Viewing fjords will be among the tours' highlights
Gondwana Ecotours vice-president Eric Segalstad is eager to showcase his homeland of Norway to cruise passengers and in doing so will enable them to see topographical features synonymous with the Scandinavian country.
The Homer, Alaska-based company is showcasing Norway’s Western Fjords on a new 9-day available in July and August that it says “immerses guests in the heart of Norway’s most iconic region,” enabling them to experience a world of mountain passes, glaciers and fjords flanked by towering peaks.”
“I was born and raised in Norway, so this tour is especially close to my heart,” says Segalstad. “I designed this tour to explore Norway’s most iconic region — from mountain passes and glaciers to picturesque fjords cut between towering mountains. We explore charming coastal towns that effortlessly blend Old-World charm with modern delights. Wander through colourful streets lined with wooden houses, and discover the warmth and hospitality of the locals, eager to share their rich cultural heritage with us.”
Tour highlights include a mountaintop accessed by a sky lift from the valley floor; Norway’s centuries-old coastal culture, with participants meeting locals; a RIB boat ride to view 7,000-year-old rock art on an exclusive guided visit to a remote archeological site; kayaking in a fjord across calm waters; cruising the UNESCO-listed Geiranger Fjord by ferry, where the famous Seven Sisters Waterfalls cascade 1,350 feet into the water below; a guided tour of the UNESCO listed Bergen Wharf, with its historic wooden warehouses; and a stay in a historic hotel with incredible views and which has hosted royals, authors, and dignitaries for more than a century. Segalstad says he has no doubt that people will be wowed by the scenery.
“Norway’s Western Fjords region offers views nearly everywhere you turn,” he says. “This itinerary covers some of the must-see sights, but we spend most of the time away from the crowds. In the beginning of the tour, we travel north by boat from Bergen to Kalvåg. Kalvåg is part of the outer islands that jut into the Norwegian Sea, an area that most visitors to Western Norway never experience, as they spend their time deep inside the fjords. After exploring this incredible area, we venture inland.
“The fjords we’ll visit range from the famous to the unique and little-visited. We board a ferry for a portion of the breathtaking Geiranger fjord, which is inscribed on UNESCO’s World Heritage list and is among the longest and deepest fjords in the world. We also spend two nights at a beautiful, historic hotel at the head of Norangsfjorden, which is surrounded by the iconic Sunnmøre Alps. This fjord is not visited by the large cruise ships due to a relatively shallow area in the middle of the fjord. We spend one morning kayaking in this beautiful fjord, and travel by chartered boat from here to Ålesund towards the end of the trip. Norangsdalen, which we drive through and explore part of on foot, is one of the wildest mountain valleys seen anywhere in Europe.”
The tour reaches Ålesund, which is northerly compared to most of Europe, but still considered western Norway.
Segalstad adds that the trip doesn’t revolve around nature alone.
“Our Norway: Western Fjords Adventure covers both nature and culture,” he continues. “From a cultural perspective, we spend time with people living in the small historic fishing village of Kalvåg. We learn about their history, their way of life past and present, and sample the bounties pulled up from the sea. We arrange for a guided and permitted visit to one of the largest rock carving sites in Northern Europe and learn about the people who lived and worshipped there 6,000 years ago. The views from the site remain the same to this day, which is incredible. We stop in a tiny village and visit a homestead that raises an ancient breed of sheep. We spend time in the owners’ living room and learn about living there, where the mountains block the winter sun for months out of the year and children have to move away and into an apartment to attend high school in the closest town, situated two hour away. We also visit Sagastad, which includes Viking history and a replica of a massive Viking ship that was found in a burial mound mere feet away.”
Being Norwegian, Segalstad will provide context and cultural tidbits alongside the guides. He will escort company groups again in 2026.
The tour has participants “spend time on land, on foot, in kayak, and on a variety of passenger ferries, car ferries, RIB boats, and a chartered small ship,” Segalstad states.
“This makes us different from a cruise and different from a typical land tour. We’ve attempted to weave together all the best parts of Norway’s western fjords — from the far outer reaches to mountain tops deep inside the fjords and many points in between. Our varied itinerary, group size and flexible mode of travel, allows us to see and do much more than other tours and cruises in this region that we are aware of.
“The Norway: Western Fjords Adventure is perfect for those who want to experience the nature, history, and culture of Norway’s most iconic region. The tour offers a variety of landscapes, unique accommodations, and exclusive experiences not found on other itineraries.”
Prices start at US$8,495 per person double.
For more info, visit https://www.gondwanaecotours.com/adventure-tours/small-group-guided-tours-norway/.
Gondwana Ecotours specializes in small-group, guided tours around the world and constantly works to reduce its environmental footprint. Itineraries are curated to include unique and fun activities in encounters with nature, wildlife, and local culture, and that are physically suitable for most travellers.
More information can be found here.
