Grand Tour of Norway

Your Nordic holiday begins at London Heathrow, where we meet the Tour Manager and group before our flight to Oslo. On arrival, we take Oslo's modern and efficient rail system to our central hotel. These spacious, sleek trains provide our first glimpse of the country's effective railway system as we travel into the heart of the Norwegian capital.

Our four-star hotel is directly outside the station and only a short distance from Oslo's famous 17th-century cathedral. Used for state occasions, it is encircled on three sides by the beautiful Romanesque Revival bazaars. Built in the mid-1800s to house butcher stalls, they now contain independent stores and cosy restaurants.

In the afternoon, you're free to relax or familiarise yourself with the neighbourhood before we gather for dinner at a local restaurant.

• Dinner

Today, we explore the Norwegian capital with a local guide by coach. We begin at the distinctive Oslo Opera House with its unique angled exterior of marble and white granite. In good weather, visitors are encouraged to walk on the building's roof for panoramic views across Oslofjord. We also see Oslo's impressive city hall and the neoclassical Royal Palace, before continuing to Vigeland Sculpture Park to walk among the extraordinary art of Gustav Vigeland.

Our tour ends at lunchtime, and the rest of the day is free. You might like to visit the Aker Brygge district, known for its pier and interesting eateries, or visit one of Oslo's museums. The famous Munch Museum is dedicated to the expressionist painter Edvard Munch, renowned for The Scream. Another option is to take a gentle cruise around idyllic Oslofjord, maybe stopping at the Fram Museum to view a 19th-century ship used for polar exploration or visiting the Norsk Folk Museum.

Dining independently this evening, you might like to try the local New Nordic cuisine in one of Oslo's acclaimed restaurants or enjoy fresh seafood in Aker Brygge.

• Breakfast

In the morning, we take a short walk to the station for an epic rail journey from Oslo to Bergen. Travelling on the world-famous Bergen Railway, the highest in northern Europe, we enjoy views of the wild Norwegian countryside, passing breathtaking glaciers, mountains and fjords.

Look out for wild reindeer and arctic foxes as we cross the Hardanger Plateau, passing through dense forests. As we reach Finse, a remote village at the summit of the route, it feels as if we are completely alone in nature. At 4,000 feet above sea level, this area was once a popular training ground for arctic explorers, including British pioneers Scott and Shackleton.

Arriving in Bergen in the afternoon, we take a short walk to our hotel near the waterfront and Bergen's main square. We have time to settle in and explore our surroundings in this fascinating harbour city before dinner at the hotel.

• Breakfast, Dinner

Following a leisurely breakfast this morning, we set off on a guided sightseeing tour of Bergen by coach. This charming harbour city, once Norway's capital, is surrounded by seven striking mountains and renowned for the colourful waterfront buildings in the UNESCO World Heritage area of Bryggen. This picturesque wharf was once the centre of the old Hanseatic port, a key hub in trade between Norway and the rest of Europe.

After our tour concludes, the rest of the day is free to continue exploring on your own. You might like to visit the Bryggen Museum, where you can see the world's largest collection of runic inscriptions, or ride the Fløibanen funicular for spectacular views across countless scenic islands.

As a UNESCO City of Gastronomy, Bergen has many excellent restaurants. Dining independently tonight, you might like to sample a local delicacy like Bergen fish soup, fish cakes or traditional steamed cod.

• Breakfast

Two scenic rail journeys await today, beginning by reboarding the Bergen Railway. Leaving Bergen, the train climbs into the craggy mountains, travelling alongside deep fjords and through tunnels hewn out of solid rock, before arriving in remote Myrdal at 2,840 feet above sea level.

In Myrdal, we board the famous Flåm Railway for an unforgettable ride along one of the steepest lines in the world. As we descend to the fjordside village of Flåm, tucked away in the innermost corner of Aurlandsfjord, our train negotiates horseshoe curves, twists, turns and 20 tunnels. Along this dramatic route, you can look out at rushing rivers, tumbling waterfalls and snow-capped mountains.

After a photo stop at the cascading Kjosfossen waterfall, the train arrives at Flåm for an overnight stay. We eat dinner tonight at our central four-star hotel with a mountain backdrop.

• Breakfast, Dinner

Today we travel by coach to Geiranger, an idyllic village nestled on the banks of a UNESCO listed fjord. We take a quick ferry ride to Manheller, then drive to the Fjaerland Glacier Museum, where you have free time to explore. Housed in a building designed by the architect Sverre Fehn, the museum's external design reflects the surrounding landscape of jagged mountains and angular glaciers. Inside, award-winning exhibits tell the story of Norway's glacial landscapes and explore the history of glaciology.

Departing the museum, we continue our scenic journey to Loen, located in the innermost area of the Nordfjord region. The contrast of the green-blue fjord, the mighty Jostedalsbreen Glacier and looming snow-dusted mountains surrounding this tiny village provide unforgettable views.

Arriving in Geiranger this afternoon, there's time to refresh and enjoy the stunning scenery before dinner.

• Breakfast, Dinner

After breakfast at our hotel, we travel by coach to Geirangerfjord, the 'jewel in the crown' of Norway's fjords. Arriving at Geiranger port, we set off on a cruise across the serene waters for the best views of this UNESCO World Heritage site.

Acclaimed for its unique landscape, this nine-mile-long branch of Storfjord (meaning 'Great Fjord') has distinctive towering cliff walls and impressive waterfalls. As we cruise, the scenery envelops us in a world of stunning colour, 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 into the water below.

Disembarking at Hellesylt, we return to Geiranger, passing the Dalsnibba viewpoint, Europe's highest fjord view at a staggering 4,500 feet. Your afternoon is at leisure - you could enjoy the facilities and mountain views at our hotel before dinner this evening.

• Breakfast, Dinner

We set off by coach this morning on a journey to Åndalsnes on Romsdalfjord, travelling along the serpentine Trollstigen Mountain Road* and admiring cinematic views across deep green valleys and cascading waterfalls. Crossing the fjord at Eidsdal, we arrive in Åndalsnes and join the Rauma Railway for a 71-mile-long journey filled with scenic views of magnificent and contrasting landscapes. We enter the jaw-dropping Romsdal Valley, pausing to admire the rushing Verma waterfall as we cross the famous Kylling Bridge.

Following the course of the emerald River Rauma, our train glides around the surrounding hillsides as we pass the immense Troll Wall, and the banks of the Romsdal Fjord, finally reaching the picturesque hamlets and villages of Dombås. Here, we change trains and continue our journey to the historic city of Trondheim for two nights.

On arrival, we walk the short distance from the station to Trondheim's fjordside harbour to check in to our hotel and enjoy a late dinner.

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

• Breakfast, Dinner

After breakfast in the atmospheric harbourside of Trondheim this morning, we discover the city's history on a guided walking tour. Once a major trading centre, Trondheim is now a hub of technology and innovation.

We walk through the city's Old Quarter, pass the colourful waterfront houses of Bakklandet and admire the elegant Gothic architecture of Nidaros Cathedral. We also visit Stiftsgården, the Norwegian King's official residence in Trondheim. With 140 rooms, it's the largest wooden building in Northern Europe.

In the afternoon, you're free to continue sightseeing at your own pace amid the city's broad avenues, old warehouses and timber dwellings. 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. The Old Town has bookstores, cafés and bakeries with a reputation for relaxed lunches and great coffee. In the evening, we return to our hotel for dinner.

• Breakfast, Dinner

After an early breakfast, we depart Trondheim for a 452-mile journey north on the sensational Nordland Railway*. Affectionately known as the 'Polar Express' due to the picture-book scenes enroute, the train travels through some of Norway's most amazing landscapes. Mountain vistas, tranquil fjords and glimmering lakes roll past the windows of our comfortable carriage.

The Nordland 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. If we're lucky, we may see reindeer in the mountains or the elusive sea eagle soaring over the picturesque coast. In the height of summer, the sun may illuminate our entire journey, giving us the spectacular experience of continuous daylight for nearly 24 hours.

The train reaches Fauske before turning west for the final approach to Bodø, our scenic base for the night. We transfer by coach to our hotel where we have dinner.

• Breakfast, Dinner

This morning, we transfer to Bodø pier, where we board a ferry to the picturesque port of Moskenes. Arriving in the early afternoon, we take a scenic drive through idyllic fishing villages to Svolvær for a two-night stay in the tiny capital of the Lofoten Islands.

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.

You're free to dine independently before our Midnight Sun excursion. We travel by coach to Gimsoy Beach, a beautiful white sandy beach with a range of spectacular mountains and a popular place to experience this natural phenomenon.

• Breakfast

We continue exploring the Lofoten archipelago with a full morning of sightseeing on various islands. We begin by making a photo stop at the fishing village of Henningsvaer, then continue to the rugged yet beautiful Vestvågøy island and its town of Leknes. Here, amid the green meadows and dramatic mountains, we have free time to find lunch. Our return journey includes a detour through the remote and scenic village of Kvalnes.

Back in Svolvær this afternoon, we take a safari cruise into sea eagle territory. On board, we enjoy refreshments including fish soup, coffee, tea and snacks. Our ship offers warm thermal suits and comfortable places to sit out on deck or inside the lounge. While we look out for the majestic, endangered sea eagle, we may also spot herons, seals, dolphins and even whales.

After our cruise, we transfer back to our hotel for dinner.

• Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

On this spectacular Nordic holiday, we journeyed through Norway on four renowned rail routes, enjoying breathtaking scenery. From Bergen to Trondheim, we visited many of Norway's spellbinding cities, uncovering their history, culture and delicious local cuisine. Sailing across sparkling Geirangerfjord, we discovered a landscape of lush forests, cascading waterfalls and snow-capped mountains. Finally, we spent two nights in the Lofoten Islands, enjoying views of jagged peaks, fjords and the Midnight Sun.

Leaving the hotel early this morning with a picnic breakfast, we transfer to Evenes Airport for our flight to Oslo, where you have time in the airport before flying to London Heathrow. On arrival in London, your holiday draws to a close and you are free to make your way home.

• Breakfast