Northern Norway Explorer

About this trip

Exactly what you do each day, where you sleep, and how it flows — written by us, from the real itinerary.

1. 1
   Day 1 · OsloOslo

   

   You'll arrive in Oslo to start exploring Norway's capital. The city has plenty to offer, so arriving early gives you a chance to see more before the main trip kicks off. Tonight, try some traditional Norwegian food with the group.

2. 2
   Day 2 · OsloTrondheim

   

   Take the train from Oslo across the countryside to Trondheim, Norway's former capital and coronation city. Colourful wooden storehouses line the Nidelva River, and hilly wilderness surrounds the city. Ask your leader where to find the best fresh seafood.

3. 3
   Day 3 · TrondheimTrondheim

   Walk through Bymarka, a large nature reserve west of Trondheim, then loop around Lianvatnet lake. Board the Hurtigruten ferry—operating for over 130 years—towards Svolvaer. Spend the night on board, watching the Norwegian coastline pass by while there's still daylight.

4. 4
   Day 4 · BodoLofoten Islands

   

   Arrive in Bodø, a modern city rebuilt after WWII destruction, backed by dramatic mountains and home to the world's densest population of white-tailed sea eagles. Watch for them from the quay while you eat. Ferry to Svolvaer on the Lofoten Islands and check into a traditional rorbu, originally fishermen's homes.

5. 5
   Day 5 · LofotenLofoten Islands

   

   Take a RIB speedboat through the narrow, steep-sided Trollfjord and around the islands and skerries of Raftsundet Strait. Watch for sea eagles circling just metres away—the Lofoten Islands are known for their fishing villages, pristine nature and the Midnight Sun.

6. 6
   Day 6 · LofotenLofoten Islands

   Hike to Linken peak for views of surrounding mountains and sea—an easy two-hour walk. Those wanting more can tackle Tjeldbergtinden for views over fjords and Svolvær. Others can return early and spend the afternoon at leisure.

7. 7
   Day 7 · LofotenTromsø

   

   Leave the Lofoten Islands on a long scenic journey: local bus to Harstad for lunch or exploring, then ferry past fjords and a maelstrom to Tromsø. North of the Arctic Circle, Tromsø is a cultural hub with festivals and a university. You have a free evening.

8. 8
   Day 8 · TromsoTromsø

   Explore Tromsø on an e-bike tour with a local guide, stopping at MS Polstjerna (a seal-hunting vessel), a 19th-century farmstead, Prestvannet lake and other sites. Spend the rest of the day exploring the Polar Museum, Tromsø Museum, galleries or taking a boat cruise.

9. 9
   Day 9 · TromsoTromsø

   Your trip ends today with no planned activities. You can extend your stay in Tromsø if you'd like—ask about additional accommodation at booking.

What's included

• Guide: All group trips are accompanied by one of our group leader or local representative. The aim of the group leader or local representative is to take the hassle out of your travels and to help you have the best trip possible. Intrepid endeavours to provide the services of an experienced group leader or local representative however, due to the seasonality of travel, rare situations may arise where your group leader or local representative is new to a particular region or training other group leader or local representative. Your group leader or local representative will provide information on the places you are travelling through, offer suggestions for things to do and see, recommend great local eating venues and introduce you to our local friends. While not being guides in the traditional sense, you can expect them to have a broad general knowledge of the places visited on the trip, including historical, cultural, religious, and social aspects. At Intrepid we aim to support local guides who have specialised knowledge of the regions we visit. If you are interested in delving deeper into the local culture at a specific site or location then your group leader or local representative can recommend a local guide service in most of the main destinations of your trip. , EUROPEAN LEADERS: Intrepid trips in Europe are accompanied by one of our local European group leaders. ’Local’ in this context means a leader who is European or lives in Europe. We also aim to support local guides in the individual cities or locations we travel to. If you are interested in delving deeper into the local culture at a specific site or location then your leader can recommend an optional local guide service in most of the main destinations of your trip.
• Meals: 8 breakfasts, 1 lunch
• Activities: Trondheim - Bymarka forest walk Bodø - Leader-led orientation walk Svolvær - Trollfjord Cruise & Sea Eagle Safari Svolvær - Leader-led hike to Linken Peak Tromsø - E-bike city tour
• Transport: TRANSPORT IN EUROPE: Half the fun of travel is the travelling itself, that's why we like to travel the local way – whether that means mingling with commuters on a local train, watching the scenery roll by from the window of a long distance bus, arriving on a high speed train in the city centre of your next destination, or navigating each city's public transport system. In Europe, you are guaranteed to travel by genuine local public transport wherever possible, which puts you right in the centre of the action., Hurtigruten is a historic Norwegian coastal ferry service that combines essential local transport with a relaxed, cruise-like travel experience. Ships run daily along Norway’s long coastline, giving passengers close-up views of fjords, small towns, and dramatic Arctic or sub-Arctic scenery. The onboard atmosphere is comfortable and low-key, with local food, knowledgeable crew, and frequent opportunities to step ashore at ports along the route. Train, Public bus, Plane, Overnight Ferry, Tram, E-bike
• Accommodation: The style of accommodation indicated in the day-to-day itinerary is a guideline only and may change. On some occasions, alternative arrangements may need to be made due to the lack of availability of rooms in our preferred accommodation. In these cases, we will use a similar standard of accommodation. Throughout the trip, we request that our properties prepare rooms in time for our arrival, especially if we're arriving prior to normal check-in time. However, this isn't always possible which means we won't be able to check-in immediately on arrival at some hotels. Instead, we can store our luggage and explore our new destination or on some trips, have use of shared day rooms until all rooms are available., Rorbuer are traditional Norwegian fishermen's cabins, originally built to provide shelter for fishermen who came to the northern coast to fish, particularly during the winter cod season. Today, these red-painted, seaside cabins have been restored and refurbished into popular accommodations for tourists, blending historical charm with modern comforts. They are a prominent feature of the Lofoten Islands and offer a unique way to experience Norway's coastal heritage. All cabins sleep between 4 and 6 guests, are fully equipped with a private bathroom, kitchen, living room, and bedroom. , On this trip, we use a range of small, locally run hotels that reflect the character of the destinations we visit. In Northern Europe, air conditioning isn’t always common as buildings are designed to retain heat during long, colder seasons and summer temperatures are typically mild. As a result, some properties may not have Air conditioning, and rooms can feel warm during hotter periods. While windows can sometimes be opened, this may bring in street or city noise. Room sizes may also be more compact than you might be used to. If you’re travelling in summer, we recommend keeping this in mind to help you prepare for a comfortable stay. Hotel (4 Nights), Overnight ferry (1 night), Rorbu (3 nights)

How travellers rate it

Your free day in Oslo

Landing early, staying on, or filling free time? The best-rated day experiences in Oslo — you book on Viator (we may earn a commission).

5Budget-friendly

Oslo city center Tour

2hfrom £40

5Budget-friendly

Free Tour of Oslo in Spanish : Local History and Culture

2hfrom £4

5Budget-friendly

FLOP museum Admission Ticket in Oslo

1hfrom £16

5

Oslo's Scenic Fjord Hike & Chef's Norwegian Forest Waffle

4hfrom £68

Common questions