Norway Tours and Trips

My wife and I went on the 12-day Country Roads of Scandinavia tour across Norway and Denmark, with additional hotel stays before and after the tour. We were joined by a group of friendly, like-minded travellers who were keen to enjoy the less travelled countryside. Visits to Oslo, Bergen and Copenhagen showcased the excitement typical of cities. We enjoyed the Neoclassical architecture of historical buildings, churches and palaces as much as the modern-day lifestyle facilities. There were delightful moments, adding value to the tour like icing on a cake, when we chatted with locals while dining in restaurants or walking along the street. As we are city dwellers in Singapore, we were awed by the spectacular sceneries when we travelled away from the cities to the countryside and visited some of the loveliest small towns and picturesque villages. Here, postcard-perfect painted restaurants and cozy cafes lined cobblestone walkways, a scene enhanced by the rain we encountered. Nature abounds with the majesty of snow-capped Hardangervidda Plateau and frozen fjords; scenic cruises on placid and misty fjords that are flanked by rocky mountains and cascading waterfalls; train ride on Flam Railway that carves its way from sea level up to 1000m across mountains and valleys; awesome Preikestolen and Lysefjord, and so many other memorable places. The late sunset meant that we had more time after dinner to explore the surroundings. Particularly in Ulvik, the serene Hardangerfjord as night falls was truly mesmerising. Much thanks to our travel director "P" who braved rain to confirm dinner arrangement and walked to the ferry terminal in the early morning to collect our boarding tickets. His daily reminder "isn't it great to be alive" resonated with the group as we embarked on our travel each morning. His commentaries added depth to the places we visited, and landmarks we passed during the coach ride. Our gratitude is also extended to our coach driver "R" who kept us safe on the road so that we were able to soak in the scenery or catch a nap. His professionalism and driving skills navigated single-lane winding mountain roads with care and ease. Some of the hotels in smaller towns are not as well appointed or conveniently located as those in major cities. Notwithstanding, they are generally ok. Other than the farewell dinner, the other dinners were provided with a single glass of wine or beer or juice, regardless of its cost value. Perhaps, this can be improved. Considering that food and wine feed the body for a day while nature and scenery feed the mind for a lifetime, it was a fantastic tour!

Our Tour Director was outstanding. He encouraged friendship amongst the travellers on the bus. By the end of the tour everyone on the bus were friends. Everything was arranged and explained perfectly and the scenery in Norway was wonderful. It was amazing, how our driver managed to handle the tight bends and narrow roads along the Norwegian Fjords. This was our first Trafalgar tour but if this is the quality that Trafalgar tours offer, we will certainly be looking at doing future tours with Trafalgar. Photo: Entering Geiranger Fjord

That they consider to add to their budget the optional experience as a "must". Yes it is optional but if they don't do it what will they do stay on the bus !!

This trip to Norway was a really spectacular experience. We did so much and each day we looked at what we'd done and it was amazing discussing how much we had fit into each day. However, somehow the pace felt gentle and relaxing and there was space to breathe and take it all in. It was so more than a sightseeing holiday. I felt that we made true personal connections and learned so much from the local interactions entwined into this journey. The landscapes were of course a huge highlight but learning to cook a local dish, sharing a cider with the owner of a stunning Fjord-side orchard, chatting to our wonderful guide about her life in Norway. These were the things which made this trip extraordinary and set it apart from others. Oh and the food will blow you away!

After visiting the iconic cities of Copenhagen, Gothenburg and Stockholm, it on to the beautiful Swedish countryside. The visit to the Carl Larsson homestead is optional but lovely. I honestly knew very little about his artwork. I felt like this was a compact Giverny! The truly spectacular part is once you get to Norway! Hundreds of waterfalls, some small, some absolutely gushing! Scenic drives, fjord cruises and crossings, surprises everywhere! We happen to get to Oslo during World Cup so the city was pulsing with enthusiasm! The next day was the Pride Parade so that was added fun, too. The city tour gave us a great overview. It did not include the inside of the city hall so we went on our own. The many murals of Nordic life are worth the time.

The trip was very scenic and visited the usual popular tourist places, as well as less well-known places of interest. The tour director was very personable, knowledgeable and articulate, and conveyed a lot of information about the history of the places visited, as well as places to eat and things to do in each town. She checked with each of us every day to ensure we were OK and whether we had any questions or concerns. At one stage we had 4 consecutive one-night stays, but were still given free time in each place to explore. We were often provided with local treats, such as pancakes, waffles or biscuits, to try at various stops or eat on the coach. We were also shown short videos on the coach relating to local people or events, eg, the origin of the Lego company. The coach driver was an excellent driver and went out of his way to help us get on and off the bus and with our luggage. The bus was kept in immaculate condition, and was very comfortable. One issue was the lack of air conditioning in a couple of hotels, but I do understand that this is a general problem in the “cooler” areas of Europe. Overall, a great experience and I would not hesitate to go on another Insight tour or to recommend Insight to someone else.