The Northern Lights & Lapland

Meeting the Tour Manager at London Heathrow this morning, your Scandinavian holiday begins as we fly to Trondheim via Oslo. Separated from eastern Norway by the mighty Dovrefjell Mountains, Trondheim was founded by Olaf Tryggvason, a Viking king, more than a thousand years ago.

On arrival, we transfer by coach to our hotel in the stylish harbourside, just a short distance from the historic city centre. There is time to get acquainted with our new surroundings before dinner at the hotel this evening.

• Dinner

This morning, we meet our expert local guide for a sightseeing tour of Trondheim. At the Old Quarter, known to locals as Bakklandet, we admire traditional painted wooden houses, cobblestone streets and colourful waterside buildings. Our guide also shows us the impressive 18th-century Baroque Stiftsgården, the largest wooden building in northern Europe.

The rest of the day is free to continue sightseeing at your own pace. You could explore famous attractions such as the Nidaros Cathedral and Archbishop's Palace. Trondheim also has an impressive range of restaurants for you to dine independently this evening, from tapas and Italian food to vegan and Asian cuisine.

• Breakfast

Leaving Trondheim early this morning, we join the spectacular Nordland Railway. Known as the Polar Express due to picture-book snow scenes, it makes its way across the Arctic Circle to Bodø - a 453-mile route that passes through some of Norway's most amazing landscapes.

We witness sunrise over wintry northern Norway, passing frozen lakes, snow-covered mountains, tranquil fjords and frosted forests, enjoying a glass of cava as we celebrate crossing the Arctic Circle. Enroute, look out for reindeer in the mountains or the elusive sea eagles soaring over the picturesque coast.

As the train reaches Fauske, it turns west along the shimmering shore of Skjerstad Fjord before arriving in Bodø - known as the city with the world's most beautiful coastline. Transferring to our hotel overlooking the idyllic marina with views across to nearby islands, we enjoy dinner together. As we're situated above the Arctic Circle, we could witness the majestic Northern Lights, although our best opportunities are still to come.

• Breakfast, Dinner

After breakfast we take a scenic coach journey of around four hours, travelling from Bodø to Bognes. From here, we catch the ferry to Lødingen on the Lofoten Isles. After disembarking, our scenic drive continues to Svolvær, the tiny capital of these stunning islands, described as Europe's most dramatic and spectacular archipelago.

The Lofoten Isles are tethered to mainland Norway by a series of bridges that resemble spikey, wired teeth and we stay in this wild landscape for two nights. Set beneath the auroral oval, the Lofoten Isles are one of the world's best locations to see the Northern Lights. We venture out by coach to seek the wondrous yet elusive spectacle, before returning to our Svolvær hotel for dinner. If the weather is clear, after dinner we have another chance to experience their spectral dance for ourselves on a Northern Lights hunt.

• Breakfast, Dinner

A scenic drive with a local guide takes us to one of Norway's oldest and best-preserved fishing villages, Nusfjord. Huddled around its fjordside harbour, we find a scattering of colourful wooden cabins, known as rorbu, painted mustard, cream and crimson. Contrasting beautifully against the craggy peaks and deep blue waters, this makes for a picture-postcard scene of Norwegian coastal life. Once home to cod fisherman who used to hang their catch outside their homes, this seafaring heritage is still visible in Nusfjord today, with former community buildings such as the old fish oil factory and smokery having been lovingly renovated.

We continue amid the Lofoten scenery to Vestvågøy. This spellbinding island is renowned for its agriculture, but it is the sandy beaches, snow-capped mountains and enchanting landscapes that capture the hearts of visitors. Dinner is served back at our Svolvær hotel tonight, after which we can venture out once again to look for the Northern Lights.

• Breakfast, Dinner

Saying goodbye to Svolvær after breakfast, we set out by coach for the return journey to the Norwegian mainland. On the drive, soak up the region's natural majesty on one of the most scenic routes in Europe, with views stretching down to magnificent fjords in the valley below.

On arrival in Narvik, we check in to our hotel and have some free time to explore before dinner at the hotel. This ice-free seaport is located 250 miles north of the Arctic Circle and has lots of fascinating attractions, including the Red Cross War Memorial Museum, which documents the occupation of this vital port in World War II. Also worth a visit is the Ofoten Museum, with its exhibits relating to local history and the construction of the Ofoten Railway.

• Breakfast, Dinner

A highlight of our holiday awaits today as we travel on one of the world's most northerly railway lines, the Ofoten Railway aboard the Arctic Train. Waking up in Narvik, we have breakfast in this city that was originally a hub for exporting iron ore mined near Kiruna. With miles of tundra and wilderness between the two, the Ofoten Railway was built to transport this valuable commodity from Sweden to the Norwegian port.

Twenty-seven miles of this route was painstakingly carved out of the mountains in an incredible engineering project - largely undertaken by hand. Our rail journey takes us across the Swedish border, where it continues across barren plateaus and alongside steep mountains to Kiruna, Swedish Lapland's largest city.

On arrival in Kiruna, we transfer to our accommodation in Camp Ripan. Surrounded by forests and rolling hills, we spend three nights in individual cabins. Not only is there chance of seeing wildlife strolling by, but it's also an excellent place to view the Northern Lights. There is free time this afternoon to relax or enjoy the spa facilities before we have dinner.

• Breakfast, Dinner

We discover the lives and culture of Scandinavia's indigenous people today with a special Sámi experience. We travel to a Sámi village where a local guide introduces us to the reindeer. These animals are very important to the Sámi way of life as many people are involved in semi-nomadic reindeer herding. We also get the opportunity to feed these beautiful animals. As we learn more about life in the picturesque camp, we enjoy a Sámi-style lunch in a traditional tent called a 'lavvu' and listen to age-old folk tales.

In the afternoon, we visit Kiruna's world-famous Ice Hotel. This spectacular monument is constructed afresh every year since 1989 from huge, hand-sculpted blocks of ice sourced from the nearby river. We tour its frozen rooms with a guide before visiting the Ice bar for a chilled drink served in ice glasses. We are then transferred back to Camp Ripan for a relaxed evening in our private cabins.

• Breakfast, Lunch

During breakfast, we look forward to an amazing excursion this morning - a unique husky safari experience. With a pack of energetic huskies at the helm, steered by an expert guide, we set out on a large sled through the snowy scenery. Our trip takes us through a winter wonderland on a ride that's been part of Scandinavia's snow-laden culture for generations. As well as enjoying atmospheric views during the husky ride, we also take part in a traditional Swedish 'fika', gathering around a campfire with a hot drink and a Swedish sandwich.

Around midday, a coach transfers us back to Camp Ripan, where there is an afternoon to unwind or wander through the birch forests of the Midnattssolstigen (Midnight Sun Trail) that passes by our camp. This evening, we enjoy a farewell dinner together at the hotel.

• Breakfast, Dinner

After our final breakfast at Camp Ripan, we transfer by coach to Kiruna airport for a connecting flight to Stockholm. From the capital, we fly direct to London Heathrow, where our spectacular Scandinavian holiday comes to an end. Making your way home, you can look back on the experiences that have enchanted us along the way from Trondheim to Kiruna.

Discovering the colourful buildings showcased the long history of the Viking capital, the Lofoten Islands revealed jaw-dropping views and idyllic fishing villages and the Ofoten Railway carried us across the border into Sweden. We discovered the culture of the Sámi people, embraced the beauty of the Ice Hotel and enjoyed an amazing ride on a husky sled.

• Breakfast