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The Best of Norway by Rail and Sea – to the Top of the World

£4,695.00

Travelling along the Eagle Road, at 2,030ft above sea level, with breathtaking views over UNESCO-listed Geirangerfjord. Riding on the world-famous Flåm Railway, on its spectacular steep descent from mountains to fjord.

Renowned as one of the most beautiful countries in the world, this holiday into the heart of the Norwegian fjords and beyond will leave you with a lasting impression. You’ll pass ravines and thundering waterfalls on the Flåm Railway. You’ll cruise through the awe-inspiring Geirangerfjord. You’ll weave through the historic streets of Tromsø. On a Norway cruise, you’ll take an epic voyage aboard a fully electric ship to bask in the Midnight Sun, conquer northernmost Europe at North Cape and explore the famed Snowhotel in Kirkenes.

  • 7 excursions & visits
  • 24 meals
  • Active traveller pace
Category:

Your itinerary

Day 1 – Bergen

Our door-to-door travel service collects you from home for your flight to Bergen. A highlight of the city is Bryggen Wharf, a colourful array of timbered houses and narrow cobbled streets that climb away from the waterfront towards the magnificent hills that back the city. We transfer from the airport and enjoy a short orientation tour to get acquainted with the city, before checking into our hotel this afternoon.

Scandic Bergen City (4-star)

Today includes…

Excursions & visits: Bergen orientation tour (afternoon)

Dinner

Waterfront houses of Bergen on a sunny day, Norway

Day 2 – Flåm Railway – Aurlandsfjord – Nærøyfjord

You’ll want to keep your camera at the ready for today’s journey. Step aboard the Flåm Railway for a train experience unlike any other. This scenic journey will take you 20km down to Flåm via the longest and deepest fjord in Europe, the Sognefjorden. You’ll pass deep ravines and thundering waterfalls and soaring mountains. There’s lush greenery dotted with chocolate box houses set in idyllic valleys. You won’t want to blink for fear of missing something amazing. Nestled among the Norwegian fjords, Flåm is a pretty little village in a big, dramatic setting. We’ll have some time to explore here and enjoy the beautiful surrounds, before taking to the waters aboard a fully electric cruise boat to travel silently through the fjord from Nærøyfjord to Gudvangen. This spectacular stretch is a UNESCO-World Heritage Site and you’ll float by a number of villages that are only accessible from the water. After, we transfer back to Bergen and the evening is yours to do as you please.

Scandic Bergen City (4-star)

Today includes…

Excursions & visits: Journey on the Flåm Railway (morning)Nærøyfjord cruise (afternoon)

Breakfast and Dinner

Flam railway in Norway

Day 3 – Loen

We’ll set off on a scenic drive from Bergen to Loen this morning. We’ll cross the mountains and the beautiful wide Sognefjord. Driving along the fjord, we will pass waterfalls and colourful fruit orchards before we climb up into the mountains. We’ll stop at the Norwegian Glacier Museum before continuing down to Innvikfjorden for a scenic drive along the fjord, until we arrive in Loen – known as the gateway to the glaciers.

Hotel Loenfjord (4-star)

Today includes…

Excursions & visits: Entrance to the Norwegian Glacier Museum (morning)

Breakfast and Dinner

Day 4 – Geirangerfjord – Molde/Andalsnes

Today is a big day. We’ll drive along Innvikfjorden to the village of Hellesylt. From here, we board a cruise ferry for an unforgettable journey along the world-famous Geirangerfjord. This UNESCO-listed stretch is a majestic combination of towering, sheer mountain cliffs, plunging waterfalls and deep blue waters that are enchantingly inviting. It is one of nature’s greatest spectacles. Natural wonders aside, we’ll also sail past long forgotten farms and shoreline smallholdings, of people who once lived and worked here. From Geiranger, we tackle the hairpin bends of Eagle Road high up into the mountains. The sight from the top is quite spectacular, with panoramic snow-capped scenes stretching from Geiranger all the way back over the fjord. We then take the narrow Trollstigen serpentine road back down the mountain. This evening, we overnight in Molde or Andalsnes.

Scandic Seilet, Molde (4-star)

Today includes…

Excursions & visits: Geirangerfjord cruise (morning)

Breakfast and Dinner

Day 5 – Rauma Railway – Trondheim

The Rauma Railway is famed for its picturesque mountain route, which whooshes guests over bridges and through horseshoe-shaped tunnels. We step aboard this morning; the carriages have panoramic windows to make the most of the views of fjords, forests, valleys, lakes and mountains – the train slows as we glide by the most scenic spots. We arrive in Dombås and board the Dovre Railway down to the sea and beautiful harbour city of Trondheim. With wide streets and a colourful array of buildings over the water, the historic capital of Norway is a pleasure to explore. On our tour, we’ll visit the magnificent Nidaros Cathedral, where all the Norwegian Kings have been crowned.

Scandic Lerkendal, Trondheim (4-star)

Today includes…

Excursions & visits: Journey on the Rauma Railway with guided commentary and the Dovre Railway (morning)Sightseeing tour of Trondheim with Nidaros Cathedral (afternoon)

Breakfast and Dinner

Day 6 – Trondheim

Today we set sail for a journey that will cement your status as an arctic explorer. Step aboard a fully electric Havila ship as we sail north towards the Arctic Circle. Perhaps head to the Observation Lounge for a coffee with panoramic views – the reclining seats allow you to make the most of the glass roof. Havila puts a real emphasis on sustainability and meals on board are created using the best ingredients from local Norwegian producers for traditional and modern dishes. You might notice local commuters step aboard too, as they travel from port to port.

Havila Pollux (4-star)

Today includes…

Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Colourful buildings reflected in the water in Trondheim, Norway

Day 7 – Brønnøysund – Svolvær

We finally cross into the Arctic Circle today and the occasion is marked with a special ceremony on deck. Every summer for six weeks, the sun doesn’t fully set at all. This is known as the Midnight Sun, providing ever-changing shades of light throughout each day and night – perfect for keen photographers to capture. We’ll pass by Scandinavia’s largest glaciers, the world’s strongest tidal current and there might even be an opportunity to spot a majestic sea eagle soaring in the breeze (keep your binoculars at the ready). This evening, Lofoten’s tiny fishing villages and steep mountains make for a beautiful backdrop.

Havila Pollux (4-star)

Today includes…

Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Lofoten islands is an archipelago in the county of Nordland, Norway. Is known for a distinctive scenery with dramatic mountains and peaks, open sea and sheltered bays, beaches and untouched lands.

Day 8 – Stokmarknes – Tromsø – Skjervøy

Our voyage continues through narrow fjords and past wild mountains to the island city of Tromsø. This northern city is known as the ‘Gateway to the Arctic’ and is characterised by hunting, fishing and polar bears. This is the land of the Sami, Norway’s indigenous people. Perhaps take the opportunity to meet and learn about the Sami, their reindeer and their unique culture. The afternoon is yours to spend in Tromsø. The streets are decorated with charmingly simplistic, colourful wooden houses but the city’s most recognisable landmark is the must-visit Arctic Cathedral. Built in 1965, its distinctive iceberg-shaped design was inspired by the landscapes of northern Norway and features a beautiful glass mosaic.

Havila Pollux (4-star)

Today includes…

Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Arctic Cathedral white triangle church in Tromso, Norway

Day 9 – Hammerfest – Honningsvåg (North Cape) – Berlevåg

The North Cape is as far north as you can go – by land and sea. It’s closer to the North Pole than it is to Oslo and it’s a goal for many who venture along the Norwegian coast. It was a sacrificial site for the Sami, which gives it a haunting beauty. The North Cape plateau rises a mighty 307 metres straight up from the Arctic Ocean. You’ll simply feel on top of the world.

Havila Pollux (4-star)

Today includes…

Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Panoramic shot of the waterside town of Hammerfest, Norway, on a sunny day

Day 10 – Kirkenes

Each winter, 25 tonnes of ice and 15,000 cubic metres of snow are shifted to build Kirikenes’ Snowhotel. It’s an absolute wonder to see it in person: the intricate detail, the beautifully decorated snow suites and Norway’s largest ice bar – it doesn’t seem possible. We disembark the ship this morning and enjoy a guided tour of the Snowhotel – and there’ll be a chance to cuddle with the resident huskies (and possibly puppies) and meet the reindeer.

Scandic Kirkenes (4-star)

Today includes…

Excursions & visits: Guided tour of the Snowhotel Kirkenes (morning)

Breakfast and Dinner

Free time

Midnight sun reflecting on the water of the bay at Kirkenes, Norway

Day 11 – Kirkenes – departure

We transfer to the airport and your return flight. Upon arrival, our vehicle will be waiting for the journey home.

Today includes…

Breakfast