Trip idea / Norway

Elemental Norway
in summer

A slow-travel journey through the natural wonder and cultural hubs of Norway.

HIGHLIGHTS

  • Explore Norway in depth including cultural cities, fjordic landscapes and Viking heritage
  • Travel using a variety of means including electric boats, heritage railways and local transport
  • Experience the wonder of the midnight sun, illuminating activities well into the evening
  • Live like a local in arty Oslo with a guided cycle tour
  • Visit charming Bergen and board the scenic Flåm Mountain Railway
  • Take the iconic port-to-port Hurtigruten cruise, stopping at coastal villages on route
  • Drive the dramatic Atlantic Road near Trondheim
  • Experience the Arctic Circle and stay in the awe-inspiring Lofoten Islands

Norway is full of untapped experience – take this intrepid summer journey through its cultural cities and pristine wilderness discovering fjordic beauty, Viking heritage, rare wildlife, Arctic frontiers and the glowing midnight sun. Perfect for those who take pleasure in the journey, this slow-travel trip includes voyaging by electric boat, cruise, local bus and train.

HIGHLIGHTS

  • Explore Norway in depth including cultural cities, fjordic landscapes and Viking heritage
  • Travel using a variety of means including electric boats, heritage railways and local transport
  • Experience the wonder of the midnight sun, illuminating activities well into the evening
  • Live like a local in arty Oslo with a guided cycle tour
  • Visit charming Bergen and board the scenic Flåm Mountain Railway
  • Take the iconic port-to-port Hurtigruten cruise, stopping at coastal villages on route
  • Drive the dramatic Atlantic Road near Trondheim
  • Experience the Arctic Circle and stay in the awe-inspiring Lofoten Islands

Norway is full of untapped experience – take this intrepid summer journey through its cultural cities and pristine wilderness discovering fjordic beauty, Viking heritage, rare wildlife, Arctic frontiers and the glowing midnight sun. Perfect for those who take pleasure in the journey, this slow-travel trip includes voyaging by electric boat, cruise, local bus and train.

When To Go

To explore Norway in summer we recommend travelling between June – August when the midnight sun illuminates Nordic landscapes around the clock.

How to Get There & Around

Fly direct from the UK to Oslo then make use of electric boats, Hurtigruten port-to-port cruises, trains, the Flåm Railway, buses and internal flights.

Good To Know

This is a summer itinerary but there’s plenty to see and do in winter including ice caving, skiing and northern lights hunting.
Norway Lofoten

Day 1-2

Oslo

Start your journey around Norway in the country’s capital Oslo. Largely car-free and a fascinating mix of contemporary sights and the captivating lore of Vikings, the city is backed by emerald forests, opening out onto scenic fjords and islands. Do as the Norwegians do and hop on a bike; enjoy a guided tour cycling past neoclassical neighbourhoods, through Royal Palace gardens and alongside the coast with sweeping views of shoreside wilderness and rocky islets.

 

Art abounds including the world-famous Vigeland Sculpture Park and painter Edvard Munch's home. Viking enthusiasts can get their fill at an interactive show at The Viking Planet. Take a day at sea on a private boat to cruise through Oslo’s breathtaking fjord landscapes, soaring cliffs, plunging waterfalls and maze of islands.
Art abounds including the world-famous Vigeland Sculpture Park and painter Edvard Munch's home. Viking enthusiasts can get their fill at an interactive show at The Viking Planet. Take a day at sea on a private boat to cruise through Oslo’s breathtaking fjord landscapes, soaring cliffs, plunging waterfalls and maze of islands.

Stay

The Thief

Located in downtown Oslo, on a small island surrounded by sea views, The Thief sits next to the Astrup Fearnley Museum of Modern Art. Sample Nordic cuisine with a view from the rooftop restaurant and terrace or head to the spa for a hammam or Moroccan clay treatment.

Day 3-5

Bergen

Take a slow-travel day to reach Bergen by train, electric boat and bus travelling through some of Norway’s most archetypal fjord and mountain scenery. Aboard the Flåm Mountain Railway, trundle through rocky landscapes and into rural topography before a stop at the Kjosfossen waterfall and the Flåm Railway Museum. Go further into the fjords on an electric boat cruise into Nærøyfjord, where deep fjords carve through spectacular 1,600-metre-high cliffs. From here take the bus and hop aboard another train taking you directly to Bergen.

Spend a few days in Bergen, once a major trade hub in the 11th century, the city is full of heritage charm from well-preserved medieval buildings to traditional wooden houses, the historic harbour and characterful alleyways. Enjoy Bergen’s coastal pleasures with a day at sea on a boat trip to the City Fjord; savour a delicious seafood lunch while anchored in a peaceful bay.
Spend a few days in Bergen, once a major trade hub in the 11th century, the city is full of heritage charm from well-preserved medieval buildings to traditional wooden houses, the historic harbour and characterful alleyways. Enjoy Bergen’s coastal pleasures with a day at sea on a boat trip to the City Fjord; savour a delicious seafood lunch while anchored in a peaceful bay.
Spend a few days in Bergen, once a major trade hub in the 11th century, the city is full of heritage charm from well-preserved medieval buildings to traditional wooden houses, the historic harbour and characterful alleyways. Enjoy Bergen’s coastal pleasures with a day at sea on a boat trip to the City Fjord; savour a delicious seafood lunch while anchored in a peaceful bay.

Stay

Hotel Opus XVI

Located in the heart of Bergen, Opus XVI is an elegant choice with a distinctive brick façade – it was once Bergen’s largest bank. The heritage building offers comfortable suites with adjoining living spaces, a restaurant and lobby bar.

Day 6-7

Fjordic Cruise: Bergen to Ålesund

The next part of your journey sees you boarding the world-famous Hurtigruten Coastal Express route for a one-night cruise, stopping at coastal ports on your way, as well as observing magnificent shoreline nature, centuries-old farmsteads, plenty of fishing culture and marine wildlife. An iconic Norwegian cruise company with a rich history, Hurtigruten has been transporting goods, locals and tourists up and down Norway’s coastline (the second longest in the world) since 1893.

Experience it for yourself on the Coastal Express, with a simple yet comfortable cabin, delicious meals made from fresh coastal produce and endless fjordic panoramas to gaze at.

Leaving Bergen behind, start your voyage on the old Viking route stopping at Torvik before setting your co-ordinates for UNESCO-listed Geirangerfjord, Norway’s iconic fjord that will stun you with its sheer cliffs and cascading waterfalls. Arrive at the Art Nouveau city of Ålesund for an evening enjoying this scenic port town.
Leaving Bergen behind, start your voyage on the old Viking route stopping at Torvik before setting your co-ordinates for UNESCO-listed Geirangerfjord, Norway’s iconic fjord that will stun you with its sheer cliffs and cascading waterfalls. Arrive at the Art Nouveau city of Ålesund for an evening enjoying this scenic port town.

Stay

Hotel Brosundet

A former fishing warehouse that sits up against the water, Hotel Brosundet is characterful place to stay imbued with Nordic styling and a calm aesthetic.  Inside the hotel, you’ll find the casual sophistication of the Sjøbua seafood restaurant to be the perfect spot for dinner, perhaps after a turn in the spa, enjoying the hot tub, sauna and swims off the pontoon in the Brosundet canal.

Day 8-9

Trondheim

For the next part of your journey, we recommend taking a day to explore the region’s alluring nature with a hire car, driving along the Atlantic Road, a spectacular route that links islets via eight bridges creating a beautiful blend of ocean and land. Take time at dramatic viewpoints like Askevågen that allows you to hover over the Atlantic Ocean and stop at charming fishing villages, spot seals at sea or swim on white sand beaches.

Arrive at Trondheim, a former 10th-century Viking trading post. Characterised by colourful timber wharf houses, dissected by the Nid River and linked by historic bridges such as the Old Town Gamle Bybro bridge, amble into Bakklandet, the ideal spot for some seafood riverside dining. Don’t miss the magnificent Gothic wonder - Nidaros Cathedral and the adjoining Archbishop’s Palace where you can see Norway’s crown jewels.
Arrive at Trondheim, a former 10th-century Viking trading post. Characterised by colourful timber wharf houses, dissected by the Nid River and linked by historic bridges such as the Old Town Gamle Bybro bridge, amble into Bakklandet, the ideal spot for some seafood riverside dining. Don’t miss the magnificent Gothic wonder - Nidaros Cathedral and the adjoining Archbishop’s Palace where you can see Norway’s crown jewels.
Arrive at Trondheim, a former 10th-century Viking trading post. Characterised by colourful timber wharf houses, dissected by the Nid River and linked by historic bridges such as the Old Town Gamle Bybro bridge, amble into Bakklandet, the ideal spot for some seafood riverside dining. Don’t miss the magnificent Gothic wonder - Nidaros Cathedral and the adjoining Archbishop’s Palace where you can see Norway’s crown jewels.

Stay

Scandic Bakklandet Hotel

Sitting alongside the scenic pastel-hued houses of Bakklandet on the Nid River, Scandic Bakklandet Hotel is a modern hotel with an excellent location and is a convenient base to explore Trondheim and its surrounds on foot or by bike. Breakfast is served in the restaurant overlooking the river – its coffee and pastries are a great way to start the day.

Day 10-13

Lofoten Islands

From Trondheim, take an internal flight to Svolvaer, landing you right in the heart of the rugged Lofoten Islands, known for their scenic beauty, vibrant fishing heritage and plethora of activities in fresh air. Located in the Arctic Circle, and encircled by dramatic mountain peaks, unfathomable fjords and the wild Norwegian Sea, Lofoten is the ideal place to immerse yourself in nature.

Get out on the water with a tranquil kayak around granite from the Ice Age or take thrilling RIB safari trip to mystical Trollfjord to spy sea eagles swooping over the sea. For vertiginous highs, climb the dizzying heights of rocky pinnacles Svolvaergeita.
Get out on the water with a tranquil kayak around granite from the Ice Age or take thrilling RIB safari trip to mystical Trollfjord to spy sea eagles swooping over the sea. For vertiginous highs, climb the dizzying heights of rocky pinnacles Svolvaergeita.

Stay

Svinoya

This characterful hotel is made up of a selection of former fishing cottages, painted in the traditional roburer red scattered along the rocky coastline. Curating a range of activities to enjoy coastal Lofoten, the nicest part of your day might just be coming come to the floating sauna and the stylishly cosy restaurant and wine room in a quayside wharf that dates to 1828.

Enquire now

You might like...

Sweden: West is Best

Close to Nature

Insight /

Sweden

Read more

Lyngen Lodge

Perfectly placed for thrilling Arctic adventures.

Property spotlight /

Norway

Read more