Alumni and Friends Norway Tour 2024 | Featuring Nordic Choir

The following itinerary provides an overview of tour events; it is important to understand that events and activities are subject to change before or during the tour.

Saturday, May 25, 2024 | Bergen

Please note: All tour participants will arrange for their own transportation (flights) to Norway and for transport to the group hotel.

Check in to your hotel and meet your fellow travelers and Gateway Tour Manager for an informal welcome reception prior to an included group dinner at your hotel.

♫ Attend a Nordic Choir Concert at Bergen Cathedral (subject to acceptance).

Sunday, May 26, 2024 | Bergen

Breakfast is included at your hotel.

♫ Attend a church service at Bergen Cathedral, featuring music by Nordic Choir (subject to acceptance).

Lunch is on your own.

Bergen City Tour:  A local guide will take you on a tour of the city. Walk through Bergen’s colorful fish and flower market. Stroll by the old, colorful wooden warehouses of the Hanseatic period of the 14th and 15th centuries, today called Bryggen (the Quay). Travel to the outskirts of Bergen to visit Troldhaugen, home of Norway’s best-known composer, Edvard Grieg. Your tour includes entrance into Edvard and Nina Grieg’s home, the composer’s cabin and burial site.

Dinner is on your own.

Monday, May 27, 2024 | Bergen – Geiranger

Breakfast is included at your hotel.

Load your motorcoach and depart Bergen. Comfort stops will be made along the way. Today will be spent traveling through some of the most beautiful parts of Norway, so be sure to have your cameras (and eyes) ready!

Lunch is included en route.

Upon arrival in Loen, board the Loen Skylift and ascend over 1000 meters to take in spectacular views of the Nordfjord and surrounding area.

Depart Loen for Hellesylt.

Board a ferry and cruise through the stunning Geirangerfjord. You’ll pass a few of the most famous waterfalls in Norway, including the Seven Sisters Waterfall.

Arrive at and check in to your hotel, followed by an included group dinner.

Tuesday, May 28, 2024 | Geiranger – Ålesund

Breakfast is included at your hotel.

Depart Geiranger and continue your journey via Ørnesvingen, or Eagle’s Road to the Ørnesvingen Viewpoint. You’ll soon learn why it earned its moniker, as it is situated high above the Geirangerfjord, providing incredible views of the fjord, and town of Geiranger, below.

Stop at Trolstigen, one of the most beautiful lookouts in Norway. You’ll make a stop at Gudbrandsjuvet, an area where rushing water has carved out miniature canyons. Thanks to modern architecture, you’re able to take walkways to take in multiple viewpoints. Visit the Trolstigen Visitor’s Center where you’ll have free time for hiking and taking pictures.

Lunch is on your own en route.

Depart Trolstigen for Ålesund.

Arrive in the beautiful coastal town of Ålesund. The city experienced a devastating fire in 1904 which destroyed over 850 buildings. Ålesund has been rebuilt with a mixture of Art Nouveau and Traditional style.

No visit to Ålesund is complete without a visit to Aksla Viewpoint. Enjoy incredible panoramic views of the city and surrounding waterways.

Check into your hotel.

Dinner is on your own.

Wednesday, May 29, 2024 | Ålesund – Trondheim

Breakfast is included at your hotel.

Depart for Trondheim. The journey will take most of the day, including stops for photos, lunch on your own and rest breaks.

It might be difficult to pronounce, but make sure to keep your eye out for one of the most famous bridges in the world, Storseisundet, while you’re driving along the Atlantic Ocean Road. You’ll make a stop at the park nearby for more photos of this man-made marvel as well as a chance to stretch your legs and grab a coffee at the nearby café.

Continue your journey to Kristiansund.

Lunch is on your own in Kristiansund.

Depart Kristiansund. A comfort stop will be made along the way.

Arrive in the former capital city of Norway this afternoon. As the third largest city in Norway, this popular tourist destination is home to a major university and a beautiful cathedral.

Check into your hotel.

Dinner is included at your hotel.

Thursday, May 30, 2024 | Trondheim

Breakfast is included at your hotel.

A local guide will take you on a tour of the city this morning. Your tour will include a visit inside the Nidaros Cathedral, where the past Norwegian monarchs were crowned until 1957, when it became the primary location for royal weddings.

Lunch is on your own.

Enjoy the afternoon at your leisure. Consider a walk along the Nidelva river, from Bakklandet to Kalvskinnet, passing through a garden in Elvegata with whimsical wooden sculptures. Check out the Gamle Bybro, the Old Town Bridge, first built on this site in 1681. The bridge now serves as an iconic view of Old Trondheim. Explore one of the many districts of Trondheim, like Bakklandet, with its cobblestone streets and pastel-hued homes.

Dinner is on your own.

♫ Attend a concert by the Nordic Choir at Nidaros Cathedral in Trondheim (subject to acceptance).

Friday, May 31, 2024 | Trondheim – Lillehammer

Breakfast is included at your hotel.

Depart your hotel. Comfort stops will be made along the way.

Lunch is included today.

Arrive in Lillehammer, the site of the 1994 Winter Olympic Games. Nestled between Norway’s highest mountains and largest lake, the cheerful village is one of the oldest resort towns in Norway, welcoming winter sport enthusiasts from across Europe! Get sky-high views of the town from atop the Olympic Ski Jump, or stop for a bite inside one of the towns brightly painted shops.

Check into your hotel.

Dinner is on your own.

♫ Attend a concert by the Nordic Choir in Lillehammer (subject to acceptance).

Saturday, June 1, 2024 | Lillehammer – Oslo

Breakfast is included at your hotel.

Check out of your hotel and depart for Hamar. Travel along Lake Mjøsa, the longest lake in Norway. The journey will take approximately an hour and a half.

Stop in Hamar to visit the Glass Cathedral. Inside the stunning glass pyramid are housed the medieval ruins of the Hamar Cathedral, destroyed by the Swedes in the 1500s.

♫ An impromptu performance may be possible at Hamar Cathedral Ruins.

Depart Hamar.

Arrive in Oslo, the capital of Norway and a modern city surrounded by sea, hills, and forests. In the center of the city, you will find a variety of restaurants, jazz clubs, and shops.

Lunch is on your own.

Check into your hotel.

Dinner is on your own.

♫  Attend a concert by the Nordic Choir in Oslo (subject to acceptance).

Sunday, June 2, 2024 | Oslo

Breakfast is included at your hotel.

A guided tour of Oslo includes a walking segment in Frogner Park, with its amazingly lifelike sculptures by Gustav Vigeland. On your motorcoach tour, see exterior views of the medieval fortress of Akershus, the Royal Palace, and the Opera House.

Lunch is on your own.

Free Time: enjoy the afternoon at your leisure. Consider a visit to Akershus Fortress to take a tour of the Nazi Resistance Museum. Visit The Kon-Tiki Museum which houses the original KonTiki raft, built in 1947, or the new Munch Museum, home to over half of all of the artist Edvard Munch’s works, including the famous painting “The Scream.”

Join with one another for an “Alumni and Friends” farewell dinner, included at your hotel.

Monday, June 3, 2024 | Depart Oslo

Breakfast is included at your hotel.

Tour participants are responsible for their own transfer for their onward journeys. Check-out is no later than 11:00 am. Luggage storage is available should you depart after check-out.

 

TRANSPORTATION

• Transportation via deluxe motorcoach
  for all transfers and touring in Norway
• Oppedal-Lavik ferry
• Geirangerfjord cruise
• Eidsdal-Linge ferry
• Vestnes-Molde ferry
• Kanestraum-Halsa ferry

ACCOMMODATIONS & MEALS

• Accommodations in a three-star or four-star hotels – 9 nights: Bergen (2), Geiranger (1), Ålesund (1), Trondheim (2),
  Lillehammer (1), Oslo (2)
• Welcome reception
• Meals: Breakfasts (10), Lunches (2), Dinners (4)

SIGHTSEEING & ACTIVITIES

• All sightseeing as shown in itinerary
• Guided City Tours in Bergen, Trondheim, Oslo

NORDIC CHOIR PERFORMANCES

• Promoted Concerts in Bergen, Trondheim, Lillehammer, Oslo
• Church Service in Bergen
• Impromptu performance at Hamar Cathedral Ruins (subject to permission)

PLEASE NOTE: The costs listed below DO NOT include airfare to and from Norway. Each passenger is responsible for arranging their own airfare. In addition, passengers will be physically and financially responsible for arranging their own transportation to the group hotel at the beginning of the tour, as well as their transportation to the airport at the end of the tour.

Main Tour (not including Stavanger add-on; see below for more information)

Land cost per person | double occupancy: $3,995

Land costs per person | single occupancy: $4,645

Deposit: a non-refundable $500 deposit per person is due upon registration.

Registration deadline is October 13, 2023

Payment Schedule (per person, double occupancy):

Upon registration: $500 non-refundable deposit (registration deadline is October 13, 2023)

January 11, 2024: $1,748 due

March 11, 2024: $1,747 (or final balance) due

Payment Schedule (per person, single occupancy):

Upon registration: $500 non-refundable deposit (registration deadline is October 13, 2023)

January 11, 2024: $2,072 due

March 11, 2024: $2,073 (or final balance) due.

For those who are interested in starting their Norway adventure a little earlier and in attending an additional Nordic Choir concert, we offer the opportunity to begin your tour on Thursday, May 23, 2024.

Cost (in addition to main tour)

$230 per person (double occupancy)

$275 per person (single occupancy)

Thursday, May 23, 2024 | Stavanger

Please note: all tour participants will arrange for their own transportation to Norway.

Stavanger: an historic fishing community, Stavanger once boasted 70 sardine canneries. In the 1960’s oil was discovered off the coast and Stavanger became a staging area for the oil industry. Today Stavanger is the third-largest city in Norway, with about 110,000 people. An architectural highlight is the twelfth-century Stavanger Domkirke.

Upon arrival, check into your hotel.

Dinner is included at your hotel.

♫ Attend a promoted concert by the Nordic Choir in Stavanger (subject to acceptance).

Friday, May 24, 2024 | Stavanger – Bergen

Breakfast is included at your hotel.

Depart Stavanger for Bergen. Restaurants and facilities are available on the two ferries you’re taking today.

Lunch is on your own en route.

Check into your hotel.

Free time to explore Bergen on your own. A recommended activity is riding the funicular
to the top of Mount Fløyen for panoramic view of the city, the harbor, and the fjords beyond (cost not included).

Dinner is on your own.

Saturday, May 25, 2024 | Bergen

You will meet the main tour and your fellow travelers at your hotel today. See main tour itinerary for details.

My Gateway – Registration Instructions

To secure your place on the 2024 Luther College Alumni and Friends Tour of Norway, each passenger must be registered on the “My Gateway” online registration system by Friday, October 13, 2023.

Please note: the instructions below are abbreviated and intended to get you started with the My Gateway system. For full registration instructions, cancellation information, insurance, and other details, click this link: Alumni and Friends Tour to Norway – Registration Instructions 8.10.23

How to register on My Gateway:

• Go to mygatewaytour.musicfestivals.com.
• At the right side of the page, enter your passphrase (LutherCompanion24) under the “Sign Up” section.
• Under “Create User Account” a parent or student over 18 will need to enter their name, preferred email address and a password of your choosing to create a “User Account.”
• When you register as a user, you must check both boxes and agree to the terms and conditions to continue.
• Once you have registered as a user on the system, you will be directed to the Dashboard and can click on the “Register your first passenger” button. You can register for multiple passengers, including yourself, from the Dashboard or the Passengers page.
• Note: In passenger profile, options under “Role” are: Adult Passenger, Minor Passenger and Staff.
• At this point, passengers should select “double occupancy” unless they are requesting a single room.
• Please complete all the information as accurately as possible.

Through the My Gateway online registration system you can:

• Sign up for your group’s tour by completing a user registration and passenger profile.
• View payment dates, amounts, and balances.
• Make payments.
• Purchase travel insurance.
• View tour information.
• View messages posted to your user profile from your group leader or Gateway staff.