Isolation Escapism – Norway

Whilst we cannot physically transport you to our destinations themselves at present, we would like to offer you a little virtual escapism. We do hope that they will be a welcome distraction as we sit out these extraordinary times, and act as an inspiration for your next adventure.

In our ninth Isolation Escape we invite you to take a journey through Norway, one of the most beautiful countries on earth. From trendy urban cities to glistening fjords and the truly magical Northern Lights, Norway’s coast line is longer than the USA’s, opening up like a drawstring purse, inviting you to discover it’s treasures, carved out over centuries of un-meddled-with nature.

Our journey logically begins in Oslo, named European Green Capital 2019. This hip city boasts an avant-garde restaurant scene, fashionable neighbourhoods, a spectacular calendar of events, and myriad old and new, immaculately kept museums. The city is edged by the Oslofjord and thick forests, ripe for adventure, while slower paced, charming coastal towns punctuate the neighbouring regions.

Our next stop in Norway brings us to the country’s second-largest city, Bergen. A destination of contrasts, Bergen Is proudly home to a progressive music and innovative fashion scene while boasting the charming UNESCO World Heritage Site of Bryggen and a variety of art galleries museums and composer homes, nestled within wiggly cobbled streets. Gateway to some of the country’s most recognised fjords, such as the Hardangerfjord in the south and the Sognefjord, Norway’s longest and deepest fjord, in the north, it is their offshoots which are equally as beautiful, but far less crowded, who deserve to gazed upon.

Heading to Norway’s north-west, the UNESCO site of Geirangerfjord earns its reputation as the country’s most spectacular fjord with good reason. Tumbling from the steep mountain side, the Seven Sisters and numerous other waterfalls meet their end in the clear, blue waters which join further fjords, merging with the crisp Norwegian Sea. From the pretty art nouveau town of Ålesund, the mountaineering capital of Åndalsnes to the the jazz town of Molde and the “clipfish capital” Kristiansund wide open valleys and overwhelming peaks await invigorating exploration.

Our final stop on our adventure through Norway brings us to the capital of the Arctic, Tromsø, situated in the centre of the country’s north. From viewing the northern lights, whale watching, experiencing midnight sun, to exploring islands, epic ski touring, hiking the Lyngenfjord region and discovering the Sami culture in towns like Karasjok and Alta, the area is regularly considered a destination of its own, easily filling one’s itinerary. To the east, the Varanger peninsula boasts further temptations with spectacular bird watching, king crab fishing and dog sledging in Kirkenes, where a quintessential night at an ice hotel is also up for grabs.

If you’d like to start planning a holiday to Norway while waiting for this storm to pass, please drop us a line and we’ll be delighted to send you further information on this stimulating and genuine country.

“Pretty didn’t do it justice. I felt like we’d sailed into a world meant for much larger beings, a place where gods and monsters roamed freely.”

Rick Riordan, The Ship of the Dead