Norway- Land of the Midnight Sun

Day 02 – Arrive Oslo
Upon arriving in Oslo, we’ll check into our downtown hotel.  The rest of the day will be free enjoy the main street with colorful charm.  A welcome dinner awaits in the evening.
Included Meals: Dinner
Hotel: Hotel Bristol

Day 03 – Oslo
Explore this exciting city with sights including Frogner Park, with its renowned Vigeland Sculptures.  We’ll visit the Viking Ship Museum, where the 2,000-year-old ships and artifacts from the Viking-era make history come alive.  We’ll see the medieval fortresses of Akershus, the Royal Palace, and the busy port, and make a stop at Oslo’s City Hall.  R&J Tours has arranged some leisure time here in Oslo.  Perhaps take a harbor cruise, experience the Resistance Museum at Akershus Fortress, or visit the Munch Museum, housing the collection of Norway’s most famous artist.  Take a stroll along the main street Karl Johan, a short walk to the Royal Palace, or ride a streetcar.  You are free to choose from the many restaurants for dinner.
Included Meals: Breakfast

Day 04 – Oslo to Lofthus
After breakfast at the hotel, we’ll visit the Hadeland Glassworks, established in 1762.  We’ll begin our journey into some of Norway’s most beautiful scenic areas, including farm-dotted landscapes with brilliant blue lakes, rushing rivers, and impressive waterfalls.  We’ll motor through tunnels, along sheer rock walls, and around hairpin turns.  Our magnificent journey ends in the fjord village of Lofthus.  R&J Tours has chosen one of the best hotels in Norway, perfectly set on the fjord, with snow-capped mountains as a back drop.  Evening dinner will be served at the hotel this evening.
Included Meals:  Breakfast, Dinner
Hotel: Ullensvang Hotel

Day 05 – Lofthus to Bergen
Explore the village or to soak up the scenery after breakfast.  We’ll depart by afternoon ferry on the Hardanger Fjord to the fjord village of Kvanndal.  Here we’ll board our coach and motor through charming villages, along the shores of the fjord with sweep mountains looming.  We’ll arrive in Voss where we will board our train for the small fjord village of Flaam.  Enjoy some free time in the village before boarding the Flaam Railway, ascending more than 2,900 feet in less than one hour. Enjoy the breathtaking view of the Flaam Valley and the thundering sound of waterfalls. We’ll travel along the Sogne Fjord with cascading waterfalls, isolated hamlets, and steep mountain sides.  Experience spectacular scenery as we continue to Bergen.  Our lovely hotel features a grand location on the Bryggen and walking distance to the fish markets!  Dinner will be served at the hotel.
Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Hotel: Hotel First Marin

Day 06 – Bergen to On Board
A free morning will be given to enjoy this delightful city at your leisure.  Perhaps take an optional trip with the cable car to Mount Floyen for a breathtaking view of this seafaring town; make a visit to some of the many museums; or just take a nice, quiet stroll through the old cobble-stoned streets of Bergen.  Later, we’ll sightsee in Bergen, Norway’s second largest city, with a lovely location set on the water.  Sea trade has been a large part of Bergen’s 900-year-old history and we will see the colorful fish markets and learn about its history.  We’ll visit the Hanseatic Waterfront and the Hansa Museum, then see St. Mary’s Church, famous for its Baroque Pulpit, before we visit Troldhaugen, the home of Edvard Grieg, who composed many of his best known works here.  In the evening we’ll board our Coastal Steamer Ship for a 6-night cruise to the Land of the Midnight Sun.  We’ll enjoy a light dinner on the ship. 
Included Meals: Breakfast, Light Dinner

Day 07 – Torvik to Kristiansund
When we awaken, the ship will be crossing Stadthavet and heading for Torvik.  We’ll have time to stroll around the beautiful Art Nouveau town of Alesund.  Then we’ll sail into the scenic Stor Fjord past the village of Stranda and then into world famous Geiranger Fjord (only offered on September tour) with its sheer rock walls and numerous waterfalls including the Seven Sisters, Bridal Veil, and more.  R&J Tours has included a motorcoach tour that will take us along spectacular Eagles Road which climbs eleven hairpin turns.  Visit a large summer farm at Herdalssetra under the mighty mountain Heregga.  Here they keep traditions alive as they do the milking by hand and make brown and white cheese of goat milk.  Enjoy coffee and lefse at the farm.  We’ll arrive in Molde, with it’s magnificent panorama of 87 snow-capped peaks.  We’ll enjoy dinner at a local favorite restaurant before we continue by ship to Kristiansund.  The night will be spent on board our Coastal Steamer.
Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 08 – Trondheim to Rorvik
We’ll arrive in Trondheim early in the morning, where we’ll have ample free time to explore this historic and colorful town.  Take a stroll through the streets, past the charming harbor, or cross the old city bridge to see the restored wooden buildings in Bakklandet.  We’ll depart Trondheim and sail past the 17th-century Munkholmen Fortress, Reinskloster Manor, and Austraat Castle.  The ship will sail past many islands and skerries before arriving in Rorvik, a modern fishing village.
Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 09 – Ornes to Svolvaer
We will have passed the Arctic Circle before we are fully awake.  In the Land of the Midnight Sun, the ship will follow the mighty Borvass Mountains on its way into Bodoe, with one of the largest Airforce bases in Northern Europe. Then we’ll sail out to sea, crossing Vestfjord in the direction of the dramatic Lofoten Islands, where farming and fishing have always been the basis of the economy.  We’ll visit Stamsund, the principal fishing village of the islands and home to many of the Lofoten Trawler fleet, and then continue on to Svolvaer with time for an evening stroll before we continue north through the beautiful, narrow Raftsund Strait and pass the majestic Trollfjord.
Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 10 – Harstad to Skjervoy
The ship will call on Harstad at breakfast time.  Norway’s largest dairy and meat processing factories are located in Harstad and the harbor is alive and well.  We’ll sail across Vaags Fjord and enter Solbergs Fjord with a sight of Bjaroy Island.  The Viking Tore Hund founded the vast fortunes of the Bjarkoy Family trading with the Lapplanders and the Carelians.  After a short call in Finsnes, an old trading center, we’ll continue through Vagsfjord and Malangen before starting the approach to Tromso, the “Capital of the Arctic,” founded in 1250 as a trading and fish export—today it is often called the “Paris of the North.”  Take time to stroll through the charming downtown with its colorful wooden buildings and bustling life.  A brief stop in Skjaervoy will be made late in the evening.
Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 11 – Hammerfest – Kjoellefjord
Early in the morning we will call on Hammerfest, the world’s northernmost town, with its wooden buildings painted in Norwegian style.  The town’s history includes World War II, where the German’s used it as a naval base.  Today the town is one of Norway’s most important fishing harbors.  In the Finnmark region, nature has created an austere, more-dramatic landscape.  We’ll see both fishing villages from days gone by and lively fishing ports bustling with activity. Some may want to join an optional overland tour to the North Cape Plateau.  Each year thousands of tourist visit this attraction to see the Midnight Sun.  The ship will head for Havoysund and Finnmark, before turning east across Austhavet toward the well-known fishing villages of Kjollefjord and Mehamn.
Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 12 – Kirkenes to Oslo
We’ll enjoy breakfast as we cruise along the Finnmark Coastline.  Then we’ll visit the busy port of Vadsoe before we arrive at Kirkenes, the journey’s northern terminus.  We’ll catch a flight to Oslo for a two-night stay.  Dinner will be served at the hotel.
Included Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Hotel: Hotel Bristol