Across the Polar Circle
to the Arctic

Depart London in style as you are whisked through St Pancras
fast-track security, and welcomed into one of Europe’s finer
railway station lounges. As you board your Eurostar train,
you are welcomed into the premium first Premier coach
where champagne, wine and a three-course meal are awaiting.
Expect personal and attentive service throughout the journey.

The moment you step off the train at Brussels Midi station, you
are met by our VIP Meet & Greet service. They will escort you
to the first class lounge where you can relax until it is time to board
the Eurostar train for Cologne. You travel in premium first class
and have lunch served at your seat. In Cologne, your hotel is
located steps away from the railway station.

Cologne is a historic cultural centre on the Rhine,
known for its museums and artistic heritage. At its heart,
Museum Ludwig houses one of the world’s most important Picasso collections, with about 900 works
spanning painting, sculpture, ceramics, and prints, offering a vivid, comprehensive view of his artistic evolution.

An ICE high-speed train whisks you to Hamburg in less than
four hours. You travel through the Ruhr district, Germany’s
industrial heartland, so we’d be hard pressed to call the
journey scenic. But your train does carry a dining car, and
you arrive at Hamburg with all of the afternoon ahead of you.

Arrive at one of the Continent’s legendary luxury hotels,
the Vier Jahreszeiten. The Alster lake is at your doorstep,
and the canals and the historic centre just a few yards away.
Hamburgers pride themselves on their rather un-Germanic
joie de vivre which especially awaits you in the
Schanzenviertel district with its many cafés and nightlife.

A chauffeured cars awaits in front of your hotel to drive
you for little more than one hour through Northern Germany to
the port of Kiel and the cruise terminal. As a suite passenger
you enjoy VIP early boarding privileges, and step onboard
just in time for lunch  (we have included all meals,
including a gourmet dinner, on this 20-hour sailing).

This is the finest cruise ferry in Scandinavia, and you stay
in one of its best staterooms, a spacious 300 square feet suite
with double bed, sofa area and picture windows. Just before
your seven-course gourmet dinner, the ship passes under the
impressive Storebelt suspension bridge. In the morning,
savour the sailing through the long and narrow Oslo fiord. 

Oslo is a comparatively small capital city, but it punches
above its weight, not least because of enjoying an exceptional
setting on the banks of the Oslo Fjord and with forrested hills
rising steeply behind it. You could jump on a tram and arrive
at the small local ski centre in a few minutes. Or focus on the
the stunning opera house and the Edward Munch museum.

The Dovre Railway is one of Norway’s classic rail journeys.
In winter, this becomes a journey through a landscape of
Arctic beauty.  As the train climbs onto the Dovrefjell plateau,
vast open expanses stretch to the horizon, often swept by
drifting snow and illuminated by pale winter light. Herds of
musk oxen can occasionally be spotted in the distance. 

Trondheim blends Viking legacy with modern calm.
Founded in 997, Norway’s former capital curves
around fjord and river, crowned by Nidaros Cathedral.
Walkable streets lead to Bakklandet and the Old Town Bridge,
while Ladestien – a scenic trail – unfurls 8 km along the coast.
Enjoy lunch at Ladekaia, a beautiful location beside the fjord.

The Nordland Line is one of Europe’s only railways
to cross the Arctic Circle and enter the Arctic region.
This ten-hour epic day starts with gentle rolling hills
as you depart Trondheim in the morning, but soon
turns more dramatic. You are seated in Premium First
with reclining chairs and a bistro close at hand.

Bodø is a compact Arctic city where urban life meets raw
northern nature. In winter, snow-covered streets, icy
waterfront views, and possibly even the soft glow of the
northern lights create a unique atmosphere. Despite its
northern location, Bodø feels vibrant and welcoming,
with modern culture, cozy cafés, and outdoor experiences.

In the afternoon you board the legendary coastal ferry that
for over a century has been a lifeline for the small communities
along Norway’s Atlantic coast. This short six-hour journey
heads straight north, offering you perfect viewing conditions
of the northern lights should they appear. Dinner is included
before you arrive at Lofoten at 9 pm.

One of the most magically beautiful Arctic locations, the
Lofoten archipelago is a place of striking contrasts in winter,
where mountains rise directly from the sea and snow blankets the
landscape and colourful fishing villages stand out against the
white scenery. The daylight hours are short, with the sky
usually painted in soft shades of blue and pink.

Lofoten is regarded as one of the best places in the world to
see the northern Llghts, not least because the combination of
snow-covered mountains, fjords, beaches, and fishing villages
creates spectacular scenery for both viewing and photography.
You will join a small group in the evening as a local expert
drives you out of town to this evening’s perfect viewing spot.

Today’s drive in a chauffeured car from Svolvaer to Narvik is
a journey through some of Northern Norway’s most dramatic
landscapes. The road winds past jagged mountain peaks,
sheltered fjords, and picturesque fishing villages. As Narvik
comes into view, steep mountains rise around the city and
the Ofotfjord stretches inland, creating a dramatic finale.

The journey on the Ofoten line is just a few hours, but this short
rail journey is one of the most scenic in the Arctic.  Built to
transport iron ore from Sweden to the ice-free port of  Narvik, it
is a stunning and dramatic railway. The train climbs from Norway’s
fjord-side mountains into the vast, snow-covered landscapes of
Swedish Lapland, passing frozen lakes, forests, and open tundra.

Located in the midst of Lapland’s Arctic landscape, high above the
Arctic Circle, the Icehotel was the first of its kind in the world when it
opened three decades ago. You will spend your first night in a
suite carved out of ice and furnished with exclusive beds, reindeer
hides and a thermal sleeping bag. The second night you relocate
to a more traditional room.

Two amazing experiences are included in your stay: First,
a snowmobile excursion into the polar night and (hopefully)
the northern lights. Then, a daytime adventure dog sledding across
the frozen landscape. Back at the hotel, evaluate the day’s
event at the ice bar.