THE POLAR EXPRESS FROM THE FJORDS TO LOFOTEN

Your Norwegian journey begins in Oslo, Norway’s vibrant capital. A hub of art, culture and food surrounded by beautiful scenery, Oslo encapsulates Norway’s varied appeal and is the perfect place to start your comprehensive Norwegian adventure. Your home for two nights is The Thief, a contemporary design hotel on the waterfront in the Tjuvholmen neighbourhood.

Must-see attractions during your time in Oslo include the glass-fronted architectural marvel that is the Oslo Opera House, and the Nasjonalgalleriet, Norway’s premier art gallery which is home to Edvard Munch’s iconic The Scream. There’s also the Vikingskipshuset, a collection of three Viking ships, two of which are brilliantly preserved, along with skeletons which were found buried with the ships in Viking tombs.

Departing Oslo, you will board a train to Flam for your next stop, the neighbouring village of Aurland in rural south-west Norway. Surrounded by beautiful mountains and the Aurland River, this will also be your first experience of the fjords, with the beautiful Aurlandsfjord right on your doorstep. You will spend two nights at 29/2 Aurland, a family-run collection of luxurious wooden farm buildings next to the river.

A range of guided adventures are available from the farm, including day trips cycling down the scenic Rallarvegen road, or trekking Aurlandsdalen, one of Norway's most beautiful walks. You can also hike up to the Stegastein lookout point above Aurland for a spectacular view of the scenery below, or take a kayak or traditional row boat down the region's biggest attraction, the Aurlandsfjord.

After two nights in Aurland you’ll board the train again to Bergen, Norway’s second city which offers much more besides being a gateway to the fjords. Historic and laid-back, Bergen is home to a vibrant cultural scene with brilliant art galleries, delicious food and a colourful history - its old wooden wharf, Bryggen, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site home today to artisans and boutique stores.

As well as the wooden walkways of Bryggen, sites worth visiting include the series of KODE art museums - KODE 3 features an extensive collection of Edvard Munch, and KODE 4 is home to European Modernist works. There’s also the Edvard Grieg Museum, a charming wooden house surrounded by landscaped gardens where the composer lived for many years.

Your home for two nights in Bergen is the Clarion Collection Hotel Havnekontoret, a stylish hotel in a Neoclassical building just across the way from Bryggen waterfront.

The next stop on your Norwegian adventure is Trondheim, the country’s former capital and its third-largest city. Green, genteel and cultural, with a large student population, Trondheim is a very civilised city with a laid-back atmosphere.

Much of the city centre is pedestrianised, making it a great place to explore on foot; Nidaros Domkirke, the city’s cathedral, is Scandinavia’s largest medieval building, and the city also boasts Scandinavia’s largest wooden palace in the form of the Stiftsgarden, which dates from the 18^th century and is still the royal residence in the city. Sverresborg Trondelag Folkemuseum documents daily life in Norway over the centuries up to the present day with artefacts, period buildings and exhibitions.

You’ll spend one night at Scandic Nidelven, a modern hotel in central Trondheim with delicious food - its breakfast has been officially anointed as the best hotel breakfast in Norway.

After a night in Trondheim you’ll get to experience one of the world’s most stunning railway journeys as you board the Nordland Railway - also known as the Polar Express - to Bodo. Passing snowy-peaked mountains and dramatic fjords as you cross over into the Arctic Circle, this is an incredibly scenic way of making your journey into Norway’s deep north. The journey takes about ten hours, after which you’ll arrive in Bodo, where you’ll spend the night.

Bodo is best known as a gateway for the Lofoten Islands, but is not without its charms, in particular its views over beautiful coastal scenery. You’ll spend the night at Clarion Collection Hotel Grand Bodo, a stylish hotel in the centre of town. Nearby attractions include the Luftfartsmuseet, a museum dedicated to the history of Norwegian aviation, and Galleri Bodogaard, which is home to religious and folk artefacts.

The final stop on your Norwegian journey, and arguably the most photogenic (and that’s saying something) is Reine, a fishing village on the Lofoten island of Moskenesoya. The Lofoten Islands are renowned for the dramatic beauty of their craggy mountain peaks and rock formations rising dramatically out of the sea, and there’s no better place to experience them than your hotel, Reine Rorbuer. A collection of traditional red and white fishing huts which have been restored to be comfortable and luxurious while retaining their traditional identity, this is a cosy place to retreat to after a day’s exploring the beautiful scenery. A range of guided excursions are on offer, including sea rafting, fishing trips, and kayaking.

After three nights taking things slow and enjoying the beautiful scenery of the Lofoten Islands, your Norwegian journey is at an end, and you’ll be taken to Leknes for your journey home.