Norway & Iceland: From Fjords to Fire

Arrive in the leafy and cultured capital of Norway, to a warm A&K welcome, and enjoy a private transfer to the luxury Grand Hotel right in the heart of the city. This evening, meet your fellow travellers and A&K Resident Tour Director for a welcome dinner in exquisite Nordic style. Stay: Grand Hotel Oslo (D)

Take to the sustainable streets of Oslo for an expertly guided tour. From the stunning architecture of the National Theatre and the majestic history of the Royal Palace to the National Museum and the contemporary sculptures of Vigeland Park, spend the morning dissecting the history of Europe's greenest city. This afternoon, take a scenic cruise into the Oslo Fjord passing narrow sounds, idyllic bays and a water-maze of emerald islands. This evening is yours to enjoy at leisure. Stay: Grand Hotel Oslo (B/L)

This morning, enjoy an exclusive backstage tour of the Oslo Opera House which is home to the Norwegian National Opera and Ballet. Visit the backstage area and the Main Stage with your expert guide, full of insider stories about life in the wings.

This afternoon, choose from one of the below Design Your Day options, before returning to your hotel for an evening at leisure.

• Norwegian Foodie Tour: From traditional Norwegian hot dogs and waffles to hot cocoa and cured meats, enjoy intriguing stories and insights into Oslo's history and cuisine, while enjoying delicious local produce.
• Cycle Tour: For an active afternoon, enjoy the cultural and architectural majesty of Oslo on a leisurely bike tour around the city sites.
• Historical Museum Tour: Return to the origins of Norway on an expert tour through the country's largest cultural-historical collection, hearing fascinating stories of Viking culture and lifestyle.

Prepare to board what Lonely Planet has described as the ‘best train journey in the world' through the achingly beautiful and dramatic Valley of Flamsdalen to the high mountains of Myrdal – a height difference of 20 kms. See breathtaking views of the sharp mountainsides bearing the clear marks of landslides, huge waterfalls and the crystal-clear waters of the Flamselvi River. Pause at Kjosfossen Waterfall and feel the spray on your skin before continuing on to the fjord village of Flam. This afternoon, take a leisurely visit to the local brewery for some craft beer tastings before a delicious five-course dinner at the brewery restaurant. Stay: Fretheim Hotel (B/L/D)

Today, cruise through the spectacular waterways of UNESCO World Heritage listed Nærøyfjord – with its towering peaks of up to 1,700 metres, hanging valleys, snowfields, waterfalls and small hamlets – before visiting a traditional Viking Village in the small village of Gudvangen. Continue to Bergen where you'll take an expertly guided walking tour, culminating at the UNESCO World Heritage listed Bryggen (the Wharf) hearing intriguing stories of early hanseatic life. Stay: Opus XVI (B/L)

Spend the day touring the beautifully preserved wooden buildings and clapperboard houses of Bergen, before boarding the funicular to Mount Floyen for breathtaking views of the city. Visit world-famous composer Edvard Grieg's former home ‘Troldhaugen', where you'll enjoy a live concert of his chamber music while enjoying the very scenery that inspired his work. After stopping for lunch, visit the reconstructed Fantoft Stave Church – one of the most photographed sites in Norway. This evening, enjoy a scenic sundowner on the pier before a cruise along the fjord banks to a small island in Western Norway, for dinner at one of Scandinavia's most prestigious seafood restaurants. Stay: Opus XVI (B/L/D)

After a leisurely morning, your driver will take you to the airport for your onward flight to Iceland. Arrive in Reykjavik and transfer to the Canopy Hotel by Hilton. This evening enjoy a delicious dinner at the hotel restaurant, Geiri Smart. Stay: Canopy Hotel by Hilton (B/D)

Kickstart your Iceland adventure with an expertly guided tour around the trendy capital. Learn about Reykjavik's early history and architectural evolution with stops at key cultural landmarks including famous Hallgrimskirkja Church, where you'll experience Reykjavik from the sky, with its pageant of colorful corrugated houses all the way to the coast. Perhaps taste a traditional Icelandic snack of schnapps with dried fish, before a private visit to a local gallery. Stay: Canopy Hotel by Hilton (B)

Experience the only place in the world where you can stand between two continental, tectonic plates at the UNESCO World Heritage listed Thingvellir National Park – home to the oldest ongoing parliament in the world. Walk through the gob-smacking seismic rift valley before warming your belly with traditional Icelandic bread and butter. This evening, enjoy a thoroughly unique private dinner with your fellow travelling companions at the Fridheimar Geothermal Greenhouse. Stay: Hotel Geysir (B/L/D)

Continue along the iconic and world-famous Golden Circle route, with its incredible cache of geological phenomena. Feast your eyes on the Strokkur Geysir, blasting steaming water to heights of up to 40 metres in an extraordinary show of volcanic prowess. Then it's on to thundering, mighty Gullfoss waterfalls, plummeting 32 metres over two vast ledges into the canyon below. To top off the day, enjoy a thrilling drive over the face of the mighty Langjokull Glacier on a private snowmobile tour – an exquisite ice sheet that hides two active volcanoes beneath. Stay: Hotel Geysir (B/L/D)

Strap in for an exhilarating private 4X4 Super Jeep tour into the deserted wilderness of Thorsmork Valley, otherwise known as the ‘Valley of Thor', with a breathtaking lunch stop in the wilderness. The contrasting vistas of lush oases and roaring glacier rivers cutting through black desert not only make Thorsmork unique in Iceland but to the entire world. Parts of the valley are rich with moss, fern, and birchwood, while jagged mountain ridges and ice-capped peaks crown the horizon. Drive through gushing brooks and stony landscapes as you enjoy privileged access to terrain only accessible during Iceland's short summer. Stay: Hotel Geysir (B/L/D)

Enjoy a thrilling 120-metre descent into the Thrihnukagigur Volcano, where you'll explore the solidified magma chamber with your expert local guide. This afternoon, after checking into the ultra-luxurious Blue Lagoon Retreat, bask in the healing sky-blue waters of the incredible geothermal lagoon, as well as the hotel's own exclusive extension and its subterranean spa. This evening, enjoy a farewell dinner in the Moss Restaurant, with its exquisite reinvention of Icelandic seasonal cuisine. Recommended by the 2020 Michelin Guide, Moss occupies the highest point at the Blue Lagoon, offering stunning views of the volcanic horizon. Stay: Blue Lagoon Retreat Hotel (B/L/D)

Your Icelandic adventure has come to an end. Enjoy a private transfer to the airport for your onward flight. (B)