NORWAY IN A NUTSHELL
BY RAIL AND FERRY
22 MAY 2025 - 8 NIGHTS
Note: We need 16 people to make this trip viable.
Picture Perfect
A perfect mirror reflects snow-capped peaks, glistening in the sunshine. A lone duck makes its way across the lake, opening it like a zipper. A single hotel, sitting up from the Tundra, marks the place where we cross the Arctic Circle. We are on the amazing train journey from Trondheim to Bodo, one of the most magnificent rail trips in the world. The ten-hour journey (it seems like two hours!) is part of our "Norway in a Nutshell" tour, departing from Ireland on 22nd May 2025.
We tried this tour in 2024, at the same time of year, and it was a huge success. We did, however, "over-egg" the tour with too many changes of hotel and too many early starts, so we've corrected that for 2025. Now, it's essentially a three-centre holiday, although we need one night in the middle in Trondheim, to allow us to catch the train to Bodo.
Included in the holiday are eight nights in 4* city-centre hotels, a host of excursions, some wonderful experiences and a chance to see the beautiful country of Norway. Check out the brief itinerary (opposite) and compare our prices to just about anything offered by any other operator, and we are sure you will be impressed, enough to join us. We look forward to seeing you!
Norway
It’s a large country, stretching over 1500 miles, North to South. Yet it only has a population of less than 6 million, about the same as Ireland. We would love to show you all of the country but it would take weeks and loads of your money.
So, we have condensed it and put together a programme that includes flights, ferries and trains, highlighting the beauty of this mysterious land. Leaving from Bergen, we’ll travel through some of Norway’s most beautiful countryside en-route to Bodo, tucked within the Arctic Circle. As a UNESCO World Heritage City and a European City of Culture, Bergen has the ideal combination of nature, culture and exciting urban life all year around. Bodo, on the other hand is a small, quiet city where, despite its northerly latitude, the locals enjoy socialising in the open air. Picture yourself at 11.30pm, sipping a glass of wine or enjoying a beer, and the sun hasn't even sunk yet! Amazing!
We then fly down to Oslo for a couple of nights, with enough time to explore and enjoy this very welcoming city.Two nights may not be long enough, so you might just have to come back again!
Outline Itinerary
Thursday - 22 May 202
Fly Dublin – Bergen 12.50 – 16.00
We will take the airport bus to the hotel
3 Nights, 4* city centre hotel, Bed and breakfast
Radisson Blu Hotel, 4*
Free to relax before dinner.
Evening meal included (First evening)
Friday 23 May 2025
Breakfast at the hotel
Walking tour planned from the hotel around the city. We will do this over a longer period of time at a leisurely pace, with stops. For anyone who can’t walk too far, we can suggest the excellent hop-on hop-off bus for around £30.
Evening meal is included tonight
Saturday 24 May 2025
Breakfast at the hotel.
All-day excursion by rail and ferry to Flam.
(Usual cost is locally around £250)
Note: This excursion may be swapped with previous day
Evening meal not included tonight
Sunday 25 May 2025
Breakfast at the hotel
Mid morning flight from Bergen to Trondheim. Times TBA
Transfer to the city centre by minibus
1 Night, 4* city centre hotel, Bed and breakfast
Clarion Collection Hotel, Trondheim
Afternoon free to explore Trondheim on your own.
Evening meal included.
(This is a simple two-course meal tonight, in the hotel)
Monday 26 May 2025
Very early start. Breakfast is from 06.30 and we’ll need to leave the hotel by 07.10 at the latest. 10 minutes walk to the station.
Train from Trondheim to Bodo - Depart 07.49, arrive 17.44
This is a “highlight” journey along the Norwegian coast and across the Arctic Circle. We suggest you bring some food although there is catering on board.
2 Nights, 4* city centre hotel, Bed and breakfast
Radisson Blu, Bodo
Evening meal included tonight
Tuesday 27 May 2025
Breakfast at the hotel.
Full day of excursions. Morning visit to the superb Norwegian Aeronautical Museum
(Optional afternoon tour by high-speed Zodiac to Saltstraumen to see Sea Eagles – approx. cost £110 per person)
Evening meal is included tonight.
Wednesday 28 May 2025
Breakfast at the hotel.
Depart hotel after breakfast for flight to Oslo (Times TBA)
Transfer to Oslo by train and tram.
Check in to city centre hotel 4*
Afternoon free to relax. May we suggest a walk around the Royal Palace!
Or join us on a visit to the island of Bygdoy, to see Amundsen’s ship, on which he explored the South Pole. (Small charge payable locally)
Evening meal at a local restaurant.
Thursday 29 May 2025
Breakfast at the hotel
Walking tour of Oslo. Afternoon free or join Alan for another walking tour.
Evening excursion.
Boat tour of Oslo Harbour with Shrimp Dinner
Friday 30 May 2025
Breakfast at the hotel.
Depart for airport at around 08.30 by train. (Times TBA)
Fly Oslo to Dublin.
Depart 11.30am arrive 12.50pmpprox. 07.00am)
Included in the fare:
· Flights from Dublin to Bergen and
return from Oslo to Dublin
· 1 carry-on bag plus 1 checked bag up to 20kgs
· Train and ferry fares as specified above.
· Premier Travel with reclining seats
on Trondheim-Bodo route
· 8 nights accommodation at 4-star
city-centre hotels with breakfast daily
· 7 evening meals (allowing 1 for free choice)
· Transfers between all hotels, ports, stations
and airports, where required.
· Excursion programme
· Fully escorted throughout by Alan Couser
· Full ATOL financial protection
Not included in the fare:
Seat upgrades on flights, if available (Notes to follow)
Gratuities to hotel or catering staff
1 evening meal but you are free to join Alan, if you wish, but at your own expense.
Travel insurance
Fares:
£2195 p.p. based on twin/double sharing-
£2545 in single rooms
Excursions
There are a number of excursions included in your fare and we will be adding more optional tours for you to choose from.
Oslo walking tour - Included in fare
Oslo is not a huge city, so we will be able to see quite a bit of it on foot, during the morning. Approx 2 hours
We will offer a further two-hour walking tour in the afternoon
Hop-on Hop-off Sightseeing bus - approx £30
If the walking seems a bit much for you, we can arrange hop-on hop-off buses in Bergen and Oslo.
Floibanen Funicular - Bergen - Included in fare
A trip on this is an unforgetable experience, offering superb views (subject to weather of course!)
Norwegian Aviation Museum - Included in fare
A visit to this museum on the outskirts of Bodo is well worthwhile and enjoyable.
RIB Boat ride to Saltstraumen - Extra cost £110
This is an exciting tour for thrill seekers, not to be missed. It is extremely safe and doesn't involve much effort. Speed out of Bodo at mid-tide, to catch the famous tidal race at its peak. Ride the current - it's slow one way and fast the other! Look out for sea-eagles, whales and dolphins en-route, although sightings are never guaranteed.
Flam and Fjords - Cruise and Rail - Included
Included in your holiday fare is a full-day excursion, departing early in the morning from Bergen. You will spend 5-6 hours cruising the fjords on a modern catamaran, then a trip on the world-famous Flam Railway, before returning to Bergn by train in the evening. (Note- This tour may operate in reverse)
Evening Shrimp Dinner Cruise - Oslo - Included
This was a surprising highlight in 2024. Three hours or so of cruising through Oslo Fjord, spotting colourful villages and pretty islands. During the cruise you can buy drinks but your evening meal of shrimps with bread and salad. There are so many shrimps, you will not starve!
