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Hosted By: John Hines
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From Viking longboats to coastal cities, experience Norway’s dramatic landscapes and unique culture. Embark on a guided tour in Oslo to witness the charming architecture and blend of traditional Scandinavian culture with modern influences. Visit the open-air museum, Maihaugen, relax on a scenic ferry ride through Geirangerfjord, explore the beauty of Briksdal Glacier by Troll Car, and ride the Loen Skylift to the top of Mount Hoven. Enjoy a picturesque cruise along Norway’s longest inlet, the Sognefjord, then board the Flam Railway for a breathtaking journey featuring towering mountains, plummeting waterfalls, and lush valleys. Tour Bergen and visit composer Edvard Grieg’s living museum, Troldhaugen, before dining with a local Norwegian family at their historic farm. As a final farewell to Norway, take the funicular railway up Mount Floyen for spectacular panoramic views.
You can earn a $100 Travel Show Credit good for your next trip with Holiday Vacations by simply clicking the photo to watch the online travel show! The show is about 10 minutes long and at the end, you'll have the ability to submit your contact information and receive a travel credit which can be applied to this or any Holiday Vacations tour. Get started now!
August 9th, 2024 - August 17th, 2024
Occupancy
Price Per Person
Double
$7099
Single
$7999
Final Payment Date: 05/06/2024
Day 1 : Depart the USA
We board our flight for a relaxing journey across the Atlantic.
Day 2 : Arrive in Norway
Arrive in Oslo, Norway’s capital. We meet our English-speaking European guide and check in to our hotel for a two-night stay in the heart of the city. Take the remainder of the day to explore the city at your leisure or relax before our adventurous days ahead. Tonight, we get to know our fellow traveling companions at an included Holiday Vacations Welcome Dinner.
Day 3 : Oslo
Enjoy breakfast at our hotel before joining a local guide for an intriguing tour of Oslo. Major sightseeing destinations include the Royal Palace, Vigeland Sculpture Park, Akershus Fortress, the Norwegian National Opera & Ballet, and the Bygdoy museums. Later we visit the Fram Museum, dedicated to Norway’s history of arctic exploration, and the Kon-Tiki Museum, home to the legendary balsa wood raft Thor Heyerdahl used to cross the Pacific Ocean in 1951.
Day 4 : Lillehammer
After breakfast we depart Oslo and travel to Lillehammer, located in a picturesque setting overlooking the northern end of Lake Mjosa. Home to the 1994 Winter Olympics, it remains a popular ski resort today. Tour Maihaugen, one of Norway’s greatest open-air museums, and learn what life was like from the Middle Ages to the present. Maihaugen resembles a small inland village and features nearly 200 buildings, including turf-topped houses, a railway station, school, post office, fishing cabins, and barns. As you near the entrance, you’ll see historic Garmo Stave Church, built over 800 years ago. Following an included lunch, enjoy the afternoon at leisure to visit area attractions that pique your interest. Some options include the Lillehammer Art Museum, the Norwegian Olympic Museum, or Fabrikken, a creative and cultural arts center.
Day 5 : Geirangerfjord
Today we travel westward through spectacular scenery to Norway’s fjordlands, the highest concentration of fjords in the world. On our way, we drive through Gudbrandsdalen, a traditional region of Norway best recognized by its bucolic farmland. We stop in Lom and visit the Lom Stave Church, one of Norway’s largest stave churches, with a history that goes back to the 12th century. Upon reaching Geiranger, we take a ferry through the UNESCO-listed Geirangerfjord to Hellesylt and enjoy some of Norway’s most beautiful vistas. Afterwards, a short drive takes us to the village of Loen where we check-in to our hotel for two nights.
Day 6 : Briksdal Glacier
Our day starts with an exciting ride on an open-air off-road Troll Car to Jostedalsbreen National Park, where we experience the mighty Briksdal Glacier. This is one of Norway’s most famous glaciers due to the spectacular waterfalls and mountain peaks that surround it. Later, take the Loen Skylift to the top of Mount Hoven for panoramic views of Loen, the Nordfjord, and the surrounding peaks.
Day 7 : Sognefjord & Flam Railway
This morning we board our motorcoach and travel south to Kaupanger, on the shores of the Sognefjord. Known as the King of the Fjords, the Sognefjord is Norway’s longest and deepest inlet. Relax on a scenic 2 ½ hour ferry ride through this geologic wonder to the village of Flam. There, the Flam Railway brings us on a breathtaking journey to Myrdal featuring towering mountains, plummeting waterfalls, and lush valleys. We then change trains and head to Bergen, our home for the next two nights.
Day 8 : Bergen
Bergen is Norway’s second largest city. Nicknamed the City of Seven Mountains, it’s brimming with towering mountains, deep fjords, and colorful wooden houses. Following a delicious breakfast, a local guide boards our motorcoach and leads our tour of Bergen. Highlights include Bergenhus Fortress, Rosenkrantz Tower, and Bryggen, the city’s medieval wharf district and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. We visit Troldhaugen, a living museum that was once home to the famous composer Edvard Grieg, who described this luxurious villa as his “best opus so far.” We celebrate our travel adventures with a Farewell Lunch at Ovre-Eide Farm, family-owned since the 16th century. Savor a variety of regional delicacies as we learn more about the farm and Norwegian national costumes. Later, take a funicular cable car ride up Mount Fløyen for outstanding views of the city and the sea beyond.
Day 9 : Fly Home
WCCO Radio Pickup Locations:
Minneapolis, MN - Minneapolis-St Paul International Airport
One of the best known personalities in Twin Cities broadcasting, John Hines has been a mainstay of Minnesota radio and television for 45 years.
He spent six years with Hubbard Broadcasting on KSTP AM and hosting Twin Cities Today on KSTP TV. John returned to radio in 1981 when he and Berglund helped take WLOL FM to the top of the ratings. From there, John moved on to K102 helping to earn Station of the Year honors from the Country Music Association. John still can be heard on WCCO Radio.
John was the first non-journalist embedded with our soldiers in Iraq. Over the years he has worked with many area charities. John was proud to receive the Tom Rivers Humanitarian Award in recognition of his generous service and dedication to community events and charities.
Join John and WCCO Radio listeners on this wonderful vacation.
Tour days tend to be shorter in length, at a relaxed pace, and include lots of unscheduled time for leisure. Expect standing and walking for extended periods of time on flat surfaces, mostly low altitudes, and consistent temperatures.
Tour days usually move at a leisurely pace. Some days’ scheduled activities last longer than others. Expect standing and walking for long periods of time on occasionally uneven terrain. You may experience changes in altitude or temperature.
Tour days tend to be long, move at a consistent pace, and may include long travel days. Expect standing and walking for long periods of time on uneven surfaces. Some destinations may have changes in altitude and/or temperature.
Tour days tend to be long, move at a brisk pace, and may include lengthy travel days. Expect long periods of walking and standing on uneven surfaces. Scheduled activities may require physical effort or have distinct changes in altitude or temperature.
Tour days tend to be long, move at a vigorous pace, and may include lengthy travel days. Expect long periods of walking and standing on rough surfaces. Scheduled activities may require physical effort or have distinct changes in altitude or temperature.