Norway, Lofoten & Arctic Cruise

Your vacation begins as you touch down in Oslo, the stylish and modern capital of Norway.

On arrival, transfer independently to downtown Oslo and check in to the hotel, close to the celebrated Norwegian Opera House. There's free time to settle in and get to know your surroundings, before meeting the Tour Manager and rest of the group. This evening, we take a short walk to a local restaurant for the first dinner together.

• Dinner

Our day begins after breakfast by setting out on a guided walking tour, staring at Oslo's opera house. The auditorium is a striking design in white marble and granite which appears to emerge from the water like a glacier. Visitors are encouraged to walk on the roof of this modern building for fabulous views across Oslofjord.

We continue to the Akershus Fortress, a medieval castle with twin spires which glisten in the summer sunshine. From here we continue to 'Kvadraturen' - the oldest district in Oslo which was once the Renaissance town of King Christian IV of Denmark. With a free afternoon, you could visit one of Oslo's renowned museums, such as the Viking Ship Museum, the National Museum or the Edvard Munch gallery where you can see Munch's famous work, The Scream. You could also watch the changing of the guard at the Royal Palace.

This evening, you could try some new Nordic cuisine or indulge in a traditional meal at Oslo's oldest restaurant, the elegant Engebret Café.

• Breakfast

This morning is one of the highlights of the tour, a journey aboard the iconic Bergen Railroad, northern Europe's highest and most picturesque line. From Oslo's center and suburbs, the route travels west into the countryside. The backdrop to our journey becomes more breathtaking, as snow-dusted mountains contrast with brilliant green forests and blue sky.

After a couple of hours, we reach Flå in the pretty Hallingdal Valley, through which the rushing Hallingdalselva River flows to Lake Krøderen. Passing the picturesque resort of Geilo, our train climbs up to the Hardangervidda mountain plateau, the largest in northern Europe. The highest point of the Bergen Railroad is the tiny mountain village of Finse, from where we descend towards exquisite fjords, before approaching Voss.

An hour from Voss is our picture-perfect destination, Bergen - the capital of western Norway, with its distinctive colorful wooden buildings on the Bryggen waterfront, a UNESCO-listed site. On arrival, we walk the short distance to our hotel, with time to relax

• Breakfast, Dinner

After a leisurely breakfast, we set off on a guided walking tour of Bergen. This attractive harbor city, once Norway's capital, is encircled by striking mountains and is best-known for the brightly painted buildings of its UNESCO-listed Bryggen waterfront. This picturesque wharf was once the center of the old Hanseatic port, a key hub in trade between Norway and the rest of Europe.

Our tour ends around midday, after a fabulous ride on the Fløibanen funicular, which gives us spectacular views across the surrounding countryside and countless scenic islands.

The rest of the day is at leisure, and you could start with a visit to the popular fish market for some freshly caught lunch. Another place to visit is the Bryggens Museum, which depicts everyday life in Medieval Bergen and houses the world's largest collection of runic inscriptions. For dinner, Bergen offers a surprisingly wide range of cuisine - from pizza to seafood, Japanese to African.

• Breakfast

The next awe-inspiring experience of our summer adventure starts around midday. Transferring by coach, we arrive at Bergen port, the gateway to the Norwegian fjords and the Arctic Circle. This is the start of our incredible journey north along Norway's stunningly scenic coastline. Here, we board our modern, environmentally friendly cruise ship for an unforgettable six-night journey.

Havila's recently introduced vessels are the most relaxing and comfortable way to explore the northernmost parts of Norway and are equipped to ensure we can relax and enjoy the jaw-dropping scenery in style. The observation lounge on the top deck is a wonderful viewing spot and has recliners under a glass roof in case of cooler weather. There are two restaurants and a café on board, as well as a sauna and a gym where all the equipment faces the window.

After settling into our comfortable interior cabins and perhaps finding a seat to look out from the top deck, we enjoy dinner together this evening, before commencing our incredible voyage with an overnight sailing to Ålesund.

• Breakfast, Dinner

Waking to views of the ruggedly beautiful Norwegian coast after the first night of our voyage, we pass the ports of Florø, Måløy and Torvik. After breakfast, we dock in Ålesund for the day. This graceful town is renowned for its Art Nouveau architecture and brick-built houses.

You are free to spend the day as you wish. Maybe start with a walk along the waterfront among the unique mix of architecture, a result of the rebuilding which occurred after 1904 when a fire destroyed many of Ålesund's original wooden buildings. You could find out more about the town's history in the Ålesund Museum. Another option is to book an excursion in advance on the ship - one of the most popular being a mini-cruise into the spectacular Geirangerfjord.

Lunch is served aboard the ship, or you may like to try some locally caught fish. A specialty is the salted dried cod known as klippfisk, which is reputed to be pretty salty! We return to our ship in the late afternoon and, over dinner, our northbound journey continues into dreamlike landscapes.

• Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Today, we dock in the historic city of Trondheim, founded more than a thousand years ago and often referred to as the 'Viking City'. Here there's time to look around independently before lunch. Alternatively, you could book an optional excursion aboard the ship - for example, a guided city tour of Trondheim and visit to the Nidaros Cathedral, one of the largest cathedrals in northern Europe.

Lunch is served on board, and our voyage north continues out into the open water of the fjord, traveling past an abundance of tiny islands. We pass the Kjeungskjær Lighthouse, a bright red structure at the meeting point of Trondheimsfjord and the North Sea, before navigating the narrow strait of Stokksund on our way to the coastal town of Rørvik.

As we sail towards Bodø over dinner, you may wish to sit out on the observation deck to experience the unusual sight of the midnight sun.

• Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Continuing our voyage north, we cross the 66.5 degrees northerly latitude, celebrating with a ceremony as we enter the Arctic Circle. We drop anchor in Bodø where we can disembark and wander along the charming harbor, backed by mountains. There is a choice of optional excursions to book onboard, including a Bodø city tour, a trip to the incredible Svartisen Glacier - the second-largest glacier in mainland Norway - or you may choose to go sea eagle-spotting.

Back at sea, we catch our first glimpse of the steep granite cliffs and silvery beaches of the Lofoten Islands. Described as Europe's most dramatic and spectacular isles, the Lofoten Islands are tethered to mainland Norway by a series of bridges that resemble spiky teeth. Home to small fishing communities, we sail through the beautiful strait of Raftsundet before reaching the sapphire waters of Trollfjord. After dinner, you can head up to the deck to enjoy the otherworldly atmosphere created by the dramatic mountains, unique light and Lofoten's remote fishing villages.

• Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

This morning, as our ship glides past Risøyhamn, Harstad and Finnsnes, we catch glimpses of everyday life in the Arctic before disembarking in Tromsø, the largest city in northern Norway.

Here, you can make the most of more optional excursions, including a tour of the Arctic capital with a cable car ride up one of the surrounding mountains or spend time at Tromsø's unique modern cathedral. Built in the 1960s, the cathedral is a pyramid of aluminum and glass, with amazing stained-glass windows. It is also possible to book a tour of Tromsø Museum to learn more about Sámi heritage and traditions. Other galleries and museums include the Polar Museum and the Troll Museum, dedicated to trolls and fairytales, which showcases Norwegian folk beliefs and the mythical creatures of Norway.

Re-boarding the ship, our cruise continues through bountiful summer waters where we may spot orcas, humpback whales and different Arctic birds.

• Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Norway's North Cape comes into view this morning. It's here that the icy waters of the Arctic and Atlantic oceans mix. In the summer months we may chance upon herds of reindeer as the northernmost strip of land here is dotted with settlements of indigenous Sámi people whose main sources of livelihood are reindeer herding and fishing.

Disembarking at Havøysund, we visit the world's most northerly fishing village before continuing to Honningsvåg where your afternoon is free to spend as you wish. Before leaving the ship, optional excursions to book and pay for include a trip to the North Cape plateau with time at the Northern Cape Hall visitor center, snowshoeing and ice fishing, or bird watching. Later, there's the chance to book another unique optional excursion - a cruise across to Kjøllefjord to learn about the traditional way of life of the Sámi people.

Our voyage north continues as we cruise overnight towards Kirkenes, a journey which occurs entirely in sunlight, and we can experience the natural wonder of the evening sunset merging into sunrise.

• Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

After passing the easternmost town in Norway, Vardo, our cruise reaches its final destination, the Arctic city of Kirkenes. Situated near the borders with Finland and Russia, Kirkenes is known as 'King Crab city' due to its abundant shellfish, especially these highly prized species.

Disembarking in this city on the Barents Sea, we are met by a local guide for a coach tour of the area, which includes the scenic shores of Langfjorden and the Svanhovd Botanical Gardens, a place where the diversity of life this side of the Arctic Circle can be fully appreciated.

The final highlight of our trip is a visit to the husky kennels at the Snowhotel, to meet these amazing hard-working animals. We also encounter husky pups and reindeer, discovering how vital they still are to life in the Arctic Circle. After a relaxing lunch, we transfer to our hotel in Kirkenes with time to relax or possibly wander down to the quay, before a final dinner with our group.

• Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Exploring the bountiful delights of Norway by land and sea in summertime has revealed a stunning land bathed in the glow of the Midnight Sun. Traveling over remote plateaus by iconic train from dynamic Oslo to historic Bergen offered vistas of a captivating wilderness. A six-night cruise along Norway's picturesque coast showed off many idyllic locations, from the Lofoten Islands to the Arctic north.

This morning, we transfer to Kirkenes airport for an internal flight to Oslo. From here, you are free to make your own way home as your discovery of beautiful Norway comes to an end.

• Breakfast