.png)
This morning, we arrived at the picturesque port of Hellesylt, Norway and we’re excited to share everything we experienced, we had a very early start to try and make the most of the empty ship and then enjoyed a relaxing day ashore.
An Early Start to the Day
We kicked off the day with an ambitious 5.30am alarm, not just to watch the sail into Hellesylt, but to try and capture an empty ship for our ship tour. We enjoyed the early start and the picturesque sail in made it even more special.
By 7am, the ship was cleared for disembarkation. The Deputy Captain's announcement included a warning about the 18 metre diving platform near the port. While tempting for thrill-seekers, he reminded us of the risks (including jellyfish!) associated with this activity.
Breakfast at The Quays
Before heading ashore, we enjoyed breakfast at The Quays. This is a great alternative to the buffet but you do have to get there early if you want to avoid it being too busy. A quick nap followed (we’d earned it after that early start!) before meeting up with our parents to plan the rest of the day.
Lunch at The Olive Grove
The Olive Grove is always a highlight for us on Iona. Despite the restaurant’s popularity, we managed to get a booking for the 4 of us and it didn’t disappoint.
We enjoyed the Mediterranean Trio starter which includes calamari, halloumi and chorizo. For mains, Laura enjoyed a Margherita pizza and Lizzy went with an old favourite, the peri peri chicken. It’s no Nando’s but it is very tasty. One disappointment was the new version of the chocolate cake, this used to be a favourite of Laura’s but today’s version was hard and dry. Dad, on the other hand, loved his Sicilian lemon tart and we were very jealous.
Exploring Hellesylt
Hellesylt may be small, but it’s packed with charm and natural beauty. Instead of venturing to Geiranger by ferry (a popular choice), we explored the town itself. We started with a peaceful walk along the river, passing the small football ground and enjoying great views of the ship. This route offers photo worthy spots, away from the crowds. Later, we visited Hellesylt’s stunning waterfall, which we would definitely recommend doing in the afternoon to avoid the crowds.
Dinner at Sindhu
Our evening dining venue was Sindhu which is an Indian restaurant, but not in the traditional sense. We were pleased to find that as well as the a la carte offerings, it is now possible to order 3 courses for £22 (or £25 if you choose the lobster or signature plate). We enjoyed a fantastic meal and we thought it was great value for money.
Greatest Days
Tonight’s entertainment was a performance of Greatest Days by the Headliners Theatre Company. This is a shortened version of the west end musical featuring Take That songs, but its worth noting that it is not about the band. We enjoyed every minute of the show and definitely recommend it, you need to arrive early for a good seat though.
After the show we headed up to the Crow’s Nest to end our night. We enjoyed the relaxing atmosphere and it was the perfect end to our day.
You can watch our video with all the detail from the day below.
Comentarios