Grand Tour of Scandinavia

We fly* from London Heathrow to Stockholm for 2 nights.

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

On Day 2, we enjoy a sightseeing tour of
Stockholm that takes us to City Hall, the Royal Palace, Ostermalm,
Långholm, the Royal Djurgården, and the Old Town. We take a
traditional Swedish 'fika', or coffee break, relaxing over a hot
drink and slice of home-made cake. This afternoon is at
leisure.

We depart Stockholm on Day 3, taking the
InterCity train to Östersund, nestled on the shore of beautiful
Lake Storsjön.

We leave Östersund and head north to Sorsele today, travelling
through some of Sweden's most glorious scenery as we head towards
the untamed wilderness of Swedish Lapland. Our journey on the
Inlandsbanan tourist train takes us through a landscape of crystal
clear lakes and towering forests, towards the 'Land of the Midnight
Sun'. On arrival, we make a visit to the Inlandsbanan Museum before
getting a real taste of Lapland with a visit to a Sami village in
Slagnas. From here we transfer to Arjeplog, where we spend the
night. Dinner tonight is served Scandinavian style, around an open
fire in a tipi.

Today, we travel by coach to Jokkmokk, crossing the Arctic
Circle on our way.

After a free morning on Day 6, during
which entrance to the local Sami museum is included, we enjoy a
journey on one of the world's most northerly railway lines, the
Ofoten Railway†, seeing Sweden's breathtaking mountain scenery
segue into iconic Norwegian landscapes.

†Please note: you will need to take an overnight bag with
you as your main luggage is transported to Stiklestad

We arrive into Narvik which we explore on Day
7, visiting the town's war museum to learn about the
pivotal role Narvik played in the Second World War.

Day 8 is spent travelling to Fauske via
coach. On arrival in Fauske, we board our train to Verdal which
takes us along the incredible Nordland Railway on the 'Polar
Express'. We travel past awesome fjords and bristling forests,
disembarking in Verdal and spending the night in Stiklestad.

This morning we take a guided tour of Stiklestad, the site of
King Olav's death in 1030. After lunch, we travel by coach along
Norway's rugged coastline south to Trondheim. Late this evening we
arrive in Trondheim, Norway's Viking capital.

Day 10 includes a guided tour during which
we'll visit the Old Quarter, Bakklandet, Nidaros Cathedral, and the
Royal Residence. The afternoon is free for you to continue
exploring one of the oldest cities in Norway.

Today we join the 71-mile-long Rauma Railway for a spectacular
journey through magnificent, contrasting landscapes. We navigate
the same course as the emerald waters of the River Rauma for much
of the journey, the train tracks following the river as it winds
around the surrounding hillsides. As we climb over rounded mountain
peaks and smooth plateaus, we are treated to awesome views across
the expansive, unspoiled national parks that stretch into the
distance.

On arrival into Åndalsnes, we transfer by coach to Geiranger,
travelling via Trollstigen for a 2 night stay at the Union Hotel
Geiranger. The hotel stands at the head of the Geirangerfjord, one
of Norway's most picturesque sites.

Today we enjoy the beautiful scenery of Geirangerfjord by boat.
As we cruise along the serene waters, the steep sides of the fjord
tower over our boat. Afterwards, we take a scenic drive via
Hellesylt back to our hotel.

We leave Geiranger by coach, continuing our scenic voyage
through Norway's incredible fjord country. We travel along valleys
hemmed in by lofty mountains and along steep-sided fjords, every
bend in the road offering a new perspective. We pause en route at
Dalsnibba viewing point and Kaupanger stave church. We reach Flåm
at the head of Aurlandsfjord, our base for the night.

Today we enjoy a superb excursion on the Flåm Railway. Our rail
journey takes us up into the mountains along one of the steepest
lines in the world, twisting and turning regularly as the railway
does its best to accommodate the extreme terrain. We reach Myrdal
and make the return journey to Flåm, where we board a luxury eco
boat for a cruise across Sognefjord with a difference. After
disembarking, we make our way by coach to Bergen.

Today we are treated to a guided walking tour of Bergen, a
harbour city surrounded by 7 striking mountains and noted for the
wonderfully preserved medieval buildings of its Bergenhus district.
We stop for a delicious seafood lunch at the picturesque fish
market, before taking a coach tour of Bergen's dramatic
bridges.

We board the train to Oslo on Day 16,
making the journey on Northern Europe's highest railway line, the
Bergen Railway. Tonight, enjoy a farewell dinner in the
hotel. 

On Day 17, we transfer to the airport for
our 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.