Norway Quilt Tour – May 9 – May 19, 2025

Day 0 – Time to Fly

(Thurs May 8th) – Today, board your overnight flight to Europe. Meals to be served on the flight. (Flights not included in tour price)

Day 1 – Welcome to Norway!

(Fri May 9th) – Welcome to Norway! Today everyone will arrive at our first hotel. Take what time is available to rest or adventure out to explore. (on own)

Day 2 – Tour of Oslo, Norway  

(Sat May 10th) – On our first day in Norway’s capital, Oslo, we will get a good impression of what the city has to offer. We will have a guided bus tour that will show us the Opera House, Akershus Fortress, among many other sites, ending with a lunch in beautiful Bygdøy. The rest of the day is at your leisure where you may choose to explore one of the three museums available, before we enjoy our welcome dinner this evening.

Stay overnight in Oslo, Norway
Meal(s) – B, L, D

Day 3 – Syknappen

(Sun May 11th) – After a delicious breakfast, we will head to Syknappen. Syknappen is a quilt shop located in the rural surroundings of Rakkestad. This country location is quaint and cozy and a perfect place to enjoy a workshop, lunch, and the new found friendships with other quilters. The shop is full of fabric, patterns and lots of wonderful ideas. You may even want to enjoy a coffee out in the yard upon an old sewing machine table and catch a glimpse of a cat or hen wandering around. 

Stay overnight in Oslo, Norway
Meal(s) – B, L

Day 4 – Journeying to “The Worlds End”

(Mon May 12th) – This morning, we will take a nice walk just around the corner to our second quilt shop of the tour. Here, we will meet and talk with many others who share the love for quilting and will gain inspiration from one another.
After this enjoyable visit, we will make our way to Tjøme, often referred to as the “Summer Island”. Tjøme is a coastal paradise located in the Vestfold region of Norway. Known for its stunning archipelago, Tjøme boasts beautiful beaches, picturesque landscapes, and charming seaside villages. Along our journey we will be served lunch consisting of a tasty baguette (sandwich) and a bottle of Norwegian water to drink.
We will make our way to Verdens Ende. Verdens Ende is in English “The World’s End” which is just located outside Tønsberg in Færder National Park. Verdens Ende is 1 of 5 “World’s Ends” in the world. Verdens Ende is best known for Vippefyret, built from pebbles from Tjøme’s beach in 1932. It is a beautiful place where we will take a nice walk and enjoy the view, before entering a local restaurant for a delicious dinner with a sweet treat.
Afterward, we will be picked up by the bus and taken to our new accommodation for the next couple of days.

Stay overnight in Tjøme, Norway
Meal(s) – B, L, D

Day 5 – Tilda Workshop Day!

(Tues May 13th) – Love Tilda fabrics? After a good night’s sleep and breakfast, we are ready for an exciting day in Tjøme! While surrounded by beautiful marine scenery and panoramic views of the Røssesund strait, we will be enjoying a special workshop with the Tilda Fabrics team!  After lunch you will have free time to just relax, go for a walk or maybe even try 

a round of mini golf. In the evening, we will have dinner, beautifully located right by the sea. A site to see is the in-house restaurant built into the rock and accompanies its food treats with an exceptional view of the quayside. 

Stay overnight in Tjøme, Norway
Meal(s) – B, L, D

Day 6 – Choo Choo All aboard!

(Wed May 14th) After our final breakfast in Tjome, we are ready for the journey ahead. We will be picked up by bus at the hotel and driven to Drammen, which is the first stop for the striking Flåm Railway. The train journey from Drammen to Flåm is a spectacular experience, offering breathtaking views of some of Norway’s most stunning landscapes. As the train climbs higher, you will pass through picturesque valleys and you might even see some snow-capped peaks, along with numerous tunnels and bridges that seamlessly blend with the natural surroundings.

Upon reaching Myrdal, you will transfer to the famous Flåm Railway (Flåmsbana). This steep and scenic railway descent is one of the highlights of the trip, taking you from the high mountain station of Myrdal down to the fjord-side village of Flåm. As the train winds its way down the mountains, you will be treated to magnificent views of cascading waterfalls, towering cliffs, and lush green valleys. One of the most notable sights along the route is the Kjosfossen waterfall, where the train makes a brief stop, allowing passengers to admire the powerful cascade and even witness a mythical Huldra, a forest spirit, who appears to enchant visitors with her singing.

The journey concludes into the charming village of Flåm, nestled at the end of the Aurlandsfjord. The train has a cozy café where you can buy something delicious to eat and drink while enjoying the view outside.

Stay overnight in Flåm, Norway
Meal(s) – B, D

Day 7 – Cruising through the heart of Norway’s fjord country

(Thurs May 15th) – We start this morning off with two options before heading out as a group. For those interested, you may choose between the following options: 

Option 1:  Take a shuttle bus to Stegastein, a renowned viewpoint in Norway, with spectacular views of the fjord that go on forever. This trip takes about 2 hours (round trip). 

Option 2: For those who prefer not to go, it’s simply delightful to enjoy the surroundings around the hotel and get to know Aurland and Flåm better.  In Flam, you can explore the photo opportunities, shop for souvenirs or simply relax and enjoy the serene beauty of the area.

For lunch, we will gather again and then board a boat that will take us from Flåm to Gudvangen. We will enjoy a mesmerizing journey through the heart of Norway’s fjord country, offering stunning views and unforgettable scenery. This voyage will take us along the Aurlandsfjord and the Nærøyfjord, both of which are branches of the larger Sognefjord. The Nærøyfjord is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, recognized for its outstanding natural beauty.
Throughout the journey, we will encounter numerous waterfalls, including the famous Kjelfossen and the Styggelifossen, which plunge from great heights into the fjord below. The serene and majestic environment often leaves travellers in awe.
Once we arrive at our destination of Gudvangen, we will have time to explore before we head to Bergen.

Stay overnight in Bergen, Norway
Meal(s) – B, L

Day 8 – Quilt Shop & Lace

(Fri May 16th) – Today we will board the bus and head out to another wonderful quilt shop.
We will spend the morning exploring the Quiltshop, share experiences with other quilters and enjoy an introduction demonstration to Hardangersøm, Norwegian lace from a local Norwegian Quilter. In the afternoon you have the opportunity to explore the city of Bergen on your own, with many great options for shops, souvenirs, food and drink. 

Stay overnight in Bergen, Norway
Meal(s) – B

Day 9 – Constitution Day!

(Sat May 17th) – May 17th, or “Syttende Mai,” is Norway’s National Day, and it holds special significance for the entire country. However, Bergen, being one of Norway’s major cities, celebrates the day with unique traditions and events. Bergen, like many other cities and towns in Norway, organizes vibrant parades and processions. Participants, often include schoolchildren, marching bands, and community groups, wearing traditional Norwegian costumes (bunad) and walking through the streets waving flags.

While watching the festivities, we will gather for a good meal and enjoy all the beautiful traditional Norwegian costumes people are wearing, and listen to traditional music. The rest of the day is at your leisure.

Stay overnight in Bergen, Norway
Meal(s) – B, L

Day 10 – A View From Above.

(Sun May 18th) – After breakfast at our hotel, we will board the bus for a tour of Bergen.  We will enjoy a stroll on the old Wharf, which is on the UNESCO’s World Heritage List and snap shots of the beautiful coloured houses. The bus will take us to explore the Troldhaugen Museum, home of the composer Edvard Grieg. Grieg is the most famous and internationally acclaimed Norwegian composer. Troldhaugen was opened as a museum in 1928 and is today a place of pilgrimage for Grieg lovers from all over the world.

Finally, we will take the Funicular up to the top of Mount Fløyen (320 metres above sea level) where we will enjoy lunch at the mountain restaurant and another spectacular view..

After lunch, you can explore the various hiking trails, take a leisurely walk through the forest, or simply relax and take in the beautiful scenery, before we meet again for our farewell dinner. 

Stay overnight in Bergen, Norway
Meal(s) – B, L, D

Day 11 – Trygge reiser (Safe Travels)

(Sat May 19th) Goodbye and farewell as we check out of our hotel and head to the airport for our flights back home.  Leaving this magical place with many new memories, many new friends, and many new projects to do and share with our quilt friends back home.

Meal(s) – B