DAY 1 Bergen
Fly direct to Bergen from London and self-transfer to your chosen hotel. We recommend the Clarion Collection Hotel Havnekontoret, located on the harbour front and just a few steps from the UNESCO World Heritage site of Bryggen. The welcome extended by this hotel also includes complimentary afternoon waffles and a light buffet supper served between 18.00 and 21.00 daily.The remainder of the day is free for you to familiarise yourself with your surroundings.
DAY 2 Bergen at leisure
Enjoy a typical Scandinavian buffet breakfast, before exploring Bergen further. You may wish to take the funicular railway to the top of Mount Fløyen for some wonderful views and easy hiking trails. Try some delicacies at the Fish Market or buy a bun from Baker Brun. Take the tram to Troldhaugen, home of Edvard Grieg or explore the narrow alley ways of Bryggen. There are 24 museums in Bergen including impressive art collection by Munch, Pablo Picasso, Paul Klee and Nikolai Astrup.
The city offers a wide range of culinary options. Leading the fine dining charge is ‘Cornelius’ with a seafood experience located on its own island, a 25 minute private boat ride from the harbour. Contrasting sharply with Cornelius both in setting and price is ‘Trekroneren’, an immensely popular hot dog stand located minutes from Bryggen. Rest assured, there is everything in between.
DAY 3 Hardangerfjord and Ullensvang
By far the easiest way to get to Hardangerfjord is to hire a car. If you are travelling November to April, then winter tyres are fitted as mandatory. Both routes to the Ullensvang are well used and are normally open all year. Drive via Voss, passing the popular Steindalsfossen waterfall along the way or take the twisting National Tourist Route via Norheimsund. Both end up crossing the Hardanger Bridge, one of the largest suspension bridges in the world and longer than the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco.
On arrival at the Ullensvang Hotel, we have arranged for you to enjoy a fjord view room, most have a balcony and all have simply spectacular views across the fjord and snow-capped mountains. Dinner is served in the buffet restaurant, where you can see the fjord from wherever you sit. Afterwards relax in the bar and soak up the warm atmosphere of this historic hotel.
DAY 4-5 Hardangerfjord and Ullensvang
What you choose to do for the following two days depends on your agenda. If you just want to relax and soak up winter in the fjords, then the hotel offers extensive spa facilities including heated indoor and outdoor pools including an 88m swimming channel, leading to an infinity pool. There is also complimentary access to the fitness room, free table tennis, tennis and table football.mFollow in the footsteps of Edvard Grieg, who was a regular guest here and whose original composer’s cottage is in the hotel gardens.
Other attractions include the Hardanger Folk Museum in Utne, the impressive Norwegian Museum of Hydro Power & Industry in Odda, the Flåm Railway and of course the nature. Depending on the time of year (and weather), there are plentiful hiking trails, as well as the ski centre at Røldal. What will follow you everywhere are the incredible views and clear mountain air that only such a location can afford.
Return each day to the welcoming warmth of the Ullensvang and a delightful array of culinary delights served in the Hardanger Restaurant.
DAY 6 UK
After having fully immersed yourself in this idyllic retreat, it will be with some reluctance that you check out. Feeling fully refreshed and rejuvenated, a leisurely drive should see you return your hire car at Flesland, Bergen airport in good time for your flight home.
