Surrounded by 7 mountains, Bergen is an attractive town on the west coast of Norway. It is the ideal starting point for fjord tours and fjord cruises. The world famous waterfront – Bryggen with its unique architecture is listed by UNESCO as one of the world’s most significant examples of the history and culture of a medieval settlement. Today, Bryggen is a fascinating place of active workshops. Many of the remaining 58 buildings are now used as artists’ studios where painters, weavers and craftsmen produce fine-quality, original items.

The Faroes are a group of 18 hauntingly beautiful islands, situated between Iceland and Norway. The archipelago covers a total area of 1,399 sq km and has a gentle warmed by the Gulf Stream. The scenery is amazing, rugged mountains up to 880 m high are thickly carpeted with impossibly green grass, incised everywhere by waterfalls, rivers and fjords. Extraordinary skies constantly transform the landscape. Photo by: hlemmur

The islands are Danish territory and the islanders take pride in their independence of spirit and inimitable forms of Viking language, singing and dance. Photo by: Eileen Sandá

The Faroes are still mercifully tourist-free. Many of the inhabitants still live by sheep farming  and fishing, in isolated crofts and old fishing villages of brightly painted houses with turf roofs. The enchanting port of Torshavn, Europe’s smallest capital, is on Streymoy, the largest island. A bridge and tunnel connect Streymoy to nearby Eysturoy and regular ferries ply between all the islands. The westernmost island of Vagar has the best tourist facilities and Sudoroy, two hours to the far south, is perhaps the best beautiful of all. Photo by: Eileen Sandá

It is impossible not to succumb to the eerie enchantment of those captivating islands, where the only sounds are of birds calling, water tricking over rocks, wind lashing across the headlands, and the breakers dashing the cliffs at the outer edges of the world. Photo by: Niquinho

When to go: May to September, unless you’re an exceptionally hardly type. Population: 48,317. How to get there: Regular year-round car ferries from Denmark, Norway, Scotland and the Shetlands. Or fly to Vagar, the only island flat-enough for an airport. Photo by: Niquinho

The Svalbard Archipelago lies north than Alaska and is northernmost part of the kingdom of Norway, lying about half way to North Pole. There are three large islands in the Svalbard Archipelago – Spitzbergen, Nordaustlandet and Edgeoya and the Gulf Stream current sink close to them. The islands are rugged and desolate, with around 60 per cent of the land covered with glaciation. Photo by: Paul Zizka

The mountains there look like steep piles of rubble, with peaks jutting out of all angles. Some are covered in snow all year round, there are no trees on the islands, but the warm season brings many Arctic flower into bloom, make parts of the islands into colorful meadows. Photo by: _Zinni_

Being so far north, Svalbard gets the midnight sun from 20 April to 23 August, although the sun itself may be hidden by fog. The polar night, when the sun does not rise above the horizon at all, is from 26 October to 15 February. Most visitors stay away during this period, unless they are there to see the Northern Lights. Photo by: _Zinni_

Most visitors come there to explore the raw climate, see the midnight sun and try their luck at some of the exciting  activities – snowmobile trips, kayaking, ice cave exploration, dog-sleding, skiing and horse riding. The tourist board organize many tours and activities, some of which include one or more nights of wilderness camping. Anyone staying outside the main settlement is required to carry a rifle, and know how to use it.

When to go: April to August. How to get there: Fly from Oslo or Tromso to Longyearbyen, or go on an organized cruise. Photo by: _Zinni_

Lying just inside the Arctic Circle west of Norway are the Lofoten Islands, a chain of fabulous mountainous islands with wooded hillsides and lovely white sandy bays. There are five main islands in the group: Austvagoy, Gimsoya, Vestvagoy, Flakstadoya and Moskenesoya and three smaller ones. Although the islands are so far north, they enjoy a fairly mild climate due to the Gulf Stream. Photo by: joepvanwyk

The islands are ideal for hiking and cycling. Lofoten also offer unique rock climbing with Alpine-style ridges, summits and glaciers. The islands feature some magnificent caves, awe-inspiring to even the most well-travelled visitors. At 50m high and 115 m deep, Refsvikhula Cave is all the more interesting because of the enigmatic characters. The oldest-known Stone Age settlement in Lofoten has been discovered here. Photo by: swissfotopia

Visitors also come to the Lofoten Islands for off-shore activities. The rich water support vast colonies of breeding seabirds, including puffins, kittiwakes, razobills, red-necked phalaropes and Arctic terns, as well as white-tailed sea eagles. The infamous Maelstrom, one of the world’s strongest tidal currents, lies just off the coast. The Maelstrom has been renowned and respected by seafarers for thousand of years. Nowadays boat trips and fishing expeditions pass through the area so visitors can experience the sheer thrill of it. Photo by: patrick_london

When to go: Late May to early July for the Midnight Sun; the best weather is from April to September. Population: 23,700. How to get there: By ferry or air from Bodo, ferry from Navil or by boat via Navik. You should know: The sun does not rise for weeks in midwinter. Photo by: little_frank

Fjords are found only in high latitudes, in the mountainous western coast of Norway, where glaciers are fed or are fed by heavy snowfalls, down to the sea in ancient river valleys or along faults. For the rock glacier followed by sinking land and rising sea levels, leading to flooding of the valleys. In some cases, deepening valleys and glaciers lasted below sea level. Some fjords coasts are densely dismembered to narrow and deep cross straits, which are very convenient inland waterways communications.

Each fiord has the unique landscape and the color of water, with its own characteristics and attractions. For instance the Geyranger is famous for its highest and most picturesque waterfalls. Sogn-fiord is the most longest fiord in the world, stretches for 204 kilometers into the country and at 1308 meters water depth. The entire perimeter of fjords, has beautiful waterfalls and monuments.

At Lise-fjords with a huge rock Prekestulen, also known as  “platform” or “chair” – with the majestic cliffs, you can enjoy a splendid view, and the most daring, go to the very edge of the rocks. These amazing natural formations has numerous islands and secluded coves, waterfalls, cascades, hiding in the fjords, just perfect for the trip by boat or ship.

The Six Senses Hideaway Zighy Bay is sitting between dramatic rugged mountains on one side and a 1.6 km sandy beach on the other, in the Sultanate of Oman. You have the choice of how you would like to arrive at the resort – it is accessed from Dubai by road, speedboat or even paraglide.

The resort features 82 pool villas and suites with a private marina, designed in exotic innovative style, which is blend between typical Omani indigenous with flat, woven roofs and modern luxury amenities. The spa has nine treatment rooms and two Arabian hammams, all done in rustic, eco-chic style. The entrance to the spa is a grotto-style tunnel whereby guests walk on stepping stones set on water to arrive at the spa reception.  

Guests have a selection of memorable dining alternatives including a modern brasserie showcasing a multitude of cuisine flavors, a hilltop restaurant with incredible views over the waters of the Gulf of Oman, a picnic high up in the Hajar Mountains, a seafood restaurant, and a wine cellar holding over 400 wine bins. Enjoy a thrilling, picturesque Wadi excursion or enjoy a Dhow Cruise along the breathtaking coastline.

Here we allow you to get close up to some of the most dramatic mountain road – Trollstigen, which is no doubt the most renowned piece of road in Norway. The road climbs from the deep Isterdalen valley to the Stigrora plateau – 858 meters above sea level, including 11 distinct hairpin bends. At the top there is a restaurant and museum, exhibiting photos of the road and details about its construction.

Trollstigen was opened in July 1936, after a construction period of 8 years. And even today it’s a good example of the engineering. The road is closed in the winter and opens in late May or early June, depending on snow conditions.

Walkers can enjoy the breathtaking views of spectacular landscape, surrounded by alpine summits. Norway offers a vide variety of experiences, including fjords, mountains, islands, rivers and waterfalls. It’s one of Norway’s top tourist attractions – a mountain pass where the road ascends in many sharp curves like a giant snake. It’s the most photographed place in Norway…

It is an activity that employs a parachute or the sequenced use of a wing suit and parachute to jump from fixed objects. “BASE” is an acronym that stands for the four categories of objects from which one can jump: Building, Antenna, Span, and Earth. The most famous BASE jumping bridge is the New River Gorge Bridge, WV. Earth refers to large natural formations – cliffs, canyons, fjords and gorges. The mountains of Romsdalen, Berserker and Eikesdalen, Norway are some of the best places in the world for base jumping. Base Jumping is in the Guinness Record book and is currently held by Glenn Singleman and Heather Swan with a jump from Meru Peak in northern India at a starting elevation of 6,604 m.

These two rocks are called Meoto Iwa, situated just off the coast of Mie, Japan. The rocks are meant to signify marriage. The larger one is male and the smaller one female. The rope which connects the rocks weights over a ton and is changed during the year due to various ceremonies.

This rock is called Kjeragbolten, situated between the walls of a mountain crevice in Norway. The rock is often spot by tourists for a crafty photograph while attempting not to look down at the 3000ft. I’m very surprised of the sheep in the picture.

This rock has the shape of a bugger and also is a member of the Brimham Rocks family in North Yorkshire, 50 acres of strange rock formations visited regularly by members of the public.

The picture displays Kyaiktiyo Pagoda rock situated in Burma. According to locals the rock was  placed on the cliff edge by spirits and the Pagoda resting on top apparently contains a hair belonging to the Buddha.

This impressive Mushroom Rock is situated in the North Atlantic Ocean and also the most isolated part of the British Isles. Numerous landings have been made on the rock and various disputes have arisen over its ownership, a matter which is still unresolved.

I couldn’t find much information about this attractive rock, but I was really glad when I found it. All I know is that the rock is named Piedra del Penol and you have to pay to get to the top and that the stairway that sits in the rock’s crevice must have been an absolute ball-ache to construct.

The Kingdom of Sweden is one of the Scandinavian country in Northern Europe. The country is the third largest one in the European Union. Sweden lies west of the Baltic Sea and Gulf of Bothnia, providing a long coastline, and forms the eastern part of the Scandinavian Peninsula.

Sweden is much warmer and drier than other places at the similar latitude, and even somewhat further south, mainly because of the Gulf Stream.

But the sun never sets for part of each summer, and for part of the winter the sun never rises.  The capital of Stockholm’s daylight lasts for more than 18 hours in late June, but only around 6 hours in late December. Most of Sweden has between 1,600 to 2,000 hours of sunshine annually.

The total population of Sweden was estimated to be 9,234,209. In Sweden living immigrant group consists of people from Finland, and born in Iraq, Former Yugoslavia, Somalia, Germany, Denmark, Norway, Turkey, Poland, Romania, Russia, Syria, Lebanon, Chile and Iran.

Sweden is a pure place for ice-adventures and fun in the snow. If you want to explore the country on maximum, you should take a tour into the wild with those friendly dogs in the picture. They will be your best friend, guard and transport during your vacation. If you are ski seeker, Sweden is also your favorite spot.

Aurland is a small town in Sogn og Fjordane, one of the larger fjords on the West Coast of Norway. The city is three hours drive from Bergen, Norway’s second largest city. The place has attracted people from all over the world.

It was also called ”640m over Aurland and 20120km from Tokyo”.

The landscape there is so fantastic. There’s a small parking area for 2 buses and 10 cars, to help keep the place pure. The construction is a bridge, that everyone can  go onto as if walking in the air.

The structure is 4 m wide, 30m long and 9m high out at the very end. To make the place even more dramatic people can come out in the air. The pine trees are kept and tourists can walk out into the open space through the treetops, which dramatise the experience of nature and the larger landscape room.

This wonderful bird-watching tower is situated in old leftover road bend in Norway with a spectacular view from the wild ocean and mountains of Eggum in the west.

After taking off from the main road, you pass through the site to reach the parking space. From east to west the 60m long-wall is cut into the ground and separates the parking area from the rest area, the sun and the view.

The rest area is constructed to give space for several buss loads of people. At the same time comfort and quiet is given to other travelers resting and eating. The sheltering wall is made of a steel construction covered with wooden laths and boards.

The horizontal direction of the wooden laths continues, and with cuts and folds, they are turned into tables and benches.