Embrace the phenomenal natural wonders of Scandinavia, from the deep fjords of Norway’s wild Lofoten Islands to the beautiful wilderness of Swedish Lapland

Your Scandinavian holiday begins at London Heathrow this morning, 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.

On arrival in this fascinating city, we transfer by coach to our hotel in the stylish harbourside, just a short distance from the historic centre. There is time to look around our new surroundings before dinner at the hotel this evening.

Leaving Trondheim early this morning, we join the spectacular Nordland Railway. Known as the Polar Express due to the route's picture-book snow scenes, the train makes its way across the Arctic Circle to Bodø - a 453-mile route that passes through some of Norway's most amazing landscapes.

We witness sunrise over wintry northern Norway, passing frozen lakes, snow-covered mountains, tranquil fjords and frosted forests as we cross the Arctic Circle. Enroute, look out for reindeer in the mountains or elusive sea eagles soaring over the picturesque coast.

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 together. As we're situated above the Arctic Circle, there's a chance of viewing the magnificent Northern Lights, although our best opportunities are still to come.

After breakfast, we take a scenic coach journey of around four hours, travelling from Bodø to Bognes. From here, we catch the ferry to Lødingen on the Lofoten Isles. After disembarking, our atmospheric drive continues to Svolvær, the tiny capital of these stunning islands, described as Europe's most dramatic and spectacular archipelago.

With a deep connection to the Viking Era, Lofoten is known for its abundant fishing, which is why people have settled here for millennia. The Lofoten Isles are tethered to mainland Norway by a series of bridges that resemble spikey, wired teeth and we stay in this surreal landscape for two nights. Set beneath the auroral oval, the Lofoten Isles are one of the world's best locations to see the Northern Lights.

After dark, we venture out by coach to seek the wondrous yet elusive spectacle, before returning to our Svolvær hotel for dinner. If the weather is clear, after dinner we have another chance to experience their spectral swirling dance for ourselves on a Northern Lights hunt.

A scenic drive with a local guide takes us to one of Norway's oldest and best-preserved fishing villages, Nusfjord.

Huddled around its fjordside harbour, we find a scattering of colourful wooden cabins, known as rorbu, painted mustard, cream and crimson. Contrasting beautifully against the craggy peaks and deep blue waters, this makes for a picture-postcard scene of Norwegian coastal life. Once home to cod fisherman who used to hang their catch outside their homes, this seafaring heritage is still visible in Nusfjord today, with former community buildings such as the old fish oil factory and smokery having been lovingly renovated.

We continue our drive amid the Lofoten scenery to Vestvågøy. This spellbinding island is renowned for its agriculture, but it is the sandy beaches, snow-capped mountains and enchanting landscapes that capture the hearts of visitors. Dinner is served back at our Svolvær hotel tonight, after which we can venture out once again to look for the Northern Lights.

Saying goodbye to Svolvær after breakfast, we set out by coach for the return journey to the Norwegian mainland. On the drive, soak up the region's natural majesty on one of the most scenic routes in Europe, with views stretching down to magnificent fjords in the valley below.

On arrival in Narvik, we check in to our hotel and have some free time to explore. This ice-free seaport is located 250 miles north of the Arctic Circle and has lots of fascinating attractions, including the Red Cross War Memorial Museum, which documents the occupation of this vital port in World War Two. Also worth a visit is the Ofoten Museum, with its exhibits relating to local history and the construction of the Ofoten Railway.

This evening, we gather back at our hotel for dinner together.

A highlight of the holiday awaits today as we travel on one of the world's most northerly railway lines, the Ofoten Railway, aboard the Arctic Train. Waking up in Narvik, we have breakfast in this city that was originally a hub for exporting iron ore mined near Kiruna. With miles of icy tundra and wilderness between the two, the Ofoten Railway was built to transport this valuable commodity from Sweden to the Norwegian port.

Twenty-seven miles of this route was painstakingly carved out of the mountains in an incredible engineering project, largely undertaken by hand. Our rail journey takes us across the Swedish border, where it continues across barren plateaus and alongside steep mountains to Kiruna, Swedish Lapland's largest city.

On arrival in Kiruna, we transfer to our accommodation. There is free time this afternoon to relax or enjoy the spa facilities before we have dinner.

We discover the lives and culture of Scandinavia's indigenous people today with a special Sámi experience.

We travel to a Sámi village where a local guide introduces us to the reindeer. These animals are very important to the Sámi way of life as many people are involved in semi-nomadic reindeer herding. We also get the opportunity to feed these beautiful animals. As we learn more about life in the picturesque camp, we enjoy a Sámi-style lunch in a traditional tent called a 'lavvu' and listen to age-old folk tales.

In the afternoon, we visit Kiruna's world-famous Ice Hotel. This spectacular monument has been constructed afresh every year since 1989 from huge, hand-sculpted blocks of ice sourced from the nearby river. We tour the hotel's frozen rooms with a guide before visiting the Ice bar for a chilled drink served in ice glasses. We are then transferred back to our hotel for an evening at leisure.

During breakfast, we look forward to an amazing excursion this morning - a unique husky safari experience. With a pack of energetic huskies at the helm, steered by an expert guide, we set out on a large sled through the snowy scenery.

Our trip takes us through a winter wonderland on a ride that's been part of Scandinavia's snow-laden culture for generations. As well as enjoying atmospheric views during the husky ride, we also take part in a traditional Swedish 'fika', gathering around a campfire with a hot drink.

Around midday, a coach transfers us back to hotel, where there's an afternoon to unwind. This evening, we enjoy a farewell dinner together at the hotel.

From Trondheim to Kiruna, this Scandinavian holiday has showcased the culture and heritage of the vast northern regions of Norway and Sweden - after exploring the Viking capital, the Lofoten Islands revealed jaw-dropping views and idyllic fishing villages, while the scenic Ofoten Railway carried us across the border into Swedish Lapland. We discovered the culture of the Sámi people, embraced the glistening beauty of the Ice Hotel and enjoyed an amazing ride on a husky-drawn sled.

After a final breakfast, we transfer by coach to Kiruna airport for our connecting flight to Stockholm. From the Swedish capital, we fly direct to London Heathrow, where your tour of Scandinavia draws to a close.

Our Classic range is what we're known for. Enjoy curated moments with plenty of inclusions. Centrally located hotels, premium travel options and engaging group tours with a seasoned expert are included. You'll be in groups with an average of 20-25 travellers and a maximum of 30*. *Scandinavian and Worldwide tours are on average 30-35 and a maximum of 40.

The Nordland Railway runs between the historic Viking capital of Norway, Trondheim, to the beautiful coastal city of Bodø in northern Norway. The railway is 453 miles in length, making it Norway's longest mainline railway. It is also one of only a few railway lines in the world that crosses the Arctic Circle. The railway, also called 'the train of the midnight sun', takes passengers through the beautifully varied scenery of northern Norway and includes views of lakes, rivers and fjords, as well as the spectacular Svartisen Glacier.

The Nordland Railway crosses the Arctic Circle (66 degrees north) near Lønsdal, the highest station on the line at 1678 feet above sea level. The northern part of Norway is famous as an ideal place to view the Northern Lights. During the summer, in fine weather, the sun remains visible 24 hours a day.

The Ofoten Railway lies on a headland at the foot of the Fagernesfjellet, between the Beisfjord and Rornbaksfjord, and runs between the iron-ore mines at Kiruna in Swedish Lapland and the port town of Narvik on the Norwegian coast. The modern town of Narvik was developed as a port for the export of the iron-ore, and the Ofoten Railway, was built at the turn of the century as the link between the mines and the port.

At the time of construction, the Ofoten Railway was both the coldest and northern-most railway project in the world. The 26-mile (42km) line was painstakingly carved out the mountains - an incredible engineering project that was largely undertaken by hand. The result is a breathtaking route which takes passengers past deep fjords, through the wild, rugged mountains and the barren mountain plateaus north of the Arctic Circle.

The Ofoten Railway Museum is dedicated to the local history of Narvik and the Ofoten Railway, and is located close to the centre of Narvik.

Prominently situated beside Bodø's marina and pier, close to the Salten Museum, the 4-Star Thon Nordlys hotel overlooks the Nyholm Sound with views of the imposing Lofoten Wall in the distance. The hotel's Egon Restaurant offers steaks and seafood specialities and excellent breakfasts while the Windjammer Bar serves pizzas, burgers and a variety of chilled beers. All guest rooms feature armchairs and a desk, mini bar and fridge, free Wi-Fi and satellite television.

Set just outside Kiruna, we stay at the 4-Star Camp Ripan, a hotel that offers that little something extra. Designed and built to reflect the nature and conservation of this area of Sweden, each room is an individual, cosy cabin, which features a television, a mini fridge, and free Wi-Fi. One of the main features of this hotel is its impressive Aurora Spa, boasting indoor and outdoor pools that are open all year round and a sauna. There is also a restaurant, serving delicious food made from local ingredients.

In Narvik we stay at the 3-Star Thon Hotel which boasts a scenic location at the foot of Narvikfjellet and offers stunning fjord views. On site, there's a bar and restaurant, while rooms come with free Wi-Fi, a balcony, mini bar, LCD television, tea & coffee making facilities and a hairdryer.

The 4-Star Thon Hotel Lofoten is perfectly located in Svolvaer Harbour, overlooking the water and surrounding mountains and within easy walking distance of the town's attractions. The hotel has a restaurant and a bar and guests enjoy free access to a local gym just a short walk from the hotel. The stylish guest rooms come with a telephone, flat-screen television, free Wi-Fi, a mini bar and a hairdryer.

This modern, 4-Star hotel overlooks Trondheim's fjordside harbour, and is close to many of the city's most popular attractions and the railway station. On site you'll find a laid-back bar as well as a spacious roof terrace with unbeatable views across the water. Each room features contemporary décor alongside free Wi-Fi, a flat-screen television, a mini-bar and coffee making facilities.

Flight upgrades are available. For information regarding the types of upgrades offered by the various airlines we use, call our expert team for details.

Spending a night in London before your tour can make such a difference to the first day of your holiday - you can arrive in the capital in good time, relaxed and ready to join your Tour Manager the next morning. You may even want to take in a show on the West End or dine in one of London's famous restaurants. Perhaps on your return to London, you would like to break your journey with an overnight stay before continuing home.

We can book a wide range of hotels in central London or, for our holidays beginning with a flight, at Heathrow, Gatwick, or Manchester Airport for the night before or after your holiday. If you require a quote for single occupancy at any of the hotels, please contact us on 01904 734 805.

Buying tickets for UK train services can be a tricky business - there are so many fares to choose from, each with different rules and restrictions. As you are connecting with an international departure, we strongly recommend that you book a fully flexible ticket to ensure that should the departure times for your holiday change, your rail ticket can allow for these changes.

We can book fully-flexible UK rail tickets from your local station to join your holiday whether this be a European holiday from St Pancras or a UK holiday. The prices are competitive and tickets are not restricted to a particular train or time of day, and in most cases offer you a free choice of routes.

For an up to date quote from your local station, please ask one of our Tour Advisors.