Lands Of The Vikings

Bergen, the second largest city in Norway, is located in the county of Hordaland on the SW coast of Norway. Surrounded by seven mountains, Bergen is the starting point for fjord tours and cruises as it is located midway between the main Sognefjord and the Hardangerfjord. The city was one of nine European cities honoured with the title of European Capital of Culture in the Millennium year. Read more about Bergen, Norway

Olden is located in the county of Sogn og Fjordane in Western Norway, at the head of the Nordfjord, the sixth longest fjord in the country. The southernmost of the three short branches at the inner end of the fjord terminates at Olden, from which a lovely valley, Oldedalen, strikes due south for some 20 km between slopes rising sharply to more than 1700 m. At the end of the valley is Briksdal Glacier, the best-known arm of the Jostedalsbreen glacier which is the largest in mainland Europe. Read more about Olden, Norway

The Norwegian Art Nouveau town of Ålesund could be taken right out of a fairy tale. If you look up as you explore the town, you will discover an abundance of imaginative ornamentation on the fronts of the buildings. Walk up the 418 steps to the top of Mount Aksla and you will be rewarded by unforgettable panoramic views. Read more about Alesund, Norway

Molde is situated by the beautiful Romsdalsfjord. The city is known for its roses, International Jazz Festival, and its panoramic view of 222 mountain peaks. Varden, 407m above sea level, is a viewpoint directly above Molde with a good view of the city, the fjord and the Molde archipelago. Read more about Molde, Norway

Geiranger is a little village tucked in a hollow surrounded by the towering craggy rock walls that rise almost straight out of the water of the Geirangerfjord, which is one of the most majestic sights in all of Norway. From here visitors take a spectacular bus tour to Mt. Dalsnibba. Read more about Geiranger, Norway

Read more about Geirangerfjord, Norway

Lerwick is the capital and main port of the Shetland Islands, Scotland, located more than 160 km off the north coast of mainland Great Britain. Open to shipping in all weathers, it operates around-the-clock. Lerwick has strong ties with Scandinavian countries, particularly Norway, and this is reflected in the street names of the port. Read more about Lerwick, Great Britain

The Orkney Islands, an archipelago of more than 70 islands, graced with temperate weather warmed by the Gulf Stream, feature some of the most dramatic coastal scenery. There are sea cliffs, some over 300m, descending to sooth white-sand beaches. Yet even more fascinating are the more than 1,000 prehistoric sites that have been found here. Read more about Orkney Islands, Great Britain

Reykjavik, the capital and largest city of Iceland, is the gateway to Iceland's stunning natural wonders, which range from ice fields to boiling thermal pools. The landscape on the island seems to be in a continual process of transformation much like its society, which blends Nordic tradition with sophisticated technology. On the waterfront see the open-air history of shipping disasters. Read more about Reykjavik, Iceland