Ultimate Norway, Sweden & the Arctic Circle

Your Scandinavian vacation starts when you arrive into Stockholm and transfer independently to your hotel to meet your Tour Manager and fellow travelers.

Stockholm is one of Europe's most attractive and unusual capital cities, built across 14 islands which are connected by no fewer than 57 bridges. Much of the city's charm is, wherever you wander, you are always close to water. There's time to get to know the local neighborhood before we regroup to dine at our hotel this evening.

• Dinner

Stockholm has over 750 years of history and culture which we set out to explore on a guided sightseeing tour. We stop to enjoy the view of City Hall, the building where the esteemed Nobel Prizes are awarded, and admire the Baroque official residence of the Swedish monarch. Afterwards, we tour elegant Östermalm, verdant Långholm, and the parkland island of Djurgården. We continue to Stockholm's charming Old Town, called Gamla Stan, a small area of the city which is one of the best-preserved medieval centers in the world.

During our tour we stop for 'fika', a Swedish-style coffee break, where friends relax over a hot drink and a slice of home-made cake. The rest of your afternoon is free, and you may wish to wander round old buildings or modern shops. You could also choose to visit Museum Island where you can view the Vasa Museum with its fully intact 17th-century ship.

This evening you are free to explore and to dine independently; the city has an excellent range of dining options, from traditional Swedish dishes to Mediterranean and Asian cuisine.

• Breakfast

We board an InterCity train to Östersund today, a city set on the shores of Storsjön Lake, Sweden's fifth largest lake. As the largest town in the vicinity, Östersund is a major cultural and transportation center, and flaunts the title of Sweden's only UNESCO City of Gastronomy.

The town also nurtures an enduring legend about the lake's rarely sighted monster. Storsjöodjuret ('the great lake monster') reportedly emerged from the chilly waters into the town in 1635 and has been spotted infrequently ever since. Generally described as a serpent with multiple humps, it's yet to be caught on camera, but for a time had a law ensuring its protection!

This is a scenic place to admire the waterside attractions and spend the night before we continue our journey north. You might like to visit Jamtli Museum - a collection of three museums showcasing the art and history of the local area. Tonight, you are free to dine independently, and you may like to check out the local specialties and discover the town's celebrated cuisine.

• Breakfast, Dinner

After an early breakfast we make an early start today - to begin our slow train journey towards the untamed wilderness of Swedish Lapland. The Inlandsbanan* snakes northward, through a landscape of pine and birch forests. As we travel into this magical landscape, look out for local wildlife, including moose and reindeer, hearing commentary about the sights passing by our window.

We arrive in Sorsele, where we visit the Inlandsbanan Museum before making our way by coach to a nearby Sámi village to learn about the lives of Scandinavia's indigenous people. We view the traditional buildings, hear about their culture, and are introduced to their reindeer. We continue to spend the night in Arjeplog, where we enjoy a traditional dinner, served around a campfire.

* Please note: Departures before the end of June and after August will travel by coach to the Sorsele, rather than on the Inlandsbanan train.

• Breakfast, Dinner

Today we experience one of the best but busiest days of our tour - a special excursion to the remote Sámi town of Jokkmokk. Driving even further north, we travel along long straight roads, passing dense forests and glassy lakes. On our approach into the 'Land of the Midnight Sun', we cross the Arctic Circle and take part in a small ceremony.

On arrival in Jokkmokk we enjoy a visit to the local Sámi Museum, seeing historic artefacts including silver-work and traditional dress, of the indigenous Sámi people and learn more about their semi-nomadic way of life and traditions of fishing, reindeer herding, agriculture. We make our way back to Arjeplog, a long but scenic journey, where we dine together at our hotel.

• Breakfast, Dinner

Our journey continues by coach towards the Norwegian town of Bodø, as we set off along the Silver Road - once a trading route where silver was transported to the Norwegian coast.

Passing deep forests, rolling hills, and crystalline lakes, we travel through beautiful river valleys and pass the spectacular Saltdal Fjord. On arrival in Bodø, Europe's Cultural Capital in 2024, we visit the Norwegian Jekt Trade Museum. A jekt is a type of historic boat which was used to transport dried fish along the Norwegian coast, over centuries of trade. There are only three surviving jekts in Norway and we see one of them: the Anna Karoline. We spend the night in Bodø where we enjoy dinner together at our hotel.

• Breakfast, Dinner

After a leisurely morning in Bodø we transfer to the station to begin our epic journey along the Nordlandsbanan, also known as the 'Polar Express', to Verdal. Known as Norway's longest train journey, we travel along a vast stretch of this dramatic route, experiencing Norway's sensational landscapes. As our train glides past immense fjords, rugged mountains, and deep valleys, we marvel at the ever-changing scenery, witnessing many natural wonders including the spectacular Svartisen Glacier.

We disembark the Nordland Railway at Verdal, where we are transferred to the small village of Stiklestad for the night. Our contemporary hotel is located inside the Stiklestad National Culture Centre and, once we have checked in, we take our seats for dinner at the hotel's on-site restaurant.

• Breakfast

This morning, after a leisurely breakfast, we get to know the ancient landscape of Stiklestad on an hour-long guided tour. This historic village is an important site of Norwegian culture and is best known for the Battle of Stiklestad, which occurred in 1030. It was here the Norwegian King Olaf II Haraldsson fell in battle. Olaf II is considered to be the first king of all Norway and was also responsible for the shift towards Christianity. Our guided tour takes us to the site of the king's death, during one of Norway's most famous and hard-fought battles.

After our tour we return to our hotel for lunch, before setting out by coach to the popular Viking city of Trondheim, our base for the next two nights. We arrive in this fascinating city mid-afternoon and there's time to look around or to relax at our waterside hotel before dinner.

• Breakfast, Dinner

Ahead of us today is a superb journey by rail, road, and ferry to beautiful Geiranger. Leaving Trondheim by train we wind past pretty villages and hamlets to Dombås where we change trains for a wonderful journey along the stunning Rauma Railway.

Considered one of Norway's most beautiful train lines, this amazing route glides beside azure rivers and emerald forests before the vistas become even more spectacular. After crossing the 100-year-old Kylling Bridge, we pause to admire the Verma waterfall before entering the jaw-dropping Romsdalen Valley. Here we marvel at the majesty of nature, including the Trollveggen, or Troll Wall, Europe's tallest vertical rock face.

Arriving at Åndalsnes on Romsdalfjord, we travel by coach up the twisting Trolls Ladder, revealing breathtaking glimpses of some of Norway's most incredible scenery at each turn. This spellbinding trip continues as we cross serene Norddalsfjord by ferry. Stepping off the train into fresh, crisp air, we continue by coach to Geiranger and our hotel, where we can bask in astounding views of the iconic fjord. We enjoy a buffet dinner at our hotel this evening.

• Breakfast, Dinner

After breakfast this morning we set out on a guided coach tour of the Norwegian capital, beginning at the modern Opera House. Appearing as if it is rising from the water, the angled surfaces of this auditorium's exterior are covered with marble and white granite. People are encouraged to walk on the building's slopes when the weather is appropriate, for some of the best views across Oslofjord.

We also view the Royal Palace. This grand 19th-century neoclassical palace is the official residence of Norway's monarch with acres of parkland. With a free afternoon, you could visit one of the city's many impressive galleries or museums such as the Munch Museum and the National Museum, containing works by celebrated expressionist painter Edvard Munch, renowned for 'The Scream'. You could also take a gentle cruise around idyllic Oslofjord, perhaps stopping at the Fram Museum to view a 19th-century ship used for polar exploration, or visit the Norsk Folk Museum, which contains historic Norwegian buildings. Dinner is independent tonight, and you might like to try some new Nordic cuisine, fresh seafood, or possibly opt for a traditional Norwegian dinner at the oldest restaurant in Oslo, the elegant Engebret Café near Christiana Torv.

• Breakfast, Dinner

After a leisurely morning in Oslo to revisit a favorite café, do some last-minute sightseeing or shopping, you are free to continue your journey.

• Breakfast