Essential Norway

Fly from London or your local airport to Oslo, Norway's fascinating and cosmopolitan capital. On arrival, you transfer into the city centre by rail and walk to your hotel.

• Dinner

Head out on a guided walking tour to introduce you to the main sights. See the new state Opera House, an award-winning example of modern architecture. You also see Norway's magnificent 19th-century Royal Palace before an afternoon to get to know the city under your own steam. Oslo offers a choice of museums including the Viking Ship and Maritime Museum, the Folk Museum, and the Edvard Munch Museum, where you can admire Munch's most famous piece, the expressionist painting, 'The Scream. The Astrup Fearnley Museum of Modern Art is a fantastic example of modernity and its design alone makes it worth visiting. A walk up Karl Johans Gate reveals the Royal Palace as well as a multitude of enticing shops and restaurants. Otherwise, you could take a cruise on Oslofjord, admiring the scenery of the city from a unique perspective.

• Breakfast

Travel on Northern Europe's highest railway, the Bergen Railway, widely regarded as one of the greatest railway journeys on the planet. The harsh climate in this part of the world has produced a landscape which is simply breathtaking, and you soak up the phenomenal views from the comfort of your carriage as you pass through some of the wildest nature accessible by train. Beginning in southern Norway, the train starts its ascent into the mountains, travelling alongside deep fjords and passing through numerous tunnels, to the stations at Arna and Dale. After the Trollkona tunnel - the longest on the line - you reach Bergen, situated on the edge of Norway's fjord country.

• Breakfast

Embark on a full day excursion that encapsulates Norway in a nutshell, beginning with a journey on the iconic Flåm Railway, travelling along one of the steepest lines in existence. A branch line of the Bergen Railway, the scenic Flåm Railway takes you on a wonderful 12.5-mile journey past waterfalls, snow-capped mountains and remote, mountain-side farms. Following free time to discover Flåm and grab lunch, take to the waters on a cruise along two of Norway's tranquil fjords, Aurlandsfjord and Nærøyfjord. This cruise is the perfect way to discover both UNESCO-listed fjords, surrounded by Alpine meadows, charming villages and waterfalls cascading from the mountainsides.

• Breakfast

Today you discover beautiful Bergen on a guided sightseeing tour. The city is nicknamed 'the heart of the fjords' due to its picturesque location nestled between seven fjords, and has the charms of a welcoming small town, with narrow cobblestone lanes and chocolate-box buildings. Head to the pretty Bryggen Waterfront, the location of the old Hanseatic trading wharf, where the old wooden buildings are on the UNESCO World Heritage list. Enjoy a delicious lunch, before the rest of your day is free to explore the city at your own pace. You could pay a visit to the Bergen Museum, where you'll find one of Norway's largest collections of cultural and historical exhibits.

• Breakfast, Lunch

Travel by coach today, journeying through scenic landscapes on your way back to Oslo. Pause at Hardangervidda to see the fascinating stave church here, an example of the immense wooden cathedrals built during the Middle Ages in Norway. The decorations inside are a combination of Christian motifs and what is often assumed as Viking themes. Today, there are only 28 of these churches preserved, but it's believed that there were around 2000 at the height of the medieval period.

Later, check into your hotel in Oslo for your final evening.

• Breakfast, Dinner

You transfer to the airport for your flight to the UK. On arrival in London, or at your local airport, your holiday comes to an end.

• Breakfast