By Tom Gannon, Lynn Travel Inc.
Just recently someone asked me for my favorite destination. There are very few places that I have been to that I would not return. China and Russia are the exceptions and that has a lot to do with political and economic factors. I did not have to think long to come up with Norway as number one.
What makes Norway so special? Fjords, trolls, glaciers, the Viking heritage, and the fact that it annually makes the list of the happiest countries on earth are some of the reasons. Add a low crime rate, a helpful citizenry who speak English, and its designation as the “greenest”’ country on earth. Travel writers are quick to point out how exceptional the cities of Oslo and Bergen are. Villages like Loen and Flan are remarkable for their rustic character. Cleanliness abounds. Some of the most amazing sites in the world such as the Briksdal Glacier, scenery along the route of the Flan railway, Fredrikstad Fortress, the three waterfalls encountered on the Geiranger fjord cruise, and hiking destinations such as Trolltuga Kjeragbolten.
What is the best way to see Norway? Both Tauck and Collette offer 12- night tours of Scandinavia, with Collette devoting seven nights to Norway and Tauck six. The Tauck tour is almost $3000 more and having been on it, I was disappointed that it missed a couple of the major points of interest, one being the Flan Railway.
I recommend if time is at all a factor, that you consider the Highlights of Norway tour offered by Collette. After an overnight flight directly to Oslo from Newark, you will arrive in the capital city known for what Anna-Karen Seger describes as its Viking and nautical history, museums, some of the best seafood in the world, home to the Nobel Peace Prize, the Oslo Fjord, and an urban environment that is made up of woods and nature reserves.
Next, head North into the fjord region, stopping to visit the Borgund Stave Church tracing its roots back to 1180. Your overnight stop will be in Flan. From here you can board the renowned Flan railroad, considered the most beautiful train journey in the world. Then travel to Loen with a stop at the Birksdal Glacier where you will travel to within a short walk of it on a “troll car” which is a form of open- air vehicle. Loen’s location in the heart of the fjord region makes it a perfect two-night stop for activities such as cruising the Geiranger fjord where you will be treated to spectacular landscapes including three of Norway’s most impressive waterfalls: Seven Sisters, Bridal Veil and Suitor.
Bergen, the second largest city, will be your last stop. The Bryggen Hanseatic Wharf, with its multicolored wooden buildings, may be the most photographed spot in Norway. You will enjoy the crooked cobblestone streets and the architecture of the colorful wooden homes. The cultural giants of Norway resided in the Bergen area and now the villas Edvard Grieg, the composer and Ole Bull, an enlightenment author/philosopher, have been opened to the public.
A group departure is being offered to Del Webb residents and friends on May 24, 2025 through June 1, 2025. With a $500 early booking discount the price is $4999 double occupancy and economy airfare is included as well as transfers in Norway and from Del Webb to Charleston International. For those who would like to experience Sweden, a three -night pre-tour to Stockholm is offered and post-tour to Iceland, including the Golden Circle, is also possible.
Randomly, here are some final words on Norway. Where else can one travel on a giant ferry boat that is battery powered? Ski in the summer? While you might not see them on a Collette tour, wild reindeer herds are common and those traveling to the Svalbard Islands will be treated to polar bears. Puffins nest there, as well, but not in the numbers that one finds in Iceland. Norway is roughly the size of New Mexico, with one of the longest coastlines in the world. Lakes and islands abound.
