8-Days The Inner Fjords Explorer 2027

Gateway to the Fjords 

For our intimate fjord cruise Bergen is the ideal place to begin. This beautiful mountain-ringed port is often called the Gateway to the Fjords, and what began as a small village home to King Olav Kyree in the 11th century is now Norway’s second largest city.

Nestled in Bergen’s centre is Vågen Bay, the historic core of the city and home to the UNESCO-listed Bryggen quarter made up of charming cobblestone streets and boutique shops. Across from here, you’ll find the famous fish market where you can sit down and enjoy fresh and delicious seafood dishes.

Once we’ve welcomed you aboard, meet the Expedition Team – your hosts and guides to the Norwegian fjords. Get acquainted with your new surroundings and enjoy your first meal aboard the ship. We set sail just before midnight, so if you’re still up you can watch from the deck as Bergen recedes into the distance. Our course is now set in a southerly direction towards the majestic fjords of Norway.

Rosendal and the heart of Hardanger

Sailing into the Kvinnheradsfjord, a branch of the great Hardangerfjord, feels like entering a world carved by time itself. The fjord’s steep mountainsides, shaped by ancient glaciers, rise in sheer walls of green and grey, their slopes veined with waterfalls that plunge straight to the sea. Once an important route for farmers and traders, these deep waters still carry the quiet rhythm of coastal life.

At its heart lies Rosendal, a beatific village framed by orchards and the white peaks of the Folgefonna Glacier. Here, history lingers in the 17th-century Barony Rosendal, Norway’s only manor house of its kind, surrounded by serene gardens. You can stroll through these historic grounds, visit local art galleries, or enjoy coffee and home-baked treats in the garden café. Nearby, the Folgefonna National Park Centre reveals the story of the region’s ice, rock and natural formations

Please note: This is an explorer voyage, designed with the freedom to embrace scenic sailing. To give you the best possible experience, the Captain may adjust the route or the order of fjord visits in response to weather and light conditions.

Stavanger & the Fjord of Light

The day today belongs to the Lysefjord, one of Norway’s most dramatic waterways. Towering cliffs rise more than 1,000m above the sea, and from the deck you may glimpse Preikestolen, or Pulpit Rock – a sheer plateau that has become an icon of Norway’s wild beauty. The fjord’s name, meaning “fjord of light”, reflects the pale granite walls that gleam in shifting weather, shaped by ice and time.

Later, we arrive in Stavanger, a lively coastal city where Viking heritage meets modern energy. The Old Town’s white wooden houses line cobbled streets filled with cafés and galleries, while the waterfront offers museums, seafood restaurants and space to wander. As it’s a weekday, this is an opportunity to browse the shops for souvenirs such as Norwegian design, woollen sweaters and local crafts. Just offshore lies Flor og Fjære, a small island garden of subtropical blooms and even palm trees – an unexpected oasis in Norway’s otherwise rugged coastal world.

Please note: This is an explorer voyage, designed with the freedom to embrace scenic sailing. To give you the best possible experience, the Captain may adjust the route or the order of fjord visits in response to weather and light conditions.

Art Nouveau by the Sea

Arriving in Ålesund, you’ll find one of Norway’s most beautiful and distinctive coastal cities. Rebuilt after a devastating fire in 1904, Ålesund rose again in the graceful curves and pastel hues of Art Nouveau architecture – turrets, towers and floral details reflected in the surrounding waters. The town’s setting is just as striking: a cluster of islands framed by mountains and sea, with views that unfold in every direction.

Wander the cobbled streets and waterfront cafés or visit the Jugendstilsenteret Museum to learn how European design movements shaped this northern gem. For a sweeping panorama, climb the steps to Mount Aksla, where the city’s intricate plan and the Sunnmøre Alps reveal themselves below. If time allows sample local seafood or browse small boutiques selling Norwegian crafts.

Please note: This is an explorer voyage, designed with the freedom to embrace scenic sailing. To give you the best possible experience, the Captain may adjust the route or the order of fjord visits in response to weather and light conditions.

Glaciers, Valleys & Village Life

The approach to Nordfjord is among the most scenic in Norway. Stretching over 100km inland, it links the open sea to glacier-carved valleys and mirror-bright lakes. The fjord’s sheltered waters once carried Viking ships and trading vessels; today, it reveals a gentler rhythm of life where red boathouses, pastures and forested slopes line the shore. Steep mountains rise abruptly from the water, their tops dusted with snow well into spring, while waterfalls descend in silver threads from high plateaus.

At the fjord’s innermost reach lies Olden, a peaceful village framed by the turquoise waters of the Oldeelva River and the mighty Jostedalsbreen Glacier, the largest on mainland Europe. From here, you can take excursions into the valley, visiting glacial lakes and viewpoints where ice, rock and meadow meet. Whether you wander the waterfront or join an excursion inland, Olden captures the stillness and splendour of Norway’s inner heart.

Please note: This is an explorer voyage, designed with the freedom to embrace scenic sailing. To give you the best possible experience, the Captain may adjust the route or the order of fjord visits in response to weather and light conditions.

Closing the Circle

We arrive back in Bergen this morning, returning to the Gateway to the Fjords after your journey deep into Norway’s Western Fjords. The harbour greets you with its familiar wooden wharves, mountain peaks and the scent of sea air. If you didn’t see Bryggen on your first visit, now’s the time to explore its UNESCO-listed alleyways, where merchants once traded goods from across the world.

You might also stroll over to the fish market, visit local museums or ride the Fløibanen funicular for a sweeping view over city and sea. As you say goodbye on the quayside to your ship, crew and any newfound friends, take a moment to feel the rhythm of Bergen’s harbour life – it’s the same pulse that beats along the entire Norwegian coast. Reflect on the voyage behind you: fjords that shimmered beneath spring blossom or autumn gold, waterfalls, quiet villages, and the vast stillness of sea and sky.

By the time you head home, you’ll have traced a route not only through the fjords, but into the living heart of Norway itself. We hope to see you again on your next adventure!