Rated as The Guardian newspaper’s number one road trip (April 2006), Classic Travelling’s Atlantic Road Tour zigzags across 12 low bridges that jut out over the sea, linking the islands between Molde (famous for its annual jazz festival in July) and Kristiansund in the western fjords. The Hustadvika is an infamous stretch of ocean and in storm it is fantastically dramatic. In calmer weather you might spot whales and seals.
Accommodation
Stay in some delightful hotels, including wonderful wooden Gothic hotels, charming log cabins, a converted wharf-side warehouse, and a stylish city town house. All the accommodation is individual and unique and of a high standard. Due to the nature and age of these hotels, rooms vary from charmingly comfortable to the utmost luxury.
We have hand-picked each hotel for its unique atmosphere and style. All accommodation includes breakfast. Suitable parking is, of course, a feature of each hotel, but it is rarely under cover.
Itinerary
Departures from Newcastle to Bergen are twice weekly.
This tour can be taken at any time to suit you. However, the best time of year to visit is from May to September. Depending upon the time of year and certain ferry sailing times, the tour is for either 10 or 12 nights. Both tours take the same route, but the shorter tour only stays one night in Bergen, at the start of the trip, and one night in Alesund.
Day One
Take the ferry from Newcastle (departing at either 15.00 or 18.30) to Bergen overnight with DFDS Seaways. The journey to Bergen includes stops in Haugesund and Stavanger and takes 25 hours.
Day Two
Arrive in Bergen at either 18.00 or 23.00 (depending on sailing) and stay overnight in a wonderful hotel just a few metres from the historic World Heritage site of Bryggen.
Day Three
The day is yours to explore the many delights of Bergen. The old town is a fascinating area to explore, with little wooden houses jostled in the smallest of spaces on the hillside overlooking the harbour. Maybe include an Elgar concert at the composer’s home, Troldhaugen.
Day Four
Leave Bergen and drive north, alongside Fensfjorden. Take a short ferry across the fjord to the mouth of Sognefjord, the world’s longest and deepest. Another ferry will take you to the north side of the fjord and then drive along the water’s edge to Balestrand, to stay in a beautiful wooden hotel, situated right on the fjord’s edge.
Day Five
Wind your way around the fjords and over the mountains to Stryn. Continue onto Alesund, a picturesque art deco town, entriely rebuilt after a devastating fire in 1904, and stay for two nights in another converted warehouse hotel, alongside the water. Alesund & Sunnmøre is the perfect place to explore some of Norway’s most famous natural and cultural attractions. Alesund’s beautiful Art Nouveau architecture is known far and wide. The myriad of turrets, spires and beautiful ornamentation that give the town its distinctive character are like something from a fairytale. Sunnmøre’s has a wonderful profusion of fjords, small fishing communities, island gems and majestic mountains to discover.
Day Six
Spend time exploring the picturesque town of Alesund, or take a boat trip to one of the nearby fjords.
Day Seven
Drive the famous Atlantic Road to Kristiansund, hopping across islands and skerries, and skimming over the sea on a network of bridges. From Kristiansund turn south to Andalsnes, a quaint little town on a lake, and stay overnight in Norway’s oldest tourist hotel. The hotel has just 13 rooms and has been recommended by the Norwegian Tourist Council as one of the most special places in the country.
Day Eight
Drive up the famous Trollstigen - an awesome road with hairpin bends, a 1:12 gradient and practically one lane all the way. Continue onto Geiranger and down the Eagle’s Highway into the valley. Stay for two nights in a beautiful hotel which overlooks the Geirangerfjord, one of the most photographed. There is also a vintage car museum and the acclaimed Norwegian Fjord Centre to visit.
Day Nine
Enjoy a day relaxing in Geiranger. There are some really lovely walks, or you can take a boat trip down the fjord to Hellesylt.
Day Ten
The ascent south from Geiranger is a fabulous road of 37 hairpin bends. Today’s drive includes some sensational mountain passes and breathtaking scenery. Take the old road up to the summer skiing area (there will be a chance to indulge if you wish) at Strynefjell and then over the mountains on some stunning roads to Lom. Visit Roisheim, in the heart of the beautiful valley of Bøverdalen, consisting of a dozen perfectly preserved buildings from the 18th century, which makes a great place to stop for lunch. The chalets have been lovingly restored with utmost care, while providing modern comfort and amenities. Its excellent cuisine and wine cellar are only some of the reasons to visit this place, situated close to some of Norway’s tallest mountains.
Continue over the mountains and descend to Lustrafjord, an arm of the Sogndalfjord. Visit the stave church at Urnes and then stay overnight at Solvorn, on the edge of the fjord.
Day Eleven
Drive south past the Jotunheimen National Park to the farming village of Fjærland, at the head of the scenic Fjærlandsfjord. Here are two particularly accessible glacial tongues, Supphellebreen and Bøyabreen.
Cross to the southern side of the Hardangerfjord and drive to Voss and then into Bergen. Stay overnight in Bergen, at the same hotel as before.
Day Twelve
Depart from Bergen at 9am on the ferry back to the UK.
Day Thirteen
Arrive in Newcastle at 10.30am and depart for home.
Details
Dates:
This tour can be taken at any time to suit you. However, the best time of year to visit is from May to September. Depending upon the time of year and certain ferry sailing times, the tour is either for 10 or 12 nights. Both tours take the same route, but the shorter tour only stays one night in Bergen at the start of the trip and one night in Alesund.
Duration: 10 nights in Norway (12 nights total) - this trip can be taken at any time.
Price: £1,450 per person - based on two people sharing a twin or double room and in one car.
Duration: 8 nights in Norway (10 nights total)
Price: £1,100 per person - based on two people sharing a twin or double room and in one car.
What’s included
- Return ferry crossing from Newcastle to Bergen for two people and a car
- Seaview en-suite cabin on board the ferry
- All accommodation for ten or twelve nights(depending on tour) - two nights on board the ferry
- Breakfast every morning in Norway (not included on ferry)
- Tour book - includes a brief history of Norway, basic Norwegian dictionary, emergency details, maps and directions, accommodation information, and a very detailed account of sights and visits for each day. The book eliminates the need for any other guide books.
- Norway road map
What’s not included
- Fuel, road tolls and Norwegian domestic ferry crossings
- All evening meals, all lunches, entry into attractions and activities, and personal travel insurance are extra.
- We strongly suggest and recommend you have European breakdown cover, and ensure you are covered for the countries to be visited.
- All drinks are extra to accommodate individual preferences.
Requirements
- Each person must have a passport (and any necessary visas for non-EU passport holders) valid for Norway.
- All passports must be valid for six months after the end of the tour.
- You will also need your vehicle registration documents, driving licence (a photo-card licence or international permit is best), and an international insurance green card.
- Please check with your travel and motor insurers that you are covered for travel in the required countries.
- You are also required to carry a warning triangle, first-aid kit, set of replacement bulbs and a national identification sticker.
- Travel to Norway: Return ferry crossings (twin en-suite seaview cabins and car spaces) from Newcastle, UK to Bergen, Norway will be booked with DFDS Seaways.
Booking
Apart from our scheduled, escorted group tours, none of our itineraries are set in stone - after all, this is your holiday - so we can fine-tune any aspect of these tours to meet your wishes. Any of our escorted tours may also be taken as a private, independent tour, at a time to suit you.
We work closely with a number of classic and spots car hire companies across the UK, Europe, and beyond, so we can arrange your car hire for you , too. Please contact us for futher details and the cars we have available.
