A Scandinavian Winter Adventure

Sitting at the head of a fjord, with the forests behind it, the capital of Norway is gifted with a unique combination of vibrant city life and easy access to the outdoors. The trading roots of this ancient Viking city are reflected in the importance of the buildings surrounding its harbours. It’s here that you’ll find the Town Hall, The Nobel Peace Centre, the medieval Akershus Fortress and the National Opera House.

On a privately guided tour of Oslo you will also discover the Viking Ship Museum, the open-air Norwegian Folk Museum and Vigeland Sculpture Park, which boasts more than 200 sculptures in bronze, granite and wrought iron. And don’t miss Holmenkollen ski jump hill and the Ski Museum below it, where the exhibits cover 4000 years of ski history.

As you arrive in Tromso, ‘the Arctic capital’, you experience a sudden rush of excitement: you’re at the last outpost of civilisation before the wild icy sweeps of the Arctic Ocean. Located on an island connected by bridges to the mainland, the centre is famous for its charming, old wooden houses, cathedral and ancient cinema. The atmosphere is as lively as you’d expect of a bustling port town, and you’ll find many fine restaurants, cafes and bars here, as well as the Polar Museum and Polaria, the world’s most northerly aquarium. Tromso is also a great place for watching the Aurora Borealis dance across the sky at night.

Discover the magical Swedish Lapland with two nights at the Treehotel. Reindeer stand proud beneath snow heavy trees, the night skies dance with iridescent shades of green and purple and locals and visitors alike share stories over fika, the traditional Swedish coffee and pastry.

Your concierge can organise a variety of winter activities or time in the forest spa and jacuzzi. You could also experience ice dining – three courses in a heated tipi tent on an ice-covered lake reached by snow mobile and sled.

Enjoy another three nights in Swedish Lapland, this time exploring a more northerly swathe of arctic wilderness from the iconic Icehotel, which is redesigned and built from scratch every year.

Your concierge can organise a variety of winter activities including sledding; a Northern Lights snowmobile safari; a session in the Icehotel sauna (a cabin by the Torne River); and a table booked for you to enjoy the Icehotel’s exclusive Ice Menu – fives courses of fantastic local cuisine, some of which are served on beds of pure ice.

Enjoy your days exploring Stockholm, Sweden’s beautiful capital. Set over 14 islands, it’s a place of water and greenery as much as the urban, a place where centuries of history meet the constant forward thinking nature of its near 1 million inhabitants. As well as fine museums, trend-setting restaurants and vibrant nightclubs, a short cruise out of the city will find you among the thousands of beautiful islands that make up the Stockholm archipelago, making this a city that feels surprisingly outdoorsy.