Shore excursions program for below cruises

MLD04 – FROM MOLDE TO ANDALSNES

The Norwegian city of Molde is situated on the banks of Romsdalsfjord at the foot of the hilly Moldemarka region. Blessed with an unusually mild climate, Molde boasts numerous plants that are more commonly found in much warmer regions, such as roses. After a short sightseeing tour of the city, you will board a ferry to cross the majestic Romsdalsfjord and admire its southern panorama, the Romsdal Alps. Continuing on from Vestnes by coach, the tour will take you across the Oerskog mountain plateau, a favourite local skiing area. The route will also take you along the shores of Storfjord (The Big Fjord) and villages like Sjoeholt, where a stop will be made, and Stordal, world-famous for its furniture-making industry. As Storfjord leads into Norddal Fjord, the lush and fertile Valldal valley, known for its strawberry production, comes into view. Turning inland, the tour then stops briefly at Gudbrandsjuvet, a steep gorge at the bottom of which is a foaming river, before ascending the Trollstigen mountain plateau where there is time for a stroll to the nearby viewpoint. The tour slowly continues down the hairpin bends of the so-called Troll’s Ladder – Trollstigen – to Åndalsnes via Troll Wall vantage point, the highest sheer rock face in Europe reaching a height of more than 1,000 metres. The town of Åndalsnes, the terminus of the Rauma railway, links this part of the country with eastern Norway and Oslo. Located on the shores of the fjord, the town centre is fairly modern due to damage sustained during WWII. Lunch will be served enroute.

After leaving the port at Monte Carlo by coach, you can first look forward to a 1-hour drive along the amazing coastline of the French Riviera en route to the captivating city of Cannes, a busy tourist destination and the host of the annual international Cannes Film Festival. You will then have some free time to explore the city centre at your own pace. Apart from the lovely old town with its winding lanes, narrow alleys and great views from the castle ruins, other Cannes’ highlights include the yachts moored in the harbour and the wonderful La Croisette seafront promenade with its luxury hotels and boutique shops. After re-boarding your coach, you will then head back along the coastal road to Nice, the capital of the French Alpes Maritime département, which is part of the larger Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur region. You will then be taken on a leisurely guided walk to discover the main landmarks of this lovely French city, including the famous seafront boulevard known as the “Promenade des Anglais”, so named for the earliest visitors who came to enjoy their holidays at the resort. Your scenic tour of the French Riviera ends with the return drive to Monte Carlo and your ship.