Trondheim, Bodø & the Lofoten Islands

Your Scandinavian holiday begins at London Heathrow, where you meet the Tour Manager before boarding a flight to Trondheim via Oslo.

Separated from eastern Norway by the mighty Dovrefjell Mountains, Trondheim was founded by Olaf Tryggvason, a Viking king, more than a thousand years ago. Today, it's one of Norway's most populous cities and a technological hub, boasting several tech-focused and scientific institutions.

On arrival in this fascinating city, we transfer by coach to our hotel beside the Nidelva River, just a short distance from the historic centre. With spare time before dinner, you're free to relax or explore your surroundings. In the evening, we return to the hotel for dinner.

• Dinner

After breakfast at our hotel, we set off on a walking tour of this historic city with an expert guide.

Strolling along the cobblestone streets of Bakklandet, the city's Old Quarter, we pass cheerful houses in shades of red, blue, yellow and green. Just outside the city centre, we marvel at the Gothic exterior of Nidaros Cathedral, the world's northernmost medieval cathedral and a pilgrim destination for more than 1,000 years. We also visit the Baroque Stiftsgården Royal Residence, one of the largest wooden buildings in Scandinavia with 140 rooms.

In the afternoon, you're free to continue sightseeing at your own pace. The Ringve Music Museum is situated on a hill and surrounded by the city's botanical gardens, and the Archbishop's Palace Museum is a treasure trove of local archaeological finds. You might like to revisit the Old Quarter, where you can enjoy lunch or a coffee in one of the relaxed cafés or bakeries. Returning to our hotel in the evening, we enjoy dinner together.

• Breakfast

Leaving Trondheim early this morning, we join the spectacular Nordland Railway. Equally beautiful in summer as it is in winter, this train makes its way across the Arctic Circle to Bodø, a 453-mile route that passes through some of Norway's most amazing landscapes.

As we cross the Arctic Circle, gaze out at the sparkling lakes, rugged peaks and tranquil fjords. Look out for reindeer in the mountains or elusive sea eagles soaring over the coast. For lunch, you can visit the onboard café, which serves mains, side dishes, pastries and drinks made with local ingredients.

As the train reaches Fauske, it turns west along the shimmering shore of Skjerstad Fjord before arriving in Bodø, known as the city with the world's most beautiful coastline. Transferring to our hotel, we enjoy dinner.

• Breakfast, Dinner

Heading to Bodø pier after breakfast, we embark on a holiday highlight: a spectacular fjord cruise. Our hybrid-electric sightseeing ship glides silently through the sparkling blue water, providing the perfect environment to appreciate the fjord's natural beauty. As we sail, a knowledgeable host shares fascinating insights about the fjord's history, geology and wildlife.

We sail first to Saltstraumen, the world's strongest tidal current, where we marvel at the swirling water from a safe distance. From here, we journey into the narrow Beiar fjord, hugging the rugged coast. Travelling by boat is one of the only ways to see these incredible landscapes in their totality.

Back on land in Bodø, we board a coach to a Sámi village for a special experience. For thousands of years, the indigenous Sámi have lived a semi-nomadic, reindeer-herding lifestyle in northern Scandinavia. With a local guide, we have an exciting chance to meet and feed the reindeer. As we learn more about life in the village, we enjoy a Sámi-style lunch in a traditional tent called a 'lavvu' and listen to age-old folk tales. Later, we return to our hotel.

• Breakfast

Today brings a scenic coach journey of around four hours from Bodø to Bognes. From here, we catch the ferry to Lødingen on the Lofoten Islands. After disembarking, we take a scenic drive through idyllic fishing villages to Svolvær for a three-night stay in the tiny capital of the Lofoten Isles.

Described as Europe's most dramatic and spectacular islands, the Lofoten archipelago is connected to mainland Norway by a series of bridges and ferries. These remote Arctic Circle islands are defined by jagged mountains with vivid green slopes extending to the aquamarine sea, white sandy beaches and traditional red fishing huts. With a deep connection to the Viking era, Lofoten is known for its abundant fishing, which is why people have settled here for millennia.

Arriving in Svolvær in the late afternoon, we check in to our central hotel before dinner.

• Breakfast, Dinner

In the morning, we set out on a scenic drive with a local guide across the Lofoten Islands to Nusfjord, one of Norway's oldest and best-preserved villages. Once home to cod fishermen who used to hang their catch outside their homes, the tiny settlement is now a destination for travellers who want to experience the atmosphere of a traditional seafaring village.

Huddled around the harbour are the village's famous wooden cabins, or 'rorbu', painted mustard, cream and red. Set against the craggy peaks and deep blue waters, these colourful cabins make for a picture-postcard scene of Norwegian coastal life. We can also see former community buildings like the old fish oil factory and smokery, which have been lovingly renovated.

Enjoy an afternoon at leisure to explore the charming village before we return to Svolvær in the evening. You're free to dine independently before our midnight sun excursion*. We travel by coach to Gimsøy Beach, a beautiful white sandy beach with a range of spectacular mountains, a popular place to experience this natural phenomenon.

*Please note: the midnight sun excursion will only run on departures from 31st May 2026 to 8th June 2027.

• Breakfast

Enjoy a leisurely breakfast and a free morning to relax or explore Svolvær. With a variety of shops, galleries, restaurants and cafés, the compact capital of the Lofoten Islands is a lovely place to wander. For a taste of history, you might like to visit the War Memorial Museum housed in the old post office. Or visit the tiny island of Svinøya (directly translating to 'Pig Island' in English) for a stroll around the old fishing village. You can reach it by walking across the Svinøya bridge, only a short distance from the town centre.

Later, we travel by coach to the Lofotr Viking Museum, a living history museum where historians, actors and craftsmen in period dress give visitors a taste of life in the Lofoten Islands during the Viking Age. Boasting the world's longest reconstructed longhouse, historical exhibitions and a reconstructed Viking ship moored in the harbour, this museum brings the fascinating Viking Age to life. Here, we enjoy a light lunch of local delicacies including juniper-smoked salmon, cured meats and side dishes.

In the evening, we return to the hotel for dinner.

• Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Leaving Svolvær after breakfast, we travel by coach to Narvik, a pretty port town on a peninsula between two fjords. On arrival, we walk to the Narvik War Museum for a fascinating historical experience.

As a valuable ice-free harbour for transporting iron ore, Narvik was the centre of intense battles during World War Two. The British Royal Navy, together with the Polish Navy, fought the German forces on the nearby Ofotfjord while a two-month campaign took place on land.

With an expert guide, we learn about the naval and land battles that took place in Ofotfjord and the mountains surrounding Narvik. Featuring a large collection of artefacts from the war, including weapons, uniforms, photos and more, the museum offers fascinating insights into the fight at the Arctic Front. After the museum visit, you have the rest of the afternoon to explore Narvik or relax at the hotel before we gather for dinner in the evening.

• Breakfast, Dinner

Today brings one of the trip's highlights: a scenic return journey on the Arctic Train from Narvik to Bjørnfjell on the Swedish border. After breakfast, we head to the station to board this iconic train.

The Arctic Train has a fascinating history, overlapping with the stories we heard yesterday at the Narvik War Museum. Built in 1902, it was an essential means of transporting iron ore from the mines in Kiruna, Sweden, to the ice-free port of Narvik. In 1940, the line became strategically important during the Battle of Narvik, when both sides wanted control of the ore.

Today, the line is popular with visitors for a different reason. Passing through breathtaking Arctic scenery, it offers incredible views of the fjord in Narvik, immense mountains and cascading waterfalls. As we gaze out the windows at the panoramic views, our expert guide shares insights about the line's history. Returning to Narvik, you have a free afternoon to relax or explore the town further before we gather for our final dinner together.

• Breakfast, Dinner

From feeding reindeer in an authentic Sámi village to stepping back in time at the immersive Lofotr Viking Museum, this tour brought Norway's fascinating history, culture and natural beauty to life. We discovered the World War Two history of Narvik with an expert guide, cruised through the spectacular Beiar fjord, and experienced a breathtaking journey on the Arctic Train.

After a final breakfast, we transfer by coach to Evenes airport for our connecting flight to Oslo. From the Norwegian capital, we fly to London Heathrow, where your Scandinavian tour draws to a close.

• Breakfast