There’s no better way to experience the beauty of Scandinavia than with a group tour of Norway! Hosted by world-traveler Pastor Stephen Hein, who has led imagine passengers to Israel, Egypt, Greece, Italy, Germany and Ireland, you won’t want to miss this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.
“Imagine has led me on some amazing trips to Biblical places in the Holy Land, Egypt, Greece, Italy and Turkey. I have been enlightened twice in studying the Reformation history in Germany,” says Steven. “In May, I led a group to the Emerald Isle of Ireland and Northern Ireland. It was one of the best trips I have ever been on, even though my groups have loved them all.”
On this unique 10-day tour of Norway in June 2015, you’ll experience the best that this gorgeous country has to offer. Sometimes we’ll travel by bus, and other times by boat or train, to visit places off the beaten path. We will visit countless fjords, ancient Viking stave churches, beautiful mountainous landscapes and storybook seaside villages.
In Norheimsund, the mild spring-like weather makes for a picturesque scenery of apple and cherry blossoms, contrasting with the lush green hayfields. Just west of the city, we will get to take a special walk behind the waterfall, Steindalsfossen. Don’t forget your camera! We will travel on to Bergen, and walk the streets of the famous “Bryggen” fish markets and dockland area. It is one of the city’s most popular attractions and has been the nerve center of Bergen since the late Middle Ages.
This tour of Norway also features a ride on the world-famous Flåm Railway, running through awe-inspiring natural beauty, past steep mountains, unique waterfalls, and numerous tunnels. This train line is one of the steepest in the world, and has been named one of the Top 10 European Train Trips by National Geographic Traveler Magazine.
You will also have at least one full day of free time on this tour of Norway to explore a quaint seaside town at your own leisure. You can take time to wander and shop the charming streets of Balestrand, or take a day-long kayaking and glacier hiking excursion, or almost anything in between. Your independent options are endless! We continue north and travel to Geirangerfjord, some of the most beautiful scenery in the world. While here, we take a panoramic boat ride to see waterfalls such as Brudesløret (the Bridal Veil) and De syv søstrene (the Seven Sisters).
In Oslo, the capital city, we have plenty to explore in this metropolitan area. The Vigeland Sculpture Park is the world’s largest of its kind created by a single person, Gustav Vigeland. Statues made of bronze, granite, and wrought iron cover an 850-meter long axis, consisting of more than 200 sculptures. On this tour of Norway, we also get to visit the Royal Palace in Oslo, one of the country’s most important buildings, and built in the Neo-Classical style in 1849. The building is home to the King and Queen, has two wings and is three stories high. We also visit the Fram Museum, exhibiting the strongest wooden ship ever built, which has sailed to the coldest places on earth: the Arctic and Antarctic.
“Norway is a land of intense natural beauty, its famously steep mountains and deep fjords carved out and shaped by an ancient ice age make it one of the most beautiful places on earth. It is also one of the most expensive,” Stephen says. “I invite you to join me on this journey. Everyone wants to take a tour of Norway and now this special rate is not one to be missed.”