This wonderful self-drive takes in the many sights along the west coast of central Norway including the famous Atlantic Road, considered to be one of the world’s most beautiful road trips. Visit the art nouveau town of Alesund, the coastal town of Molde and relax in the idyllic village Haholmen, only accessible by boat – the perfect place to unwind and enjoy nature. This is a great short break showcasing Norway’s many charms.
With much packed into only a few days, this itinerary starts in the fascinating town Alesund. A beguiling ferry and fishing port, its streets are flanked by handsome buildings, whose pastel-painted facades are lavishly decorated with turrets, towers, floral patterns, dragons, faces and even the odd Pharoah, dating from 1904 when the town centre was destroyed by fire and rebuilt in this idiosyncratic Art Nouveau style.
Molde, known as the town of roses, based on the many lush rose gardens. There are several attractions here to keep you busy, perhaps venture to Varden viewpoint, offering a lovely view over the town and the famous Molde panorama with its 222 snow-clad peaks; the Romsdal Museum, a comprehensive folk museum; the Green Corridor, a nature trail with a baroque chateau; Molde Cathedral and not forgetting the Rose Gardens. From Molde there are several lovely round trips by car to take, so you may wish to spend longer here and enjoy the surrounding area.
The next part of the journey takes you further north to the small fishing village of Bud, where you can experience World War II history at Ergan Coastal Fort, before continuing on the national tourist route and The Atlantic Road, known as one of the most beautiful drives in the world. If you fancy a hike to stretch the legs there is the Nordneset coastal path, an easy family friendly trail starting at Farstad. Once over the iconic Atlantic road stop at Geitoya quay where you park your car and take the boat service to Haholmen village, an 18th century fishing village with traditional fisherman’s cabins and a lovely peaceful location to unwind and enjoy the restaurant’s fine seafood. Please note, getting on and off the boat at Haholmen may be tricky for those with walking difficulties. Plus there are some wooden walkways and steps on the island between the different buildings and the rooms.
Itinerary
Arrive in Alesund and take the airport bus or a taxi (payable locally) to the city centre and your chosen hotel for a two-night stay.
Explore the town at your own pace or on a guided tour, take part in an optional excursion or just relax and enjoy the surrounds before the difficult task of deciding where to dine for the evening.
Collect your rental car and head off towards the town of Molde. There are different routes available to take, the most spectacular of which takes in the national tourist route Trollstigen characterised by its many hairpin bends and viewpoints on the route to Andalsnes and onwards to the coastal town of Molde for an overnight stay.
Continue the journey to Bud, where you can stop off and visit the coastal fort before taking the tourist route and The Atlantic Road as it zigzags across bridges from island to island and on to the departure point for Haholmen village where the boat departs hourly between noon and 9pm from June to August.
Spend two nights at Haholmen Havstuer on half board basis.
Haholmen Havstuer
Spend a leisurely day on this charming island – a perfect place to unwind and enjoy the scenery or join a boating trip if available.
Depart Haholmen village and transfer by boat back to Geitoya. Drive to Kristiansund airport for your flight home.
Prices & departures
What's Included
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Accommodation in rooms with private bathroom
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All breakfasts
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Car rental for 4 days
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24 hour emergency assistance from our team during your holiday
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No surcharge guarantee
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Full financial protection
From £725 Excluding Flights
5 Nights
May-Aug
Prices are per person based upon 2 sharing, subject to availability. Your Travel Specialist will confirm the exact price based upon your tailored requirements, inclusions, and travel dates.
Make this trip yours
Every destination and itinerary you see here can be adapted to suit you – so reach for that bucket list and start imagining your next adventure here.
Darren
3
Successful northern lights hunts
45
Countries Visited
We create holidays that are as individual as you are. And we’ve been doing it for 40 years, crafting each and every holiday using our in-depth knowledge and enthusiasm for our destinations. Whatever your brief, we’ll create an amazing trip for you to get excited about. That might mean adapting one of our existing itineraries or we’ll build you one from scratch.
Experts with real experience
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Phoebe
Travel Specialist
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Jenna
Travel Specialist
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Freya
Travel Specialist
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Kieran
Travel Specialist
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Darren
Travel Specialist
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Ben
Travel Specialist
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Doug
Travel Specialist
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Lauren
Travel Specialist
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Eric
Travel Specialist
