Molde: Atlantic Ocean Road and Tour of Bud Fishing Village

Our excursion starts in Molde, administrative centre of the county of Romsdal. The city is located on the shores of the Romsdal fjord, surrounded by hills that provide a backdrop of 222 peaks that are covered in snow almost the whole year. Molde is also known as the Town of Roses, thanks to the fragrant rose nurseries that benefit from the mild climate and fertile soil on the sun-drenched slopes surrounding the city. The city still has the same air of calm and tranquillity that convinced Ibsen to make it his home.

Our coach will take us through some of the area’s best ski resorts before descending to the village of Eide, overlooking the Kornstadfjord.

From here we take the spectacular Atlantic Ocean Road, an engineering marvel that links islands and reefs via a series of bridges. In 2005, it was declared the Norwegian Construction of the Century, the stunning stretch of coast has definitely earned the status of National Tourist Route. We will have a photo stop so that you can admire the bridges, take pictures and have time for a little walk around.

We head towards Hustadvika, a stretch of water that can be spectacular to look at when rough sea appears but which is not much loved by sailors. It is full of underwater reefs and little islands. When the weather is beautiful, you might spot seals and whales swimming there.

A little further along, we have a photo stop in the delightful fishing village of Bud, overlooking the ocean with views of the Bjørnsund islands. The group of islands were once home to a vibrant, flourishing fishing community, nowadays they are a summer vacation retreat.

On our way back to Molde we will travel up and down beautiful hillsides around another delightful natural inlet, the Frænafjord. At the end of the tour we climb to 407 meters above sea level to the Varden viewpoint, where we will have wonderful views over the Romsdalsfjord, the myriad of little islands that lie scattered in front of the city and the mountains (Romsdal alps) on the other side of the fjord.