A three week trip touring Norway and Sweden, including the Arctic Circle. A motoring experience that gives you the opportunity to enjoy driving your car along some of the world’s best roads. A holiday that gives you the chance to enjoy charming hotels, good food, and captivating scenery in the land of the midnight sun.
The tour starts in southern Norway, crossing the mountains to the fjordland and Bergen, then Alesund. From the ancient capital of Trondheim take the Coastal Voyage north to the Lofoten Islands, within the Arctic. Drive into Swedish Lappland and stay at the Ice Hotel, and then south, along the High Coast to Lake Siljan, the quintessential Sweden. Spend a couple of days discovering Stockholm and then drive Malmo and cross to Denmark and 
Copenhagen.
May to September is the best time to visit as there are carpets of flowers, yet snow still caps the mountains, the weather is warm and the daylight hours are very long. In summer the sun doesn’t set north ofthe Arctic Circle.
Accommodation
Stay in some of the most delightful places, including wonderful Gothic hotels, mountain log cabins, restored fishermen’s huts, and comfortable manor houses. All the accommodation is individual and of a high standard (generally 4 star or equivalent). Due to the nature and age of these hotels, the rooms vary from harmingly comfortable to the utmost luxury. We have hand-picked the hotels for their unique atmosphere.
“The hotel accommodation as excellent - way beyond our expectations” P.C., Dorset
Itinerary
May be subject to change without notice
For those travelling from the UK, drive to Newcastle to take the ferry to Kristiansand in southern Norway, which can be booked on your behalf. For those travelling from mainland Europe, the tour starts in Kristiansand.
Day One
Arrive in Kristiansand and spend the morning discovering the town, maybe visit the castle, or have lunch by the water. The drive into the Telemark region to Dalen to stay at the historic, wooden Dalen Hotel. Dinner is included.
Day Two
Spend the morning at the small, but excellent ethnographic museum. Drive through Telemark passing stave churches and old silver mines. Head north into the mountains through forests anbd past alpine villages to Hemsedal, to stay at a peaceful and comfortable mountain retreat, in log cabins with traditional grass roofs. Dinner is included.
Day Three
Drive across the ‘roof of Norway’ to Bergen. Head across the mountains to the fjords and there is a short ferry journey to cross one of them. The roads hug the edge of the fjords and offer some thrilling driving. Spend two nights in Bergen at a lovely hotel in the centre of town. Evening meals are not included as there are many good restaurants to sample.
Day Four
Discover the many delights of Bergen. The old town is a fascinating area to explore, with little wooden houses jostled in the smallest of spaces on the hillside overlooking the harbour. Maybe include an Elgar concert at the composer’s home, Troldhaugen.
Day Five
Leave Bergen and drive to Voss and then north for a wonderful drive to Vagnsnes. It is then a short ferry trip, acorss Sognefjord, Norway’s longest and deepest fjord, to Balestrand, to stay in a beautiful wooden hotel, Kvikne’s. The evening buffet meal is included.
Day Six
Wind your way through the fjords and mountains to Stryn. Take the old road up to the summer skiing area (where you can partake if you wish) and then over the mountains on some stunning roads to Geiranger. The descent to Geiranger is fabulous with 37 hairpin bends. Today’s drive includes some sensational mountain passes and breathtaking scenery. The hotel overlooks the Geirangerfjord, one of the most beautiful. There is also a vintage car museum and the acclaimed Norwegian Fjord Centre to visit. A buffet dinner is included.
Day Seven
Drive up the Eagle’s Highway, and look back down to Geirangerfjord and across the mountains. After a short ferry crossing drive down the famous Trollstigen road. This is an awesome road with hairpin bends, a 1:12 gradient and practically one lane all the way. Journey onto Andalsnes, and then onto the lovely coastal town of Alesund. Stay in an old converted warehouse on the waterfront.
Day Eight
Drive the beautiful Atlantic Road north of Alesund to Molde, Kristiansund and Orkanger. Tonight stay at a comfortable manor house near Trondheim. Dinner is included.
Day Nine
Leave early to spend the morning exploring historic Trondheim. At midday leave Trondheim on the Hurtigruten coastal voyage north to the Arctic. Stay on board, relax and take a break from driving.
Day Ten
If you are up early, at about 7am, you will be able to see the landmarker for the Arctic Circle as you sail past. Most of the day will be spent on board, gliding past the fjords and along the coast. The boat will call into a number of ports along the route, including a 2 1/2 hour stop in Bodo, so take the opportunity to go ashore and walk around.
Disembark the boat in Stamsund on the Lofoten Islands at 7.30pm and drive to Kabelvag, to spend two nights in rorbu, which are old fishermen’s cabins, converted into accommodation. There are two bedrooms in each cabin,sharing a bathroom. Alternatively stay in a nearby hotel in Henningsvaer. Dinner is included at the rorbu, but not the hotel.
Day Eleven
A free day to discover the Lofoten Islands and enjoy 24 hours of sunshine. The islands are truly beautiful and there is so much to see and do. Lucky it never gets dark in summer!
Day Twelve
Leave Lofoten and drive back to mainland Norway at Narvik. Cross the border into Sweden and Lappland and drive through the Abisko National Park, Europe’s last true wilderness, with the chance of seeing reindeer and elk in their natural environment. Visit Kiruna, Sweden’s northernmost town, famous for its iron ore mine, the world’s largest underground mine. Stay in the nearby Ice Hotel, in wooden cabins, since the ice has melted in summer! Various activities are available such as canoeing, mountain biking or fishing.
Day Thirteen
Visit the incredible frozen art centre of the Ice Hotel, to see pieces of furniture and other artifacts, created from the river and snow, that are kept from year to year. Head south, crossing the Arctic Circle at 66degrees 33′N. This is the southernmost latitude where the midnight sun can be seen at the summer solstice. Visit a stone-age settlement and onto Storforsen, Europe’s largest rapids. The hotel overlooks the rapids and the river. It is a fasciniting area to walk around. Dinner is included.
Day Fourteen
Drive to the east coast of Sweden and then south through the towns of Umea and Ornskolsvik and along the High Coast, a World Heritage site. The coast is still rising from the sea here, faster than anywhere else on earth, and old fishing communities are now inland villages. Stay in a country manor house about 20 minutes from the coast.
Day Fifteen
Head south to Lake Siljan and Tallberg, a very pretty village made famous by Hans Christian Andersen. Stay at one of the best hotels in the area, a stunning wooden building, with traditional Swedish decor. Dinner is included.
Day Sixteen
Drive from Lake Siljan to Stockholm, one of the world’s most beautiful cities. Stay in a fabulous hotel in the centre of the city and within easy walking distance of the main sights.
Day Seventeen
A full day to explore Stockholm. Wander round Gamle Stan, Djurgarden, Skansen, or take a boat to see the archipelagoes. Shopping is also world class and Swedish design is renowned for being second to none.
Day Eighteen
Leave Stockholm and drive to Lake Vattern. Visit the motor museum at Motala and then stay overnight in Vadstena, a medieval town on the shore of the lake. The hotel is converted from the medieval monastery and overlooks the lake.
Day Nineteen
Drive around the lake to the southern tip and then south to Malmo, just across the sea from Denmark. Cross the famous Oresund Bridge into Denmark, Stay overnight in Copenhagen.
Day Twenty
Spend the morning seeing the sights of Copenhagen. Drive across Denmark to Esbjerg. The ferry departs at 18.45
Day Twenty-One
Arrive in Harwich, UK at 11.30am and depart for home
Details
Dates:
This tour can be taken at any time to suit you, but we recommend May to September as the best times to go.
Price:
£2,375 per person - based on two people sharing a twin or double room
What’s included:
- All accommodation for nineteen nights
- Breakfast every morning
- Dinner on eleven evenings
- The Norwegian Coastal Voyage from Trondheim to Stamsund for two people and a vehicle
- A comprehensive tour book with maps, directions, and route information.
What’s not included:
- The ferry crossing from UK to Norway and return from Denamrk to UK
- Norwegian domestic ferry crossings and road tolls
- Eight evening meals and all lunches
- Entry into attractions and activities
- Personal, medical and travel insurance
- All drinks are extra to accommodate individual preferences
Requirements
- We are agents for DFDS Seaways, who operate the ferry crossings required for this tour. If you are travelling from the UK then please contact us to arrange your crossing.
- Each person must have a passport (and any necessary visas for non-EU passport holders) valid for Norway, Sweden and Denmark, and any other countries you may visit to participate on the tour.
- All passports must be valid for six months after the end of the tour.
- You will also need your vehicle registration documents, driving licence (a photo-card licence or international permit is best), and an international insurance green card.
Please check with your travel and motor insurers that you are covered for travel in the required countries. - You are also required to carry a warning triangle, first-aid kit, fluorescent jacket, set of replacement bulbs and a national identification sticker.
- The Scandinavian Arctic Adventure is open to any classic, vintage or sports type vehicle, of any age. However, the most important requirement is that you take pleasure in motoring through fabulous scenery, relish individual, character hotels and enjoy the company of like-minded travellers.
Booking
Apart from our scheduled, escorted group tours, none of our itineraries are set in stone - after all, this is your holiday - so we can fine-tune any aspect of these tours to meet your wishes. Any of our escorted tours may also be taken as a private, independent tour, at a time to suit you.
We work closely with a number of classic and spots car hire companies across the UK, Europe, and beyond, so we can arrange your car hire for you , too. Please contact us for futher details and the cars we have available.
