Tour Advice

[Big Foot]

Hello,

 

We're travelling to the Fjords for the first time in May on board Azura.

 

Ports of call are as follows: -

 

Bergan, Flaam, Geiranger & Stavanger

 

We've already booked the P&O organised tour for the Flaam Railway but would be grateful for advice on what to do at the other ports?

 

We're considering the Railway at Bergen, but wondered if this was better to to DIY as opposed to the organised tour which is more expensive & seems to involve a little bit of sightseeing on a coach.

 

Any advice greatly appreciated.

 

Thanks in advance.

 

Joan

[Scriv]

We did DIY in Bergen, Stavanger and Geiranger because we just wanted to potter and enjoy the atmosphere.

 

In Bergen we went to the tourist office first thing and bought the funicular tickets from there. Then we went back to the funicular and were able to join the ticketholders queue which was much much shorter than the queue for tickets. In fact we walked straight in!

 

After spending time at the top enjoying the view and taking photos etc, we walked back down the hill. The path brings you down back into the old town. Then we walked around the town, the fish market and the port. It was Liberation Day, so not a normal day, but there was a lot going on. We saw a march and a commemoration service at the port where one of our group were invited to go on board and chat to the people afterwards. Then we walked back to the ship.

 

Also did our own thing in Stavanger. We were there on a Sunday, so once again not a 'normal' day, but there is a big museum there (an oil museum?) which some people we knew found very interesting. We walked the town in the morning and came back to the ship for a quick lunch and then went off again in the afternoon to explore the picturesque old town which was just next to the ship's berth. We had to return to the ship as we had no Norwegian money for small transactions and the loo(!), but it proved a good move for us. We then visited the Sardine Canning Museum, which we really enjoyed. Not everyone's ideal visit, but we had a great tour round in English from a guy whose grandparents had the canning business years ago so there was a lot of history. We learnt lots about sardines (!) and were lucky enough to sample freshly cooked sardines from the oven as it was the first Sunday of the month. There you can also enjoy a coffee and a waffle in the 'typical' little house at the back of the museum. You can get a Concession ticket at the museum if you are a Senior in your own country too.

 

At Geiranger we disembarked by tender and bought a bus tour from the port. This was quite good, it seemed to follow the ship's coach around but it didn't have a guide. I think I remember it having a recorded tape giving info, which I believe got out of synch from time to time. One tour to a lake at Geiranger had been cancelled because of snow, but friends of ours went on a ship's coach up to the glaciers.

 

You will certainly enjoy the fjords.

Edited February 7, 2014 by Scriv

[simonpjd]

Without a doubt you can do your own thing in Bergen. And we do so now. But for our first trip we did a guided tour by foot and it was very good indeed. Bergen being an old Hanseatic town it has a fascinating history - so if you are interested in that then definitely do the tour.

Get yourself to the top of the mountain in Geirenger.

You have the Flam railway booked.

We haven't found a great tour yet for Stavangar - not the most exciting of towns. Any ideas anyone for Stavangar.

[Big Foot]

Thank you for that; just the sort of information I needed.

 

Sounds like a very good plan of action :)

[BrianI]

The funicular railway (Floibanen) in Bergen is worth doing if the weather is good. If there is low cloud then you wont see anything so you can decide on the day, hence its better not to book the ships tour. If you get off the ship early, you should not encounter any queues.

http://www.floibanen.com/

 

The best thing about Geiranger is the sail in and sail out. It is worth getting up early - about 1.5hours before your schedule arrival - when you will be going through the narrow parts of the fjord. Look out for the seven sisters waterfall on the port side about 20mins before you arrive.

 

In Stavanger you dock right in the centre. Places of interest are the sardine canning museum and the petroleum museum. You could also do a boat trip to Lysefjord and pulpit rock. This can be done DIY and the boat departs near where the ship docks.

 

Brian

[tartanexile81]

We've been to three of your ports and we always DIY so this is what we did.

 

Bergen - The funicular railway is easy walking distance from the port and you get amazing views from the top. There may be a long queue so wait til after the tours have been and head up. However the queues go down quickly as the two trains are in constant operation and the journey only takes a few minutes. Bergen is an interesting town: between the port and the main part of the town are some reallly beautiful old buildings. the town has something interesting around every corner -fountains, lovely park, fish market, shops.

 

Geiranger- When you get off the tender you can go to the tourist info centre (easily seen from where you get off) and buy a ticket to go to the top of the mountain - Mt Dalsnibba

http://www.geirangerfjord.no/bus-tour-to-mt.-dalsnibba

 

Stavanger - We really liked Stavanger too. The oldest part of the town is close to where you dock - old timber-framed houses. There is a lovely little park with lots of birds on the lake, a historic old church, narrow little streets with interesting shops. There's the Petroleum Museum which some said was interesting but wasn't our cup of tea. Our friends said the cafes overlooking the port were mega expensive for a couple of drinks but we didn't pay quite as much a few streets back although it has to be said Norway is quite expensive.

 

Hope that helps but if you look at the Ports of Call section on this website you'll get lots of ideas

Edited February 7, 2014 by tartanexile81

[Thejuggler]

In Gerainger there is a bus tour company as you get off the ship. They use open sided minibuses and go on a round trip of 75-90 minutes visiting two vantage points high above the Fjord. Headphones are provided to listen to a commentary.

 

As good weather cannot be guaranteed this is a good choice as there is no commitment to do the tour if it is raining. Cost last year was about £20 per person.

 

There are other trips available which can be booked at the large tourist centre.

[moswinner1]

Agree with all the above good advice, The Pulpit Rock boat trip is good although the view of the rock from below is somewhat disappointing. It's worth doing this trip on your own, last year the ship wanted £70 each for this. By walking about 300 metres from the ship we did it for £36 each. The only difference was, with the ship you got a few nibbles on the way. Also if you are 60 or older you get a discount that you don't get with the ship.

 

In Flam the same can be said for the train but it's a bit risky not booking in advance. ( you can always go on line to the railways website and book, saving quite a bit ) The railway is only about 200 metres from where you dock.

 

Also, if you get time, there is a Dotto train (Road train) in Flam which is worthwhile, it takes you for a leisurely trip alongside the river, then on the way back takes you to the other side of the fjord where you get great views of the ship.

 

Enjoy:):):)

[moswinner1]

Here is a very good high definition video of flam.

When the page loads just below the top picture click on "video"

 

http://www.visitflam.com/flam-railway/prices/

[Big Foot]

Thank you all for the advice greatly appreciated.

[kevinyork]

Agree with all the above good advice, The Pulpit Rock boat trip is good although the view of the rock from below is somewhat disappointing. It's worth doing this trip on your own, last year the ship wanted £70 each for this. By walking about 300 metres from the ship we did it for £36 each. The only difference was, with the ship you got a few nibbles on the way. Also if you are 60 or older you get a discount that you don't get with the ship.

 

 

 

In Flam the same can be said for the train but it's a bit risky not booking in advance. ( you can always go on line to the railways website and book, saving quite a bit ) The railway is only about 200 metres from where you dock.

 

 

 

Also, if you get time, there is a Dotto train (Road train) in Flam which is worthwhile, it takes you for a leisurely trip alongside the river, then on the way back takes you to the other side of the fjord where you get great views of the ship.

 

 

 

Enjoy:):):)

 

 

We did the Pulpit Rock boat trip on our own and booked in advance via their website. The boat was waiting just 5 mins walk from the ship across the Harbour. Whilst less expensive than the ships tour it wasnt particularly exciting and you are right the view up to the top of Pulpit Rock is somewhat dissapointing. In hindsight we would have been happy walking round the town which we found very pleasant, especially the old town which is dwarfed by the ship.

 

I dont believe the Flam railway can be booked for parties of less than 10. We were there last year. General advice was that only 75% of each train could be prebooked however despite being the 2nd couple at the booking office there was no availability that would get you up and back in time for the ships departure. My advice, book the ships tour or see if you can muster 10 people via the roll call and book ahead.

 

 

 

 

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[bluemug]

In Gerainger there is a bus tour company as you get off the ship. They use open sided minibuses and go on a round trip of 75-90 minutes visiting two vantage points high above the Fjord. Headphones are provided to listen to a commentary.

 

As good weather cannot be guaranteed this is a good choice as there is no commitment to do the tour if it is raining. Cost last year was about £20 per person.

 

There are other trips available which can be booked at the large tourist centre.

 

don't forget that wherever you go in Norway you should always build a cairn for the 'little people' to sit on. Doing this ensures a welcome return to norway. not building a cairn will ensure the wrath of the troll King and I am sure that you will have seen pictures of Himself and his nose; and you can imagine what he will do with that.