A short guide about Expedition Cruises to Norway
Located on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northwest Europe, Norway's geography is a constant reminder of the last Ice Age. There are tens of thousands of islands and skerries, small rocky islands, too small for habitation and may simply be a rocky reef. Norway's world famous Fjords are found along its 22,000 kilometres of dramatic coastline, the melting glacial waters plunge down cliffs into fjords more than 100 kilometres long, with the biggest being Sognefjord and Hardangerfjord. In the central high plateaus of Southern Norway, the alpine terrain culminates at the peaks of GaldhA¸piggen (2469m) and Glittertind (2468m). Several glaciers, most famous of which are Jostedalsbreen and Svartisen ("The Black Ice") are present day remains of ice that carved the many deep fjords and left behind fertile valleys with meandering rivers.
Norway is home to 4.5 million people and its principal cities are Oslo, the Capital of Norway; Bergen, the historic port city on the West Coast, and Trondheim, the Viking Age Capital and home to Northern Europe's only medieval Gothic Cathedral. The Lofoten islands are along the beautiful South Coast, and many charming towns and cities are found along water's edge. Tromso, the "Gateway to the Arctic" is a lively city, and is centrally located among Northern Norway's spectacular scenery; Stavanger, "The Oil Capitol" is a scenic town in the far Southern part of the country.
North Cape is the northern tip of Europe and enjoys a mild climate for its latitude, due to the warm currents from the Gulf of Mexico. Most tourists visit in summer, when the days are never ending due to the midnight sun. Popular destinations such as the boating towns in the South, the big fjords on the West Coast, and the Lofoten islands in the North see their fair share of tourists, but crowds are never much of a problem.
In the winter months, travellers can enjoy winter-sports in the mountains across most of the country. Norway's reputation as a pricey destination stems from high prices on dining and other tourist necessities. However, with some planning it is quite possible to experience this country on a budget. Public transportation is both well developed and affordable, accommodation is usually reasonable, and most scenic destinations are free.
If you want even more of an adventure, search for vacations at Tourabout that include a tour of the Arctic islands of Svalbard where Polar Bears frequent the snow covered streets of Longyear City.