Norway
10-28 Jan 2013
Map of our roadtrip:
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OSLO
We flew SQ from Singapore (SQ324, ETD2355 hrs) and arrived Amsterdam 0645 hrs (flight time 13 hrs 50 mins). We waited for about 4 hrs transit time before departing Amsterdam for Oslo (Flight SK822; ETD 1030, ETA 1215). We stayed at First Hotel Millennium, which is centrally located in Oslo. After checking into the hotel, we took a bus to the Holmenkollen Ski Museum and Jump Tower. |
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OSLO > FLAM
Today, we start our Norway in a Nutshell trip, where we took the Bergen line & Flam Railway. We enjoyed the scenic Bergensbanen train line from Oslo to Myrdal, then the breathtaking Flam Railway to the fjord village of Flam, passing through the Flam valley with the beautiful river and the spectacular Kjosfossen waterfall. Here. we stayed at Flam Marina & Apartment. The view from our hotel room is amazing, looking into the fjord and snowcap mountains. In Flam, there's the tiny Railway museum, the Aegir micro brewery, and many scenic walking trails. Flåm Marina & Apartments (NOK900) |
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FLAM > BERGEN
In the morning, we spend more time exploring the beautiful landscape of Flam, walking up to higher ground to have a birdseye view of the village and fjords. Be warned that the weather is really cold (-8 to -16 degree is common) and thus you have to dress up to keep yourself warm. In the late afternoon, we took the Fjord cruise, where we enjoyed a spectacular 2 hour Fjord Cruise on the inner parts of the Sognefjord; the Aurlandsfjord & the Naeroyfjord - a UNESCO World Heritage fjord, with connecting bus to Voss and connecting train to Bergen. Our accommodation here was at Clarion Hotel Admiral (NOK1,190). |
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BERGEN > ON BOARD THE CRUISE
Some sights in Bergen: The UNESCO Bryggen wharf, the Funicular, the Fish market, Edvard Grieg's home, the Aquarium, typical areas with tiny wooden houses. Boarded the Hurtigruten's Chase the Northern Light cruise ship from Bergen to Tromso today. |
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ON BOARD THE CRUISE > ALESUND
Among the highlights on today’s leg of the voyage was the Art Nouveau town of Ålesund and the UNESCO World Heritage site of Geirangerfjord. The ship gracefully sails past snow-peaked mountains and magnificent waterfalls, such as the Seven Sisters and the Bridal Veil, as it navigates from one fjord to another. We were lucky to be able to see the Northern Light tonight, but it was quite faint. |
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ALESUND > TRONDHELM
Arrive in the early part of the day to the historic city of Trondheim, where we explored the city on our own. Trondheim, Norway’s original capital, is home to the Nidaros Cathedral—one of Scandinavia’s largest buildings from the Middle Ages—and features many picturesque old wooden houses. |
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TRONDHELM > LOFOTEN ISLANDS
Today we sailed cross the Arctic Circle as the ship heads towards the beautiful Lofoten Islands. Along the way, we were treated to some spectacular sights, including islands and skerries with majestic rock formations. |
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LOFOTEN ISLANDS > TROMSO
In the morning, the ship passed by the medieval Trondenes Church before sailing across the Vagsfjord and through a magnificent archipelago in the north. Later in the day, we arrived at our final destination for our first leg of the cruise. Tromsø, a lively port of call, often nicknamed the “Paris of the North”. This city was frequented by Russian, British, Dutch and German ships in the 19th century as a base for Arctic expeditions or hunting trips. We joined a Northern Light chase excursion tonight where we were driven as far as Finland boarder. However, the sky was filled with cloud and we could not see anything despite spending almost 6 hours out in the cold. |
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TROMSO
We spend the day walking around Tromso on our own today, admiring this pretty little town. Originally, joined another chase the Northern light excursion tonight, but the tour operator was kind enough to let us opt out cause the sky was as gloomy as the day before. Almost no chance to see the Northern Light despite high aurora activities in the past two days. The Northern Light are dancing behind the thick cloud :( |
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TROMSO > ON BOARD THE CRUISE TO KIRKENES
We boarded for another cruise that takes us to the northern tip of Norway, Kirkenes, tonight. |
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ON BOARD THE CRUISE TO KIRKENES
The Finnmark region's landscapes and wildlife are not to be missed. Rookeries of puffins and gannets lining the cliffs and pods of Orca hunting for herring are common sights here. The ship will call at Honningsvåg, where you will board a bus for a short excursion to the famous North Cape (Nordkapp). Afterwards, the cruise continues east towards the pretty fishing villages of Kjollefjord, Mehamn and Berlevag. Finally, we managed to catch a great view of the Northern Light on board today. The view was amazing, and its light a dancing curtain in the sky. We saw 3-4 times along the way today :) |
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ALTA > TROMSO
Our original cruise suppose to head to Kirkenes, but the sea was too rough that it had to be turned back and stopped at Alta instead. Those people who needed to go Kirkenes for their flight was transferred to a bus instead. The sea was so choppy, and we could see the waves hitting at the window at our viewing deck at 13th floor! |
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TROMSO > STOCKHOLM
- Old Town (Gamla Stan) Hotell M/S Monika (SEK3,124 for 2 nights) |
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STOCKHOLM
- Vasa Ship Museum - City Hall’s famous Blue Hall, site of the annual Nobel Prize banquet. - Old Town (Gamla Stan) |
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STOCKHOLM > AMSTERDAM
Today, we visited one of the World Heritage Sites in Sweden, Drottningholm Palace. We stayed at Movenpick City Centre in Amsterdam, which is a short bus or train ride to the city centre. |
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AMSTERDAM
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AMSTERDAM
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AMSTERDAM > SINGAPORE
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TRIP PHOTOS - NORWAY