Duration: approx. 3.5 hours

This comprehensive tour will give you a really thorough introduction to Bergen, a lovely city that nestles between the sea and the mountains. Having reached its commercial peak in 1100 through a profitable trade of dried cod, Bergen continued to flourish as the main trade centre in Norway. Its historic past can be seen at the German pier and in Bryggen, a traditional area with fine examples of Hanseatic buildings and gabled wooden houses. The unglamorous days of the cod trade have been left behind, as today this area has been reincarnated as a fashionable hub, with trendy restaurants, tasteful souvenir shops and inviting pubs. However, one can still stroll through this historic district and gain a sense of what it was like to live here during the Middle Ages. Next up is a chance to savour the sights during a 1.5-hour coach ride through Bergen and the verdant Norwegian countryside en route to Lyse Island to board a ferry. Some time to decompress during the relaxing boat trip then follows, during which you can delight in gorgeous views of the so-called small Lysefjord (not to be confused with the namesake-fjord close to Stavanger) and the Bergen archipelago on your way back to the city. On this scenic cruise you can view Bergen from a different perspective and fully experience the delights of this attractive town and its idyllic setting.

Get your bearings with a short guided tour past the fish market, the Bergenhus Fortress and the Rosenkrantz Tower. We will travel out of town across a variety of landscapes, following the Sørfjord and through quaint market towns on the way to Nordheimsund. Time to take photos at Fossen Bratte and again at the Steindalsfossen waterfall – one can apparently walk behind it without getting wet! Having passed the Kvamskogen Mountain Plateau, we descend towards the Tokagjelet Gorge. With its many chalets and summer houses, Kvamskogen is a popular leisure area for Bergen locals. The tour continues with more scenic drives via small forests and along the shores of the Hardangerfjord to Granvin and the Skjervefossen waterfall. These landscapes are typical of western Norway, as small farms are dotted across the steep hillsides. After a 1,5 hour drive, we will stop at Voss for coffee and typical Norwegian cakes. Your return to Bergen will pass through mountain lakes and several suburban villages. Once arrived in Bergen you can choose to stay in town and make your own way back to the ship.