13-night A Bite of Belgium & Feast of Fjords Cruise

Ålesund Walking Tour – 3 Hours

Ålesund differs from most other Norwegian cities with its large concentration of buildings in the Jugend style of architecture. The explanation for this is simple; the town burned to the ground during the Great Fire of 1904. Rebuilding the city took a full three years, aided by numerous local contributions and large donations from the German Kaiser Wilhelm II.
The city planners agreed on consistently using the contemporary style of architecture, Jugend style (also known as Art Nouveau). It is a style characterized by artistic playfulness, fetching inspiration from organic forms and shapes in nature.
This combination of fjords, mountains and a town centre built in so-called art nouveau-style are some of the factors that resulted in Ålesund pinching first place in a survey by the Norwegian daily newspaper Dagbladet. Larger cities like Bergen (second place) and Trondheim (fourth place) – perhaps more famous for their beauty – were not considered to be as scenic as Ålesund when the Norwegians themselves cast their votes.
Walking tour through the winding old city streets, you will learn about the town's historic past. The tour takes in the Art Nouveau houses in the town itself, taking a stroll in the magnificent central district that displays beautiful houses with numerous and elaborate towers, spears and ornaments.
 

Ålesund City Tour – 4 Hours

Experience the splendid beauty and history of Ålesund during this picturesque 4 hour excursion through the city and its surroundings, via private vehicle, driver and local English Speaking Guide. Ålesund, a city built in an Art Nouveau style following a catastrophic fire in 1904. One of a few Art Nouveau towns in the world (Jugend style), Ålesund is home to an atmospheric distinct character that is warmly embraced by the locals.
Drive towards the Art Nouveau center of the town, marvel at the amazing decorations and colourful facades. A brief walking tour through the winding old city streets follows where you will learn about the town's historic past. A stop is made on route to the Art Nouveau Centre for a fascinating insight into Art Nouveau through authentic interiors and objects, as well as a captivating multimedia program called “From Ashes to Art Nouveau”. Here you can experience the devastating 1904 fire via film together with photographs and impressive sound and light effects.
Board your vehicle for the journey out of town towards Borgund, the largest trading centre in Sunnmøre during the Viking Era. Here you will view the picturesque Borgund Church followed by a visit to the inviting Sunnmøre Open Air Folk Museum, focusing on Norwegian coastal culture. Enjoy a stroll between the picturesque houses and the indoor exhibitions and get an insight into the cultural and architectural history of Sunnmøre and the Norwegian coastal culture. Heading back towards the city center, we detour with a drive up Mount Aksla. From this location, a panoramic view of the archipelago, the beautiful town center of Ålesund lying quietly below and the spectacular Sunnmøre Alps opens up in front of you. Return journey back to the city center.
 

Ålesund Kajak Tour – 2 hours

The prefect trip to explore Ålesund, and highly recommended for families. Stories about the area, why Ålesund is built in the Jugend style amongst much more is just some of the info you will get on this sea kayaking in Ålesund. The tour will start and end in Ålesund with about 7 km trip.  
During this trip we take several photo-stops where your able to get some great photos. You will get equipped with all the mandatory equipment and get a safety briefing before we head into our kayaks. The trip will be adapted to the weather conditions.
Basis: Private tour.
Duration:      2 hours Kayaking
Start / End:   City center.
Vehicle:        None.
Guide: English-speaking. Other languages on request.   
Entrances:     None.
Meals: None.
Difficulty:    Grade Easy. Kayaking at leisure pace, walking required over uneven surfaces. No experience required, but you should be able to swim.
Notes:         Tour program may be reversed for logistic / planning purposes. Kayaking equipment and life jackets will be provided. Please bring: Hat, Sun Cream, sunglasses, windproof – and waterproof clothes, spare clothes, swimming suit, towel and water bottle.

 

Trondheim Walking Tour with visit to Nidaros Cathedral -3 hours

Experience Trondheim, strolling through the Old Town and passing by the Royal Residence, the main Square, the Old Town Bridge as well as the Historical Wharves. In this walking tour you will also visit Nidaros Cathedral, the world’s northernmost Gothic cathedral. Built from 1070 over the tomb of St. Olav, the Viking king who brought Christianity to Norway, the cathedral was completed around 1300. In the summer months, you can climb the 172 steps to the top of the tower and be rewarded with an unrivaled view of the city.

Trondheim City Tour with visit to Nidaros Cathedral and Trøndelag Folk Museum - 4 hours

This is a tour around Trondheim centre and its outskirts. You'll pass by the main highligts of the city, the old town bridge, the Norwegian University of Science and Technologi (NTNU) at the Kristiansten Fort, the Royal Residence and many more. 

The tour continues with a visit to Nidaros Cathedral, the world’s northernmost Gothic cathedral. Built from 1070 over the tomb of St. Olav, the Viking king who brought Christianity to Norway, the cathedral was completed around 1300. In the summer months, you can climb the 172 steps to the top of the tower and be rewarded with an unrivaled view of the city.

You will also visit Trøndelag Open-Air Folk Museum, also known as “Sverresborg”. This is an open air museum with more than 80 historical buildings and several indoor exhibitions. The museum’s old town is comprised of buildings that were originally located in downtown Trondheim, and offers a charming representation of the wooden houses that have dominated the cityscape from the 18th century up until today. The museum’s rural department is located around the ruins of the castle, and consists of farmsteads and houses surrounded by picturesque nature. The houses are all originally from the Trøndelag region. In the rural department you will also find our Sami collection, the Haltdalen stave church, the Lo church and the old school.