NEW! Icons of the Viking Age

Discover the rich history of Norway’s scenic coastal town that lays claim as the birthplace of Norway. Haugesund dates to 1217, when it was mentioned in the Norse sagas. Inextricably linked to the sea, it was built on the herring industry. You will meet your guide for a panoramic tour that begins with the outside of City Hall. This neoclassical vision in pink was built in 1931 as a gift to the city from a ship owner and his wife. Continue to the Haraldshaugen Monument, an obelisk celebrating the unification of Norway into one kingdom in 872. Its location is meant to mark the spot where the first king of Norway was buried. Next, you will visit the Steinsfjellet viewpoint, 748 feet above sea level. The views here take in all of Haugesund and the stunning fjords in the distance. After time to admire the view, return to your ship.

Gain insight into the 19th-century lives of people who built this coastal region on the herring fishing industry. Drive with your guide to Skudeneshavn, a charming town at the southernmost tip of the island of Karmøy. Skudeneshavn’s Old Town consists of 130 well-preserved white wooden houses constructed in the 1800s, when herring fishing was at its peak. At the Malandgarden Museum, you can learn how the town grew and how its middle-class citizens lived. Exhibits also reveal the other trades and industries that helped the region thrive and profile the craftsmen that characterized the city more than 150 years ago. After an informative walk, return to your ship.

Gain unrivaled insight into the Viking culture that thrived here. A millennium ago, King Harald Fairhair united Norway into a single kingdom, setting the stage for the Viking Age. You will drive with your guide to the Viking History Center in Avaldnes to learn more about this vibrant region that claims the titles of Norway’s birthplace and homeland of the Viking kings. Upon arrival, enjoy a guided visit and a movie about this remarkable history. Then visit St. Olav’s Church, a landmark for seafarers praying for safe passage through the Strait of Karmsund for 750 years. Nearby, a monumental stone called Mary’s Needle leans toward the church wall. Legend claims that the Day of Judgment will come when the stone touches the church wall. En route back to your ship, you will stop for photos of the magnificent vistas from Steinafjellet viewpoint.

Be welcomed into the beautiful home of Anne and Leif Bjarte, garden designer and landscape architect. Their charming residence and stunning gardens showcase nature at its best with flowers in bloom from late spring (April/May) until late summer (September). The garden features several hundred species of plants, herbs, and various homegrown kitchen delights. Enjoy refreshments including fresh herbal teas picked straight from the garden, while Anne and Leif provide insight on the history of the house and share their tips on gardening. This is a unique experience and a one-of-a-kind opportunity to hear about life in Norway. A short drive back to Haugesund will take you back to your awaiting ship.

Learn about the efforts of local Norwegians to resist the World War II Nazi occupation on an eye-opening excursion. Meet your guide and drive to the Arquebus War History Museum, one of Norway’s largest museums exhibiting artifacts from the Resistance. Take a unique and dramatic journey through the history of the German occupation, which lasted from April 1940 to May 1945. The fascinating exhibits depict villages filled with horses, cars, citizens and soldiers, capturing the wartime mood in Norway’s streets and squares. Learn how the Merchant Marine Navy, the Home Front, weapons drops and secret radio transmissions all eventually contributed to liberation. Visit the Steinsfjellet viewpoint for sweeping views of the sea and fjord. On the way back to your ship, stop at the Haraldshaugen Monument, an obelisk celebrating the unification of Norway into one kingdom in 872. Its location is meant to mark the spot on which the first king of Norway was buried.

Travel back in time and meet the first Viking king of Norway: Harald Fairhair. Stop at the Nordvegen History Center in Avaldsnes, where King Harald himself will guide you on a journey through 3,500 years of Norwegian history. Visit St. Olav’s Church, built by King Haakan Haakonson in the 13th century, and home to "Virgin Mary’s needle," the only remaining ancient stone on this pagan site. Legend has it that the stone will touch the church wall on Judgment Day--and it remains just a few centimeters away! Our guide will then take you to a Viking farm which is situated on a small forested island below the church. Experience life as Norwegian ancestors lived: how they constructed their homes, the materials they used and how they socialized. A 30-minute walk will take you back to your coach to rejoin your awaiting ship.

Embark on a scenic cruise across the Åkrafjord and see the famed Langfoss Waterfall up-close. After a short drive to Fjæra, you will meet your crew and board your boat to begin your fjord cruise. Take in the views as your vessel glides along the Åkrafjord, passing by steep mountains, cascading waterfalls and peaceful coastal villages along the way. Return to shore and continue to a nearby venue for a three-course lunch, then drive by motor coach to Langfoss Waterfall. This impressive cascade stands at over 2,000 feet tall, making it one of Norway’s highest waterfalls. Pause to gaze upon its rushing waters and capture photographs, then return to your coach and drive to Haraldshaugen. This national monument is dedicated to Harald Fairhair, the Viking king who unified Norway after the Battle of Hafrsfjord around 872 AD. After time to explore, return to your ship.

Be immersed in spectacular scenery during a high-speed journey through the waters surrounding Haugesund. Begin your excursion with a short walk from your ship to the pier, where you will meet your captain, don your required life jacket and board a safe and comfortable rigid inflatable boat, or RIB. Following a safety briefing, you will leave Haugesund behind and speed through the island-studded waters. During your journey, you will pass by the rocky skerries, sheltered inlets and small islands that define this section of the Norwegian coast. Look to the shoreline for a glimpse of traditional boathouses and historic lighthouses, or to the horizon for expansive views of the North Sea stretching into the distance. Enjoy a Norwegian sweet treat while taking in the coastal scenery, then return to shore and make your way back to your awaiting ship.

Be invigorated on this hiking tour along the old mountain pathway that runs from Eljarvik farm to Langfoss Støl. You will see an amazing spectacle from above, chosen by CNN as one of the most beautiful waterfalls in the world. Follow in the footsteps of earlier generations that would take the Langfoss Waterfall stone path carrying heavy loads or with livestock. Climb the hills in the pine forest and admire the view from various points along the way. From the top, look down over the village of Åkrafjord, and across the valley at the foot of the Folgefonna National Park. Catch a glimpse of the Folgefonna glacier towering in the background. After a halfway break, hike back with our guide to Haugesund where you will rejoin your ship.

Immerse yourself in rugged coastal landscapes during a guided hike to the historic Ryvarden Lighthouse. Drive through Haugesund to the countryside of Sveio, where you will set out on foot for Ryvarden Lighthouse. Take in the sweeping vistas of rocky skerries as you follow your guide along a gravel road toward the headland. A stone cairn marked this exposed point for centuries before the lighthouse was established in 1849. During your hike, keep watch for seals near the shore and sea eagles soaring overhead; if you are lucky, you may also catch a glimpse of deer amid the heath. On arrival, pause beside the lighthouse for views of the open sea, then enter the former lighthouse station, now a cultural center and café. Enjoy a coffee accompanied by waffles, then retrace the gravel road to the trailhead and return by motor coach to your ship.