5 Days in Stavanger Norway.

Upon our arrival in Stavanger we will transfer to the hotel the 4* Clarion Hotel Stavanger.

Clarion Hotel Stavanger is located just 5 minutes walking from Stavanger city centre, the harbour, restaurants and the city’s cultural landmarks.
Our rooms are furnished with Scandinavian designer furniture and comfortable Hildingen Anders beds. All rooms feature free Wi-Fi and a minibar and en-suite bathrooms.

The Social Bar & Bistro serves classic bistro dishes with a modern twist, perfect for a quick bite or a full dinner. On the 14th floor, the award-winning skybar, Espier offers cocktails and stunning views over the city – a great way to end the day.

Throughout the tour we will be staying in twin rooms but there is an option to have a room to yourself for the trip. If you wish to have a room to yourself for the 4 nights the supplement will be £160 The supplement will be payable at the same time as the balance.

The Travel Buddies trips work on the basis that as long as you are having a good time then that is what matters, if you don’t feel like coming on one of the excursions or joining the rest of the group for dinner one evening then that is absolutely fine. This is an adventure for everyone and there is nothing worse than having to go somewhere/do something that you don’t really fancy!

Feel free to do as much or as little research as you like, some members will know what they would like to visit as soon as they book the trip, Others will just turn up at the airport and have not researched at all. Either is absolutely fine. We all have different ideas as to what constitutes a great time away!

After checking in to our hotel and having a little free time to relax or explore we will go for dinner at a traditional restaurant locally.

After breakfast and a short walk to our cruise departure point we will travel from Stavanger aboard a modern, fully electric catamaran, designed to give you a quiet, stable and comfortable journey through some of Norway’s most dramatic scenery. As we leave the city behind, the landscape quickly changes, and steep mountains rise straight from the fjord.

Look up at Preikestolen from below as it towers 604 metres above you. Cruise close to the Hengjanefossen waterfall and feel the cool spray in the air. Pass the Vagabond’s Cave and hear the stories connected to this historic place. Meet the two goats, Gunnar and Sigve, who love it when the boat stops by to visit them, and keep an eye out for Lysefjord’s wildlife too. We may spot the majestic white-tailed eagles soaring above the fjord.
There is plenty of space to move around on board, whether you prefer the open decks or the warm lounge inside with large panoramic windows. Enjoy warm waffles, fresh cinnamon buns, coffee and drinks from the snack bar as you take in the views. (additional cost)

This afternoon we have tickets to the Norwegian Petroleum Museum,the exhibition shows the technological development and how oil revenues have affected Norwegian society.

The museum also presents the major climate challenge related to greenhouse gas emissions and global warming. The exhibitions, with a good mix of original objects, models, films and interactive exhibitions, convey the history of the oil industry on the Norwegian continental shelf as well as providing insight into the technological development within the oil and gas industry and how the industry has affected Norwegian society.
We can choose to spend as much or as little time here as we like as we have free time afterwards to explore locally or enjoy the facilities at the hotel this afternoon.

Dinner will be booked locally at a traditional restaurant.

After breakfast those of us that would like to, will take the 1 hour bus journey to the Preikistolen trailhead to enjoy one of Norway’s most iconic hikes

Our bus departs from the centre of Stavanger, providing the fastest and most reliable transport to the starting point of the trail and the return tickets are included.

Discover Pulpit Rock
Preikestolen, also known as Pulpit Rock, is one of Norway’s most breathtaking natural attractions. Rising 604 meters above the Lysefjord, this flat-topped cliff offers stunning panoramic views that attract hikers from around the world. Lonely Planet lists the hike to Preikestolen as one of the 9 best hiking routes in Norway. The hike starts at a mountain lodge, which offers facilities such as a restaurant and restrooms.

The hike
The Preikestolen hike is unguided and moderately challenging, with rough terrain that makes appropriate footwear essential for foot and ankle support.

The trail is 8 km (4.9 mi) long and typically takes around 4 hours for a round trip. The route is well-marked with red-painted distance markers and features stunning granite stairways crafted by Nepalese Sherpas. The total elevation gain is approximately 350 meters (1150 feet) and includes some steep sections.

(During the hike it would be quite common for the group to split down into smaller groups according to physical capabilities, some of us Travel Buddies are fitter than others, but there will be nobody that gets left behind on the day) 🙂
If hiking is not your idea of fun and you would prefer to see more of Stavanger at your own pace as well as perhaps enjoying the facilities at the hotel that is absolutely fine.

Dinner will be booked locally at a traditional restaurant .

Today is a free day, so we can explore in smaller groups or independently as we choose.

Wander along Ovre Holmegate. A rainbow-painted street full of cafés, bars, and quirky shops. It’s a cheerful little spot to sit for coffee or lunch,

The Norwegian Canning Museum alongside the Norwegian Printing Museum is an industrial heritage museum located in Old Stavanger, Norway. Housed in an authentic former sardine and herring cannery that operated from 1916 to 1958, it showcases the machinery, working conditions, and colourful tin labels (“iddis”) that made Stavanger Norway’s canning capital.

Visit Stavanger Cathedral
Norway’s oldest cathedral is located right by the harbour and is still in use. It’s small but full of charm, with Romanesque and Gothic details and a peaceful atmosphere.

Visit Sverd i Fjell
A 20-minute bus ride or an hour walk from the centre takes you to these three 10 metre high giant bronze swords commemorating the Battle of Hafrsfjord.

Visit the Viking House for a Virtual Reality experience.

Board a Viking ship and watch the 15-minute VR film “The First King” about Harald Fairhair. You’ll be able to look all around you (360 degrees) and experience the different stories about Harald from the old sagas. These stories include meeting the Mountain King Dovre, visiting proud Gyda’s house and being in the middle of the Battle of Hafrsfjord. Entrance tickets are approximately £11.

Take the bus to visit a reconstructed iron age farm.

Visit the Iron Age farm at Ullandhaug. A reconstructed farm from the Migration Period, approximately 350 – 550 AD. The farm is located on top of Ullandhaug, approximately 3 km from the center of Stavanger, with a magnificent view of Nord-Jæren and Hafrsfjord. As the only one of its kind in Norway, the farm has been rebuilt on the remains of a farm from the Migration Period.

After dinner we will head to the “Cube”, a new kind of Escape room that has taken Stavanger by storm. Our fun experience lasts for 1 hour and during this time we will divide into smaller teams with the goal being to collect the most gold coins for your team before time runs out. Here you really have to sharpen your senses and give it your all!

After checking out this morning we have some free time to visit places that we haven’t already had the chance to do so before taking our private transfer in the afternoon to the airport for our flight to the UK.