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Arctic Norway and Midnight sun in Lofoten

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13 days From £4,695 per person
4.7 stars(35 reviews)
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Experience the Arctic’s spellbinding beauty and – in summer - soak up the never-setting sun.

Mobility Rating 4

2024 Tour code: AYJ24

About the tour

Travel the length of Norway aboard some of the world's most impressive railways, discovering remote landscapes and stunning archipelagos along the way. Experience life in the Arctic Circle, visit Viking cities and see the summer phenomenon of the Midnight Sun.

Unforgettable experiences

Nordland Railway
Nordland Railway
Experience the Nordland Railway, also known as the Polar Express, as you journey through the Arctic countryside.
Flåm Railway
Flåm Railway
Journey on one of the most famous rail routes in the world, the Flåm Railway, stopping to admire the Kjosfossen Waterfalls along the way.
Bergen Railway
Bergen Railway
Admire the Hardangerjøkule Glacier as you travel from Oslo along the Bergen Railway.
Midnight Sun
Midnight Sun
Witness the breathtaking Midnight Sun on the Lofoten Isles.
Geirangerfjord
Geirangerfjord
Soak in the peace and tranquillity of Norway’s fjordlands with a cruise across Geirangerfjord.
Sea Eagle Safari
Sea Eagle Safari
Take part in a sea eagle safari off the northern coast of Norway.

What’s included

Itinerary

Day 1 - London and Oslo

After meeting at London Heathrow, we fly to Oslo, checking into our hotel for two nights on arrival.

Includes
  • Dinner
Day 2 - Discovering Oslo

We begin exploring the Norwegian capital on a guided tour, visiting some of its most beloved sights. These include the city's incredible opera house, with its unique roof, the stately Royal Palace, where we see the time-honoured changing of the guards, and Frogner Park - a green space filled with unique sculptures and impressive water features. The rest of your day is free to continue sightseeing and the city has many world-class galleries and museums to enjoy.

Includes
  • Breakfast
Day 3 - Bergen Railway

We take a short walk to the station where we catch the train to Bergen for a two-night stay. Travelling along the full length of the Bergen Railway, we enjoy views of the wild Norwegian countryside, passing glaciers, mountains and numerous fjords. Regarded as one of the greatest railway journeys in the world, this high-altitude trip through southern Norway - where a harsh climate has produced a breathtaking landscape - enables us to soak up spectacular views while relaxing in comfortable carriages.

Includes
  • Breakfast, Dinner
Day 4 - Bergen

We enjoy a guided tour along the old Hanseatic waterfront of Bryggen, through narrow streets and the bustling local fish market, which give us a sense of life here for merchants in the 13th century. With free time afterwards, you could visit the Bergenhus district of the city, known for its well-preserved medieval buildings, while on the other side of the harbour is the Klosteret area, home to 18th-century wooden houses and charming alleys where you can stroll out to the Nordnes Peninsula.

Includes
  • Breakfast
Day 5 - The Flåm Railway

We enjoy two scenic rail journeys today, beginning with the Bergen Railway. Leaving Bergen, the train climbs into the rugged mountains, travelling alongside deep fjords and through tunnels hewn out of solid rock, before arriving in Myrdal - 2,840 feet above sea level. Here, 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, the train negotiates horseshoe curves, twists, turns and 20 tunnels. The scenery is spectacular, with rivers and waterfalls, snow-capped mountains and remote farms passing by our window.

Includes
  • Breakfast, Dinner
Day 6 – Loen

Travelling to Loen, located in the innermost part of the Nordfjord region, we begin by taking the Mannheller-Fodnes ferry to Skei before visiting the Fjaerland Glacier Muse-um. Housed in a building designed by esteemed architect Sverre Fehn to reflect the surrounding backdrops of jagged mountains and angular glaciers, award-winning exhibits tell the story of Norway's glacial landscapes and history of glaciology. We continue to Loen by coach, checking into our hotel for two nights on arrival.

Includes
  • Breakfast, Dinner
Day 7 - Geirangerfjord

We make our way by coach to Geiranger via the Dalsnibba viewpoint, Europe's highest fjord view at a staggering 4,500 feet. We enjoy the scenery of Geirangerfjord by boat, cruising the calm waters of this UNESCO-listed site. Acclaimed for its unique landscape, this nine-mile-long branch of Storfjord (meaning 'Great Fjord'), boasts towering cliff walls that overlook some of the continent's finest scenery. Along its shores, a number of waterfalls - including the Seven Sisters and Suitor - plunge from the mountainous forests to the waters below. As we cruise, the scenery envelops us in a world of colour and contrasts - 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 majestically into the water below. After disembarking, we take a scenic drive from Hellesylt back to Loen.

Includes
  • Breakfast, Dinner
Day 8 - The Rauma Railway

We make the journey to Åndalsnes today, travelling along the serpentine Trollstigen Mountain Road to admire cinematic views over the deep valleys and their waterfalls. On arrival, we board the famous Rauma Railway to Trondheim for two nights, a 71-mile-long journey filled with scenic views of magnificent and contrasting landscapes. Following the same course as the emerald waters of the River Rauma, the train winds its way elegantly around the surrounding hillsides as we pass the insurmountable 'Troll Wall' and the banks of the peaceful Romsdal Fjord.

*The opening date of Trollstigen Road varies due to road and snow conditions. Early departures before mid-June may travel on an alternative route.

Includes
  • Breakfast, Lunch
Day 9 - Trondheim

Discovering the history of Trondheim on today's guided tour, we see the Old Quarter and the colourful waterfront houses of Bakklandet as well the Gothic architecture of Nidaros Cathedral. We also visit the sumptuous Royal Residence, the largest wooden building in Northern Europe with around 140 different rooms. The rest of your day is free to continue sightseeing at your own pace. Among the city's broad avenues, old warehouses and pretty timber dwellings, there are a number of attractions waiting to be explored, such as the Ringve Music Museum and the Archbishop's Palace Museum - a treasure trove of local archaeological finds.

Includes
  • Breakfast
Day 10 – The Nordland Railway and Bodø

Departing Trondheim, we travel north on the Nordland Railway, also known as the 'Po-lar Express' and 'the train of the Midnight Sun', a 452-mile journey to Bodø. The route takes us through the beautiful and varied landscapes of northern Norway, and we cross the Arctic Circle at 66 degrees north shortly before reaching the town of Lonsdal, the highest point on the route. The train reaches Fauske before turning west for the final approach to Bodø, our base for the night.

Includes
  • Day 10 - Breakfast, Dinner
Day 11 – The Midnight Sun on the Lofoten Isles

We board a speed ferry to Moskenes before taking a scenic coach journey through idyllic fishing villages to Svolvaer, the tiny capital of the beautiful Lofoten Isles. Described as Europe's most dramatic and spectacular islands, the Lofoten Isles are tethered to main-land Norway by a series of bridges which resemble spiky, wired teeth. After checking in-to our hotel for the night, we enjoy a complimentary drink while we behold nature's masterpiece as majestic mountains kiss the crystle-clear waters of the fjord, while vibrant fishing villages and colorful wooden hourses paint a picturesque scene against the backdrop of the Arctic sky.

Includes
  • Breakfast, Dinner
Day 12 - Svolvaer and a sea eagle safari

We continue exploring the Lofoten archipelago, visiting the charming fishing village of Henningsvaer, the petite harbour town of Kabelvåg, and Lødingen - a remote village surrounded by mountain scenery - before taking to the waters for a unique sea eagle safari. While we hope to see these majestic endangered creatures, which are larger than golden eagles, other wildlife - such as heron, seals, dolphins and even whales - may also make an appearance.

Includes
  • Breakfast, Lunch
Day 13 - London

After a final breakfast we check out of our hotel and transfer to Evenes for our flight to Oslo. From here, we fly back to London Heathrow.

Includes
  • Breakfast

Additional information

Please Note

Please note, hotels may differ depending on departure date.

Please note: you will need to transport your own luggage on flights and the Nordland Railway, rather than via our luggage service.

Departure times

Provisional departure and return times, where available, can be found together with our dates and prices by clicking on the 'Prices & Availability' button. We write to all booked customers approximately 10 weeks prior to the start of their tour to advise the exact departure and return time for their particular group.

Mobility information

Due to the nature of our tours they are generally unsuitable for those with restricted mobility. If you’d like to discuss any particular holiday with us in this respect, then please don’t hesitate to call us.

Hotels

Thon Hotel Bristol, Bergen

Thon Hotel Bristol, Bergen

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Radisson Blu Hotel, Bodø

Radisson Blu Hotel, Bodø

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Fretheim Hotel, Flåm

Fretheim Hotel, Flåm

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Alexandra Hotel, Loen

Alexandra Hotel, Loen

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Thon Hotel Opera, Oslo

Thon Hotel Opera, Oslo

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Thon Hotel Lofoten, Svolvaer

Thon Hotel Lofoten, Svolvaer

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Clarion Hotel, Trondheim

Clarion Hotel, Trondheim

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Trains

Bergen Railway
Flåm Railway
Nordland Railway
The Raumabanen Railway

Enhance your holiday

Upgrades

Flight upgrades
London Hotels
UK rail connections

Reviews

4.7 stars4.7 / 5 · 35 reviews

  1. 5 stars
    (25)
  2. 4 stars
    (10)
  3. 3 stars
    (0)
  4. 2 stars
    (0)
  5. 1 star
    (0)

A Walker

4 stars

Submitted 27 Jul 2023

An enjoyable trip with a varied itinerary and spectacular scenery. We had the added bonus of an enthusiastic and friendly tour manager and a great group of fellow travellers. A lot of time was spent on trains and coaches, more of the latter than expected, but there were constant wonderful views - even when raining!

Collected by Trustpilot

Jim Henton

5 stars

Submitted 22 Jul 2023

A wonderful tour of Norway taking in magnificent fjords, ice capped mountains, majestic scenery, comfortable hotels, wild life - sea eagles in particular. Guides were knowledgeable but the star of the trip was our Tour Manager, Linda Howells

Collected by Trustpilot

Lynda Redfern

4 stars

Submitted 22 Jul 2023

Enjoyable trip but disappointed when the Polar Express journey was cancelled, although of course through no fault of GRJ. Spectacular scenery, and the Lofoten Islands lived up to expectations. Apart from the meal on the first night the hotels and meals were excellent. Our tour guide, Linda, did a great job guiding us through the many departures and challenges of an organised trip.

Collected by Trustpilot

Ms Mary Cowland

5 stars

Submitted 18 Jul 2023

Great experienve

Collected by Trustpilot

G Day

5 stars

Submitted 17 Jul 2023

great trip and super managet

Collected by Trustpilot

M Cherry

5 stars

Submitted 17 Jul 2023

Well lead, Well organised and an amazing holiday.

Collected by Trustpilot

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