We depart St Pancras International by Eurostar to Brussels in Leisure Select Class. A complimentary meal and drinks served at our seats during the journey. We continue by train across Belgium and Germany to the Hanseatic city of Bremen, where we spend one night at the Ramada Übersee Hotel. (E,D)

We leave Bremen and travel via Hamburg to the port of Puttgarden where we join the train ferry for the crossing to Rødby in Denmark. From here we continue to the Danish capital, Copenhagen, for a two-night stay at the Imperial Hotel. (B,D)

Our morning sightseeing tour includes the magnificent Amalienborg Palace, the Little Mermaid statue and a cruise around the waterways of Copenhagen. The afternoon is free for you to explore Copenhagen - perhaps enjoy some of its museums, take a stroll along the bustling waterfront at Nyhavn and visit the enchanting Tivoli Gardens. (B)

After a short journey by local train to Malmö, we join the X2000 train direct to Stockholm (rail travel today is in Standard Class due to the lack of First Class availability). On arrival in Sweden's capital city we transfer to our hotel for two nights, the Radisson SAS Royal Viking Hotel. (B,D)

We begin with a sightseeing tour of the modern city and the narrow streets of Gamla Stan (the Old Town), a perfect way to get your bearings in Sweden's splendid capital. (B,D)

Departing Stockholm we head inland by InterCity train to Östersund, nestled on the shore of Lake Storsjön, Sweden's fifth largest lake. Here we stay for one night at the Best Western Gamla Teatern. (B,D)

Today's journey takes the Inlandsbanan tourist train through Sweden's landscape of lakes and forests to the untamed wilderness of Lapland. The train makes leisurely stops along the way for passengers to buy food and take photographs, and the knowledgeable hosts are on hand with local information. After crossing the Arctic Circle into the 'Land of the Midnight Sun' we enjoy a light dinner with local Sami specialities before transferring to the Hotel Jokkmokk, set in the heart of Laponia's World Heritage region. (B,D)

Transferring through Laponia to Gällivare, we continue on the Ofoten Railway, one of the most northerly lines in the world, past sheer drops down to fjords and dramatic mountains. We arrive at the port of Narvik for a two-night stay at the Quality Grand Royal Hotel, close to the town's historic monuments. (B,D)

Your day in Narvik is free to spend as you choose. You may take the opportunity to visit the Ofoten Museum, to discover the cultural history of Narvik, enjoy a cable car ride (seasonal) to experience breathtaking views or visit the poignant Red Cross War Memorial Museum. (B)

Today we begin with a coach journey along the coast and a beautiful ferry crossing. At Fauske we continue by train, leaving the Arctic Circle before arriving late evening in Trondheim, Norway's religious capital. The centrally-located Britannia Hotel is our home for the next two nights. (B)

Today you have time to explore Trondheim at your own pace. Perhaps visit the fascinating Music Museum at Ringve, specialising in instruments from around the world. Whilst you are there, why not take a stroll around the Ringve Botanical Gardens? Visit the National Museum of Decorative Arts, the old penitentiary from 1725 which is now a distinctive, quaint maritime museum or the Nidaros Cathedral, which is considered to be the most significant cathedral in Norway. (B)

We leave Trondheim by train for Dombås, where we join the 71 mile long Rauma Railway, for a journey through jagged mountain peaks and gorges, following the course of the River Rauma to Åndalsnes. From here we transfer by coach to Geiranger for a two-night stay at the Union Hotel, situated at the head of the fjord. (B,D)

The Geirangerfjord is one of Norway's most spectacular, and today we enjoy the beautiful scenery during a morning boat cruise. Waterfalls named the Seven Sisters and the Friar are set against the sheer mountains, whilst snow-covered peaks and deep blue waters demonstrate why the site deserves its UNESCO World Heritage status. (B,D)

We leave Geiranger by coach and continue through fjord country to Flåm at the head of the Aurlandsfjord. Here we stay at the Flåmsbrygga Hotel, situated on the quayside overlooking the fjord. (B,D)

Today we enjoy a superb excursion on the Flåm Railway. Our rail journey takes us up into the mountains along one of the steepest lines in the world, which twists and turns to accommodate the extreme terrain. We reach the end at Myrdal and return to Flåm, from where we board the express boat for an afternoon journey along Norway's longest and deepest fjord, Sognefjord. Navigating coastal islets and skerries, we end the day in Bergen, where we stay for two nights at the Thon Hotel Rosenkrantz, located close to Bergen's historic Bryggen waterfront. (B,D)

Enjoy a day at leisure to explore Bergen at your own pace. The town is nestled beneath seven strategic hills and surrounded by fjords. Bryggen, the old city, is a UNESCO World Heritage site, and the Fløibanen funicular railway affords great views of the city and its harbours from the top of Mount Fløien. (B)

We leave Bergen by train for a magnificent journey on Northern Europe's highest railway line, the Bergen Railway. The train climbs high above the tree line across some of the most remote areas of western Norway before descending through pastures to the elegant city of Oslo. On arrival we walk the short distance to check in to the Thon Hotel Opera, close to the city centre. (B,D)

You have a day at leisure in Oslo. Perhaps visit one of the attractive city parks or the elegant Royal Palace. Norway's capital city offers plenty of museums; there is the Viking Ship and Maritime Museum, the Folk Museum and the (Edvard) Munch Museum, to name just a few. Shopping in Oslo is also excellent, from the department stores of Karl Johans Gate to the trendy 'Greenwich Village' atmosphere of Grünerløkka. We later transfer to the port and board the overnight ferry to Frederikshavn in Denmark, staying in inside cabins. Enjoy the scenic views as the ferry cruises down the Oslofjord towards the sea. (B)

On arrival in Frederikshavn we disembark the ferry and join the train to Hamburg. We spend two nights here at the Maritim Hotel Reichshof. (B,D)

This morning we enjoy a guided sightseeing tour of Hamburg and in the afternoon you are at leisure to explore at your own pace. A major port city situated on the River Elbe, Hamburg has a rich mercantile history and from the 13^th century was a member of the Hanseatic League. The city has some interesting sights, including the imposing old warehouses, richly decorated mansions and cobbled streets found in the area surrounding the port, the Neo-Renaissance style town hall and St Michaeliskirche, widely acclaimed to be Northern Germany's finest Baroque church. Hamburg is also home to an impressive array of museums as well as the Kunsthalle and Deichtorhallen - two of Germany's leading modern art galleries - and Miniatur Wonderland, the largest model railway in the world. (B)

We depart Hamburg and travel via Cologne to Brussels. Here we join the Eurostar to London, with a complimentary meal and drinks served before our arrival in St Pancras International. (B,E)

E = Eurostar meal, B = Breakfast, L = Lunch, D = Dinner
These meals, where shown, are included in the price of your holiday

A shorter version of this tour is available, with an outbound flight to Stockholm and a return flight from Oslo. Please see the Arctic Circle Express 2010 for details.