viking.com | 17
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century, deforestation of the dunes caused the
church to become gradually buried, with only
the tower showing above the sand today. It's
worth the narrow climb to the top for a glimpse
of Viking Jupiter docked up on the water in the
distance. From here, we visited the migrating
dune, Råbjerg Mile. 1km wide, 1km long and
over 40-metres high, it's an impressive sight to
behold. In the afternoon, a cycling tour took us
on an intensive journey through the town, with
first-hand local tales, historical accounts of the
fishing heritage, and areas we wouldn't
otherwise think to visit.
Onwards to Norway through the night, and
eating in Manfredi's (the bistecca alla fiorentina
is impeccable!), set the evening tone perfectly.
An ABBA night in The Star Theatre from the
talented Viking vocalists was a welcome way to
while away the evening, too. I was excited to
see Oslo, so on morning arrival, I took myself off
for a solo explore of the city. I quickly
understood why the feat of engineering that
makes up the Oslo Opera House is so highly
acclaimed, wandered the Akershus Fortress,
meandered the culture-fuelled streets, and
watched locals leap into the water from saunas
docked in the marina.
After sampling the traditional Norwegian
delicacy of waffles with brown cheese in
Mamsen's (named after the mother of Viking
Chairman, and CEO Torstein Hagen) the next
morning, Kristiansand offered me the chance to
immerse myself in Nordic nature, so I headed off
to hike around the Baneheia area. The nature
park was planted by General Wergeland and his
troops in the 1870's, and you'll find rambling
trails, Nordic swimming spots and ample
bird-watching opportunity.
Bergen
Kristiansand
NORWAY
Nor th
Sea
Stavanger
Skagen
Oslo
DENMARK
THE NETHERLANDS
Amsterdam
Flåm
–
C r ui s e
VIEW
VOYAGE
GETTING THERE: Consider our 8-day
Viking Shores & Fjords itinerary,
departing from Amsterdam to
Bergen, or in reverse.
Relaxed from an after-hours spa experience, we
arrived into Stavanger, one of the cities I'd been
most excited to explore. Famous for the old town
Gamle Stavanger, built into the hillside
overlooking the harbour and made up of tiny
cobbled streets, shiplap houses, and beautiful
gardens (they have a competition every year for
the best), Stavanger is stunning. From the
poorest city in Norway to the richest, there's
plenty of architecture and culture to get stuck
into. The walking tour was brilliant, and our local
Viking guide proudly took us through the history
of the sardine canning industry, the colourful
streets, and the street art dotted around.
On the morning entrance into Flåm, a tiny
village buried eight hours deep into the
Aurlandsfjord, I got up at 5am to sit on the top
deck with a coffee and take it all in. The morning
started with a bus tour up the winding roads to
Stegastein Viewpoint. Suspended 30-metres
out and 650-metres over the fjord below, it's
breathtaking. After a quick turnaround and
suitably kitted out in wetsuits, I headed out on
my final voyage of the trip—a mesmerising
kayak down the Nærøyfjord, a UNESCO World
Heritage Site, complete with wild picnic
beneath the towering cliffs.
For many, the thought of cruising diminishes
the possibility of getting to the nitty-gritty of a
destination. In reality, the possibilities are,
instead, endless. A Viking voyage encourages
you to ask questions and leave no stone left
unturned, all from within the lap of luxury
with little for you to think about besides
enjoying the ride.
Clockwise from left: Viking Star cruising
through fjords of Aurlandsfjorden, Flam, Norway,
Oslo; Stavanger, Norway; Wooden Farmstead
House, Vest-Agder, Kristiansand; Cafes in Skagen
