Norway, Lofoten & Arctic Cruise

Your Northern Lights and Arctic cruise holiday starts when we meet the Tour Manager at London Heathrow before boarding our morning flight to Norway's capital city of Oslo. On arrival, we transfer by the efficient Norwegian rail system to our central four-star hotel, close to Oslo Central Station and the celebrated Norwegian Opera House.

This innovative green city is regularly commended for its progressive architecture and, with a people-friendly centre that is becoming increasingly car-free with more large green spaces, it is pioneering a new future for European cities.

After checking in for an overnight stay, we walk to a nearby restaurant for dinner this evening.

• Dinner

This morning is one of the highlights of our tour, a journey aboard the iconic Bergen Railway, northern Europe's highest and most beautiful line, on its spectacular journey to Bergen. From Oslo's centre and suburbs, we head west into the countryside and the backdrop to our journey becomes more beautiful, as blue skies and green forests contrast with snow-capped peaks and azure fjords.

After a couple of hours we reach Flå in the pretty Hallingdal Valley, where the Hallingdalselva River flows to Lake Krøderen. Passing the winter ski resort of Geilo, our train climbs up to the Hardangervidda mountain plateau, the largest in Northern Europe. The highest point of the Bergen Railway is the tiny mountain village of Finse and from here we descend into glorious fjords, before approaching Voss, encircled by mountains. An hour later, we reach Bergen, whose most distinctive feature is the brightly painted wooden buildings on the Bryggen waterfront, a World Heritage site. On arrival we are transferred to our hotel for a two-night stay, where there is time to relax or maybe stroll along the atmospheric waterfront before dinner.

• Breakfast, Dinner

After a leisurely breakfast, we set off on a guided walking tour of Bergen. This attractive harbour city, once Norway's capital, is surrounded by seven striking mountains and renowned for the brightly painted buildings of its waterfront area, a UNESCO-listed area known as the Bryggen. Its picturesque wharf was once the centre of the old Hanseatic port, a key hub in trade between Norway and the rest of Europe.

Our tour ends around midday, after a ride on the Fløibanen funicular, which has spectacular views across the surrounding countryside and countless scenic islands.

The rest of the day is yours to enjoy at your own pace and you could start with a visit to the fish market for some freshly caught lunch. This afternoon you could visit the Bryggens Museum to gain insights into everyday life in medieval Bergen and see the world's largest collection of runic inscriptions. You dine independently this evening and traditional Bergen offers a surprisingly wide choice of international cuisine - from pizza to seafood, Japanese to African.

• Breakfast

Following a morning at leisure in Bergen, the next awe-inspiring experience of our summer adventure begins. After a transfer by coach to Bergen port, the gateway to the Norwegian fjords and the Arctic Circle we begin our incredible journey north along Norway's stunning coastline. Here we board our modern, environmentally friendly cruise ship, for a journey of six nights.

Havila's ships are one of the most comfortable ways to explore the northernmost part of Norway and are equipped to ensure we can relax and experience the jaw-dropping scenery in style. An observation lounge on the top deck has recliners under a glass roof in case of cooler weather. There are two restaurants and a café on board, as well as a sauna and a gym where all the machines face the window.

After settling into our interior cabins and maybe finding a seat to look out from the top deck, we enjoy dinner onboard this evening, before commencing our northbound voyage with an overnight sailing to the unusual town of Ålesund.

• Breakfast, Dinner

Waking to views of the rugged Norwegian coast after the first night of our voyage north, we pass the ports of Florø, Måløy, and Torvik. After breakfast on board we dock in Ålesund for the day, a town renowned for its art nouveau architecture, beautiful brick-built houses and warehouses.

You are free to spend the day in this enchanting town. Maybe start with a walk along the waterfront among the unusual mix of architecture, a result of the rebuilding which occurred after 1904 when a fire destroyed many of Ålesund's original wooden buildings. Find out more about the town's history in the Ålesund Museum. Another option is to book one of the excursions on offer, such as a mini-cruise into the spectacular Geirangerfjord.

Lunch is served aboard the ship, or you may like to try some locally caught fish. A speciality is the salted dried cod known as klippfisk, which is reputed to be pretty salty! We return to our ship in the late afternoon and, over dinner, our journey continues into the dreamlike landscape of fjords, islands and mountains.

• Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

This morning, we dock in the historic city of Trondheim, founded over a thousand years ago and known as the 'Viking City'. There's time to look around and discover more of the city's intriguing history before lunch, maybe visiting the Nidaros Cathedral, Norway's national shrine and one of the largest cathedrals in Northern Europe. It is also possible to book a guided tour of Trondheim as an optional excursion onboard.

Back on board, our voyage north continues out into the open water of the fjord, travelling through an amazingly abundant archipelago. We pass the Kjeungskjær Lighthouse, a bright red octagonal structure situated at the meeting point of Trondheimsfjord and the North Sea, before navigating the narrow strait of Stokksund on our way to the coastal town of Rørvik.

After dinner onboard, as we sail towards Bodø you may like to sit out on the observation deck to experience the unusual sight of the midnight sun.

• Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Continuing our voyage north, we cross the 66.5 degrees northerly latitude, celebrating as we enter the Arctic Circle. In Bodø, we can disembark and explore or enjoy views of the harbour and mountains. Optional excursions to book onboard include a Bodø city tour, a trip to the Svartisen Glacier or Sea Eagle spotting. Back at sea, we catch our first glimpse of the steep granite cliffs and silvery beaches of the Lofoten Islands. Described as Europe's most dramatic and spectacular isles, the Lofotens are home to small fishing communities.

This evening, we disembark at Stamsund for an unforgettable experience, travelling back in time to dine with a Viking chieftain. After driving to the Lofotr Viking Museum in Borg, we enter a 272-foot-long house, where we are welcomed to take our seats at a lavish Viking banquet, in the great hall of the Viking chief. Served by Vikings in traditional costumes, we tuck in to an authentic meal of lamb, vegetables, barley groats, cranberries and Viking bread with sour cream and butter. Our meal is accompanied by Mead (or a non-alcoholic alternative) along with singing and dancing in true Viking style.

• Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Gliding past remote coastal towns this morning, we catch glimpses of everyday life in the Arctic winter before disembarking in Tromsø, the largest city in northern Norway.

Here you can make the most of more optional excursions, including a tour of the Arctic capital with a cable car ride up one of the surrounding mountains or spend time at Tromsø's unique modern cathedral. Built in the 1960s, the cathedral is a pyramid of aluminium and glass, with amazing stained-glass windows. It is also possible to book a tour of Tromsø Museum to learn more about Sámi heritage and traditions. Other galleries and museums include the Polar Museum and the Troll Museum, dedicated to trolls and fairytales, which showcases Norwegian folk beliefs and the mythical creatures of Norway.

Re-boarding our ship, we cruise through bountiful summer waters where we may spot orcas, humpback whales and different Arctic birds.

• Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Today takes us to Norway's North Cape, where the icy waters of the Arctic and Atlantic Oceans mix. In the summer months we may chance upon herds of reindeer as the northernmost strip of land here is dotted with settlements of indigenous Sámi people whose main sources of livelihood are reindeer herding and fishing.

We disembark at Havøysund to visit the world's most northerly fishing village before continuing to Honningsvåg where our afternoon is free to spend as we wish. Before leaving the ship, optional excursions to book and pay for include a trip to the North Cape plateau with time at the Northern Cape Hall visitor centre, snowshoeing and ice fishing, or bird watching. Later, there's the chance to book another unique optional excursion - a cruise across to Kjøllefjord to learn about the traditional way of life of the Sámi people.

Our voyage north continues as we cruise overnight towards Kirkenes, a journey which occurs entirely in sunlight, and we can experience the natural wonder of the evening sunset merging into sunrise.

• Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

After passing the easternmost town in Norway, Vardo, our cruise reaches its final destination, the Arctic city of Kirkenes. Situated on the border of Finland and Russia, overlooking the Barents Sea, this northernmost city is known as 'King Crab city' due to its abundant shellfish, especially these highly prized species.

After disembarking this morning, we transfer to Kirkenes airport before a flight back to Oslo, where we spend the final two nights of our Nordic adventure at the same hotel where our holiday began. Tonight, you are free to dine independently and you may like to try one of the restaurants, brasseries or bistros along the Harbour Promenade of Bjørvika, Oslo's new cultural quarter.

• Breakfast

Waking in the thriving historic and cultural city of Oslo, after breakfast, we head out with an expert guide on a 3-hour walking tour, starting at the famous Oslo Opera House nearby. This distinctive all-white auditorium is designed to appear as if rising from the water like a glacier. Visitors are encouraged to walk on the sloping roof, weather permitting, to enjoy views across Oslofjord.

We continue to the Akershus Fortress, a medieval castle with glimmering twin spires. From here, we explore 'Kvadraturen' - Oslo's oldest existing district, the Renaissance town of King Christian IV of Denmark, where a few 17th-century buildings remain.

With a free afternoon, you could visit one of Oslo's renowned museums such as the Viking Ship, the National Museum, or the Edvard Munch gallery which houses Munch's most famous work 'The Scream'. Or you could watch the changing of the guard at the Royal Palace. This evening, we enjoy the final dinner of our Nordic holiday.

• Breakfast, Dinner

On this extensive summer exploration of Norway we have discovered the exciting cities of Oslo and Bergen, and experienced the spectacular route of the Bergen Railway, before our epic voyage north into the 'land of the midnight sun'. While cruising into enchanting scenery, we have been introduced to local culture and tradition in unique towns and cities such as Ålesund, Tromsø and Trondheim.

After breakfast at our hotel this morning, we check out and transfer to Oslo airport before boarding our flight to London Heathrow. On landing back in London, your holiday draws to a close and you are free to make your way home.

• Breakfast