe. I loved the people, the values and the weather was gorgeous blue sky and sunshine on all but one day.
All the hotels are of a decent standard, had amazing breakfasts, and are very centrally situated, so it was easy to go out and roam about without feeling like you wouldn’t find your way back.
Mads our tour leader was brilliant. He has an encyclopaedic knowledge of the history of everywhere we went and he delivered it all in an engaging way with passion and humour. He went above and beyond to support people when they needed help, and always offered to take people on optional trips that weren’t part of the core offering. He explained things very clearly and was very attentive / vigilant - regularly counting us and shepherding any straying sheep back into the fold.
We had one issue when the electric boat in Flåm (to take us on the fjords) wouldn’t charge and it was 2 hours till the next boat which would have meant we’d miss our connection back to Voss. Mads reacted very quickly, got straight on the phone and organised Plan B which meant we still got to see the fjords (which were absolutely stunning) and still got back to our hotel at a reasonable time.
If you are thinking of doing this trip…
A lot is packed in over 9 days with lots of destinations (you will sleep in 6 different places in 9 nights) so you need to be ok with living out of a suitcase. Take clothes that don’t need ironing! Protection of the environment is woven into the fabric of this trip and so public transport is used most of the time. To avoid clogging up space on trains, and to help us move around more lightly, our suitcases were sometimes transported separately (you won’t have to carry them) so there a few nights where you just have a small bag with you (and this is all in the trip notes).
The pace is very leisurely so would suit all age groups and anyone who is moderately mobile/ active. There’s plenty of walking required but it is first and foremost a discovery trip rather than a walking one.
If you want to get a higher step count, there is plenty of free time built in, so the trip never felt like a military operation. You can go off and do your own thing, go to one of the many museums, or you might just want to have a pastry and a coffee (fika). Or find a pub!
Feedback for future trips: I think some of us would have preferred 2 nights instead of 1 in Copenhagen. It’s a beautiful city with lots going on and I felt that we left a day too soon. You could maybe switch things around do 1 night in Voss instead of 2.
I also wanted to do a quick shout out to Tom from Explore who joined us for the Norway leg. He was great company, very friendly and helpful.
..and finally a shout out to my fellow travellers - you know who you are! Thank you for all the laughs! It was a pleasure and a privilege to do the trip with you guys
🙏🏻
