Northern Lights on a Winter Arctic Cruise

Our Northern Lights and Arctic cruise holiday starts when we meet the Tour Manager at London Heathrow before boarding our morning flight to Norway's capital city of Oslo. On arrival, we transfer by the efficient Norwegian rail system to our central hotel, close to Oslo Central Station and the celebrated Norwegian Opera House.

This innovative green city is regularly commended for its progressive architecture and, with a people-friendly centre that is becoming increasingly car-free with more large green spaces, it is pioneering a new future for European cities.

After checking in for an overnight stay, we walk to a nearby restaurant for dinner this evening.

• Dinner

This morning is one of the highlights of our tour, a journey aboard the iconic Bergen Railway, Northern Europe's highest and most beautiful line, on its spectacular journey to Bergen. From Oslo's centre and suburbs, we head west into the countryside and the backdrop to our journey becomes more breathtaking, particularly when enhanced by snow.

After a couple of hours we reach Flå in the pretty Hallingdal Valley, through which the Hallingdalselva River flows to Lake Krøderen. We pass the picturesque winter ski resort of Geilo, then our train climbs up to the Hardangervidda mountain plateau, the largest in Northern Europe. The highest point of the Bergen Railway is the tiny mountain village of Finse and from here we descend into glorious fjords, before approaching Voss, surrounding by icy mountains. An hour later, we reach Bergen - the capital of western Norway, with distinctive colourful wooden buildings on the Bryggen waterfront, a UNESCO-listed site. On arrival we walk the short distance to our hotel for a two-night stay, where there is time to relax or maybe stroll along the World Heritage waterfront before dinner.

• Breakfast, Dinner

After a leisurely breakfast, we set off on a guided walking tour of Bergen. This attractive harbour city, once Norway's capital, is surrounded by seven striking mountains and renowned for the brightly painted buildings of its waterfront area, a UNESCO-listed area known as the Bryggen. Its picturesque wharf was once the centre of the old Hanseatic port, a key hub in trade between Norway and the rest of Europe.

Our tour ends around midday, after a ride on the Fløibanen funicular, which has spectacular views across the snowy landscape and countless scenic islands.

The rest of the day is yours to enjoy at your own pace and you could start with a visit to the fish market for some freshly-caught lunch. This afternoon you could visit the Bryggens Museum to gain insights into everyday life in medieval Bergen and see the world's largest collection of runic inscriptions. You dine independently this evening and, perhaps surprisingly, this traditional-looking city offers a wide choice of international cuisine - from pizza to seafood, Japanese to African.

• Breakfast

Following a morning at leisure in Bergen, the next awe-inspiring experience of our winter adventure begins. We transfer by coach to Bergen port, the gateway to the Norwegian fjords and the Arctic Circle. Here, we begin our incredible journey north along Norway's stunning coastline. Here we board our modern, environmentally-friendly cruise ship, for a journey of six nights.

Havila's ships are one of the most relaxing and comfortable ways to explore the northernmost part of Norway and are equipped to make the most of the breathtaking winter scenery. An observation lounge on the top deck has recliners under a glass roof so you don't have to step outside into the cold. There are two restaurants and a café on board, as well as a sauna and a gym where all the machines face the window.

After settling in to our comfortable interior cabins and maybe finding a seat to look out from the top deck, we enjoy dinner together this evening, before commencing our incredible northbound voyage with an overnight sailing to the remarkable town of Ålesund.

• Breakfast, Dinner

Waking to views of the rugged Norwegian coast after the first night of our voyage north, we pass the ports of Florø, Måløy, and Torvik. After breakfast on board we dock in Ålesund for the day, a town renowned for its art nouveau architecture, beautiful brick-built houses and warehouses.

You are free to spend the day here, and could start with a walk along the waterfront among the unusual mix of architecture, a result of the rebuilding which occurred after 1904 when a fire destroyed many of Ålesund's original wooden buildings. Find out more about the town's history in the Ålesund Museum. Another option is to book one of the excursions on offer, such as a mini-cruise into the spectacular Geirangerfjord, one of Norway's best-loved destinations.

Lunch is served aboard the ship, or you may like to try some locally-caught fish. A speciality is the salted dried cod known as klippfisk, which is reputed to be pretty salty!

We return to our ship in the late afternoon and, over dinner, our northbound journey continues into the dreamlike landscape of fjords, islands and mountains.

• Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

This morning we dock in the historic city of Trondheim, founded over a thousand years ago and known as the 'Viking City'. There's time to look around and discover more of the city's fascinating history before lunch, maybe visiting the Nidaros Cathedral, Norway's national shrine and one of the largest cathedrals in Northern Europe. It is also possible to book a guided tour of Trondheim as an optional excursion onboard.

Back on board, our voyage north continues out into the open water of the fjord, travelling through an amazingly abundant archipelago. We pass the Kjeungskjær Lighthouse, a bright red octagonal structure situated at the meeting point of Trondheimsfjord and the North Sea, before navigating the narrow strait of Stokksund on our way to the coastal town of Rørvik.

After dinner onboard, as we sail towards Bodø we can start to look out for that most magical of natural phenomena - the Northern Lights.

• Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Continuing our voyage north, we cross the 66.5 degrees northerly latitude, celebrating as we enter the Arctic Circle. We drop anchor in Bodø, where we can disembark and explore or enjoy the charming harbour backed by beautiful mountains. Optional excursions to book onboard include a Bodø city tour, a trip to the stunning Svartisen Glacier or Sea Eagle spotting.

Back at sea in the mid-afternoon, we catch our first glimpse of the steep granite cliffs and silvery beaches of the Lofoten Islands. Described as Europe's most dramatic and spectacular isles, the Lofotens are tethered to mainland Norway by a series of bridges that resemble spiky teeth. Home to small fishing communities, we enter the breathtaking strait of Raftsundet, before reaching the sapphire waters of Trollfjord. Here, snow-covered granite peaks jut out of the water, narrowing the channel, before opening to reveal an ethereal landscape blanketed in pristine white.

In the Arctic winter, days are only a shade less dark than night-time, so we have the best chance of seeing the spectacular Northern Lights. Failing that, we can look out for the lights of Lofoten's fishing villages.

• Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Gliding past remote coastal towns this morning, we catch glimpses of everyday life in the Arctic winter before disembarking in Tromsø, the largest city in northern Norway, where a special excursion awaits.

After a scenic drive to a winter wonderland location below the majestic Lyngen Alps, we are given a short introduction and training on husky dog sledding. Each sled is led by a team of well-trained huskies and, paired with a partner, you can take turns as a driver and passenger for a thrilling ride into the crisp Arctic landscape, with views of fjords and snow-capped peaks.

Instead, you may prefer a tour of the Arctic capital (bookable onboard), or explore independently, spending time at Tromsø's modern cathedral or one of its galleries and museums, such as the Polar Museum and the Troll Museum.

Re-boarding our ship later, we cruise through chilly waters which are home to orcas, humpback whales and hardy Arctic birds, before night closes in and we have dinner onboard.

• Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Today takes us to Norway's North Cape, where the icy waters of the Arctic and Atlantic oceans mix. This remote outpost, known as the northernmost point of Europe, is beautifully elemental. Being north of the Arctic treeline it is a white, treeless landscape stretching as far as the eye can see.

We disembark at Havøysund to visit the world's most northerly fishing village as well as the North Cape Plateau before continuing to Honningsvåg. Before leaving the ship, you can book and pay for an optional guided tour of the Northern Cape, with time at the Northern Cape Hall visitor centre to learn more about this ethereal landscape.

Later, there's the chance to book another unique optional excursion - a cruise across to Kjøllefjord to learn about the traditional way of life of the Sámi people. These indigenous peoples live in the northern parts of Norway, Sweden, Finland and Russia and are traditionally reindeer herders, hunters, fishermen and gatherers - whose ancestors have lived in these areas for thousands of years. With their own languages and distinct culture, their lifestyle has seen a remarkable resurgence in recent years.

• Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

With little light pollution in this striking part of the world, we hope to have had the chance to view the Northern Lights on our cruise. These colourful bouncing waves of light are unpredictable, but the required conditions are most commonly found north of the Arctic Circle.

After passing Vardo, the easternmost town in Norway, our cruise ends in Kirkenes this morning. This northern city situated near to the borders with Finland and Russia is known as the 'King Crab City' due to its rich waters.

On arrival we transfer to Kirkenes airport for a flight back to Oslo where we return to spend the final two nights of our Nordic adventure at the hotel where we first set out. This evening you are free to dine independently and may like to try one of the restaurants or bistros along the Harbour Waterfront of Bjørvika, Oslo's new cultural quarter.

• Breakfast

Waking in the thriving historic and cultural city of Oslo, after breakfast, we head out with an expert guide on a 3-hour walking tour, starting at the famous Oslo Opera House nearby. This distinctive all-white auditorium is designed to appear as if rising from the water like a glacier. Visitors are encouraged to walk on the building, weather permitting, to enjoy views across Oslofjord.

We continue to the Akershus Fortress, a medieval castle with twin spires which glimmer through the winter snow. From here, we explore 'Kvadraturen' - Oslo's oldest existing district, the Renaissance town of King Christian IV of Denmark, where a few 17th-century buildings remain.

With a free afternoon, you could visit one of Oslo's renowned museums such as the Viking Ship, the National Museum, or the Edvard Munch gallery which houses Munch's most famous work 'The Scream'. Or you could watch the changing of the guard at the Royal Palace. This evening is the final dinner of our Nordic holiday.

• Breakfast, Dinner

After breakfast at our hotel this morning, we check out and transfer to Oslo airport before our flight to London Heathrow.

On this magical winter exploration we have discovered the exciting cities of Oslo and Bergen, and have experienced the iconic route of the Bergen Railway, before cruising into the ethereal Arctic wilderness. A husky sled ride through enchanting scenery, and sailing around the North Cape may have been highlights, or we may have been treated to a spectacular show of the Northern Lights. After touching down in London, your holiday draws to a close and you are free to make your way home.

• Breakfast