Norway’s Fjords and Railways

You meet your Tour Manager and fellow travellers at London Heathrow for a direct flight to Norway. Arriving at Oslo airport, you transfer by train to the centre of this fascinating capital. Your 3-Star hotel is near Oslo Central train station and, after checking in, you have free time to relax before your group enjoys a three-course dinner together at a local restaurant.

This innovative green city is regularly praised for its modern architecture and, with a centre that is becoming increasingly car-free with more large green spaces, it is pioneering a new future for our cities.

• Dinner

After breakfast there is a guided walking tour of the Norwegian capital. The tour starts at the modern Opera House, whose angled exterior is covered with marble and white granite, like a glacier rising from the water. People are encouraged to walk on the building's sloped roof when the weather is fine, which has some of the best views across Oslofjord. You also view the grand buildings of Oslo's premier street, Karl Johans Gate.

You see the Parliament building and the National Theatre, then the road rises up to the Royal Palace in its vast parkland. This grand palace is the official residence of Norway's monarch. The tour also takes in the Akershus Fortress, a medieval castle with two piercing spires.

With a free afternoon, you may be keen to take a short ferry ride over to the Fram Museum, to view a 19th-century ship used for polar exploration. Alternatively, maybe visit the famous painting 'The Scream' at the modernist Edvard Munch Museum.  The evening you are free to dine independently, and there is a good variety of places to eat in this great city.

• Breakfast

You have a full free day to yourself, to discover Oslo at your own pace. As a historic and cultural city, there are many museums, including the open-air Norsk Folk Museum where you can see a collection of buildings from all across Norway - from medieval times to the modern age. One of the highlights here is the remarkable Gol Stave Church, an impressive wooden structure dating from between 1157 and 1216.

You might enjoy a gentle cruise around Oslofjord. Stretching almost into the city centre, this idyllic bay contains narrow sounds and a maze of islands dotted with small summer houses. Or visit the oldest remaining district of Oslo, Kvadraturen. Once the Renaissance town of King Christian IV of Denmark, only a few of the 17th-century buildings remain, the best of which can be seen around Christiana Torv. 

Scandinavian cuisine has become popular across Europe so tonight you might like to sample some new Nordic cuisine, fresh seafood or treat yourself to a traditional Norwegian dinner at the oldest restaurant in Oslo, the Engebret Café near Christiana Torv.  

• Breakfast

A highlight of your holiday awaits today as your group arrives at Oslo Central station for a jaw-dropping journey through stunning landscapes. The Bergen Railway is the highest in northern Europe and delivers phenomenal views of the country's untamed scenery.

Nature is the star on this comfortable train ride, and you may spot wildlife such as arctic foxes, snow owls and wild reindeer as you relax and enjoy the views from your seats. The route heads inland through forested areas before reaching the mirror-like Krøderfjorden, then ascends around Flå. The landscape changes dramatically as it passes Gol, where a replica of its medieval stave church now stands.

The summit of the route is isolated Finse, where arctic explorers once spent time training for their expeditions. It may be possible to see the majestic Hardangerjøkulen Glacier from here. After the Finse tunnel, the route winds its way to Voss and into Bergen.

On arrival, you check in to your central hotel you have a free evening to relax, explore this characterful city and maybe sample some of Bergen's fresh seafood.

• Breakfast

Your group is taken on a sightseeing tour of this wonderful city today. Founded in the 11th century and formerly the Norwegian capital, Bergen was once Europe's largest 'wooden' city. You visit the Bryggen Waterfront, once the centre of the old Hanseatic port and a European trading hub. The brightly-painted buildings and cobbled streets are a World Heritage site.

After the tour, you stop for a three-course lunch, then your afternoon is free to continue at your own pace. You could visit the Bryggens Museum to view archaeological finds and the world's largest collection of runic inscriptions, or maybe take a ride on the Fløibanen funicular for spectacular views across Bergen from the top of Mount Fløyen. With countless scenic islands visible, you can get a great sense of why Bergen is called the 'capital of the fjords'.

As a City of Gastronomy, Bergen has no shortage of excellent restaurants for you to choose from this evening. Local dishes range from persetorsk (a traditional fish dish) to reindeer meat.

• Breakfast, Lunch

Today is another unforgettable experience - a journey on one of the most beautiful railway journeys in the world. The full-day excursion begins as you travel along the Bergen Railway to the mountain station of Myrdal, where you board the Flåm Railway for a jaw-dropping journey.

One of the world's steepest standard-gauge railways, the route winds down through verdant valleys and breathtaking scenery, to the waterside town of Flåm. On this scenic journey of around an hour, the train stops at the cascading Kjosfossen waterfall, passing craggy mountains and fast-flowing rivers. We reach the small picturesque town of Flåm, cradled by mountains, where you are free to explore or grab some lunch.

This afternoon, you take a fjord cruise through the majestic Aurlandsfjord and Nærøyfjord. You sail into a monumental landscape where pretty villages are dwarfed by nature, towering peaks and crashing waterfalls line the route to Gudvangen. This wild arm of the wider Sognefjord is utterly spellbinding and is a UNESCO World Heritage site. From the village of Gudvangen, you return to Bergen by coach and enjoy a three-course dinner at a traditional hotel.

• Breakfast, Dinner

You say goodbye to beautiful Bergen this morning as your group and Tour Manager transfer to Bergen airport, returning to London Heathrow via Oslo.

On your flight home you can begin to recall the amazing scenery and charming towns you have witnessed on this Norwegian adventure. From stylish Oslo to colourful Bergen and the incredible journeys in between, this rugged Scandinavian country impresses with its warm welcome and stunning landscapes. At Heathrow, you bid farewell to your fellow travellers and Tour Manager with whom you have shared these unforgettable experiences.

• Breakfast