Norwegian Fjords with Smithsonian Journeys

Begin your voyage in Bergen, famous for its Hanseatic wharf, Bryggen, a UNESCO World Heritage site which still carries traces of the rich historic past of the city founded by the Vikings. Sail first towards Alesund, famous for the art nouveau architectural style in which its downtown was rebuilt after a terrible fire in 1904. Here you will also find the Atlantic Ocean Park, a unique aquarium featuring marine life found along Norway’s Atlantic coast. Traverse the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Geirangerfjord to Geiranger and explore the fjord region overland – including a stop at the Jostedal Glacier National Park Centre – before rejoining your ship in Hellesylt. Alternatively, venture into the mountains to sample goat milk cheeses and caramels at a local farm. Continue to Olden. From this small and charming village, located a few miles from Jostedalsbreen National Park, home to one of the last ice caps in Europe, you are able to admire the magnificent Briksdal Glacier. The following morning, sail the beautiful Lysefjorden. Then, in the afternoon, Le Lapérouse calls in Stavanger. Here, the reconstructed Iron Age village in Ullandhaug introduces you to the life of Norway’s earliest inhabitants. The region’s pristine coastal wilderness also offers an opportunity to take an invigorating hike. This afternoon, sail the beautiful Lysefjorden. From Arendal, visit the Næs Ironworks Museum, which chronicles how iron production changed between 1665 and 1959, and stop in Tvedestrand, a charming village of white wooden houses. Or visit Raet National Park, which was established in 2016 to protect the region’s unique topography. Your final call is in the lively harbor town of Gothenburg, Sweden. As the home of Volvo, the city boasts the World of Volvo, which features interactive exhibits from the brand’s first vehicles through future technological solutions. The stunning Museum of Fine Arts includes works by Carl Larsson, Edvard Munch, Anders Zorn, Van Gogh, Picasso, Chagall, and Monet. Your cruise ends in Fredrikstad, gateway to Oslo, the vibrant Norwegian capital.