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Svolværgeita - Svolvær goat in Lofoten

Lofoten & the Fjords

Coastal Cruise & Flåm Railway

(10 days / 9 nights)

4.5
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Lovely Lofoten & Fantastic Fjords

This 10-day self-guided tour includes a stay in the picture-perfect Lofoten Islands before sailing south to Bergen on the Hurtigruten Coastal Voyage. You will get to experience pristine nature amidst the deep fjords, unique destinations like Svolvær, and the popular Norway in a Nutshell® journey to Oslo, taking you by train, bus and boat through famous fjords and charming villages like Flåm. There are also opportunities for exciting optional activities like a rib boat safari to Trollfjord to spot sea birds

4.5

10 days / 9 nights

Price p.p. from

The amount will be charged in EUR

Approx 4584 EUR

— Why book with Nordic Visitor

  • Seamless travel experience
  • Handpicked hotels and routes crafted by Norway train & cruise travel experts
  • Comprehensive itinerary & Norway Travel Guide
  • 24/7 helpline during your tour
  • Great customer reviews 
  • Carbon offsetting included

Read more

Tour Highlights

  • Tour scenic Svolvær in Lofoten, the home of Svolværgeita mountain
  • Sail the Norwegian coastline along a Hurtigruten cruise
  • Complete your northern adventure by sailing across the Arctic Circle
  • Stroll through Norway’s grand capital, Oslo and visit charming Bergen
  • Sail through dramatic fjords like Aurlandsfjord and Næroyfjord, branches of spectacular Sognefjord
  • Explore the famous Norway in a Nutshell from Bergen to Oslo
  • Experience the legendary Flåm railway, one of the world’s steepest railway lines
  • Roam the UNESCO site, Bryggen in the beautiful town of Bergen

Travel style

Independent Cruise i

Interest

Classic i, Countryside and natural scenery i, Culture and History i, Fjords i, Hurtigruten cruise i

Season

May - Sep

Departure

Daily

Interest

Classic i, Countryside and natural scenery i, Culture and History i, Fjords i, Hurtigruten cruise i

Itinerary

A day-by-day plan to guide your journey.

  • Day 1: WELCOME TO LOFOTEN ISLANDS

    Welcome to Svolvær, the “Capital of the Lofoten Islands” a small, picturesque fishing village with a charming Scandinavian atmosphere. Here you will find a variety of small galleries, shops and cultural attractions nestled under the town’s landmark mountain, Svolværgeita (the Svolvær Goat), a popular challenge for climbers.

    If you arrive early, we recommend a walk to the nearby island of Svinøya for a visit to the local art museum and fish racks or you could take a stroll around town for excellent views of the sea and surrounding islands.

    Spend the night in Svolvær.

    Attractions Attractions
  • Day 2: SVOLVÆR AT LEISURE

    Today you can explore Svolvær as you wish. This a great opportunity for photographers to experiment with Lofoten's unique lighting conditions or for nature lovers to enjoy activities like hiking, rib boat safari to Trollfjord, fishing, or kayaking. We recommend ending the day with a visit to the “Magic Ice bar” with its gallery of magnificent ice sculptures.

    Spend the night in Svolvær.

    Attractions Attractions See Activities for this day
  • Day 3: SVOLVÆR & CRUISE DEPARTURE

    Enjoy another day at leisure in this beautiful environment. It’s a great place for hiking and exploring the town. In Svolvær it’s a must to take a stroll between stockfish racks and traditional fishermen huts called ‘rorbuer’.

    The next leg of your tour, the Hurtigruten Coastal Voyage, departs for its southbound journey this evening. The first stop is Stamsund, and here you’ll have a fantastic view of the majestic mountain tops of Lofotveggen. Then we leave Lofoten behind and set course towards the mainland.

    Spend the night on board Hurtigruten.

    Attractions Attractions Attractions See Activities for this day
  • Day 4: CROSSING THE ARCTIC CIRCLE

    Today the ship crosses the Arctic Circle, sailing past such highlights as the famed peaks of the Seven Sisters Mountains, Torghatten and the island of Sandnessjøen. The Seven Sisters mountains are around 1000 metres tall, and according to folklore, the mountains are trolls that turned into stone when they looked at the sun. Meanwhile, Torghatten is known for the tunnel that goes through the mountain, which was formed during the Ice Age. The last port of call for the day is the charming town of Rørvik, which is home to several museums.

    Spend the night on board Hurtigruten.

    Attractions Attractions
  • Day 5: TRONDHEIM TO ÅLESUND

    Early in the morning the ship docks at the fascinating medieval city of Trondheim, where you have some free time to explore the city. The voyage then continues down the Trondheim fjord past Hitra Island with a brief stop at Kristiansund and Molde. This journey passes through some breathtaking coastal landscapes, and the final port of the day is a short stop in Ålesund, after midnight. Optional shore excursion to see the Atlantic Ocean Road is available today.

    Spend the night on board Hurtigruten.

    Attractions Attractions Attractions See Activities for this day
  • Day 6: SAIL TO HISTORIC BERGEN

    During the night, the ship calls at Torvik, Maløy, and Florø as the journey weaves through islets and stunning landscapes before arriving in Bergen. Here you will disembark at 14:30 to enjoy some leisure time. Despite being an international city, Bergen, “The Capital of the Fjords”, has all the charms of a small town. Here you’ll find Bryggen, a UNESCO World Heritage site, along with remarkably preserved old houses, a lively fish and flower market, cable cars offering stunning views, great museums and more.

    Spend the night in Bergen.

    Attractions Attractions Attractions Attractions
  • Day 7: THE CAPITAL OF THE FJORDS

    Continue to explore beautiful Bergen today. We recommend riding the Fløibanen Funicular to Mount Fløyen to enjoy panoramic views over the city or to take a cable car up Mt. Ulriken. Bergen is surrounded by 7 mountains so this is an ideal place for hiking. Bergen is also known for its museums that cover the city’s history, architecture, music and art. We recommend visiting the Edvard Grieg museum and the KODE art museum, which is Scandinavia’s largest museum for art and music. If you wish to explore the fjords further, optional fjord cruises are available.

    Spend the night in Bergen.

    Attractions Attractions Attractions Attractions See Activities for this day
  • Day 8: NORWAY IN A NUTSHELL BY LAND AND SEA

    Today will be an especially scenic day with a lot of travel. From Bergen, the early Bergensbanen train transports you to Voss, where you’ll be transported by bus to Gudvangen. There, you will embark on a scenic 2-hour fjord cruise to Flåm, including a trip through Nærøyfjord, the narrowest fjord in all of Europe. Finally, the boat sails up Aurlandsfjord to Flåm, where you will spend the evening.

    Spend the night in Flåm.

    We recommend booking luggage transfer for the travel between Bergen and Oslo.

    Attractions Attractions Attractions Attractions Attractions Attractions See Activities for this day
  • Day 9: THE FLÅM RAILWAY EXPERIENCE

    Spend the early part of your day exploring the village of Flåm by following one of the many hiking trails in the mountains around the village. At noon, you’ll get to experience the famous Flåm Railway firsthand as it climbs 900 metres over a span of 20 kilometres up the winding track to the Myrdal Station. Here you will switch to the Bergensbanen train that takes you over the mountainous rooftops of Norway, through the charming villages of Geilo and Gol before concluding in Oslo, where you will spend your final night of the tour.

    Spend the night in Oslo.

    Attractions Attractions Attractions Attractions
  • Day 10: DEPARTURE FROM OSLO

    For transportation to Oslo-Gardermoen Airport, you can take the Flytoget express train from Oslo Central Station or book a private transfer through Nordic Visitor that will deliver you to the airport directly from your hotel. If your flight is in the afternoon, take the opportunity to do some last-minute shopping, visit one of Oslo’s many museums or just relax at a café reflecting on your Norway holiday.

    See Activities for this day

Optional extras

Customise your adventure with these Optional Extras.

We recommend adding your extra activities to the tour now for the best booking experience and to secure your spot, as activities are likely to sell out.

Map

Here’s a map of your travel route, to help put things in perspective.

Essential information

We recommend that you read carefully through the following information before booking this train and cruise tour in Norway. We’ve answered the most frequently asked questions here so you know what to expect. You’ll also find more practical advice and attraction recommendations in our online Norway Travel Guide.

We recommend you wait to book flights to Scandinavia, and other parts of your travels, until we can confirm your desired travel dates for this tour. This is due to varying availabilities aboard Norway cruises, as included in this package. Contact us for more details.

On a train and cruise tour of Norway, Nordic Visitor takes care of your local transportation, accommodation and excursions for a relaxed self-guided travel experience. This might include trains, cruises and/or internal flights, as specified in the itinerary.

You will follow an itinerary that’s been pre-planned and booked for you before you arrive in Norway. This means you can take advantage of Nordic Visitor’s insider knowledge while exploring at your leisure. 

Ahead of your arrival, you’ll receive personalised information via email, including an itinerary, map and detailed Norway Travel Guide. 

During your tour, you’ll always be able to reach us by calling our 24/7 helpline. 

The transfers between your hotel and train stations or cruise ports are not included with this package. Usually your accommodation will be within short walking distance. You could also get a taxi from your hotel if you prefer.

Please wait to book flights to Scandinavia until we can confirm your desired travel dates for this tour. This is due to varying availabilities on services included in this package. 

After making a booking with Nordic Visitor, it might take a few weeks to confirm your travel arrangements. We recommend booking your flights once your personal travel consultant gets in touch to confirm your itinerary.

If you have any questions about your flights and itinerary, please contact us for more details.

Yes, you can customise this tour online. During the booking process, you can add extra nights to your itinerary as well as optional day trips, excursions and upgrades. 

If you have something specific in mind, get in touch with your travel consultant and they’ll create your dream trip.

On this tour, you will hop aboard a coastal cruise, provided by either Hurtigruten or Havila Voyages, along the Norwegian west coast. You’ll be staying in your own cabin with private facilities.

Hurtigruten and Havila Voyages operate along the same route on different days. Your personal travel consultant will book the cruise on your behalf in light of your tour’s start date and the rest of your itinerary.

If you are travelling on a Hurtigruten cruise:
Hurtigruten ships offer a classic Norwegian experience, with cosy cabins furnished with either twin or double beds. Your room will be between 8-11 square metres (86-118 square feet) and will always include a port hole, but please note that a view from the window cannot be guaranteed.

Instead, Hurtigruten ships all offer comfortable viewing decks, dining areas and lounges. This way, you can spend your mornings and evenings relaxing with incredible views of the passing Norwegian coastline.

If you are travelling on a Havila Voyages cruise:
Havila Voyages ships are the newer cruise liners on the block. Their modern cabins are furnished with either twin or double beds and are all around 15 square metres (161 feet). Your room will have a port hole and a small sofa so you can watch the views of ocean or coastline go past. Or, head up to the lounge, restaurant or viewing deck to see more of the passing fjords.

This tour includes the famous Norway in a Nutshell® tour from Bergen to Oslo. This is one of Norway’s most iconic journeys. You’ll travel by train, bus and ferry, seeing beautiful landscapes of steep mountains, cascading waterfalls, shimmering fjords, charming villages and scenic coastline.

The first leg of the journey is from Bergen to Flåm. Then you’ll travel from Flåm to Oslo. The duration of both days will be around 6 hours. 

The connections will be announced and clearly explained in your travel documents. You will receive a ticket with all the information about transfer points and timings with your final travel documents.

You can book an optional luggage transfer for the journey. If you do this, you’ll want a backpack for your daily essentials and one-night stay. Your luggage will be waiting for you at your destination.

If you do not book a luggage transfer, you will have to carry your bags between the train, boat and bus. All connections will be within easy reach and there will be storage available for your luggage during each leg of the journey.

On your Norway tour, you’ll stay in accommodation that’s been hand-picked by our travel experts. We’ve partnered with local businesses and selected hotels and guesthouses based on excellent ratings, comfort and our personal experience. 

During the booking process, you can select whether you want Comfort Plus or Superior accommodation. Comfort Plus usually consists of standard rooms in good quality and comfortable 3-star hotels. Superior is standard rooms in 4-star hotels combined with Superior rooms in premium 3-star hotels.

You will also be able to choose between single, double or triple rooms. Please note that in Norway room types are based on European standard sizes, which means they are smaller than in North America. 

For example, a double bed often consists of 2 single beds pushed together. Twin rooms are 2 separate single beds. Triple rooms include a double bed along with an extra single bed, rollaway or sofa bed. And single rooms are often smaller than the standard double.

If you have anything specific in mind, please contact us to discuss customising your accommodation options.

By booking with Nordic Visitor, you’ll have peace of mind knowing that there’s always someone there for you throughout your trip.

For support and advice during the day, you can call our office. And if anything unexpected happens outside working hours, you can reach us on our 24/7 helpline. 

During your tour, there will always be a travel expert on call to handle any unforeseen situations, such as unusual weather or events.

If you have a passport from Canada, the United States, the United Kingdom, Australia or New Zealand, you won’t need a visa to visit Norway. This visa-free entry is valid for up to 90 days.

Visiting from another country? You can find out whether you require a visa to enter Norway on the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs website. Select your home country to view details. If you do require a visa, you will be directed to your local embassy website to learn about the visa requirements.

Your passport must also be valid for at least 3 months from your departure from Norway. It’s good to check your passport expiry date early in case you need to renew it.

Travelling with your kids? No problem! You'll be able to enter your infants’ ages during the booking process. This lets us know whether to arrange either a baby cot or roll-away bed for your trip.

Only you can pick the best time to visit Norway for your trip. It’ll depend on how much time you have to explore and what you want to see and do in Norway.

During the summer months, June, July and August, you’ll have the warmest temperatures and longest daylight hours of the year. This is ideal for outdoor excursions and taking full advantage of your days for sightseeing.

If you’d like to experience the top attractions with fewer visitors around then you could book a summer itinerary in May or September. These shoulder season months generally have more tour and attraction availability.

Please note that if you travel in spring, end of March through April, you’ll find that many attractions and museums are operating on reduced winter hours. 

The winter months are also popular, but generally quieter. Travel to Norway at this time of year to see snowy mountains, cruise along frosty fjords and chase the magnificent northern lights. 

If you head north in December and January, you could experience the polar night. At this time of year, the conditions are also ideal for winter activities such as dog sledding, snowmobiling and more.

Read more about the best time to visit Norway on our blog.

From Oslo in the south, Norway stretches hundreds of kilometres into the Arctic Circle. The country is so long that it spans the latitudes of 58°N to 81°N. For that reason, daylight hours vary greatly depending on where you’ll be visiting. That said, summer in Norway brings long days with plenty of daylight. 

In the south, around Oslo, Bergen and Stavanger, you’ll experience 15–20 hours of daylight. If you visit the north, including locations such as Tromsø and Kirkenes, you can expect 20–24 hours of daylight. 

In fact, within the Arctic Circle, from mid-May to late July, you’ll experience the midnight sun. This is when the sun never fully sets. 

Norway’s long summer days give you plenty of time to explore. That said, you may want to pack a sleeping mask if you are a light sleeper or tend to wake up at dawn. 

Find out what the daylight hours will be during the month of your visit in this guide to time and daylight in Norway.

During the summer months, you can expect fairly stable weather in Norway. That said, because the country spans such a large distance from north to south, temperatures are likely to vary depending on your location.

For example, the west coast is usually warmer thanks to the Gulf Stream, while the far north is usually cooler.

The months of June, July and August boast the warmest weather of the year. In Oslo, you can expect average temperatures around 16°C (61°F), with potential highs of 20–25°C (68–77°F). In Bergen, it is closer to 13°C (55°F) and in the north, around Tromsø, you can expect temperatures around 10°C (41-50°F) 

It’s also good to know that weather conditions are often changeable in Northern Europe, so you should come ready for sun, rain and wind. For more information on the local climate, read the page Norway weather conditions

Please note that sightseeing is dependent on weather and road conditions. This means that your itinerary might need to be altered if these conditions are not favourable during your visit. 

Summertime is the most stable time of year in Norway. That said, you should still be ready to experience all seasons in one day. Especially if you will be spending a lot of time outdoors, you’ll want to pack for a combination of weather conditions.

Bring lighter clothes for the warmer, sunny days, and extra layers for chilly nights in the mountains or for taking in the view from cruise ship decks.

Here is an essential summer packing list for your trip to Norway:

  • Shorts and trousers
  • Short and long sleeve tops
  • At least one warm jumper or fleece
  • Waterproof jacket and trousers
  • Light gloves, hat and scarf
  • Comfortable walking or hiking shoes
  • Sunglasses, sun hat and sunscreen
  • Eye mask to sleep despite the long daylight hours
  • Electronic gear such as smartphone, external powerpack, and travel adapters
  • A backpack for easy access to daily essentials
  • and don’t forget your camera!

An umbrella can also come in handy. If you are a wildlife watcher, you may wish to bring binoculars. 

For more information, check out this Norway packing list.

In most major Norwegian cities and towns you will be able to find coin-operated launderettes, with self-service facilities, and dry cleaners. Most hotels on your trip will also offer a laundry or dry cleaning service for an additional cost.

When you travel with Nordic Visitor, breakfast at your Norway accommodation is always included.  For the rest of your meals, the amount of spending money you need will depend on the standard of restaurants you decide to go to. 

That said, we recommend budgeting between 100–400 NOK for lunch per person, each day. Dinners at casual restaurants might cost between 500–1,000 NOK. Meanwhile, at upscale restaurants, you can expect to pay 1,500 NOK or more. This does not include the cost of alcoholic beverages. 

It’s best to book as soon as you can to secure your preferred travel dates. Once you have picked your tour, check the availability calendar to see which months are open for booking. Then, select the date you want and complete your booking. 

We recommend waiting for a confirmation from your travel consultant to ensure your travel dates are available. You’ll then be able to purchase your flights with confidence.

If you like to plan well ahead, you’ll find that it’s possible to book many tours for the following year. And if you have any questions or need advice, you can always contact us

After booking your tour package online, you will be contacted within 2 business days by your own dedicated travel consultant. They will be your point of contact for all your travel needs before, during and even after your trip. 

We aim to complete bookings within a few weeks. During this time we take care of booking your accommodation, activities, and transport, confirming all parts of your journey. Once this is done, your travel consultant will provide you with all the details of your trip. 

When we get back to you might depend slightly on how far ahead you’ve booked your travels and other tours running at the time. 

No need! Nordic Visitor is already working on offsetting the estimated carbon footprint of your package. We’ve partnered with an environmental fund in Iceland to carbon offset all our tours.

Carbon offsetting your international flights is not included, but we highly recommend you look into possibilities with your airline or directly through a local environment fund. 

If you have any questions before your trip, you can get in touch with our Norway travel experts. The live chat option is useful for getting a quick reply as someone answers live every day during office opening hours.

Once you’ve booked, we’ll provide you with a travel guide packed full of local tips and top attractions for your visit. You can also check out our online Norway Travel Guide where we’ve compiled useful information about topics, including:

After you have booked your tour, it will only take a few days to confirm its availability. But it may take a few weeks to create your itinerary and book everything. 

Once your trip details are finalised, we’ll send you e-copies of your travel documents. This will include your personalised itinerary, our Norway Travel Guide and your service vouchers. We recommend printing your tickets and vouchers to bring with you to Norway.

So when do you check in? And what can you expect when you land in Norway?
 
After picking up your luggage, you’ll make your way to your accommodation. Public transport is easy to access and convenient in Norway. Or you could catch a taxi.
 
Check-in times vary between hotels and guesthouses, but it normally starts between 2–4 PM. 
 
You are welcome to request an early check-in for an additional fee. Although this isn’t always available, you’ll be able to store your luggage at the hotel until check-in. Please contact your travel consultant well in advance of your trip if you’d like an early check-in.

When you depart may depend on the time of your return flight. Check out early if you’re heading to the airport for a morning flight. On the other hand, if you’re flying home later in the day, you might like to enjoy a leisurely day or visit one more attraction.

You will usually need to check out from your room around 10–11 AM. If you’re staying in town longer, you will be able to store your luggage at the hotel reception. Simply return later to collect your bags before making your way to the airport.

This tour requires a non-refundable deposit payment of 50% of the total price at the time of booking. You can view more about the deposit and cancellation fees here.

All bookings are billed in Euro (EUR). Prices displayed in other currencies are indicative only and based on the daily exchange rate. This means conversions from EUR to other currencies will fluctuate from day to day.

Reviews

We don’t like to brag, so we’ll let our happy customers do it for us.

My travel consultant was quick and effective

The lady who was my contact at Nordic Visitor replied to me email questions very quickly and effectively.

Excellent

The ship and train journeys were excellent, and scenery fabulous throughout.

Highly recommend Nordic Visitor

Terrific choices and very present help as needed. Warm and friendly people. Would highly recommend your services.

Excellent company!

Excellent company to work with! We were able to customise our tour and received detailed information ahead of time so we could make an informed decision about our options. The information packet we recieved ahead of the trip was extremely detailed and included everything we needed to make our trip go smoothly. The hotels were all outstanding as were all the tours and modes of transportation. Nordic Visitor knows the best places and things to do in Norway and saved us hours of planning and researching. We would highly recommend them for your travel!

Everything was very clear

We designed the tour ourselves based on the excellent website of Nordic Visitor. All bookings were emailed on time and everything was very clear.

Our travel consultant was very helpful

Jemima looked after all of our bookings. She was very helpful and also took the time to make recommendations in Stockholm. Accommodation was all very good.

Accommodation

Sleep soundly, in the accommodation type of your choice, and wake up ready to enjoy another day of exploration.

Comfort Plus

Standard rooms in good quality and comfortable three-star hotels in combination with charming country hotels.

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Superior

Standard rooms in four-star hotels in combination with Superior rooms in premium three-star hotels.

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Price per person from

The amount will be charged in EUR

Approx 4584 EUR

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