12-day tour through Norway

Traveling to Norway
On July 22, 2015 we left for Schiphol for a 12-day tour through Norway. We left 4 hours in advance, because we have to drive almost two hours and park the car. We had checked the suitcases online, so that was done quickly once we were in the hall of Schiphol. The journey could begin. We flew from Amsterdam to Oslo, the capital of Norway. It took a while before all the fellow travelers were there.

Oslo city tour
We all boarded the bus that was already waiting. We thought we were going to the hotel, but that was not the case. We drove for a city tour through Oslo and stopped in the main street Karl Johans gate, where we walk to the following sights such as the parliament building, the National Theater, the opera house and then the lunch, where we were all ready. After lunch we went to Vigelandspark, which attracts more than a million visitors a year. There are all 200 sculptures by Gustav Vigeland in total. Very nice to see. Then a visit to Holmenkollen for a beautiful view of the city. After the first introduction to Norway this day, we finally go to our first hotel Quality Hotel Expo, tired and satisfied, where we will stay the first night.

Many sculptures Many sculptures
Lillehammer
After a delicious breakfast we leave again by bus to Lillehammer where the Olympic Winter Games took place in 1994. Then we went to the open-air museum Maihaugen, where we could see how the Norwegians have lived the last 500 years. There were small farms, a school, a church and fishermen's huts to see beautiful to see how they lived. After lunch we drive through the region of Peer Gynt, a legend in Norwegian fairy tales. We end the day by driving to our 2 nd hotel Fefor Hoifjellshotel, where a delicious dinner buffet awaits us.

Old farmhouse Old farmhouse
In LillehammerIn Lillehammer
Trondheim
The next morning we drive to the old royal city of Trondheim where we make a city tour, beautiful. We see many old warehouses on stilts. We also view the impressive Nidaros Cathedral, the largest medieval building in Scandinavia. This cathedral has been hit several times by lightning, but has been rebuilt over and over again. After lunch we are free to look around ourselves. At 5 pm we drive to our hotel, this time Quality Hotel Augustin.

The old cathedralThe old cathedral
Kristiansund & Hurtigrutten
Today we board the bus after a delicious breakfast to drive to Kristiansund. In Trondheim we board the Hurtigrutten (old mail boat) to sail along a beautiful route. It is certainly worth it. About halfway we stop to take pictures of a beautiful spectacle with music and of an angel singing, beautifully beautiful. This trip was really enjoyable. We then arrive in Kristiansund for lunch. Then look around Kristiansund, the town known for exporting fish dried on the rocks: kilfisk.

The old post boat The old post boat


We continue the road to Molde and drive on the famous and unique Atlantic Road, one of the most beautiful car routes as they say. A very winding road with many bends, where you can hardly pass each other. Really scary every now and then. Once in Molde you can see the 22 mountain peaks when it is clear, but unfortunately we couldn't count them all. Then to Quality Hotel Alexandra. Dining and going to bed.
Trollstigen away
After breakfast back on the bus to Solsnes, where we take the ferry to Afarnes. Once there, we drive the famous Trollstigen away by bus. He is known for his 11 sharp turns that go uphill. Again an attack on your heart, but once above a great view. We have to drive a long way to our next hotel, Hotel Scandic Lesund, where we sleep for 2 nights. We have a whole day for ourselves to relax. We have not done much. We went for a walk and sat on a heated bench.

On the heated benchOn the heated bench
Fjords
The next day we drive a long way, first from Alesund to Magerholm and then by ferry to Sykkylven. A beautiful crossing where we enjoy the beautiful fjords. Then we board the bus again and drive to Hellesylt and catch the next ferry to Geiranger. We sail straight through the Geirangerfjord, one of the most famous and narrowest fjords in the world, listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It is a beautiful trip with many beautiful views, fantastic beautiful. We drive on again and stop at a vantage point where you can see the Geirangerford beautifully. We continue our way and stop in Lom, to visit a stave church. Then in the bus to our next hotel in Boverdalen, Elveseter Hotel.

Beautiful fjordsBeautiful fjords
Sognefjord
The next day we have a journey of 370 kilometers ahead of us. L.