Experience the Wilds of Norway through Aston Martin

Aug 9, 2017

Norway Roads

So long Route 66. Ciao Stelvio Pass. Auf wiedersehen autobahn. Norway is the hottest country for adventure drivers. With its emerald green fjords, sensuous seascapes, sky-scraping mountains, and stomach-churning collection of hairpin turns, Western Norway is the best place to get behind the wheel of an Aston Martin. While the British luxury sports car is most closely associated with James Bond, when you embark on Art of Living’s four-day tour of Norway’s dramatic landscape, your driving skills better be more Beowulf and less Mr. Bond. Norway is Viking country, after all, and the only thing shaken or stirred will be your confidence as a high-performance driver as you stare down a 10-degree incline at 11 hairpin turns. The Art of Living road trip is no ordinary road trip. It blends the glaciated wilds of Norway with world-class architectural viewing points, combining the spectacular landscape with innovative Nordic design.

Mapping the Wilds

Day One finds you parked at the Hotel Angvik Gamle Handelssted, a classic, Scandi gem dating back to the 1800s. With its crackling log fires, rustic elegance and fairytale views of Tingvall Fjord, it’s the perfect place to find your hygge (oh wait, that’s Danish) before tackling the formidable Atlantic Ocean Road. Built in the 1980s, the Atlantic Ocean Road is just over five miles long -a piece of cake to drive, right? Think again. Hugging the sea, the Atlantic Ocean Road is a rollercoaster of twists and turns. The iconic tourist attraction features viaducts, causeways, and eight bridges that connect a chain of Norwegian islands. The road is a Cultural Heritage Site, a feat of engineering that illustrates man’s creative mastery over Mother Nature. When the weather is good, you can spot whales and seals in the water. But when the when the weather is bad, well, you will be too busy white-knuckling the steering wheel to do any whale watching.

Day Two. Yes, you’ve heard the stories. Trollstigen (Troll’s Ladder) is one of the most legendary roads in the world. Sinuous and serpentine, steep and awe-inspiring, the 106 km road opened in 1936 and has been shrine for thrill-seeking adventure drivers ever since. Troll’s Ladder features spectacular views, steep mountain slopes, and a thundering waterfall. The steepest part of the road (named the “Eagle Road”) climbs 853 meters above sea level and twists through 11 hairpin turns supported by stone walls.

Drives, boat journeys, an Art Nouveau hotel, a six-course lunch, and a helicopter flight over the coastline are just a few of the highlights of Day Three. Of course, the best part of the final leg of the trip is sharing stories with your fellow guests, as each of you tries to outdo the other with sagas that would make Thor jealous.

According to Per Ritzler, head of international relations at Norway’s National Tourist Routes, pairing beautiful drives with world-class architecture should effortlessly blend nature and modernity. The interaction between the environment and architecture is the ultimate Nordic experience.