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Vacations By Rail · Escorted tour

Northern Norway's Arctic Coast & Lofoten

11-day escorted tour from Oslo through Arctic Norway to Bjørnfjell

Illustration of Northern Norway's Arctic Coast & Lofoten

Vacations By Rail's 11-day Northern Norway's Arctic Coast and Lofoten tour follows the Nordland Railway across the Arctic Circle and explores Norway's remote northern regions. The journey departs from Oslo, includes a morning flight to Trondheim on Day 2, then boards the historic Nordland Railway for a 453-mile journey to Bodø. From there, the group travels by coach and ferry to the Lofoten Islands and stays in Svolvær for three nights, visiting a Sámi village, exploring the Lofotr Viking Museum, and witnessing the midnight sun (on select departures). The tour concludes with a journey on the Arctic Train from Narvik back toward the Swedish border. A professional Tour Manager leads the group throughout, and the pace balances multi-night stays in each region with day excursions by coach, cruise, and heritage train. The itinerary suits escorted travelers who enjoy guided cultural experiences, history, and scenic rail journeys, and suits photographers and history enthusiasts in particular.

What to know before you look closer

  • Day 1 is unguided: you arrive in Oslo independently and make your own way to the hotel; the Tour Manager joins the group on Day 2.
  • The midnight sun excursion to Gimsøy Beach is available only on May 31 and July 8 departures.
  • International flights to and from Oslo are not included; only internal flights within Norway are covered.

Day by day

  1. Day 1overnight: Oslo

    Arrival in Oslo

    Arrive in Oslo and make your own way to the centrally located four-star hotel; the rest of the day is at leisure.

  2. Day 2overnight: Trondheim

    Flying to Trondheim, the former Viking capital

    A free morning in Oslo before meeting the Tour Manager and group to board a flight to Trondheim, then transfer by motorcoach to the hotel beside the Nidelva River.

  3. Day 3overnight: Trondheim

    Discovering Trondheim on a guided walking tour

    A guided walking tour of Trondheim's Old Quarter, Nidaros Cathedral and the Stiftsgården Royal Residence, with free time to continue sightseeing.

  4. Day 4railovernight: Bodø

    A journey on the epic Nordland Railway

    Board the Nordland Railway for a 453-mile journey across the Arctic Circle to Bodø, passing lakes, rugged peaks and fjords.

  5. Day 5overnight: Bodø

    Cruising Beiar fjord and a special Sámi experience

    A hybrid-electric sightseeing ship cruise through Saltstraumen and the Beiar fjord, followed by a visit to a Sámi village to meet and feed reindeer and enjoy a lavvu lunch.

  6. Day 6overnight: Svolvær

    To Svolvær, the capital of the Lofoten Islands

    A motorcoach journey from Bodø to Bognes, a ferry to Lødingen, then a scenic drive to Svolvær for a three-night stay.

  7. Day 7overnight: Svolvær

    Exploring the preserved fishing village of Nusfjord

    A scenic drive to the preserved fishing village of Nusfjord, with an afternoon at leisure and an evening midnight sun excursion to Gimsøy Beach (May 31 and July 8 departures only).

  8. Day 8overnight: Svolvær

    Free time in Svolvær and the Lofotr Viking Museum

    A free morning in Svolvær followed by a visit to the Lofotr Viking Museum, a living history museum with the world's longest reconstructed longhouse, including a light lunch.

  9. Day 9overnight: Narvik

    A guided tour of Narvik War Museum

    Travel by motorcoach to Narvik and visit the Narvik War Museum to learn about the Battles of Narvik in World War Two.

  10. Day 10railovernight: Narvik

    A breathtaking journey on the Arctic Train

    A scenic return journey on the historic Arctic Train from Narvik to Bjørnfjell on the Swedish border, built in 1902 to transport iron ore.

  11. Day 11

    Traveling home

    Transfer by coach to Evenes airport for a flight to Oslo, where the vacation concludes.

The moments this trip is built around

  • Day 4Board the Nordland Railway for a 453-mile crossing of the Arctic Circle from Trondheim to Bodø, passing lakes, rugged peaks, and fjords.
  • Day 5Cruise through Saltstraumen and the Beiar fjord on a hybrid-electric sightseeing ship, then visit a Sámi village to meet reindeer and eat a lavvu lunch.
  • Day 8Explore the Lofotr Viking Museum, featuring the world's longest reconstructed Viking longhouse, with a light lunch included.
  • Day 10Travel on the Arctic Train from Narvik to Bjørnfjell on the Swedish border, a historic line built in 1902 to carry iron ore.

Included

  • Expertise of a Tour Manager from start to finish
  • 10 nights' 3 & 4-Star hotel accommodation
  • Standard Class rail travel
  • All rail, cruise, ferry and coach travel throughout your tour
  • All internal flights
  • Breakfast each day, 1 lunch, 6 dinners
  • Group luggage transfers between all hotels
  • All guided tours and excursions

Not included

  • Cancellation & Travel Insurance
  • Flights and Airport transfers not included

Questions travellers ask

Is train travel included?
Yes. The package includes Standard Class rail travel on the Nordland Railway from Trondheim to Bodø and the Arctic Train from Narvik to Bjørnfjell, plus all coach, ferry, and cruise travel and internal flights.
Is this an escorted tour?
Yes. Vacations By Rail provides a professional Tour Manager from Day 2 onward (Day 1 arrival is independent). The group travels together on all guided tours and excursions.
What is included in the price?
Ten nights in 3 and 4-star hotels, breakfast daily, one lunch, six dinners, all rail and coach travel, all internal flights, ferry transfers, a fjord cruise, the Sámi village visit, entry to the Viking and War Museums, luggage transfers between hotels, and all guided tours and excursions.
When does this tour run?
The operator lists departures on May 31 and July 8. A midnight sun excursion is included only on those two dates.
How much walking is involved?
The tour has a Mobility Rating 3, which includes guided walking tours of Trondheim, a visit to a preserved fishing village, and museum exploration. Expect moderate daily activity with coach and ferry support between locations.
What is not included?
Cancellation and travel insurance are not included. International flights to and from Oslo are not included; you arrange and pay for your own flights to Norway.

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