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Northern Lights & Arctic Circle by Rail

From $3,599 

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StartsOslo, Norway
EndsKiruna, Norway
RegionEurope
Tour OperatorGadventures
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Itinerary

Day 1 - Starting: Oslo & Finishing: Oslo

There are no activities planned until an evening welcome meeting. If you arrive early enough the Edvard Munch museum is well worth a visit.

Day 2 - Starting: Oslo & Finishing: Trondheim

Depart for a scenic ride on the Dovre Railway to Trondheim.

Day 3 - Starting: Trondheim & Finishing: Bodø

Spend a free day exploring Trondheim. Opt to visit the neighbourhood of Bakklandet, the old town bridge, cafés along the wharves, Market Square, Nidaros Cathedral or the old city streets. In the evening, board an overnight train on the Norland Railway to Bodø.

Day 4 - Starting: Bodø & Finishing: Lofoten

Arrive to Bodø and enjoy free time exploring this small transfer city. Hop on an afternoon ferry to the Lofoten Islands. Stay in charming fishing cabins on the coast.

Day 5 - Starting: Lofoten & Finishing: Lofoten

There will be multiple opportunities to spot the Aurora Borealis (Northern Lights) on this trip. If you don't see them here, don't despair.

Day 6 - Starting: Lofoten & Finishing: Tromsø

If keen, there are more opportunities for Northern Lights viewing here.

Day 7 - Starting: Tromsø & Finishing: Tromsø

With a free day in town, opt to try dog-sledding, snowshoeing or reindeer-sledding. In the afternoon, visit the Polar Museum and then enjoy a beer at the oldest pub in Tromsø.

Day 8 - Starting: Tromsø & Finishing: Kiruna

Travel to Narvik by bus before switching to a train for one last gorgeous ride into Sweden. In Kiruna, enjoy a stay in cabins outside the city complete with an on-site sauna to warm up from the icy Scandinavian winter weather. Cross your fingers for one more chance to see the Northern Lights from the hotel's viewing area.

Day 9 - Starting: Kiruna & Finishing: Kiruna

With a little more time in Kiruna there are plenty of options to enjoy. We recommend booking post-night accommodation to have the chance to try dog sledding or reindeer sleighs, visit the ice hotel, go snowshoeing or participate in a Sami cultural experience.

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More Information

What’s Included

Oslo orientation walk. Dovre Railway. Norland Railway. Lofoten Islands stay. Northern Lights tour. Polar Museum Visit (Tromsø). Ofoten Railway.

Highlights

Ride the rails of Scandinavia across the Arctic Circle, explore the Lofoten Islands with an eye out for the Northern Lights, check out life in the small towns of the far north.

Itinerary Disclaimer

While it is our intention to adhere to the route described below, there is a certain amount of flexibility built into the itinerary and on occasion it may be necessary, or desirable to make alterations. The itinerary is brief, as we never know exactly where our journey will take us. Due to our style of travel and the regions we visit, travel can be unpredictable. The Trip Details document is a general guide to the tour and region and any mention of specific destinations or wildlife is by no means a guarantee that they will be visited or encountered. Aboard expedition trips visits to research stations depend on final permission.

Additionally, any travel times listed are approximations only and subject to vary due to local circumstances.

Important Notes

The Northern Lights (Aurora Borealis) is a natural phenomena and is highly weather dependent. The ability to view the Northern Lights during your trip will be dependent on the appropriate weather/atmospheric conditions.

Group Leader Description

This G Adventures group trip is accompanied by one of our group leaders. The aim of the group leader is to take the hassle out of your travels and to help you have the best trip possible. They will provide information on the places you are travelling through, offer suggestions for things to do and see, recommend great local eating venues and introduce you to our local friends. While not being guides in the traditional sense you can expect them to have a broad general knowledge of the countries visited on the trip, including historical, cultural, religious and social aspects.

Group Size Notes

Max 16, avg 12

Meals

Eating is a big part of traveling. Travelling with G Adventures you experience the vast array of wonderful food that is available out in the world. Generally meals are not included in the trip price when there is a choice of eating options, to give you the maximum flexibility in deciding where, what and with whom to eat. It also gives you more budgeting flexibility, though generally food is cheap. Our groups tend to eat together to enable you to taste a larger variety of dishes and enjoy each other’s company. There is no obligation to do this though. Your CEO will be able to suggest favourite restaurants during your trip. The above information applies to G Adventures group trips. For Independent trips please check the itinerary for details of meals included. For all trips please refer to the meals included and budget information for included meals and meal budgets.

Transport

Train (seats), train (beds), private van, ferry, public bus, walking.

About our Transportation

As often as possible, we’ll be using the railway systems around Norway and Sweden. To reach more remote locations we will be using buses and ferries. You will be expected to travel by foot between stations and hotels.

Solo Travellers

We believe solo travellers should not have to pay more to travel so our group trips are designed for shared accommodation and do not involve a single supplement. Single travellers joining group trips are paired in twin or multi-share accommodation with someone of the same sex for the duration of the trip. Some of our Independent trips are designed differently and solo travellers on these itineraries must pay the single trip price.

Accommodation

Standard hotel (4 nts), fishing cabins (2 nts), winter cabins (1 nt), overnight train (1 nt).

About Accommodation

This itinerary mostly stays at 2-3 star hotels up to Scandinavian standards. Where possible, we’ve opted to use local accommodation that will show the characteristics of the surrounding area, like fisherman cabins on the Lofoten Islands.

Joining Hotel

For details of your joining hotel please refer to your tour voucher, G Account, the G Adventures App or contact your travel agent.

Joining Instructions

Please note that day 1 is an arrival day and no activities have been planned on this day. Upon arrival to the city on day 1 (or earlier if you have booked pre-accommodation with us), please make your way to the joining hotel (note that check-in time will be in the afternoon). Once you arrive at the hotel, look for a note or bulletin board in the reception with a note from your CEO. This note will give the details of your Welcome Meeting on day 1 (usually between 5pm and 7pm), where you will get a chance to meet your CEO and other travellers, as well as learn more about how the tour will run. If you don’t see a note, please ask reception for details!

If you are arriving later and will miss the Welcome Meeting, your CEO will leave a note at reception for you with any information you may need, and with morning instructions for the next day.

GETTING TO CITY BOX OSLO:

You can go by train from the airport to the city center. The airport express (Flytoget Airport Express Train) leaves from the airport every 20 minutes and takes 20 minutes to get to Oslo Sentralstasjon which is the main train station in Oslo. From the station, its an approximately 5 minute walk to the hotel. Upon exiting the train, simply head west towards Strandgata. Once on Strandgata, take the first right onto Prinsens Gate where you will find the Hotel on the left.

If you would rather take a taxi from the airport, you can go to the taxi information desk in the Arrivals Hall. They have information about the fixed rates and available taxis. You will then have the option of choosing the cheapest available company.

Arrival Complications

We don’t expect any problems, and nor should you, but if for any reason you are unable to commence your trip as scheduled, please refer to the emergency contact details provided in this dossier and contact us as soon as possible. If you have a pre-booked transfer, and you have not made contact with our representative within 30 minutes of clearing customs and immigration, we recommend that you make your own way to the Starting Point hotel, following the Joining Instructions. Please apply to your travel agent on your return for a refund of the transfer cost if this occurs.

Emergency Contact

Should you need to contact us during a situation of dire need, it is best to first call our G Adventures Local Office. If for any reason you do not receive an immediate answer, please leave a detailed message and contact information, so they may return your call and assist you as soon as possible.

EMERGENCY CONTACT NUMBERS
G Adventures UK office (manned UK 8am – 8pm)
+44 (0) 2072439878

If you are unable for any reason to contact our local office, please call the numbers listed below, which will connect you directly with our 24 hour Sales team, who will happily assist you.

Toll-free, from calls within North America only: 1 888 800 4100
Calls from within UK: 0344 272 0000
Calls from within Germany: 0800 365 1000
Calls from within Australia: 1 300 796 618
Calls from within New Zealand: 0800 333 307
Outside North America, Australia, New Zealand, Germany and the UK: +1 416 260 0999

For absolute emergencies after office hours please contact +44 7817 262559
If for any reason you do not receive an immediate answer, please leave a detailed message and contact information, and your call will be returned as soon as possible.

What to Take

You will be on the move a lot, so our advice is to pack as lightly as possible. We highly recommend using a backpack or light sports bag, whichever you find easiest to carry, plus a small daypack. Luggage space on public transport is limited. You must be prepared to carry your own bags and be comfortable carrying them between transport and hotels (max. 15-20 mins walking), hopping on and off trains and public buses and up and down stairs.

Checklist

•Light fleece top/ medium heavy fleece top
•wool socks
•Slippers for the cabins/trains
•Head torch
•Thermal underwear- Wool is recommended
•Wool sweater
•Goggles (Optional)
•Warm windproof/waterproof jacket/ Down Jacket
•Gloves
•Warm hat
•Scarf
•Personal clothing for a winter environment
•Sturdy walking boots or shoes
•Sunblock
•Sunglasses
•Toiletries (biodegradable)
•Hand sanitizer
•Baby wipes (useful when there is no running water)
•Watch or alarm clock
•Money belt
•First-aid kit (should contain blister prevention material,lip salve, analgesics, bandaids, anti-histamine, Imodium or similar tablets for mild cases of diarrhea, rehydration powder, extra prescription drugs you may be taking)
•Day pack large enough to contain extra socks, extra sweater, goggles and thermos.
-Pack lightly as you’ll be carrying your own luggage throughout the tour.

Optional Items:
•Camera
•Reading/writing material
•Earplugs

Documents:
•Passport (with photocopies)
•Travel insurance (with photocopies)
•Airline tickets (with photocopies)
•EUR cash (which can be converted to SEK Swedish Krona as needed)
•Credit or debit card (see personal spending money)
•G Adventures vouchers, pre-departure information and dossier
•Any entry visas or vaccination certificates required

Laundry

Laundry facilities are offered by some of our hotels for a charge or ask your CEO where the closest laundromat is. There will be times when you may want to or have to do your own laundry so we suggest you bring non-polluting/biodegradable soap.

Spending Money

Every traveller is different and therefore spending money requirements will vary. Some travellers may drink more than others while other travellers like to purchase more souvenirs than most. Please consider your own spending habits when it comes to allowing for drinks, shopping and tipping. Please also remember the following specific recommendations when planning your trip.

Emergency Fund

Please also make sure you have access to at least an additional USD $200 (or equivalent) as an ’emergency’ fund, to be used when circumstances outside our control (ex. a natural disaster) require a change to our planned route. This is a rare occurrence!

Tipping

It is customary in Europe to leave a small tip for service providers, such as waiters, if you are pleased with the service (€1-2).

Tipping is an expected – though not compulsory – component of your tour program, and an expression of satisfaction with the persons who have assisted you on your tour. Although it may not be customary to you, it is of considerable significance to the people who will take care of you during your travels. There are several times during the trip where there is opportunity to tip the local guides. You may do this individually, or your CEO will offer to collect the money and tip as a group. Recommendations for tipping local guides would range from €3-5 per day, depending on the quality and length of the service; ask your CEO for specific recommendations based on the circumstances and culture.

Also at the end of each trip if you felt your G Adventures CEO did an outstanding job, tipping is appreciated. The amount is entirely a personal preference, however as a guideline €30-40 per person, per week can be used.

Health

Please note inoculations may be required for the country visited. It is your responsibility to consult with your travel doctor for up to date medical travel information well before departure.

You should consult your doctor for up-to-date medical travel information well before departure. We recommend that you carry a First Aid kit and hand sanitizers / antibacterial wipes as well as any personal medical requirements. Please be aware that quite often we are in remote areas and away from medical facilities, and for legal reasons our leaders are prohibited from administering any type of drug including headache tablets, antibiotics, etc. When selecting your trip please carefully read the brochure and itinerary and assess your ability to cope with our style of travel. Please refer to the Physical and Culture Shock ratings for trip specific information. G Adventures reserves the right to exclude any traveller from all or part of a trip without refund if in the reasonable opinion of our CEO they are unable to complete the itinerary without undue risk to themselves and/or the rest of the group.

Safety and Security

Many national governments provide a regularly updated advice service on safety issues involved with international travel. We recommend that you check your government’s advice for their latest travel information before departure. We strongly recommend the use of a neck wallet or money belt while travelling, for the safe keeping of your passport, air tickets, travellers’ cheques, cash and other valuable items. Leave your valuable jewelery at home – you won’t need it while travelling. Many of the hotels we use have safety deposit boxes, which is the most secure way of storing your valuables. A lock is recommended for securing your luggage. When travelling on a group trip, please note that your group leader has the authority to amend or cancel any part of the trip itinerary if it deemed necessary, due to safety concerns. Your Chief Experience Officer (CEO) will accompany you on all included activities. During your trip you will have some free time to pursue your own interests, relax and take it easy and explore at your leisure. While your CEO will assist you with options available in a given location, please note that any optional activities you undertake are not part of your itinerary, and we offer no representations about the safety of the activity or the standard of the operators running them. Please use your own good judgement when selecting an activity in your free time. Although the cities visited on tour are generally safe during the day, there can be risks to wandering throughout any major city at night. It is our recommendation to stay in small groups and to take taxis to and from restaurants, or during night time excursions.

Water based activities have an element of danger and excitement built into them. We recommend only participating in water based activities when accompanied by a guide(s). We make every reasonable effort to ensure the fun and adventurous element of any water based activities (in countries with varying degrees of operating standards), have a balanced approach to safety. It is our policy not to allow our CEOs to make arrangements on your behalf for water based activities that are not accompanied by guide(s).

Swimming, including snorkeling, is always at your own risk. Read more about travel safety for ways to further enhance your personal safety while traveling.

Medical Form

Our small group adventures bring together people of all ages. It is very important you are aware that an average level of fitness and mobility is required to undertake our easiest programs. Travellers must be able to walk without the aid of another person, climb 3-4 flights of stairs, step on and off small boats, and carry their own luggage at a minimum. Travellers with a pre-existing medical condition are required to complete a short medical questionnaire, which must be signed by their physician. This is to ensure that travellers have the necessary fitness and mobility to comfortably complete their chosen trip. While our leaders work hard to ensure that all our travellers are catered for equally, it is not their responsibility to help individuals who cannot complete the day’s activities unaided. Please refer to the physical ratings in this Trip Details document for more information.

Please note that all passengers traveling to Antarctica are required to fill out this questionnaire.

The medical questionnaire can be found online at www.gadventures.com/medical-form.

A Couple of Rules

Illegal drugs will not be tolerated on any trips. Possessing or using drugs not only contravenes the laws of the land but also puts the rest of the group at risk. Smoking marijuana and opium is a part of local culture in some parts of the world but is not acceptable for our travellers. Our philosophy of travel is one of respect towards everyone we encounter, and in particular the local people who make the world the special place it is. The exploitation of prostitutes is completely contrary to this philosophy. Our group leader has the right to expel any member of the group if drugs are found in their possession or if they use prostitutes.

Travel Insurance

Travel insurance is compulsory in order to participate on any of our trips. When travelling on a group trip, you will not be permitted to join the group until evidence of travel insurance has been sighted by your leader, who will take note of your insurance details. When selecting a travel insurance policy we require that at a minimum you are covered for medical expenses including emergency evacuation and repatriation. A minimum coverage of USD200,000 is required. G Adventures can provide you with the appropriate coverage. We strongly recommend that the policy also covers personal liability, cancellation, curtailment and loss of luggage and personal effects. If you have credit card insurance we require proof of purchase of the trip (a receipt of credit card statement) with a credit card in your name. Contact your bank for details of their participating insurer, the level of coverage and emergency contact telephone number.

Planeterra-The G Adventures Foundation

Planeterra is G Adventures’ non-profit foundation created to make a positive difference in the communities where G Adventures takes travellers. Planeterra supports sustainable social and environmental solutions in destinations travellers love to visit.

As travellers, it’s natural to want to give back to the places we’ve come to love. But to truly impact poverty, we work to build self-sufficiency, not dependency.

Planeterra partners with grassroots organizations with firsthand knowledge of local culture and true community needs. This ensures that solutions come from the people we support. Then G Adventures brings travellers to visit, fuelling sustainable local income in these communities. This model is helping many rural and marginalized communities on their way to self-sufficiency because they are harnessing the power of the tourism industry as a force for good. G Adventures matches all individual donations and pays all administration costs, which means that 100% of each donation is doubled and goes directly to support our projects. For more information about Planeterra and the projects we support, or to make a donation, please visit planeterra.org.

MAKE EVERY DAY COUNT
Fifty percent of our planet lives on less than $2/day. For the price of a coffee, you can make every day of your trip count by giving back to the communities you visit through Planeterra.

To participate in this program please indicate at the time of booking that you would like to participate in G Adventures’ Dollar-A-Day program, either by clicking the check box online, or by advising your G Adventures specialist or travel agent. (Note: Donation will be charged in the currency of your booking).

Feedback

After your travels, we want to hear from you! Your feedback information is so important to us that we’ll give you 5% off the price of your next G Adventures trip if your feedback is completed on-line within 30 days of finishing your trip. Your tour evaluation will be e-mailed to you 24 hours after the conclusion of your trip. If you do not receive the tour evaluation link in the days after your tour has finished, please drop us a line at customerservice@gadventures.com and we will send it on to you.

Newsletter

Our adventure travel e-newsletter is full of travel news, trip information, interesting stories and contests. To avoid missing out on special offers and updates from G Adventures, subscribe at www.gadventures.com/newsletters/

Stay current on how our company invests in our global community through our foundation – Planeterra. Sign up for Planeterra’s monthly news to learn more about how to give back and support the people and places we love to visit.

Travel Forum – The Watering Hole

Be sure to stop by The Watering Hole, our adventure travel forum. If you’re interested in meeting others booked on your upcoming trip, check out the Departure Lounge section of our forum and introduce yourself. Otherwise, just drop in at anytime to share some travel tips, ask questions, meet other travellers and quench your thirst for travel. Our forum is located at wateringhole.gadventures.com.

Itinerary Notes

All travellers booked on departures as of November 2017 should plan to end their tour in Tromsø, Norway on Day 9.

Max Pax

Group Leader

Chief Experience Officer (CEO) throughout, local guides.

Meal Budget

Allow USD335-435 for meals not included.

Meals Included

8 breakfasts

Day 3 Optional Activities

  • Bakklandet Neighbourhood Visit -
  • Old Town Bridge Visit -
  • Market Square Visit -
  • Nidaros Cathedral Visit -

Day 5 Optional Activities

  • Wildlife Spotting Cruise -
  • Hiking -

Day 6 Optional Activities

  • Concert at Arctic Cathedral -

Day 7 Optional Activities

  • Dog Sledding -
  • Snowshoeing -
  • Reindeer Sledding -

Day 3 Optional Activities

  • Bakklandet Neighbourhood Visit -
  • Old Town Bridge Visit -
  • Market Square Visit -
  • Nidaros Cathedral Visit -

Day 5 Optional Activities

  • Wildlife Spotting Cruise -
  • Hiking -

Day 6 Optional Activities

  • Concert at Arctic Cathedral -

Day 7 Optional Activities

  • Dog Sledding -
  • Snowshoeing -
  • Reindeer Sledding -

Day 8 Optional Activities

  • Snowshoeing -
  • Reindeer Sledding -
  • Dog Sledding -

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