Norwegian Fjords & Coastal Treasures - Westbound

Tour begins: 6:00 PM, Grand Hotel Oslo or Hotel Bristol Oslo. A transfer is included upon arrival from Oslo Airport to Grand Hotel Oslo or Hotel Bristol Oslo. Please join us for a welcome reception and dinner this evening.

Set off to discover some of Norway's greatest heroes – from Arctic exploration to the arts. An Oslo city tour brings you to the Fram Museum, a reminder that Norway is an Arctic nation; more than 40% of it lies north of the Arctic Circle, and naturally Norwegians have undertaken many important polar expeditions over the centuries. The museum chronicles some of the most famous, and its centerpiece is the wooden polar ship Fram, used on three historic expeditions, including Roald Amundsen's voyage to Antarctica. Go onboard and take a look around her cabins, lounges, cargo hold and engine room. A guided walk around Frogner Park introduces you to the work of Norway's most beloved sculptor, Gustav Vigeland; more than 200 of his granite and bronze human figures fill the palatial and popular park with life and emotion, capturing the free-spirited sensibility of the Norwegians, their strong connection to nature, and their willingness to embrace the totality of human experience. And at the Kon-Tiki Museum, discover objects from Thor Heyerdahl's world famous expeditions including the original Kon-Tiki raft and the papyrus boat Ra II. Lunch is at a local restaurant. This afternoon, embark your vessel in Oslo and settle in. Your yacht sails for Göteborg, Sweden tonight.

Spend a relaxing morning at sea cruising south along Sweden's craggy west coast in the Skagerrak Strait en route to Göteborg. Your Tauck Director team shares insights and information about the region's geography, marine life, history, economics, politics, and more. After lunch onboard ship, disembark for an afternoon in clean, green Göteborg, Sweden's second largest city, laced with canals and dotted with parks. On three choices of sightseeing here, you'll explore the lively Långgatorna neighborhood, a hive of homegrown fashion labels, indie bands, and craft beer bars – and for contrast, see Kungsportsavenyn, the city's elegant main avenue inspired by the Champs-Élysées. But you'll also choose between a visit to Botaniska, Göteborg's Botanical Garden, one of the largest in Europe; a visit to Saga and Feskekork over the 3,060-foort Alvsborg Bridget, the longest suspension bridge in Sweden; or a canal sailing aboard a "Paddan" boat. This evening aboard ship, join us for the captain's welcome reception and dinner as you sail across the Skagerrak Strait to Arendal, Norway.

This morning your ship arrives in Arendal, a popular seaport town on Norway's southern coast. Established in the mid-1500s, Arendal's historic center contains an area called Tyholmen, containing a number of wooden houses dating back to the 17th century; the inner harbor area, Pollen; and the beautiful 19th-century Trinity Church. Discover the town on a guided walking tour and during some free time to explore on your own. All aboard early this afternoon, as your yacht sails north along the North Sea coast for Stavanger.

Welcome to the port city of Stavanger, Norway's oil capital on the oil-rich North Sea and a lively university town, for a choice of sightseeing. You may choose an overview tour of the city, on which you'll visit massive Swords in Rock, a powerful symbol of unity and peace that commemorates the battle of Hafrsfjord in 872, when Harald Fairhair united Norway as one kingdom. You'll also step even farther back in time on a guided visit at the Iron Age Farm at Ullandhaug, an archaeological site where you'll see how the prehistoric people of the Iron Age lived – in long buildings of rock and sod, with animals housed at one end and their owners at the other! Then it's on to the Norwegian Petroleum Museum, a Stavanger Port landmark, to learn just about everything you ever wanted to know about oil and gas. Or, you can choose a Stavenger walking tour that includes the city's harborfront and Gamle Stavanger (Old Stavanger), a settlement of small white wooden houses from the 1800s set on narrow streets paved by ballast blocks, used long ago as ballast on the ships that sailed in and out of port. After lunch, your yacht sets sail through Lysefjord; keep your eyes peeled for Prekeistolen, a mammoth flat-topped cliff overlooking the water. Later, chart a course for Ålesund.

Enjoy a relaxing morning at sea taking advantage of the amenities onboard your ship and hearing a talk by our Tauck Exclusive lecturer. Early this afternoon, arrives in Nordfjord, where you'll take a quick trip to the summit of Mt. Hoven aboard the Sky-Lift cable car, prior to a choice of activities. From Mt. Hoven, you can choose an excursion into the scenic Loen valley for a short boat ride and a walk for views of the blue and white Kjenndalsbreen, an arm of Jostedal glacier, the largest glacier in Europe. The sight is definitely worth the walk! Or you can choose a drive from Mt. Hoven to Briksdalbre, where a ride on a "Troll Car" and a short hike to the foot of Briksdal Glacier lead to stunning views of one of Norway's most inspiring natural wonders, in a setting of roaring waterfalls and mountain peaks at the end of one of the Nordfjord's three branches. Sail on to the village of Hellesylt, on famously scenic Geirangerfjord, this evening.

Today may be the most beautiful day of touring and sightseeing anywhere! Disembark first thing in Hellesylt in the stunning valley at one end of the deep blue Geirangerfjord for a choice of activities. On one, head off for a full day's touring with a local expert around this UNESCO World Heritage Site. All day the views just keep getting better – as you ride a gondola up to the Sunmore "Alps" and drive through the mountains surrounding Geirangerfjord, and through Fjord og Fjell. Have lunch at a local fjord-side restaurant en route. Or you can stay aboard ship this morning and visit the charming hamlet of Geiranger on your own, perhaps visiting the Norwegian Fjord Center. Another choice is a shorter trip from Geiranger up to Dalsnibba, rising from sea level to nearly a mile high. And a third alternative is a kayaking trip on the Geirangerfjord. Board the ship early evening and sail out of Geirangerfjord and south for Olden and Nordfjord tonight.

Arrive this morning in picturesque Ålesund, the most important fishing harbor in Norway, situated on seven islands on the Atlantic coast where you'll have three choices to choose from. Join our local expert for a walking tour of the city's Art Nouveau – Jugenstil – architecture; nearly all the historic buildings went up between 1904 and 1907 after a fire had destroyed the town, making Ålesund a leading example of Jugenstil today. Enjoy a spectacular panoramic sightseeing tour of Ålesund, hopping from island to island to take in the amazing views; you'll drive through an intricate network of tunnels, carved out of granite, that link this maritime community, or embark on a bicycle tour through town. Your final choice is a fast-paced bike ride through Ålesund. Your ship departs early this afternoon for your final stop - Bergen. Please join us this evening for a farewell reception followed by dinner.

Disembark your yacht in cosmopolitan Bergen, one of Northern Europe's oldest port cities, and join our local guide for a walking tour of the historic Bryggen harbor district lined with well-preserved brightly colored houses. This afternoon, continue getting to know Bergen on a city tour, and visit a traditional stave church before heading to Troldhaugen, the hilltop home of Edvard Grieg, Norway's greatest composer. Enjoy a brief reception and a private piano concert featuring Grieg's music. After settling in at your hotel late afternoon, please join us this evening for a funicular ride up Mt. Floyen and a special farewell reception and dinner on the mountain featuring spectacular views of the harbor – an ideal finishing touch for your Norway cruise adventure.

Tour ends: Bergen. Fly home anytime. A transfer is included today to Bergen Airport from Hotel Norge or Clarion Collection Hotel Havnekontoret. Allow three hours for flight check-in.