Kirkenes Snowhotel
Northern Lights at Svinoya Rorbuer
DAY ELEVEN Karasjok to Kirkenes Today you depart Karasjok for your most remote destination – the town of Kirkenes. You will pass through the town of Varanger, where you may want to stop at the Varanger Sami Museum to learn more about the culture and history of this indigenous people. From here you venture further south, skirting the edge of the large Varangerfjord, before arriving into Kirkenes in the far east of Norway.
DAY TWELVE In Kirkenes This town in the far north-east of Norway has a rich history. In the centre of Kirkenes you will find a monument dedicated to the memory of the Soviet soldiers who fought and died here, and the Borderland Museum gives a deep insight into this fraught period of history.
DAY THIRTEEN Onboard the Hurtigruten On your final day in Kirkenes drop off your hire car and board the Hurtigruten service to Tromsø. This journey will take you along the outer edge of Norway’ s northern coast. Following a relaxing lunch you will sail across the Barents Sea. The ship docks in Berlevag in the evening.
DAY FOURTEEN Arrive in Tromsø This morning the Hurtigruten cruise ship picks up again to travel to North Cape, mainland Europe’ s northernmost point. After crossing the open sea, you will eventually arrive into Tromsø at around 23:45 and check in to your hotel for your final two nights.
DAY FIFTEEN In Tromsø Tromsø is known by many as the Arctic capital, and for good reason. The city is perhaps best-known for being an excellent location to see the Northern Lights. The Polar Night, from mid-November to mid-January, is the best period to witness this extraordinary natural phenomenon, as the sun never rises above the horizon. Within the city the most striking feature is the Artic Cathedral, whose aluminium and glass building is luminescent during the long polar nights.
DAY SIXTEEN Tromsø to London by air Fly home from Tromsø with a change in Oslo.
Senja Fjordhotel in winter
Thon Hotel Nordlys, Bodo
Thon Hotel Polar, Tromso
What’ s included
• Return flights with BA from London to Oslo
• Second-class travel on all trains
• Scheduled flights from Oslo to Trondheim and Tromsø to Oslo
• Hurtigruten ship from Bodø to Svolvaer and
Harstad to Tromsø
• Hire of a group B car for 8 days
• 1 night’ s bed and breakfast in a Polar outside cabin on the Kirkenes – Tromsø Hurtigruten
• 2 nights’ bed and breakfast in a Superior double room at Britannia Hotel, Trondheim
• 2 nights’ bed and breakfast in a Standard double room at the Thon Hotel Nordlys, Bodø
• 2 nights’ bed and breakfast in a Rorbu S cabin at Svinøya Rorbuer, Svolvaer
• 1 night’ s bed and breakfast in a Standard double room at Thon Hotel Harstad, Harstad
• 1 night’ s bed and breakfast in a Standard double room at Senja Fjordhotel, Senja
• 1 night’ s bed and breakfast in a Standard double room at Scandic Alta, Alta
• 1 night’ s bed and breakfast in a Standard double room at Scandic Karasjok, Karasjok
• 2 night’ s bed and breakfast in a Gamme cabin at Kirkenes Snowhotel, Kirkenes
• 2 night’ s bed and breakfast in a Standard double room at Thon Hotel Polar, Tromsø
• Concierge service and Expressions Holidays regional helpful hints
What’ s not included
• Personal holiday insurance. Cover should be in place from when you book the holiday.
• Possible local tourist tax payable locally to the hotel
• Transfers in any cities
PRICES
Prices are per person based on two people sharing a double or twin room and including standard class rail travel From £ 3,890 Holiday code SCDR06
To speak to our specialist rail holidays team telephone 01392 441250 or see www. expressionsholidays. co. uk 111