Christmas in the Fjords

Once you have arrived in Bergen, make your own way to your accommodation to begin this Christmas tour through Norway's fjords, famed the world over for their beauty.

As it happens, today is also the last day of Bergen's Christmas market, set on Festplassen right in the heart of the city. Entry is free, and with twinkling lights, festive music and holiday decorations throughout, it makes for a proper Scandinavian start to the season. Wooden stalls line the square, selling handcrafted gifts, local delicacies, and artisanal treats, alongside traditional seasonal food, while the scent of glogg (Norway's spiced mulled wine), gingerbread, roasted nuts, and sweet pastries fills the air.

If you have time before or after, Bergen's Magic Ice Bar is also worth a visit - an entire space built from ice, where a poncho, gloves and a welcome drink served in an ice glass are all part of the experience, available at an additional cost.

Please note: An airport transfer to your accommodation can be booked in advance.

After breakfast, the rest of the day is free to explore Bergen as you wish. The old Hanseatic wharf of Bryggen is a good place to start, with St Mary's Church and the Hakon fortress close by, along with the city's well-known fish market. A cable car ride on the Floibanen Funicular is also worth building in, climbing up to Mount Floyen for views across the whole city.

Other landmarks worth adding to the list include Rosenkrantz Tower, the Norwegian Fisheries Museum, Horda Museum and Fantoft Stave Church.

Alternatively, you can join a local guide and small group on a food and culture walk at an additional cost, stopping at the UNESCO-listed Bryggen district, a restaurant that once served as a public bathhouse, and finishing at the oldest basement still in use in Norway, where a small beer comes with a story to match - between the tastings along the way, the food adds up to a full lunch.

Please not: Christmas markets start at the end of November in both Bergen, if you booking your tour at the end of November you will still have the chance of visiting the Christmas markets.

Bergen - Voss - Gudvangen - Flam. This morning, you take a short walk to Bergen railway station to catch a train to Voss, known nationally as something of a hub for sport. A connecting shuttle bus then carries you on to Gudvangen, through snow-covered mountains and constantly shifting scenery.

There's free time on arrival in Gudvangen to grab lunch. The village itself sits where the dramatic Naeroyfjord - a branch of the larger Sognefjord - comes to an end, surrounded by steep mountainsides and waterfalls that make it a natural draw for fjord cruises and kayaking; it's also home to a Viking-themed settlement that keeps the area's Norse roots alive. From here, a further shuttle bus continues on to Flam, where you check in to your historic accommodation.

A festive Christmas Eve dinner follows this evening in Restaurant Arven. The chef draws on traditional Norwegian cooking, given a modern twist, and with fresh seafood at its winter best, dinner takes the form of a generous buffet of cold dishes and traditional Christmas fare, finished off with a proper spread of desserts. Once the plates are cleared, there's dancing and a bar in the accommodation's hall to see out the evening.

Flam - Naereyfjord - Sognefjord- Flam. Today will be at leisure to start, so take the morning to explore the village of Flam at your own pace before things pick up later on.

Later, we set off on a boat safari, taking us out onto Aurlandsfjorden and into part of the UNESCO-listed Naeroyfjorden. Meeting at the Fjord Safari reception at 11:15 for an 11:45 departure, the safari runs for around two and a half hours, with the boat getting in close to small villages and waterfalls along the way. Our guide shares stories and history throughout, and everyone is provided with a floatation suit, life vest, hat, gloves and goggles for a comfortable, safe time on the water.

Back on dry land, a three-course dinner awaits this evening at Restaurant Arven.

Flam - Myrdal - Oslo. This morning brings a train journey to Myrdal, a mountain junction station around 13 km from Flam. From there, board the Flamsbana - one of the steepest railways in the world - which winds past the Rallar Road, steep mountains and dramatic waterfalls, passing through more than 20 tunnels along the way. Countless viewpoints line the route, offering sweeping views over both mountain and fjord, with an audio guide available throughout to bring the journey to life.

At Myrdal, change onto the Bergen Railway for the final leg into Oslo, Norway's capital, then make your own way to your accommodation.

You can spend today discovering Oslo at your own pace, or join an optional Panorama Tour for an additional cost. This three hour coach tour with a certified local guide takes in the city's main attractions before heading to Holmenkollen Hill and its ski jump (entry to the tower itself isn't included), followed by a guided walk of around 45 minutes through Vigeland Sculpture Park, home to over 200 works in bronze and granite by Norwegian sculptor Gustav Vigeland.

If exploring independently, spend the day wandering the city, browsing shops or stopping for lunch wherever takes your fancy, with worthwhile sights including Akershus Castle, Oslo City Hall, the Fram Museum, the Kon-Tiki Museum, the Munch Museum, the National History Museum and the Nobel Peace Center, among others.

Please not: Christmas markets start at the end of November in Oslo, if you booking your tour at the end of November you will still have the chance of visiting the Christmas markets.

After your final breakfast, you might have some time for last-minute souvenir shopping, including Viking-themed gifts, before making your own way to the airport for departure.

Please note: An airport transfer to the airport can be booked in advance.