Norway, Lofoten and Arctic Circle

We fly from London Heathrow to Oslo, transferring to a local restaurant for dinner on arrival and checking into our hotel. 

• Dinner

Today starts with a guided tour. Beginning at the avant-garde opera house, we continue to the Akershus Fortress and 'Kvadraturen' - the oldest existing district in Oslo. With free time in the afternoon, you may like to visit some of the city's renowned museums or watch the changing of the guard at the Royal Palace.

• Breakfast

We journey to Trondheim today, travelling by train along the Dovre Line through the picturesque Gudbrandsdalen Valley and the lofty Bovrefjell mountain range.

• Breakfast, Dinner

Today is free in Trondheim. You could visit Nidaros Cathedral, considered to be a Gothic masterpiece, or explore the city's Viking roots.

• Breakfast, Dinner

This morning we transfer to Trondheim's port to begin a four-night cruise aboard our Havila ship. Featuring plush bedrooms, restaurants, a café, Jacuzzi on deck and shopping facilities, these brand-new ships are one of the most relaxing and comfortable ways to explore the northernmost part of Norway. Heading into open water, this afternoon we pass the Kjeungskjær Lighthouse, a bright red octagonal structure situated at the meeting point of Trondheimsfjord and the North Sea. We navigate the narrow strait of Stokksund on our way to the coastal town of Rørvik.

• Breakfast, Dinner

Continuing our cruise northwards, we cross the 66.5 degrees North latitude, celebrating as we enter the Arctic Circle. We reach Ørnes and drop anchor. With a choice of optional excursions available, you could visit Bodø's Salmon Centre for a guided tour to learn about one of Norway's most important industries. Back on board this afternoon, we catch sight 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, their houses built on timber piles with seawater under the floorboards, and imposing cliffs, we navigate the strait of Raftsundet before reaching the sapphire waters of the tapering Trollfjord.

• Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

This morning we sail past Risøyhamn, Harstad and Finnsnes, catching a glimpse of everyday life in the Arctic. We disembark at Tromsø, the largest city in northern Norway. Here you can make the most of more optional excursions, including a tour of the Arctic capital that takes you on a cable car ride up one of the surrounding mountains or time at Tromsø's unique cathedral. Re-boarding our ship, we cruise through bountiful waters, home to orcas, humpback whales and lots of different Arctic birds. Departures from September onwards may also experience the magical Northern Lights.

• Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Today takes us to Norway's North Cape where the icy waters of the Arctic and Atlantic Oceans mix. During summer we may chance upon herds of reindeer, as the northernmost strip of land here is dotted with settlements of indigenous Sami people whose main sources of livelihood are reindeer herding and fishing. We disembark at Havøysund and visit the world's most northerly fishing village as well as the North Cape Plateau before continuing to Honningsvåg. Here, you could join an optional guided tour of the Northern Cape, including time at Northern Cape Hall visitor centre, before we make our way to Kjøllefjord to learn about the traditional way of life of the Sami people. On our June departure, we may even have the right conditions to admire the full beauty of the Midnight Sun.

• Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Our cruise ends and we disembark at Kirkenes for the night, a city situated on the Finnish-Russian border. We're met by a local guided for a coach tour of the area that takes us to the scenic shores of Langfjorden ahead of a visit to the Svanhovd Botanical Gardens, which shows us the diversity of life this side of the Arctic Circle. After a three-course lunch enjoyed in a replica of a traditional Viking longhouse, we continue to a nearby husky kennel to meet these hard-working creatures and learn about how vital they've been to life in this part of the world.

• Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

On Day 10, we board our flight to London Heathrow, travelling via Oslo.

• Breakfast