Grand Tour of Norway

Your Nordic vacation begins today in Oslo, Norway's capital city. As your flight arrives, make your way to your centrally located hotel to check in and meet the Tour Manager and your fellow travelers.

Our four-star hotel is located near the railway station and only a short distance from Oslo's famous 17th-century cathedral. Used for state occasions, it is encircled on three sides by the beautiful Romanesque Revival bazaars - a charming, curved arcade built in the mid-1800s to house butcher stalls. They now contain independent stores and cozy restaurants that you can explore during a free afternoon.

Whether you choose to familiarize yourself with the neighborhood or relax at the hotel, we reconvene for dinner this evening. We take a short walk from our central hotel to a local restaurant, where we get to know each other better during a three-course meal. Overnight Oslo.

• Dinner

 After breakfast, we begin to explore the Norwegian capital with a local guide by coach. We start at Oslo's incredible opera house, which has a unique, angled exterior of marble and white granite. Visitors are encouraged to walk on the roof for great views across Oslofjord if the weather is suitable. We see the City Hall and the neoclassical Royal Palace, then continue to Vigeland Sculpture Park to walk among the art of Gustav Vigeland. Our tour ends at lunchtime, and you are at leisure for the rest of the day.

You could visit the Aker Brygge district, known for its pier and interesting eateries. Oslo offers many world-class museums, including the Munch Museum and the National Museum, containing works by the expressionist painter Edvard Munch, renowned for "The Scream." Another option is to take a gentle cruise around Oslofjord, possibly stopping at the Fram Museum to view a 19th-century ship used for polar exploration or visiting the Norsk Folk Museum.

Dinner is on your own tonight, and you could try new Nordic, international cuisine or fresh seafood in Aker Brygge. Overnight Oslo.

• Breakfast

 This morning, we take a short walk to the station for an epic rail journey from Oslo to Bergen. Traveling on the world-famous Bergen Railway, the highest in northern Europe, we enjoy views of the wild Norwegian countryside, passing breathtaking glaciers, mountains and spectacular fjords.

Our route enters the deep forest, where you can look out for wild reindeer and arctic foxes as we cross the Hardanger Plateau. Approaching the route's summit, Finse, it feels as if we are completely alone in nature. Set 4,000 feet above sea level, this has been a popular training ground for arctic explorers, including Scott and Shackleton.

Arriving at Bergen later this afternoon, we transfer by coach to our hotel, which is just steps away from the waterfront and Bergen's main square. Before dinner, there's time to settle in and explore our surroundings in this fascinating harbor city. Overnight Bergen.

• Breakfast, Dinner

 Our day begins with a guided sightseeing tour of Bergen by coach, visiting the Bryggen Waterfront, a World Heritage site. This area's brightly painted wooden buildings were once the center of the old Hanseatic port that played a key role in trade between Norway and the rest of Europe. The city's narrow streets and bustling fish market give us a sense of life here for merchants in the 13th century.

After our tour, this afternoon is free to continue exploring on your own. You could visit the Bryggen Museum to view the world's largest collection of runic inscriptions, or you might like to take a ride on the Fløibanen funicular to enjoy spectacular views across countless islands, showcasing why Bergen is called the "capital of the fjords."

This evening, you are free to dine independently, and as a UNESCO City of Gastronomy, Bergen has excellent restaurants from which you can choose. Popular local dishes are all based on fresh seafood - Bergen fish soup, fish cakes and traditional steamed cod. Overnight Bergen.

• Breakfast

 Two scenic rail journeys await today, beginning with the Bergen Railway. Leaving Bergen, the train climbs into the craggy mountains, traveling alongside deep fjords and through tunnels hewn out of solid rock before arriving in remote Myrdal - 2,840 feet above sea level.

In Myrdal, we board the famous Flåm Railway for an unforgettable ride along one of the steepest lines in the world. As we descend to the fjord-side village of Flåm for the night, tucked away in the innermost corner of Aurlandsfjord, our train negotiates horseshoe curves, twists, turns and 20 tunnels. Along this dramatic route, you can look out at rivers, waterfalls and snow-capped mountains passing by our window.

After a photo stop at the cascading Kjosfossen waterfall, the train arrives at Flåm this afternoon. Our hotel is a short distance from the train station, and after checking in, we have dinner here this evening. Overnight Flåm.

• Breakfast, Dinner

Today, we travel by coach to Loen, an idyllic village located in the innermost area of the Nordfjord region, a tiny spot on the landscape in contrast to the glorious green-blue fjord, the mighty Jostedalsbreen Glacier and looming snow-dusted mountains.

Along our way to Loen, we stop at the Fjaerland Glacier Museum, where entrance is included, and you are free to look around. Housed in a building designed by the architect Sverre Fehn, the museum's external design reflects the surrounding landscape of jagged mountains and angular glaciers. Inside, award-winning exhibits tell the story of Norway's landscapes and history of glaciology.

We continue our scenic journey by coach, taking a short trip on the Mannheller-Fodnes ferry to Fodnes before transferring to our hotel in Loen for two nights, set between magnificent fjords. Arriving this afternoon, you have time to refresh and enjoy the stunning scenery before a buffet dinner at our hotel. Overnight Loen.

• Breakfast, Dinner

 Enjoy breakfast in the beautiful surroundings of Loen, and then we make our way by coach to the "jewel in the crown" of Norway's fjords, Geirangerfjord. Our journey there passes the Dalsnibba viewpoint, Europe's highest fjord view at a staggering 4,500 feet.

We see beautiful Geirangerfjord in the best way possible: on a cruise across the serene waters of this spectacular UNESCO-listed site. Acclaimed for its unique landscape, this nine-mile-long branch of Storfjord (meaning "Great Fjord") has distinctive towering cliff walls and impressive waterfalls.

As we cruise, the scenery envelops us in a world of stunning color and beauty - the lush green of the trees contrasting with the blue water and brilliant white of the snow-capped distant peaks. When it rains, waterfalls appear seemingly from nowhere, cascading into the water below.

After disembarking at Hellesylt, we take a scenic drive back to Loen, where your afternoon is free to relax or enjoy the facilities and mountain views at our hotel. We dine at the hotel restaurant this evening. Overnight Loen.

• Breakfast, Dinner

 Setting out by coach this morning, we journey to Åndalsnes on Romsdalfjord, traveling along the serpentine Trollstigen Mountain Road* and admiring cinematic views across deep green valleys and thundering waterfalls. We cross the fjord at Eidsdal to Linge by ferry. On arrival in Åndalsnes, we board the Rauma Railway - a 71-mile-long journey filled with magnificent and contrasting landscapes. We enter the jaw-dropping Romsdal Valley, pause to admire the rushing Verma waterfall and cross the famous Kylling Bridge.

Following the course of the emerald green River Rauma, our train glides around the surrounding hillsides as we pass the insurmountable "Troll Wall" and the banks of the Romsdal Fjord, finally reaching the picturesque hamlets and villages of Dombås. Here, we change trains and continue our journey to the historic city of Trondheim for two nights. We walk the short distance from the station to Trondheim's fjordside harbor to check into our hotel and have a late dinner. Overnight Trondheim.

*Please note: the opening date of Trollstigen Road varies due to road and snow conditions. Departures before mid-June may travel on an alternative route.

• Breakfast, Dinner

 Awaking in the atmospheric harborside city of Trondheim, we discover its fascinating history on a guided tour. Once a major trading center, Trondheim is now a technology and innovation hub. We walk through the city's Old Quarter, pass the colorful waterfront houses of Bakklandet and admire the elegant Gothic architecture of Nidaros Cathedral. We also visit the Royal Residence, the largest wooden building in Northern Europe, with around 140 rooms.

The afternoon is yours to continue sightseeing at your own pace. Among the city's broad avenues, old warehouses and pretty timber dwellings are a number of attractions waiting to be explored. You could visit the Ringve Music Museum, situated on a hill and surrounded by the city's botanical gardens, or the Archbishop's Palace Museum - a treasure trove of local archaeological finds. The old town has charming bookstore cafés and bakeries with a reputation for relaxed lunches and great coffee. You dine independently tonight and Trondheim's food culture is first-class. Overnight Trondheim.

• Breakfast

 After an early breakfast, we depart Trondheim for an unforgettable journey north on the sensational Nordland Railway, a 452-mile journey to Bodø. Affectionately known as the Polar Express due to the picture-book scenery, the train travels through some of Norway's most impressive landscapes, presenting mountain vistas, tranquil fjords and glimmering lakes at every turn.

The Nordland takes us through the beautiful and varied landscapes of northern Norway. We cross the Arctic Circle at 66 degrees north shortly before reaching the town of Lønsdal, the highest point on the route. Keep watch for reindeer in the mountains or the elusive sea eagle soaring over the picturesque coast. In the height of summer, the Midnight Sun may illuminate our entire journey, giving us the spectacular experience of nearly 24-hour daylight. The train reaches Fauske before turning west for the final approach to Bodø, our scenic base for the night. We are transferred by coach to our hotel, where we have dinner. Overnight Bodø.

• Breakfast, Dinner

 This morning, we transfer to Bodø's pier, where we board a ferry to the picturesque port of Moskenes. Arriving in the early afternoon, we take a scenic drive through idyllic fishing villages to Svolvær for a two-night stay in the tiny capital of the Lofoten Isles.

Described as Europe's most dramatic and spectacular islands, the Lofoten archipelago is connected to mainland Norway by a series of bridges and ferries. These remote Arctic Circle islands are defined by jagged mountains with vivid green slopes fading into the sea, white sandy beaches and traditional red fishing huts.

After dinner at our harborside hotel, we savor our surroundings on a Midnight Sun excursion*. We travel by coach to Gimsoy Beach, a beautiful white sandy beach surrounded by spectacular mountains - a popular place to experience this natural phenomenon. Overnight Svolvær.

*Please note: the Midnight Sun excursion will only run on departures from May 27, 2026, to June 26, 2026.

• Breakfast, Dinner

 We continue exploring the Lofoten archipelago today with a morning of sightseeing on various islands. We begin by making a photo stop at the fishing village of Henningsvaer, then continue to the rugged yet beautiful Vestvågøy Island and its town of Leknes. Set between green meadows and dramatic mountains, Leknes sets a lovely backdrop during our free time. Our return journey includes a detour through the remote and scenic village of Kvalnes.

Back in Svolvær this afternoon, we take a safari cruise into sea eagle territory. On board, we enjoy coffee, tea and snacks, as well as a fish soup lunch. Our cruise boat offers warm thermal suits and comfortable places to sit on deck or inside the salon. While we look for the endangered sea eagle, other wildlife, such as herons, seals, dolphins and even whales, may also make an appearance. After our cruise, we transfer back to our hotel, where you are at leisure for the rest of the day and free to dine independently this evening in Svolvær. Overnight Svolvær.

• Breakfast, Lunch

 Norway's heritage-filled cities and jaw-dropping landscapes have set the tone for memorable explorations over the last two weeks. We have set out upon incredible railways, revealing untamed mountains and waterfalls, and cruised fjords whose surroundings must be seen to be believed. In between, visiting destinations like Oslo, Trondheim, Bodø and the beautiful Lofoten Islands has provided an unmatched taste of Norwegian culture.

As your tour comes to a close today, we begin our journey home with an early start. Our hotel provides a picnic breakfast to enjoy during the transfer to Evenes Airport. Here, we board our internal flight to Oslo, where, upon arrival, you are free to make your onward journey home.

*Please note: Due to an early afternoon arrival into Oslo, it is recommended that connecting flights are booked in the evening or a post-trip hotel is secured. Speak with a Rail Specialist for details or help making reservations.

• Breakfast