Summer in the Norwegian Fjords

Today you will explore Bergen, Norway's UNESCO gateway city to the fjords. Filled with history and tradition, this big city enjoys a small-town charm and is easily explored on foot. Stroll around the fairy-tale-like old cobbled streets and small wooden houses and discover the well-known, old Hanseatic wharf with its unique architecture.

Bryggen, recognised as the old wharf of Bergen, defined by a line of colourful heritage buildings, the architectural character here saw this area designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1979. A stop at the city's fish market for a little bit of local hustle and bustle in a picturesque setting will also be part of the tour, as will a trip up the funicular to Mount Floyen for remarkable views back across Bergen.

Take the funicular to the top of Mount Fløyen, one of the seven mountains surrounding Bergen, to enjoy a wonderful view over the city.

With thundering waterfalls, snow-capped mountains of fruit trees in bloom, the natural beauty of Hardanger has inspired national romantic artists. There are few places where you can experience summer by the fjord and winter on the blue ice of a glacier all in one day, or learn about folk music and traditional costumes, followed by a visit to contemporary art galleries and modern industry museums. Wide open spaces are great for contemplation, and then there's the delicious organic food produced in the region too.

Today will be spent hiking on the spectacular Folgefonna Glacier. The day will be tailored to suit you, but whether you choose to climb or hike on the glacier, the sight of the incredible hulks of blue ice are sure to impress.

Situated on the southern shore of the beautiful Hardangerfjord in Hordaland County, Folgefonna National Park and the heart of the National Park is Folgefonna, a breathtaking glacier that has drawn tourists from all over the world since 1833. It is the third largest on mainland Norway, up to 400 meters thick and covering over 200 square kilometers. The national park includes an amazing variety of landscapes. It embraces many majestic valleys, extending from glacier tongues and dramatic icefalls all the way down to the fjord.

Folgefonna actually consists of three glaciers: Nordfonna, Midtfonna and Søfonna, as well as numerous tiny glaciers, altogether covering a total of 207 square kilometers. Measurements show that the glacier is almost 400 meters at its thickest, and at its highest point annual precipitation is 5500 mm.

Discover the Nærøyfjord, a 17km long arm branch of the Sognefjord, as you cruise from Gudvangen to Flåm. This fjord is listed as a UNESCO world heritage site and boasts some of the most extreme and spectacular fjord scenery in the world. There are 100 species of birds and animals in the area, and if you keep a lookout, you might spot golden eagles or harbour seals. Along the way, you will pass tiny villages, goat and sheep farms and the smallest post office in the world.

On this tour, you will get to learn more about farming and food culture in Aurland. Take an easy walk to a summer farm where you will enjoy a traditional lunch featuring local food and drinks.

Today you will visit one of the oldest stave churches in the country and UNESCO World Heritage Site, Urnes Stave Church. Standing in the Sogn og Fjordane, it was built in the 12th and 13th centuries and is a good example of traditional Scandinavia wooden architecture. As you explore, you'll discover traces of Celtic art, Viking traditions, and Romanesque architecture.

This beautiful national park is part of a large mountain range between eastern and western Norway and it includes some of the highest mountains in Northern Europe, with more than 200 peaks standing over 2000m high. With numerous huts and marked trails, Jotunheimen National Park is one of the country's most popular hiking areas, and you will get to go on a guided walk to admire its natural beauty.

You will be driven in a luxury vehicle to your hotel in Hjorundfjord, with a photo stop along the way at the Bøya Glacier. A branch of the Jostedal Glacier, Bøya is the biggest glacier in mainland Europe. You will also visit a handicraft centre in Skei, stop for lunch in Sandane and pop in at the Nordfjord Folk Museum, followed by an easy walk in Nordangsdal.

Go on a privately guided fishing trip, talk a walk, or kayak along the Hjorundfjord.

Head out into the city with a private guide and visit popular sites like the Jugend Museum and the Atlanterhavsparken Aquarium.

Go on a private wildlife sea safari to the bird cliffs at Runde where you'll find the widest variety of seabirds in Scandinavia. Nesting season is from February to August and over this period 500,000 sea birds take over the island. Keep an eye out for the 100,000 pairs of nesting puffins. A guided hike or kayak tour can be arranged as an alternative if you'd prefer.

This privately guided tour of Norway's capital will be structured with your interests in mind. Your local guide will introduce you to some of the city's most important and interesting sites. You could take a tour of the Viking Ship Museum and learn all about the Scandinavians who explored Europe by its seas and rivers. Stop in at the open-air Norwegian Folk Museum, the country's largest museum of cultural history, where there are a variety of exhibitions of folk art, costumes, toys and Sami culture. Or spend some time in the Vigeland Sculpture Park which boasts more than 200 sculptures in bronze, granite and wrought iron, all crafted by Gustav Vigeland. You can also take a turn past Holmenkollen ski jump hill and the Ski Museum below it. The museum's exhibitions outline 4000 years of ski history.