Northern Europe, Scandinavia

Norway

Fjords where mountains drop straight into the sea, and Arctic light you won't forget.

Photo: Simon Wiedensohler / Unsplash

Norway is close to home yet strikingly different. On the west coast the fjords cut deep inland, waterfalls drop hundreds of metres and small villages cling to the water's edge. Bergen, with the colourful wooden houses of its old harbour, is the natural starting point for travelling by train, boat or car to the Geirangerfjord or the Sognefjord.

Further north, beyond the Arctic Circle, Norway becomes the Arctic. In the Lofoten Islands red fishing cabins sit beneath jagged peaks, in summer the sun never sets, and in winter around Tromsø you can go dog sledding and wait for the northern lights — if the sky allows.

Red fishing cabins on the shore at Reine beneath snowy mountains, Lofoten Islands

Experiences to consider

01
The Lofoten Islands
Reine, Hamnøy and Å — fishing villages beneath sheer rock walls, hikes above turquoise bays and nights in traditional rorbu cabins on stilts.
02
Fjords by water and rail
Sailing the narrow Geirangerfjord past the Seven Sisters waterfall, and the Flåm Railway descending from the mountain plateau to the shores of the Sognefjord.
03
Arctic winter
Tromsø and its surroundings: dog and reindeer sledding, the blue hours of the polar night and the chance of the northern lights on clear nights.
04
The midnight sun
In summer the northern sun stays up for weeks on end — time for long hikes, kayaking between islands and dinners that end in daylight.

Ways to travel

Ways to experience it

Ways to travel aren't separate paths — the best journeys often bring several together.

Adventure & active travel
Hiking Lofoten's peaks, kayaking in the fjords, dog sledding and snowshoeing in the Arctic winter.
Tailor-made journeys
Trains, ferries and coastal ships woven into one smooth route from the fjords to the Arctic.
Exceptional stays & escapes
Rorbu cabins over the water, historic fjord hotels and snug cabins where you can watch the sky straight from the window.
Wildlife & nature
Sea eagles, whales off the northern coast in winter and puffins in summer — sightings always depend on nature.
Family journeys
Train rides, boats and bright summer nights — Norway is easy-going and spectacular for children.