Guided Full Day Cidery Tour to Balestrand
From VOSS
GUIDED CIDERY TOUR TO BALESTRAND
This Guided Cidery Tour to Balestrand combines lunch and cider tasting with some of the best tourist attractions Norway may offer like Hopperstad Stave Church, Storesvingen View Point, Tvindefossen waterfall as well as Fjord crossing of the magnificent Sognefjord on board on Glaciertour’s boat.
Departs from: Evangervegen 6/ by Voss Culture Center
Duration: 9,6 Hrs
Season: 10.06 – 10.09
This Guided Cidery tour will take you to the charming family run ciderhouse - Ciderhuset in Balestrand by the Sognefjord. Sogn is the oldest apple area in Norway, where apple trees have been blooming since the Viking age. You will taste high quality ciders and learn about ciders, fruit wines and fruit brandies from one of the family members.
The tour starts by minibus outside the Tourist Information in Voss, before heading North. From Voss we continue towards the village Vik. We drive across the Vikafjell passage, high up in the mountains, through stunning landscapes. On these hights there might be snow close to the road, even in the summertime.
Vik village and
Hopperstad Stave Church
Back on the bus we continue down to Vik. The village of Vik has a rich cultural heritage. The main attraction in Vik is the richly decorated stave church “Hopperstad Stavkirke”. Hopperstad was built in 1130 and is, together with Urnes, the oldest stave church in existence. There will be a 30 min. stop to visit the Church. You can join a guided tour of the church or explore at your own pace. The local guide speaks English and Norwegian and the tour is included in the price.
On arrival Balestrand there will be lunch and Cider tasting. Lunch is included in ticket. After the tasteful lunch, we continue with Cider tasting.
Lunch
Departure from
the Tourist Information
On the descent from Vikafjell mountain to Vik, the bus will stop at the viewpoint “Storesvingen”(about one hour from Voss). The viewpoint offers excellent photo opportunities with magnificent views of Vik Village and Sognefjorden.
Viewpoint
“Storesvingen”
Fjordcruise across the Sognefjord to Balestrand
From the church we take a short drive to the harbour in Vik where the tour continues by boat to Balestrand. The fjord cruise last about 30 minutes and the ticket is included. The boat has indoor seating as well as the possibility to stand outside on deck and take in the beautiful scenery.
The Cider House is a family run micro cidery (winery). They live in an organic orchard with a range of different fruits. They produce ciders, fruit wines and brandy.
On the Ciderhouse we join one of the family members and learn about how they grow fruit in their organic orchard, and how they turn fruit and berries into juice, cider, fruit wine, and brandy. You will learn how they make exclusive sparkling cider using the "méthode traditionnelle" (Champagne method).
The program ends with five cider samples in the restaurant. (Alternatively non-alcoholic samples)
The Ciderhouse
Balestrand is known for spectacular nature and fantastic light conditions. Several painters have taken the trip here to capture the special light, and traces of German and English architecture can be seen in the many villas.
There are also several galleries and exhibitions that are open throughout the summer.
After the Cider tasting, there will be approximately 1hour and 50 min available time to explore Balestrand on your own as Balestrand has several other attractions.
The bus will bring you from The Ciderhouse back to Centre of Balestrand.
Or you may Go for a cultural walk on your own along the idyllic road by the fjord. Read information posters and maps along the route to learn more about the history of Balestrand as a tourist destination and art village.
Back at the pier in Balestrand the same boat will take you back to Vik. From Vik the tour continues by bus to the spectacular Tvindefossen waterfall.
From the waterfall we continue by bus towards Voss. We arrive at the Tourist Information around 19:00.
Return to VOSS
The beautiful village of Balestrand
Tvindefossen waterfall is 110 meters high and popular among tourists. There are many myths related to Tvindefossen waterfall and we will leave it up to the guide to tell you about some of them. Most visitors find the waterfall impressive as you can walk close to the water.
Tvindefossen waterfall
Price : 2.500,-
Included in the tour price
All transport (bus and boat) is included as well as all the guided tours and entry to all attractions we visit. Lunch and Cider tasting at the Cider House is included in the ticket.
On board the bus there are limited possibilities to purchase food, so it may be a good idea to bring some snacks for the time in the bus.
Driver / guide
Your driver and guide speak English and Norwegian.
Handicap access
The bus and the boat have a ramp suitable for both electric and non-electric wheelchairs. Please note that the Hopperstad Stave Church is not accessible with a wheelchair. If you need to use our handicap ramps the booking must be done minimum 48 hours prior to departure and is on condition that the tour is not already fully booked as we then remove two seats from the bus.
Exclusive tours
If you travel in a group of 10 or more passengers and you are one cohort, you can request to reserve the bus exclusively for your group. Please call us to make sure there is no other reservations done before making the booking. The price per person will remain the same.
