Day-by-Day account of our recent Viking Venus (Iceland's Majestic Landscapes) cruise

[SailorPaulH]

Day 1 - Sunday 7/21/24, Oslo (Norway)

 

Our overnight flight from Newark, NJ to Oslo, Gardermoen on Scandinavian Airlines arriving on the Sunday morning in Oslo was uneventful. We did not experience any delays or issues that seemed to be affecting some other airlines at Newark. We arrived a day ahead of our Viking pre-extension so that we could de-lag by early check-in at the Radisson Blu hotel just across the road from the airport. We ate dinner that night at 26 North Restaurant in the hotel and then got a good night's sleep. This made for a better day the next day, so wherever possible going to Europe a day ahead of schedule is something I would recommend.

 

Day 2 - Monday 7/22/24, Oslo (Norway)

 

After breakfast at the hotel, we took the Flytoget (airport express train) to downtown Oslo S train station. A short walk took us to our pre-extension hotel - Clarion The Hub, Oslo - where we met up with some Viking representatives who stored our luggage for us. This would be our second time in Oslo, so we had mapped out some activities at places we had not previously been. To save some money and simplify our lives, we returned to Oslo and picked up 2 Oslo Passes valid for 48 hours. The pass allows you free entry to many museums in addition to free use of the metro, tram, bus and some ferry systems. Tip: if you are age 67+ you qualify for the senior rate discounted price for the Oslo Pass.

With passes in hand, we set off for a walk to the Akershus Fortress (Akershus Festning) – this fortress is a medieval castle built in the 1290s. Originally built to protect the city, it has also served as a military base and as a prison. It is now the site of two museums (free entry with the Oslo Pass) and is also used for receptions, state visits and other important events. Be aware that some areas of Akershus can be challenging if you have any kind of mobility issues: cobbled uneven surfaces, tight and steep spiral staircases.

 

After taking in Akerhus, we returned to the Bjorvika area near the Opera House and had a late lunch at Barcode Street Food (a food court situated on Dronning Eufemias gate). We followed up with a walk downtown to pick up some Dale of Norway sweaters for the both of us (on previous trips we had purchased gifts for some family members and now it was our turn). The light drizzle we experienced in the afternoon would be about the worst weather we would encounter in our three week trip, despite frequent warnings of rain to be expected on many days ahead.

 

A quick tram ride to Aker Brygge and we had dinner at Big Horn (a steakhouse chain with about dozen locations in Norway). We turned early that night as we had a longer day planned out for the next day.
 

[JF - retired RRT]

Excellent start. Makes me want to jump on a plane and go there.

[The Other Tom]

following

[SailorPaulH]

Day 3 - Tuesday 7/23/24, Oslo (Norway) - part 1

 

For our launching point for our main expedition for the day we walked to the Radhuset ferry terminal. Here we take the ferry to the Bygdoy Peninsula which is home to a group of popular museums. The ferry (free with the Oslo Pass) takes about 20 minutes to reach the terminal at Bygdones. From the ferry you get some fantastic views of the northern end of the Oslofjord and the Aker Brygge and Tjuvholmen  areas of Oslo.

 

Our first stop on Bygdoy was the Fram Museum (Frammuseet)  a museum that honors Norwegian polar exploration and highlights three of Norway’s greatest explorers – Fridtjof Nansen (he led a team that made the first crossing of Greenland: using cross-country skis, and was leader of the Fram expedition of 1893-1896); Otto Sverdrup (an advisor of Nansen, a commander of the Fram, and explorer of Greenland and the Canadian Arctic); and Roald Amundsen (the polar explorer – Arctic and Antarctic – most famous for leading the first expedition to the South Pole in 1911). 

 

The Fram Museum houses two ships: the Fram , a ship designed to survive crushing pressure from sea ice due to its shape – being unusually wide and unusually shallow; and the Gjøa  – the first vessel to transit the Northwest Passage (a six-man expedition from 1903-1906 led by Amundsen).

 

Outside the Fram Museum there is a memorial in bronze and granite to Roald Amundsen and the four other members of his expedition (Olav Bjaaland, Helmer Hanssen, Sverre Hassel, and Oscar Wisting) who were successful in being the first explorers to reach the South Pole.

Just next door to the Fram Museum is the Kon-Tiki Museum . The Kon-Tiki Museum celebrates the life and achievements of Norway’s famed adventurer Thor Heyerdahl, houses vessels (including the Kon-Tiki raft) and maps and artifacts from the Kon-Tiki expedition of 1947.

 

Also close by is the Norwegian Maritime Museum (Norsk Maritimt Museum) . This museum explores a thousand years of Norwegian maritime history with both temporary and permanent exhibits. During our visit, we were able to take in a lecture on traditional Viking ship building only using resources and tools that would have been available to the builders a millennia ago. Interestingly, we found ourselves seated among passengers from the Viking Venus who were on an excursion during their Viking Homelands cruise visit to Oslo.
 

[SailorPaulH]

Day 3 - Tuesday 7/23/24, Oslo (Norway) - part 2

 

Now we were getting hungry and ready for lunch. Our target lunch spot was in walking distance from these just visited museums, but there was a bus (#30) pulling in to the stop at the museums so we hopped on that to the Fredriksborg bus stop (2 stops) and took the short walk to Café Hjemme hos Svigers  (translates to 'At Home with the In-laws' Cafe). It was a beautiful day outside - defying the forecasts of rain - so we ate in the outdoor area. I tried my luck in ordering in Norwegian, and the hostess replied, "That was quite good, but I will answer in English." LOL.

 

Unfortunately, the famous Viking Ship Museum (Vikingskipshuset)  on Bygdoy is closed for redevelopment, so we walked past that on our way to our planned major and last stop on Bygdoy - the Norwegian Museum of Cultural History (Norsk Folkemuseum) . The Norsk Folkemuseum is an open-air museum with over 150 buildings relocated to the Bygdoy Peninsula from all over Norway and it provides a fascinating look at Norwegian architectural history and the lives of the Norwegian people through the ages from medieval times up until near present times. One of the most beautiful attractions is the Gol Stave Church, but be aware that you have to walk significantly uphill from the main museum areas to reach this location.

 

All the museums we had entered on Bygdoy were free admittance with the Oslo Pass.

 

To return to central Oslo, we had a choice of walking (or bussing) back to the ferry terminal, or instead what we chose to do. We caught the city bound bus (#30) at the Folkemuseet bus stop just outside the museum and got off at Solli, from where we caught the #12 tram to Aker Brygge. Our final stop of the day was another free entry (Oslo Pass) to the Norwegian National Museum (Nasjonalmuseet). Here, we found the first and second floors most appealing to our tastes (the third floor is dedicated to 'modern art') including sculptures and castings by Vigeland (notably a broze casting of his depiction of Hell) and a copy of Munch's 'The Scream' by the artist himself. 

 

Aker Brygge is also where we had reserved a table for dinner at New Delhi (an excellent Indian restaurant). For the second night in a row we went to 'Paradise' (aka Paradis Gelateria - Tjuvholmen) for ice cream and/or gelato.

 

There are lots of choices for restaurants in this area of Aker Brygge and Tjuvholmen, and after our meal, we strolled along the waterfront and inner walkways. Oslo is a great place to explore and we know we have only scratched the surface in this and a previous visit. From the waterfront we took the #12 tram back to our hotel. This was a great day and we are still days away from the ship! 
 

[deec]

You had a great day in Oslo!  and could spend as much time as you wanted at the museums.  We were on a Viking tour and did not have enough time.

[SailorPaulH]

Day 4 - Wednesday 7/24/25, Oslo and Bergen (Norway)

 

After breakfast, I took the short walk to Oslo S train station and picked up some packed lunch items (sandwiches, cake, Norwegian chocolate) to be combined with some cookies scored from the breakfast buffet for the upcoming train ride from Oslo to Bergen. At around 11:15 AM, Viking representatives escorted all of us pre-extension passengers on the short walk to the central train station. Our main luggage had already been collected the previous night and was already on its way to Bergen. This journey is for one of the highlights of the pre-extension - the Oslo to Bergen train ride. There is a dining car on the train, but I think it's good to take your own provisions with you for this 7-hour train ride, as the packed lunch provided by Viking is basic and unappealing.

 

Our train from Oslo to Bergen (Bergensbanen) pulled out of Oslo S on time at 12:03 PM and was due in Bergen at 7:06 PM. The Bergen Line train from Oslo to Bergen (or vice versa) is one of the most spectacular train rides in Europe. The express train runs 4 (sometimes 5) times a day and takes about 7 hours to complete the 493 km journey from Oslo to Bergen . The line reaches the highest elevation for any train system in Scandinavia .

 

Our route today would take us from Oslo S to the first stop at the station of Hønefoss (considered to be the true eastern terminus of the Bergen Line) by heading generally northwards of Oslo until taking a west-southwest turn once we pass through Roa station (as the more frequently used west and then north route (via Drammen and Vikersund) was closed for track repairs in late-July.

 

Once we had reached Hønefoss, our journey was generally westwards to Bergen and we began a steady climb towards the Hardangervidda  - a mountain plateau that is the largest of its kind in Europe.

 

After Hønefoss - the scenery becomres increasingly beautiful, and we were to stop briefly at the stations of Nesbyen, Gol, Ål, and Geilo. At least that was the plan. Upon reaching Gol, we found out that our engine was malfunctioning and could go no further. This resulted in a two hour wait while a new engine was sent up the line to switch out with our broken one. The extra provisions we had loaded up on had suddenly improved their worth! After we re-started, we were informed that we were now expected to arrive in Bergen around 9 pm. I called ahead to cancel (and reschedule for the next evening) our dinner reservation at Brasilia Bergen.

 

Just beyond Geilo, the rail line runs through a gap between the Hardangervidda National Park (to the south) and Hallingskarvet National Park (to the north). After the next stop at Ustaoset comes the highest point on the train line just beyond Finse station (elevation 1,237 meters). The actual highest point is reached while in the Finse Tunnel (Finsetunnelen) which is the longest rail tunnel on the Bergen Line. To the south of Finse, one can see the Hardangerjøkulen glacier region (a filming location for the 1980 Star Wars movie ‘The Empire Strikes Back’).

 

I admit to not taking many photos on the train ride - glare and reflections can make composing a photo difficult when you are trying to capture a fleeting moment - and I preferred to just sit back and relax and watch it all go by.

 

After the next stop of Hallingskeid station, we reach the remote station of Myrdal which acts as a junction between the Bergen and Flåm rail lines. During our 2022 Viking Homelands cruise we had taken the train from Myrdal down the valley to Flåm. After Myrdal, there are stops at Voss, Dale and Arna. Arna is the final stop before entering the Ulriken Tunnel (Ulrikstunnelen) that was originally opened in 1964, but greatly expanded in 2020. The tunnel shortened the travel time to the final stop at Bergen on the other side of Mt. Ulriken.

 

We pulled into Bergen Station (Bergen Jernbanestasjon) at 9 pm. Viking had some coaches ready and it's a very short ride the hotel being used on this itinerary - Hotel Norge by Scandic .

 

As in Oslo, it is possible to buy a city pass - if you decide to do your own thing in Bergen. You can buy the Bergen Pass online - you just have to decide if it will save you money based on what you will be doing (museums, bus, trams, discounts, etc.). We decided not to get the pass this time.

 

After minimal unpacking, and freshening up, we left in search of dinner. We were incredibly fortunate to find our favorite seafood restaurant - Fjellskal - was still open and had some seating available, so salmon at sunset (after 10 pm) became a thing! After dinner, we went for a walk (a couple of laps of the lake in Byparken) before we headed back to the hotel.
 

[deec]

You did an incredible description of the train ride!  We just did that from Bergen to Oslo after our British Isle Cruise in May and had none of those details are in my memory.  On our Viking Shores and Fjords cruise we did a day excursion but to Floss and Train Back from Flam.  I think that train ride was had beautiful scenery with more waterfalls.  I kept waiting for the Falls on the Bergen to Oslo ride.

We will do the Glacier Express in Switzerland this fall and am anxious to compare. 

[SailorPaulH]

Glacier Express and Bernina Express are supposed to be incredible. We are hoping to do that in 2026. For example - Best of Switzerland by Rail at vacationsbyrail dot com gives a good description.

[OneSixtyToOne]

14 minutes ago, deec said:

We will do the Glacier Express in Switzerland this fall and am anxious to compare

 

Not many waterfalls, but lots of spectacular scenery.

Glacier Express

 

Edited August 29 by OneSixtyToOne

[deec]

onesixtytoone...thanks for the pre-view.  Adds to our anticipatory excitement.  

[Harley57]

SailorPaulH - thanks for taking the time to post.  We are taking the Northern Lights cruise in February, 2025 and will be doing a DIY visit to Oslo prior to the cruise and then the train to Bergen.  The detailed information is much appreciated.  

[SailorPaulH]

Day 5 - Thursday 7/25/25, Bergen (Norway)

 

We had very early hotel breakfast (an excellent buffet) and then made our way on foot to Fløibanen  - the well-known mountainside funicular train ride that takes you up to the top of Mt. Fløyen. On a 2022 visit to Bergen (see the Viking Homelands link in my signature), we had taken a round-trip on the Fløibanen. This time we took it one-way (to the top) with the intent to walk back down via one of the trails (one-way is about $8.50 per person). Tip: go early in the morning and have your tickets purchased online beforehand to avoid any lines.

 

It was already shaping up to be a sunny, clear day in Bergen which as many know is a relatively rare occurrence in rainy Bergen. From the observation point adjacent to the last stop you have fantastic views of the city and surrounding areas, so I took some clearer photographs than was possible on our last visit.

 

Once we reached he observation area, we had a view of Viking Venus moored at the cruise terminal - it had just arrived from the end of its Viking Homeland cruise (Stockholm to Bergen) and its passengers would have an overnight in Bergen. 

 

Taking full advantage of the mild and pleasant weather, we took the walk down the Tippetue trail (gravel at first and then paved paths and road as you reach the neighborhood above the Fløibanen station. I recommend walking/hiking shoes for this walk.

 

Having built up an appetite we headed to Fjellskal again - this time for lunch, and a great baked halibut meal (this a must-go place, IMO). We spent the afternoon exploring (in more depth than we could in 2022) in the many shops in and around Bryggen.

 

Another walk at Byparken, and we were ready for an all-you-can-eat steak experience at Brasilia Bergen just a block from our hotel (Tip: eat the steak, and don't fill up on the carby sides). Unlike our departure from Oslo, we did not have to put our luggage out until the following morning (embarkation day) as Viking's plan was to drive the pre-extension passengers to the ship along with the luggage (more on this in my next report).
 

[janetcbl]

9 hours ago, deec said:

You did an incredible description of the train ride!  We just did that from Bergen to Oslo after our British Isle Cruise in May and had none of those details are in my memory.  On our Viking Shores and Fjords cruise we did a day excursion but to Floss and Train Back from Flam.  I think that train ride was had beautiful scenery with more waterfalls.  I kept waiting for the Falls on the Bergen to Oslo ride.

We will do the Glacier Express in Switzerland this fall and am anxious to compare. 

Have done both. Both are incredible; journeys you will always remember. 

[deec]

how long did it take you to walk down...We walked up to the fire station on one of our visits but it certainly was not a clearly defined walk....we took lots of turns and stairs and hit a few dead ends but it was a beautiful day.  Next time I think we might try Mt. Ulriken.

[SailorPaulH]

3 hours ago, deec said:

how long did it take you to walk down...We walked up to the fire station on one of our visits but it certainly was not a clearly defined walk....we took lots of turns and stairs and hit a few dead ends but it was a beautiful day.  Next time I think we might try Mt. Ulriken.

It took us about an hour - at a leisurely pace, stopping to take some photos here and there. It was about a 3 km walk. Very quiet, and clean, clear air on a nice summer day (by Bergen's standard!).

[SailorPaulH]

Day 6 - Friday 7/26/24, Bergen (Norway) and Viking Venus embarkation (Day 1)

 

While having breakfast early and having put our luggage out from its transportation to the ship, we found out that Viking was planning to transport us to the ship at around 12;30 pm on embarkation day. This made no sense us to us and struck as a time-waster, especially as we had made some plans for our afternoon in Bergen. Therefore, we decided to make our own way (walk) to the ship bearing in mind that embarkation was allowed at 11 AM - we let the representatives know to remove us from their check-list for the coach. Despite a light drizzle that soon faded away, we made our way via Bryggen where we picked up some extra gift items from some stores and stopped at Baker Brun for Skillingsbolle and coffee.

 

We arrived at the Cruise Terminal just before 11 AM and after a brief wait with about 8 other early arrivals, we were quickly swept through security and embarkation and were on board. After the usual and brief, mandatory safety presentation in the Star Theatre we were in our cabin at around 11:20 am. We put away the few items we had with us and met our cabin attendants for the first time. In preparation for our afternoon excursion, we headed for lunch at World Cafe before it would get busier. Upon our return to the cabin our luggage had arrived, so we got this unpacked and stowed away - leaving some laundry and instructions. It feels good to be all set up and no longer living out of suitcases.

 

As we left the ship around 1:30 pm, we saw there was still people arriving, some of whom we recognized from our extension - I'm glad we made our own way, as at 2:30 pm we were off on the excursion we had booked, starting at the Dreggekaien pier just opposite the Clarion Collection Hotel on Bryggen.

 

We had booked a fjord cruise with Fjord Cruise AS (on the MS Sogndal) to Osterfjord and Mostraumen. This an approximately 4 hour round trip from Bergen to the village of Mo (pronounced Moo). The price was about $75 pp and I think a great value for the sights we were about to witness. An excellent guide provided running commentary on the ship's speakers throughout the entire trip. This cruise is a great way to spend a half day in (and out of) Bergen if your schedule allows for it.

 

Passing some sizeable oil rig service ships and the Venus itself we were quickly out on more open water (Salhusfjorden) heading north to pass under the Nordhordland bridge (Nordhordlandsbrua). This bridge is a combination of a cable-stayed and pontoon bridge and is the second longest bridge in Norway (at about 4 km). The floating pontoon design was necessitated by the depth of the fjord at this point (about 500 m). Once past the bridge, we headed north-east formally entering Osterfjord. 

 

Continuing past salmon farms, villages  and some steep cliffs and waterfalls, we eventually reach the Mostraumen Chennel which is about 650 meters long and just 60 meters wide. Passing through the channel you get an excellent close up view of the village that is now part of the Mostraumen open air museum. The channel was canalized (back in 1913) and allowed for a navigable connection between the Osterfjord and Romarheimsfjorden. After navigating the channel, our boat continued to the village of Mo (about 100 population) which is one of the smallest municipalities in all of Norway. This village was inaccessible by car until 1976. 

 

At Mo. we turned around for the return to Bergen which allowed us to capture photos from different perspectives. Once again, we had excellent weather conditions negating forecasts of rain. During our first week, we have had warm weather with highs in the low 70s, clear blue skies with occasional clouds, light breezes, and very rare showers. 

We arrived back at the dock just after 6:20 pm and we were back in our cabin on Venus shortly after. It seemed that whenever we were walking along our cabin's corridor, one of our cabin attendants (Sadiq or Johnnie) would appear from nowhere and ask us if there was anything we needed. These two guys were phenomenal all cruise.

 

We had our first dinner on Viking Venus in The Restaurant.

 

Here is a brief review of our dining experience on Viking Venus during our cruise from 7/26 to 8/8/24.

Early Coffee/Snacks: Viking Bar
Breakfast: World Cafe
Lunch: World Cafe, sometimes Pool Grill. 
Afternoon: occasionally Wintergarden when Shore Excursion schedule allowed
Dinner: 50/50 World Cafe and The Restaurant, Manfredi's (once - we cancelled our other reservations to Manfredi's after our first visit). As on a previous cruise, we decided not to do Chef's Table (I had shellfish allergies to certain dishes on all 4 rotating menus on this cruise). Overall, I would say our dining experience was good and occasionally very good, but a notch below our first VOC in 2022.
 
We thought Manfredi's was below average this time around and did not warrant a second chance. For what it is worth here are our ratings:

 

World Cafe breakfast: B+
World Cafe lunch: B+
Mamsen's/Wintergarden: A
The Restaurant: B+
Manfredi's: C

 

We know we are not as experienced Viking cruisers as many on these boards, but we (in our limited experience) think the quality of Viking culinary experience is trending down. Our Viking River cruise in 2019 was excellent, while our Ocean cruises in 2022 and 2024 showed some decline. We hope for better on our booked VOC in 2025.

[SailorPaulH]

Day 7 - Friday 7/27/24, Bergen (Norway) and Viking Venus (Day 2)

 

After breakfast at the World Cafe, I left the ship briefly to meet up with the Global Blue representative who was set up in the cruise terminal in order to claim VAT refund on items that were going to be exported (e.g., the sweaters we purchased in Oslo. Note: when applying for such refunds, take the goods with you for possible inspection (along with receipts, your passport and credit card).

 

Back at our cabin, DW was ready for shore leave when Sadiq appeared from nowhere to switch out the hard liquor in our fridge for a bottle of red wine.

 

Within just a few minutes on foot, we arrived at our destination for the morning: the Bergen Fortress (Bergenhus Festning), one of Norway’s oldest and best-preserved fortifications. The building of the fortress began in the early 1500s, but completion of various reinforcements continued until around 1700.

 

In the grounds there is a bronze statue of King Håkon VII, who was King of Norway during World War II. He led the Norwegian resistance (while in exile in Great Britain) against the *** occupation.

 

After the Second World War, the Norwegian government conducted restoration and preservation of the site. Nowadays the fortress is a workplace for military and civilian personnel, and parts of the complex are used for events and concerts.

 

Next came King Håkon's Hall (Håkonshallen) which was built as a royal residence and banqueting hall between 1247 and 1261 by King Håkon Håkonsson. It was the largest royal residency in the 13th-century when Bergen was the political center of Norway. Håkon's Hall is a national monument and is still used for royal dinners and official events.

 

Nearby is the Rosenkrantz Tower (Rosenkrantztårnet) - built in the 1560s, it is one of the most important monuments in Norway. Parts of the tower originate from the 1270s. You can reach the roof of the tower via narrow flights of stairs to take in excellent views of the harbor and surrounding fortress areas. Note: when you purchase tickets at one site, e.g., Håkonshallen at approx. $11 pp, you get a discount at the other site: Rosenkrantztårnet at approx. $8 pp, so hold on to your first tickets.

 

On this visit and our previous visit to Bergen (see the Viking Homelands link in my signature) we felt we had covered some good ground and attractions, so we returned to the ship for lunch and then spent a couple of hours at the Nordic Spa (DW had a reservation for a massage). After tea at Wintergarden, we readied ourselves on the top deck for sail away at 6 pm.

 

We were underway on time - for the start of our second ever VOC. After sailing under Askøybrua (a suspension bridge that is Norway's third longest) we were headed to more open sea and our next destination - Flåm.

 

Dinner in The Restaurant was very good - we both had the Tenderloin Steak Diane.

 

[CurlerRob]

Thanks for the excellent photos! I'm convinced that you've set a world record - 3 days with at least some blue sky in Bergen! Enjoy the rest of your voyage. 🍺🥌

[SailorPaulH]

Been out of the loop for a while, so here goes ....

 

Day 8 - Sunday 7/28/24, Flåm (Norway) and Viking Venus (Day 3)

 

Later the previous evening, Venus had entered Sognefjorden - Norway's largest and deepest fjord (reaching a maximum depth of 1,308 meters below sea level) - en route to Aurlandsfjorden and our first port of call - Flåm. You try and take in as much in as possible, especially with the long hours of daylight, but sooner or later you need some sleep!

 

This morning was an early morning, taking the opportunity to see the sail in to Flåm. On our previous VOC visit to Flåm in 2022, we had taken an excursion that included the iconic Flåm rail journey (in our case from Myrdal down to Flåm), so we had something different in mind for this visit.

 

After breakfast, we embarked on the optional excursion "Panoramic Nærøyfjord by Boat". Our tour boat left the dock at Flåm retracing our way back up Aurlandsfjorden about 16 km to the branching fjord - Nærøyfjorden. After passing the small town of Aurland, it was just possible to make out the Stegastein viewpoint high in the distance (more about this location later). Turning into Nærøyfjorden, we found ourselves in a natural and beautiful environment that has been listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. This fjord is bout 18 km long and is only 500 meters wide in some areas. Completing this fjord boat tour allowed for us to assemble a "Norway in a Nutshell" tour from this and our previous Flåm rail excursion in 2022.

 

Our fjord cruise ended at the village of Gudvangen and shortly after our arrival there, a motorcoach collected our group and drove us the short distance back to Flåm (via route E16 through the Guvangatunnelen and Flenjatunnelen tunnels).

 

After lunch on the ship, we were ready for our next excursion of the day - the included 'The Surroundings of Flåm'. Normally, we don't expect much from a motor-coach localized tour, but we were pretty happy to go this one. Our coach headed to the small town of Aurland (about 10 km from Flåm) before making the climb (a narrow road with seven switchbacks) to the Stegastein viewpoint about 650 meters above the fjord. The drive itself may seem treacherous but our skilled and often comedic driver made the ascent very entertaining as he frequently stopped the bus to get out and direct traffic safely at the turns. The viewpoint itself is a platform (barely visible when you are on the fjord at sea level) that juts out about 30 meters and provides the sensation of you being suspended out over the fjord. From here you can create your own versions of some of Norway's most iconic photographs seen in Norway's tourist brochures. Descending the mountainside returned us to the town of Aurland for a brief visit to the Vangen Church (Vangen kyrkje) that was founded around 1202 AD. The tour was completed with a brief foray to the lower Flåm valley and a visit the Flåm Chuch that was established in 1670 AD.