Lofoten, North Cape & Lapland - 12 Days

Once you have arrived at Oslo Gardermoen Airport, you make your own way to your accommodation.

Thanks to Norway's long summer days, the midnight sun keeps the sky bright well into the evening, so you'll have plenty of time to explore before your tour begins tomorrow. You can walk along the harbourside at Aker Brygge or visit the Oslo Opera House to spend a free evening.

Please note: a train or private transfer from the airport to your accommodation can be booked in advance, at an additional cost. test

Oslo – Evenes – Sortland. After breakfast, we meet our Tour Leader at the accommodation for an informative briefing ahead of departure.

At 10 am, we take a private coach to Oslo Airport for our included flight to Evenes at 1:20 pm. On arrival at Evenes/Harstad-Narvik Airport at 3 pm, a professional local driver meets us and we continue by private coach through scenic countryside to Sortland, arriving at around 5:30 pm. (100 km).

Sortland – Andenes – Sortland. This morning, we travel from Sortland to Andenes, the northernmost town in the Vesteralen archipelago and one of Europe's premier whale-watching destinations.

Here, you will have the option to join a whale safari in the surrounding Arctic waters, where sperm whales, humpback whales, orcas and other marine wildlife can often be spotted, followed by a visit to the Whale Centre and Museum to learn about their biology, behaviour and migration, at an additional cost.

Afterwards, we return to Sortland through the scenic landscapes of Vesteralen.

Sortland – Lofoten – Svolvaer. We begin a panoramic tour of Lofoten with our Tour Leader, starting at the Lofotr Viking Museum for a guided tour, where we learn about the first skilled craftsmen to settle in Lofoten and can even try rowing a Viking ship. Archaeological finds show that stockfish, made from dried skrei - the Atlantic cod that migrates to Lofoten to spawn each winter - was traded here by the Vikings some 1,000 years ago, and remains one of the region's most important exports today.

We then continue to Svolvaer, checking in to our accommodation and exploring the capital of the Lofoten archipelago, set between the sea and towering Arctic peaks.

In the evening, you have the option to join a hybrid-electric cruise to the magnificent Trollfjord, passing the "Fiskerkona" (Fisherman's Wife) statue that has welcomed home local fishermen for decades, with guides sharing stories of the area's nature, history and culture along the way, at an additional cost.

Svolvaer – Harstad. Today, we travel from Svolvaer to Harstad, taking in the magnificent scenery of the Lofoten and Vesteralen islands along the way.

We stop at Akvakultur i Vesteralen for an insight into Norway's modern, sustainable aquaculture industry. During this two-hour visit, we join a guided tour of the exhibition, take a RIB boat trip out to an active fish farm, and enjoy a tasting of locally produced smoked salmon.

We then continue to Harstad for a relaxed evening ahead of an early start tomorrow.

Harstad – Tromso. An early start awaits, as we depart Harstad at 7 am aboard the fast ferry to Tromso, taking in the fjords and coastal landscapes of Northern Norway along the way.

On arrival in Tromso at 10 am, the rest of the day is yours to explore the largest city in Northern Norway. You might take the cable car to the summit of Mount Storsteinen for panoramic views over the city, fjords and mountains, visit one of the city's museums, or admire the modern architecture of the Arctic Cathedral.

Later, you make your way to your accommodation to check in, with the evening free to continue exploring.

Tromso – Alta. We follow the scenic E8 and E6 highways towards Alta, with plenty of opportunities to stop for photographs and panoramic views along the way. Depending on the season, we may see the Northern Lights dancing across the sky or the Midnight Sun lighting up the landscape.

On arrival in Alta, we continue to our accommodation for the evening.

Alta – Honningsvag – North Cape. We set off for a full day of Arctic experiences, beginning with a visit to the Alta Museum, home to one of Northern Europe's most significant collections of prehistoric rock carvings. Recognised as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, these Bronze Age and Stone Age carvings offer insight into the lives, beliefs and traditions of the people who once inhabited the region.

We then continue across the plateau of Mageroya Island to Honningsvag and the North Cape area.

Following dinner, we visit the North Cape plateau in the evening, taking in the cliffside viewpoint over the Arctic Ocean and the midnight sun. Our visit to North Cape Hall includes a glass of sparkling wine to toast this milestone at one of the northernmost points in Europe.

North Cape – Karasjok (Norway) – Ivalo (Finland) – Helsinki. We bid farewell to the northernmost point of Europe and travel to Ivalo along the scenic "Last Road on Earth" (E69), then the E6. Along the way, we pass through Karasjok, the cultural capital of the Sami people in Norway, where we learn about their traditions and history and have the chance to shop for locally made crafts.

After crossing into Finland and changing time zone, those wanting to learn more about the interaction between nature, people and culture can join a stop at the Sami Siida Museum, at an additional cost.

We then continue to Ivalo Airport, where you will have some free time to find dinner before the flight departs at 9 pm. After landing in Helsinki at 11:45 pm, we take a short five-minute walk to our accommodation to check in.

Helsinki (Finland) - Stockholm (Sweden). We check out and travel by coach into Helsinki.

Once there, we visit the Sibelius Monument and Park before meeting our local guide for a two-hour tour of the Finnish capital, taking in Senate Square, Market Square, the exterior of the Presidential Palace, Uspenski Cathedral and further sights along the harbour.

We then board our overnight ferry to Stockholm at 3:30 pm.

We arrive in Stockholm this morning and join a local guide for a three-hour panoramic tour of the city, taking in the old town of Gamla Stan, with its small squares and cobbled streets, and the exteriors of the Royal Palace, the Cathedral and the Parliament building.

We then visit the Vasa Museum, home to the remarkably preserved 17th-century warship Vasa - the world's only almost fully intact ship from the 1600s.

After the city tour, we check in to our accommodation, with the rest of the day free. Those wanting to see more of the city can join a canal tour through the waterways around the island of Djurgarden, at an additional cost.

After your final breakfast, depending on your departure flight time, you may have some time to enjoy some last-minute shopping, exploring or relaxing before making your way to the airport for your onward flight. Safe travels!

Please note: a private transfer to the airport can be booked in advance, at an additional cost.