The Last Frontier OR The Land of the Vikings

There is something magical about cruising through a landscape where mountains rise dramatically from the sea.

That is certainly true in Alaska. It is equally true in Norway.

So, if you're dreaming about a cruise surrounded by towering mountains, waterfalls, glaciers and spectacular coastal scenery, which should you choose?

Alaska or the Norwegian Fjords?

The short answer?

"Which one are you doing first?"

But if you have to choose just one, the differences between these two remarkable destinations may help make the decision easier.

Alaska feels BIG. 

It is named The Great Land  for a reason.  The mountains seem endless. The wilderness stretches beyond the horizon. And then there are the glaciers — immense rivers of ice reaching down toward the sea.

An Alaska cruise is as much about wildlife and wilderness as it is about the scenery.

Depending on your itinerary and excursions, you might see humpback whales, orcas, bald eagles, bears, sea otters and other wildlife. And then there is the thrill of watching a tidewater glacier, perhaps hearing the distant rumble before a massive piece of ice breaks away and crashes into the water.

Alaska has a rawness to it. 

Glacier Bay, Hubbard Glacier, Sawyer Glacier, the Inside Passage and the coastal wilderness around places such as Juneau, Skagway and Ketchikan can make an Alaska cruise feel like a voyage into the heart of the wild.

And that is perhaps Alaska's greatest attraction:

Nature is the star of the show.

Norway is also uber dramatic too — but its drama is different.

Instead of Alaska's enormous wilderness, Norway gives you an extraordinary combination of mountains, waterfalls, villages, history and culture. And trolls - don’t forget the trolls.

Norway has more than a thousand fjords, with some of the most famous found along the country's western coast. The UNESCO-listed Geirangerfjord and Nærøyfjord are among the great highlights. Picture sailing slowly between towering mountains, with waterfalls cascading down seemingly impossible slopes and small farms or villages tucked into the landscape.

The experience can feel almost cinematic.

And then you step ashore.

Instead of a frontier town, you might find colourful Scandinavian architecture, Viking lore, cafés, historic churches, museums, local food and centuries of European history.

Norway also offers opportunities to go beyond the ship — hiking, kayaking, scenic rail journeys and exploring mountain viewpoints can all become part of the adventure. And speaking of opportunities, some Norwegian cruises will take beyond the Arctic Circle to Nordland, Tromso, and the independent archipelago of Svalbard - truly north.

Norway combines spectacular scenery with culture in a way that makes the destination feel wonderfully layered.

The view from the ship… perhaps the most important element of this blog.

In Alaska, you can spend hours on deck simply watching the wilderness pass by. The scale can be overwhelming.

In Norway, the fjords create a more intimate experience. The mountains can rise almost vertically from the water, creating a natural corridor for the ship.

That's the wonderful thing about both destinations, neither will disappoint and both will capture you.

If seeing wildlife is high on your travel wish list, Alaska has the advantage.

Whales, bears and eagles can turn an ordinary afternoon on deck into an unforgettable travel story.

If waterfalls, mountain villages and dramatic fjord landscapes are what make you reach for your camera - coupled with myth, lore, and legend - then Norway has that advantage. 

At World Tree Destinations, we don't really think of this as a competition.

Alaska and Norway belong on different branches of the same travel tree.

Alaska is about wilderness.

Norway is about the relationship between history, people, and outstanding landscapes.

Alaska makes you feel small in the presence of nature.

Norway makes you appreciate how people have lived alongside that nature for centuries.

Both destinations remind us why we travel in the first place.

To see something different.

To stand somewhere extraordinary.

Because once you've sailed through one of these spectacular northern landscapes, you may find yourself wanting/needing to experience the other. 

As Gandalf the Grey reminds us: “All we have left to decide is what to do with the time we are given…and which one are you going to do first?”