One trip, five unforgettable nature encounters

Road trips, bike rides and train journeys are obviously brilliant ways to get up close and personal with a new landscape, but for me, the very best way is on foot, and that’s exactly what I did on a shore experience I booked with P&O Cruises. Journeying up into the mountains which loom beautifully over the Flåmselvi river, this hike took us through a drama-filled cave, past lofty waterfalls and through habitats roamed by sheep, cows, goats and beautiful birds. The wildlife and scenery was nothing short of restorative, and it felt incredible to be in such crisp, fresh air. 

Admiring the fjords at crazy speeds? Sure, it’s hardly the most conventional way to soak in some showstopper views, but when you’re faced with such a grand landscape, nothing beats a bird’s-eye view. I was launched along the Flåm Zipline from a 305-metre-high platform, and swept through the valley all the way to the bottom. It wasn’t just exhilarating; it was an unforgettable privilege to see the vista, replete with lush foliage and rugged peaks, from an angle that only a select few travellers are lucky enough to experience.

On a P&O Cruises holiday, you'll have amazing fjord views from your ship, Iona. But donning a drysuit and heading out onto the water on a paddleboard, feeling the breeze and dunking your feet in the fjord, is a brilliant way to not only see, but to also feel, nature. Yes, even at the height of summer, the water was crisp and cool (it has come from glaciers, after all) but the tranquil lapping of my paddle and the dreamy stillness of the fjords made this a standout experience of my holiday. And I even managed to avoid falling in!

There’s a dining option for pretty much whatever you’re craving on a P&O Cruises holiday, but I sampled the six-course tasting menu (by legendary Norwegian chef and P&O Cruises Local Food Hero Kjartan Skjelde) at Iona’s Epicurean restaurant, and it was a wonderful chance to literally get a flavour of Norway. Local dishes like pickled beets with goat’s cheese and some ridiculously good smoked mountain trout with horseradish cream were on the menu. And with the sun-lit forests of the fjords silently drifting past, this meal was a decadent and immersive experience of the region’s nature. 

Stavanger was the quaint first stop on our P&O Cruises holiday to the Norwegian fjords, and the town is a charming place to explore. However, we caught the bus out to the three-swords monument (known locally as Sverd i fjell, which commemorates the 872 Battle of Hafrsfjord) just a 20-minute journey away from the centre, and were met not just with impressive sculptures, but a picturesque bathing spot with serene waters, rugged rockfaces and scenic backdrops. The day we visited was seriously sunny, and taking a dip in the gleaming, chilly water was seriously refreshing. 

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