A Nordic winter journey – Finnish Lapland, Norway and Oslo

Welcome to Finnish Lapland – a place of snow-dusted silence, where pine forests stretch towards the horizon and the air carries the scent of woodsmoke and frost.

You’ll land at Ivalo Airport and join your transfer – just a short drive through the wintry landscape – to Saariselkä, your base for the next three nights. This small village on the edge of Urho Kekkonen National Park – one of Finland’s largest protected areas – is renowned for outdoor adventures, as you’ll discover over the coming days.

Check in to Wilderness Hotel Kieppi, a timber-built retreat where soft lights and wood interiors offer comfort and warmth after a day in the cold. The surrounding forest is quiet, except for the crunch of snow and the occasional rustle of reindeer.

In the evening, you’ll gather for a welcome dinner at the hotel. It’s a chance to meet your guide and fellow travellers, and to share your first meal together.

After breakfast, it’s time to head into the wild. You’ll be introduced to your eager team of huskies – already yapping with anticipation – before learning the basics of mushing. Then, with a jolt and a rush, you’re off.

The trail winds through snow-laden pine forests, frozen lakes and vast white stillness. The only sound is the sled runners shushing through snow and the canter and chatter of the dogs. You’ll share a sled with a partner – one of you steering, one riding and swapping halfway so you both feel the thrill of guiding the team across this frosted landscape.

Lunch is served back at the hotel, with the afternoon yours to rest or explore.

This evening, wrap up warm for a ride on a sleigh pulled by your guide on a snowmobile. You’ll whoosh through the darkening forest to a remote camp far from any lights – one of the best places to catch the Northern Lights. Here, with a hot drink in hand and the fire crackling nearby, all eyes turn skyward. If the night is kind, the aurora may appear – ribbons of green and red flickering in the cold northern sk

Wake up to a day of two halves – one fast, one slow. After breakfast, you’ll head north to Inari, a small town even deeper into Lapland.

Here, you get a short lesson in snowmobiling before setting off through the wintry wilderness. Once you’re comfortable with the machine, the guide leads you through frozen forests and perhaps even across the frozen lake – the landscape wide in every direction. It’s fast, freeing and full of Arctic energy.

After a warming lunch back at the hotel, the pace changes.

Strap on snowshoes for a quiet late-afternoon walk through the winter forest. There’s no engine now, just the sound of your steps in the powder, the steady rhythm of your breath and the occasional tinkle of snow falling from the branches. Your guide points out tracks and tells stories of local wildlife and the Finnish way of life. Once you’ve found your rhythm, you’ll see snowshoeing is easy – a steady and thoughtful way to feel closer to the snow-blanketed land.

Back at the hotel, enjoy a slow dinner, then settle into your new room for the night – an Arctic Sky Suite, where floor-to-ceiling glass brings the night sky in. If luck is with you, the aurora might ripple overhead.

After breakfast, you leave Saariselkä, following the road past frozen rivers and snow-covered forests back to Inari – the quiet lakeside village at the centre of Sámi culture and identity in Finland.

Here you’ll visit the SIIDA Museum, the country’s main Sámi museum, located just across the river from the Sámi Parliament. The quiet exhibits and powerful artefacts introduce you to Sámi ways of life, their bond with nature, and the challenges they face today.

After lunch, the road stretches north once more. Soon you cross into Norway, where the pine forest thins and the sky widens. By late afternoon, you arrive in Kirkenes – a frontier town, shaped by its Arctic location and layered history.

Check in to your hotel. The rest of the day is yours to rest, explore and perhaps dip your hand in the Barents Sea – part of the Arctic Ocean.

After breakfast, check out and visit the Snowhotel Kirkenes – an icy retreat with incredibly rooms sculpted from snow and ice, as well as reindeer and a pack of huskies. Enjoy a guided tour and a drink served in the ice bar.

From here, transfer to the pier and board your Hurtigruten ship. Settle into your cabin or suite and, at 12:30, the seabound leg of your adventure begins: The Coastal Express – Norway’s iconic coastal route – southbound from Kirkenes to Bergen.

This first day at sea carries you along Norway’s northern edge. Brief calls at Vardø, Båtsfjord and Berlevåg offer glimpses of remote fortresses, historic war sites and raw Arctic landscapes as you cruise the Barents coastline into the evening and through the night.

Today, your ship calls at several remote ports as we start our journey south. If you’re up early, step outside as we round the northernmost point of mainland Europe, the Arctic air fresh on your cheeks.

After a leisurely buffet breakfast, you arrive in Hammerfest. At 70.7 degrees north, it’s the northernmost town in the world.

Take time to stroll along the colourful waterfront. You can also visit the Museum of Reconstruction to learn about the town’s rebirth after World War II, and see the dramatic triangular Hammerfest Church, its shape inspired by traditional fish-drying racks.

Optional excursions include a scenic bus tour to the Museum of Reconstruction and the UNESCO-listed Meridian Column, or a guided hike to the viewpoint at the top of Mount Salen.

Back on board, your voyage continues south past the Lyngen Alps, which boast some of the highest peaks in all of Norway. Keep watch for the orcas and humpback whales that usually gather along this stretch of coast to feed on herring.

Just before midnight, your ship docks at Tromsø where, on an optional excursion, you can step into a wooden cathedral for a haunting live performance of traditional Norwegian folk songs and hymns.

Today, you sail the archipelagos of Lofoten and Vesterålen, undisputed highlights of Norway’s coast.

After an early-morning call at Finnsnes, your ship stops at Harstad, home to Trondenes, the world’s northernmost medieval stone church. The landscape shifts gear from gentle hills to towering mountains as you sail to Risøyhamn and Sortland.

In Stokmarknes, birthplace of The Coastal Express, dive into Norway’s maritime heritage at Hurtigrutemuseet. Here, you can step on board MS Finnmarken from 1956, preserved like a ship in a bottle.

Sailing along Raftsund from Vesterålen to Lofoten, your Captain might detour into tiny Trollfjord, where the soaring mountain walls feel almost close enough to touch.

In the evening, stroll the streets of Svolvær, gateway to the Lofoten Islands. Or join an optional excursion and trot along a white-sand beach on an Icelandic horse, meet the owner of the archipelago’s only craft brewery, or go in search of Sea Eagles on a RIB.

Fall into bed after you’ve sailed past Stamsund and the vast granite cliffs of the Lofoten Wall.

Your ship calls at Bodø and Ørnes in the early hours, and crosses the Arctic Circle just after breakfast. Mark the moment with a taste of traditional Norwegian cod liver oil.

After a short stop at Nesna, you reach Sandnessjøen, gateway to the magnificent Helgeland Coast. Be on the viewing deck as you cruise past the awe-inspiring Seven Sisters mountain range. According to legend, seven beautiful troll princesses fleeing from an unwanted suitor got caught out as the sun rose, transforming into the seven beautiful peaks you can see lining the coast like enormous landlocked waves.

Step off your ship in Brønnøysund to see the bustling marina and the Neo-Gothic-style Brønnøy Church. Or join an optional excursion and hike through the cathedral-like hole running through the centre of famous Torghatten mountain.

Back on board, don’t miss views of Torghatten from the sea – the onboard Expedition Team will tell you the troll story associated with it – before the last quick stop of the day: Rørvik, a cosy fishing port in the picturesque Vikna archipelago.

Your day begins in Trondheim, as the city wakes. See sacred Nidaros Cathedral, resting place of St. Olav, then stroll across Gamle Bybro bridge to the trendy Bakklandet district. Take your pick from the chic cafes serving coffee and pastries – try a traditional Norwegian boller (bun) – and walk up to Kristiansten Fort for unforgettable views of Norway’s third largest city.

Later this afternoon, you’ll dock at Kristiansund, known as Norway’s ‘bacalao capital’ for the salted cod – klippfisk – that’s dried on the surrounding cliffs. Wander the old town’s cobblestone streets, tour the lively port and head up to the old watchtower at Varden viewpoint for a panorama of the three islands that make up the city.

To reach Molde, famous for its skyline of 222 peaks and the last port of the day, hop back on board or swap the ship for the swooping bridges of The Atlantic Road on an optional excursion. You’ll drive along the route that has featured in countless car ads and action movies, as well as visit a stave church and sample bacalao, a hearty stew made from klippfisk.

Before your coastal cruise comes to an end later today, soak up some of the views that put the Norwegian fjords at the top of so many travel bucket lists.

Make sure you’re awake in time to catch a glimpse of Nordfjord snaking towards mainland Europe’s largest glacier, majestic Jostedal, shortly after Måløy. As you depart Florø, look out for Stabben Lighthouse, a favourite with photographers. And keep your camera close as you cruise across the mouth of Sognefjord (Norway’s longest and widest fjord) and through the islands and skerries of Hjeltefjord on the approach to the fjord city of Bergen, the final stop of your voyage along Norway's coast.

It’s time to say farewell to the ship but your adventure isn’t over yet. At the pier, meet your local guide private coach tour of Bergen’s highlights, including the UNESCO-listed wharf, Bryggen and the stone-built Håkon’s Hall.

Your city tour finishes with a funicular ride up Mt Fløyen for panoramic views over Bergen, the harbour and the surrounding mountains – a perfect, final wide-angle look at the coast you’ve just travelled.

After the tour, check in to your hotel. The rest of the evening is yours to enjoy at your own pace. Wander the waterfront, find a restaurant in the narrow backstreets or simply rest.

After an early breakfast, pack your overnight bag and leave the rest of your luggage at reception for transfer to Oslo. You travel light today.

A private coach takes you to the Bergen railway station to begin your Norway in a Nutshell journey – a classic route through some of western Norway’s most dramatic landscapes.

First, a train ride to Voss, then a drive through steep-sided valleys where waterfalls cascade down dark rock walls, almost splashing your coach. In Gudvangen, board a ferry for a peaceful cruise along the UNESCO-protected Nærøyfjord – a narrow, twisting waterway flanked by sheer cliffs and snow-tipped peaks.

The fjord opens up as you reach the village of Flåm, tucked between the mountains and water. It’s a quiet place, popular with hikers, cyclists and those who prefer to just sit and take in the view.

Step off the ship and check into your hotel, with the rest of the evening free to relax, find a restaurant or explore the village on foot.

After breakfast, board the Flåm Railway for a steep, winding journey through tunnels, along mountain ravines and past free-falling – or frozen – waterfalls. In just under an hour, you’ll arrive at Myrdal, where you re-connect to the Bergen Line and continue east towards Oslo.

The train weaves through highland plateaus and alpine forests before descending into Norway’s capital – a city of contrasts where fjord meets modern architecture and leafy parks.

In Oslo, meet your local guide for a three-hour city tour. Highlights include Vigeland Sculpture Park, the striking sloped façade of the Opera House, and Holmenkollen – home to the iconic ski jump and sweeping city views. No entrance fees are included, but you’ll have a strong sense of place by the time the tour ends.

Check in to your hotel, where the rest of your luggage waits for you. In the evening, gather for a farewell dinner – a last moment to reflect on your journey from Lapland to the coast together.

Sadly, today is the end of the tour. You’ve travelled all the way from Finnish Lapland across the Arctic Circle to the Norwegian capital, on a medley of ships, trains and coaches. After breakfast, it’s time to check out, say farewell and join your transfer to Oslo Airport.

We hope you’ve had an amazing experience exploring Finland and Norway with us and that we see you again in the future.