Grand Tour of Scandinavia

After meeting at London Heathrow, we board our direct flight to Stockholm, checking into our hotel for two nights on arrival.

*Please Note: you will need to take your lugggage with you on your flight from the UK as opposed to it travelling via our luggage transfer service.

• Dinner

One of Europe's most beautiful capital cities, built across 14 islands connected by no fewer than 57 bridges, Stockholm has over 750 years of history and cultural which we set out to explore on a guided sightseeing tour. Our first stop is City Hall, where there's time to admire panoramic views, the Royal Palace, Östermalm, Långholm, the Royal Djurgården and the Old Town. Also known as Gamla Stan, this area is home to one of the best preserved medieval centres in the world. Afterwards, we enjoy a well-deserved, traditional Swedish 'fika', or coffee break, relaxing over a hot drink and slice of home-made cake. The rest of your afternoon is free.

• 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 only town of any size in the vicinity, it is a major cultural and transportation centre while also nurturing 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 serpentine with multiple humps, it's yet to be caught on camera, but for a time had a law ensuring its protection!

This secluded spot is a scenic place to relax and admire the vivid waterside attractions before we continue our journey north.

• Breakfast

Travelling towards the untamed wilderness of Swedish Lapland, the Inlandsbanan takes us ever closer to the 'Land of the Midnight Sun' through a landscape of pine and birch forests. Enjoy the chance to spot some local wildlife, including moose and reindeer, as we listen to commentary about the sights passing by our window. We arrive in Sorsele, visiting the Inslandsbanan Museum after disembarking before making our way to a nearby Sami village to learn about the lives of Scandinavia's indigenous people. We spend the night in Arjeplog, where a traditional dinner is served around a campfire.

For May, early June and September departures, on Day 4 we will travel by coach to the Sami village, not on the Inlandsbanan.

• Breakfast, Dinner

Driving even further north, we receive a special memento as we cross the Arctic Circle, something that will help us remember the moment forever, on our way to Jokkmokk for the night. On arrival, we enjoy a visit to the local Sami Museum, seeing historic artefacts including silver-work and traditional dress, of the indigenous Sami people and learn more about their nomadic way of life.

• Breakfast, Dinner

Enjoy a free morning to look around the Jokkmokk Mountain Garden, home to an array of unique alpine plants. Afterwards, we join the famous Ofoten Railway to Narvik. The views that accompany our journey are spectacular; deep, dark fjords, wild and rugged mountain terrain and barren plateaus line the route, showing just how remote these far northern reaches really are. On arrival, we check into our hotel for a two-night stay.

• Breakfast, Dinner

An ice-free seaport located 250 miles north of the Arctic Circle, Narvik was a key battleground in WWII. With free time today, you could find out more about the vital role it played with a visit to the local Red Cross War Memorial Museum, which documents the city's wartime occupation of by German forces. Also worth a visit is the Ofoten Museum, which features exhibits relating to local history and the construction of the Ofoten Railway.

• Breakfast

We transfer to Fauske by coach to begin our journey along Nordland Railway, also known as the 'Polar Express' and 'the train of the Midnight Sun', to Verdal. During the trip, we marvel at the ever-changing scenery; with clear blue skies reflecting the water of sparkling fjords as the spectacular Svartisen Glacier extends from the mountains into the valley below. In high summer, the sun may illuminate our entire journey, giving us the spectacular experience of nearly 24-hour daytime. From Verdal, we transfer to Stiklestad for the night.

Please Note - For departure 19/07/2024 you will stay at the Thon Backlund hotel.

• Breakfast, Dinner

We enjoy a tour of Stiklestad this morning, the site of King Olav's death in 1030 during one of Norway's most famous and hard-fought battles. Afterwards, our coach takes us to the popular Viking city of Trondheim, our base for two nights.

• Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

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 with its magnificent rose window. We also make a stop at the sumptuous Royal Residence, the largest wooden building in Northern Europe with up to 140 different rooms. The rest of your day is free to continue sightseeing at your own pace. Amongst 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.

• Breakfast

Joining the 71-mile-long Rauma Railway to Åndalsnes, we enjoy a spectacular journey through magnificent and contrasting landscapes. Following the same course as the emerald waters of the River Rauma most of the way, the train winds its way elegantly around the surrounding hillsides as we make our approach past the insurmountable 'Troll Wall' to the banks of the peaceful Romsdal Fjord. Stepping off the train into the fresh, crisp air, we continue by coach to Geiranger for two nights.

• Breakfast, Dinner

Our day includes a relaxing fjord cruise across Geirangerfjord, a UNESCO World Heritage site thanks to its unique setting. A nine-mile-long branch of the Storfjord (meaning 'Great Fjord'), the magnificent Geirangerfjord boasts towering walls that overlook some of Europe's finest scenery. As we sail, a number of high waterfalls - including the Seven Sisters and the Suitor - plunge straight from the forested cliff edge above to the smooth waters below. Back on dry land, we return to Geiranger via Hellesylt.

• Breakfast

Leaving Geiranger by coach, we continue our scenic travels through Norway's incredible fjord country, pausing en route at the incredible Dalsnibba viewing point and ancient Kaupanger stave church. We reach Flåm, at the head of Aurlandsfjord, and check into our hotel for the night.

• Breakfast, Dinner

We take a superb excursion aboard the iconic Flåm Railway. Our route cuts a path through Norway's rocky terrain via 11 ¼ miles of tunnels which delve through mountainsides, as well as trailing past the edges of Tyrifjorden lakeside. The train twists and turns as it takes us ever higher along one of the steepest lines in the world, stopping beside the powerful Kjosfossen Falls before reaching the high-altitude station at Myrdal and making the return journey back to Flåm. Here, we board a luxury eco boat for a cruise across Sognefjord to meet the coach transferring us to Bergen.

• Breakfast

We set off on a guided tour of Bergen this morning, a harbour city surrounded by seven striking mountains and known for the wonderfully-preserved medieval buildings of its Bergenhus district. Part of the old Hanseatic Wharf, this area is now UNESCO listed and protected. On the other side of the harbour is the Klosteret area, which has beautiful 18th-century wooden houses and charming alleys, where you can take a stroll out to the Nordnes peninsula. The city centre extends from the main square (Torget) to the Nygård area, where most of the shops and restaurants can be found. We end with a stop for a delicious seafood lunch at the picturesque fish market.

• Breakfast, Lunch

We board the train to Oslo, travelling along Northern Europe's highest railway line, the Bergen Railway. Sights to look out for as we travel include the pretty Hallingdal Valley, through which the Hallingdalselva River flows to Lake Krøderen, the mountain of Norefjell and the Hardangerjøkule Glacier. Having passed through towns and villages such as Geilo, Gol and Flå, the backdrop begins to become more urban as we make the final approach into Norway's capital city.

• Breakfast, Dinner

After breakfast, we check out of our hotel and head to the airport for the flight back to London Heathrow.

*Please Note: you will need to take your lugggage back to the UK with you on your flight as opposed to it travelling via our luggage transfer service.

• Breakfast