12 nights. Norway

Day 1

london (tower bridge),uk

Departure: 17:00

Of all the European capitals, London resonates most profoundly in the minds of travellers. We soak up London before we even realise it exists and when we finally approach the city, it doesn't let us down. There are the red double-deckers, the bobbies and stoic guards at Buckingham, Westminster Abbey, and the chimes of Big Ben, sounding familiar, as we've heard them before. We see these things with a sense of satisfaction. Yet there's plenty to surprise. London isn't quaint. London isn't a museum, though you could spend all your time hopping from one to the next. It's a bustling, urban sprawl, with traffic jams, shops, and a remarkable international population. Visit the many monuments with nearly a millennium's worth of history, from Chaucer's grave to the pub where the captain of the Mayflower had a pint to Piccadilly Circus, one of London’s most snapped sights. But don’t overlook modern London, with its intensely active theatres, international cuisine, political protests, the latest in music and fashion, punks and peers, and everyone in between. In 1777, writer Samuel Johnson said when a man is tired of London, he is tired of life, and the phrase still rings true. There's something different to experience every day in London.

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Day 3

stavanger, norway

Arrival: 07:00 - Departure: 16:00

Stavanger is the fourth largest city in Norway and in recent years, has become the oil capital of Norway. Despite the rapid growth of the town due to North Sea exploration, Stavanger has managed to retain its old charm while offering all the amenities you'd expect in a modern town. The central area around Vågen harbour is usually bustling with activity, especially during the summer months. There are plenty of bars, cafes and places to eat. The old part of town, Gamle Stavanger, is a beautiful collection of old houses built in traditional Norse style. The historic centre of Stavanger includes several artisan workshops and the Norwegian Canning Museum. It's said there are 173 white cottages dating from the 1800's in this area. It's the largest surviving wooden house settlement in northern Europe. The fantastic Stavanger Cathedral is located right in the middle of the town, between the main harbour and Breiavatnet Lake. The overall style is Romanesque but the eastern side is clearly gothic, with all the specific elements included. The Norsk Oljemuseum shows its interesting side starting from its architecture. The museum is located in an impressive building down the harbour and tells you the history of oil in the North Sea and gives an insight into the industry. Outside the central area, there are lots of parks, open spaces and cycleways to explore the impressive scenery in the area. There's plenty to do in Stavanger itself, which has its own theatre, museums and concert hall. During the summer months, various festivals take place and the centre of town is buzzing with activity.

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Day 4

alesund, norway

Arrival: 08:00 - Departure: 18:00

Old-fashioned pinnacle buildings dot the stone-paved streets of Alesund, a bustling port surrounded by jade-green fjords and forested mountains. After burning to the ground in 1904, Alesund was rebuilt and lavishly embellished with the help of Kaiser Wilhelm of Germany. The Norwegian architects who supervised the rebuild were heavily influenced by Jugendstil, the German version of Art Nouveau, and the town is now one of the best remaining examples of this sinuous, highly personalised, turn-of-the-century style. Moreover, Alesund is the perfect place to explore some of Norway's most famous natural and cultural attractions. Alesund's beautiful Art Nouveau architecture is known far and wide. Narrow streets are crammed with buildings topped with turrets, spires and gables that bear decorations of dragonheads and curlicues. As one of the few remaining Art Nouveau towns in the world, in 1998 Alesund was awarded the coveted Houens National Memorial Prize for the preservation of its unique architecture. The Alesund Museum, in the centre of town, illustrates the city’s rich past with ship models and vintage clothing. For a breathtaking view of Old Alesund, the harbour, and the mountains beyond walk up to Aksla hill. Birdwatchers will enjoy the island of Runde, a sanctuary for birds. Alesund is a modern city with a varied cultural scene and exciting cafes and restaurants. The sea, the fjords, the mountains, the multitude of islands, all so pretty and inviting and the myriad of turrets, spires and beautiful ornamentation that give the town its distinctive character are like something from a fairytale.

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Day 6

tromso, norway

Arrival: 09:00 - Departure: 23:59

Tromso is the administrative, commercial, and educational hub of northern Norway. It's the seventh largest city in Norway by population, and is home to the world's most northerly university, brewery and botanical garden. The town is situated about 350 km north of the Arctic Circle, so it experiences both the midnight sun and polar night. Tromsø is reputed to be one of the best places in Europe to see the Northern Lights or Aurora Borealis. The beautiful cathedral, one of the largest wooden churches in Norway, is located in the town centre in a small square with some interesting statues and sculptures. Take a stroll down Storgatan to the marketplace, where soothing music plays, and the air is filled with the aroma of coffee, fresh bread, and strawberries. The Tromso museum features ethnographic exhibits on the independent cultures of Lapland. The Polar Museum, next door, has exhibits on the story of the Arctic region with a focus on the lives of early hunters, trappers and explorers. Tromsdalen Kirke, commonly known as the “Arctic Cathedral”, is not actually a cathedral at all, but the parish church of the Tromsøysund part of Tromso. It was built in 1965, mainly of concrete, and is designed to look like slabs of ice. The church is one of the most famous landmarks in Tromsø. Tromso is a compact, friendly, and lively town with a picturesque setting on an island. The city has more than its fair share of restaurants, pubs, clubs and theatres to entertain locals and visitors. Tromso is undoubtedly the cultural capital of northern Norway.

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Day 7

alta, norway

Arrival: 11:00 - Departure: 21:00

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Day 9

kristiansund, norway

Arrival: 09:00 - Departure: 16:00

Kristiansund is a municipality on the western coast of Norway in the Nordmøre district of Møre og Romsdal county. The administrative centre of the municipality is the town of Kristiansund (established in 1742), which is the major town for the whole Nordmøre region. Other notable settlements in the municipality include the villages of Kvalvåg, Rensvik, and Nedre Frei. The 87-square-kilometre (34 sq mi) municipality is the 333rd largest by area out of the 356 municipalities in Norway. Kristiansund is the 51st most populous municipality in Norway with a population of 24,179. The municipality's population density is 280.6 inhabitants per square kilometre (727/sq mi) and its population has increased by 4% over the previous 10-year period.

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Day 10

bergen, norway

Arrival: 08:00 - Departure: 16:00

Clinging tenaciously to the hills surrounding its deeply indented fjord, the stunning scenery and exciting cultural tradition of Bergen make it unique among European cities. Once the capital of Norway, Bergen has always played a leading role in the nation’s history. Squeezed between mountains and bounded by water, the centre of town stretches between the harbour Bryggen and Torgalmenningen, the main square. The most sensuous spot in Bergen is the Torget, at the foot of the harbour, where your nose will tell you what’s being sold. Here you can choose fish from open tanks and watch traders net, weigh and clean the creature you’ve chosen. Looking towards the right side of the harbour you’ll see the pointed gables of Bryggen’s roofline. This row of heavy-timbered medieval buildings, typical of Hanseatic architecture, has survived half a dozen disastrous fires since its construction in the 16th century. Bryggen now features restaurants, bars and arts-and-crafts workshops. Housed in one of the best-preserved buildings, the Hanseatic Museum presents an interesting picture of commercial activity during those times. Starting from Torget or Bryggen, explore the jungle of houses on the slopes of Mount Floien. A steep hike above these houses will reward you with increasingly spectacular views of Bergen and the fjord beyond. Welcoming Bergen has numerous places for an evening beer or glass of wine. This beautiful and charming city has a dynamic cultural life and lively atmosphere and is the perfect place to explore the Sognefjord and other fantastic Norwegian fjords.

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Day 11

haugesund, norway

Arrival: 07:00 - Departure: 15:00

Day 13

london (tower bridge),uk

Arrival: 07:00

Of all the European capitals, London resonates most profoundly in the minds of travellers. We soak up London before we even realise it exists and when we finally approach the city, it doesn't let us down. There are the red double-deckers, the bobbies and stoic guards at Buckingham, Westminster Abbey, and the chimes of Big Ben, sounding familiar, as we've heard them before. We see these things with a sense of satisfaction. Yet there's plenty to surprise. London isn't quaint. London isn't a museum, though you could spend all your time hopping from one to the next. It's a bustling, urban sprawl, with traffic jams, shops, and a remarkable international population. Visit the many monuments with nearly a millennium's worth of history, from Chaucer's grave to the pub where the captain of the Mayflower had a pint to Piccadilly Circus, one of London’s most snapped sights. But don’t overlook modern London, with its intensely active theatres, international cuisine, political protests, the latest in music and fashion, punks and peers, and everyone in between. In 1777, writer Samuel Johnson said when a man is tired of London, he is tired of life, and the phrase still rings true. There's something different to experience every day in London.

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12 nights. Norway

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