Norway Intensive Cruise: North Cape, Trollfjord & Trondheim

Dover, the world’s busiest ferry port, is located in the county of Kent, England, at the extreme SE corner of Britain. It faces France across the narrowest part of the English Channel, 35 km away across the Straits of Dover. Possibly best known for its lyrically famous ‘White Cliffs’, archaeological finds have revealed that the area has always been a focus for peoples entering and leaving Britain, and this continues to this day. Read more about Dover, Great Britain

IJmuiden, Netherlands, is located at the mouth of the North Sea Canal leading to Amsterdam, lying approximately 17 km north of Haarlem. It is known as North Holland’s gate to the North Sea due to the canal that connects the North Sea with the IJ Bay in Amsterdam. The places to be seen include the Zee-en Haven Museum in the city, the Hoogovens Museum, and the system of sluice gates at the mouth of the canal. Read more about IJmuiden, Netherlands

Rosendal is a small town at the western end of the Hardangerfjord in Hordaland, West Norway. Towering behind the town are mountains to over 1400 m within 10 km, and the Folgefonna National Park with three major glaciers. (There are no roads into the Park, get there by hiking or helicopter.) The sea, mountains and glaciers provide fantastic opportunities for activities in the great outdoors all year round. Read more about Rosendal, Norway

Olden is located in the county of Sogn og Fjordane in Western Norway, at the head of the Nordfjord, the sixth longest fjord in the country. The southernmost of the three short branches at the inner end of the fjord terminates at Olden, from which a lovely valley, Oldedalen, strikes due south for some 20 km between slopes rising sharply to more than 1700 m. At the end of the valley is Briksdal Glacier, the best-known arm of the Jostedalsbreen glacier which is the largest in mainland Europe. Read more about Olden, Norway

The Norwegian Art Nouveau town of Ålesund could be taken right out of a fairy tale. If you look up as you explore the town, you will discover an abundance of imaginative ornamentation on the fronts of the buildings. Walk up the 418 steps to the top of Mount Aksla and you will be rewarded by unforgettable panoramic views. Read more about Alesund, Norway

Arctic Svolvær is one of the main towns in Lofoten, and the administrative centre for the Norway’s Vågan municipality on the island of Austvågøy - the easternmost of the Lofoten chain. The towering islands of the ‘Lofoten Wall’ stretch for more than a hundred miles along Norway¹s coast. In Svolvaer, discover a picturesque harbour overlooking the Vestfjord. Read more about Svolvaer, Norway

The 2.6 km Trollfjord is a western offshoot of the Raftsund strait between the islands of Hinnøya and Austvågøya, that has a length of about 25 kilometres. The name is derived from a troll, an ugly cave-dwelling creature from Norse mythology. Trollfjord is a well-known tourist attraction, often entered by cruise ferries for its scenic wonder. Read more about Trollfjord, Norway

Tromsoe, the home of the famous Northern Lights, is situated a mere 2000 km from the North Pole, on the same latitude as Northern Siberia and Alaska. Most visitors are surprised by the prominence and sophistication of this fascinating port. On offer are high-quality theatre, arts and music, which contrast with the boundless and vast wilderness surrounding the city. Read more about Tromsoe, Norway

Honningsvåg, Norway, lies deep within the Arctic Circle at 71 deg.N. latitude, on the island Magerøya. Twenty-two km north of Honningsvåg is North Cape, the northernmost part of mainland Europe. Read more about Honningsvag, Norway

Alta lies on the fjord coastline of Norway, just below North Cape. It is the second northernmost city in the world surpassing 10,000 inhabitants, and 380km north of the Arctic Circle. The large Altafjorden has several notable bays and fjord arms that branch off from it including Langfjorden, Jiepmaluokta, Kåfjorden, and Lille Kufjorden. Read more about Alta, Norway

Harstad, the third largest city in northern Norway, is situated 250 km north of the Arctic Circle. Surprisingly, the city has relatively mild winters and cool summers, despite being one of the places where, from the end of May to the middle of July, visitors get to see the Midnight Sun, an experience that becomes a lifetime memory. Harstad is the home port for the Anna Rogde - also known as the sailing queen of Norway - the world’s oldest sailing schooner. Read more about Harstad, Norway

Bodø, located about 80km north of the Arctic Circle, is the largest city in Nordland county, and the second largest in North Norway. It has a population of 50,000. The city was completely rebuilt after its destruction during WWII, with the completion of the Town Hall in 1959. Read more about Bodo, Norway

Trondheim, Norway, lies on the south shore of the Trondheimsfjord at the mouth of the river Nidelva. Norway's capital of technology is a lively and historical university town. It is home to the famous Nidaros Cathedral built from 1070 onwards that became a most important pilgrimage site during the Middle Ages. Read more about Trondheim, Norway

Kristiansand is the southernmost city in Norway and lies where the rivers Otra and Tovdalselva enter into Skagerak. It is an interesting city retaining many of the 17th century buildings from its founding days by King Christian IV. The city is home to some of the best beaches - such as Hamresanden Beach located just 10 minutes from the city centre - in Norway. Read more about Kristiansand, Norway

Arendal is a small coastal town in southern Norway, situated on the north shore of Skagerrak (Skagen Channel), the entrance linking the North Sea and the Baltic Sea. Across the channel to the east is Sweden, and to the south is the Jutland peninsula of Denmark. Ships approach Arendal through a 5 km sound guided by the landmark twin lighthouses Lille Torungen and Store Torungen. Read more about Arendal, Norway

Skagen - aka The Skaw - is a projection of land and a town on the northernmost tip of the Jutland peninsula in northern Denmark. The area is extremely picturesque, and distinguished by its low, yellow houses with red tile roofs nestled into the beach areas. The impressive and wild landscape was largely formed by a severe process of desertification and migrating sands that hit the area in the 18th and 19th centuries. Read more about Skagen, Denmark

Copenhagen, situated on two islands, is the capital and largest city in Denmark. It is perhaps best known for being the final resting place of the famous author Hans Christian Andersen, and also being one of the world’s most environmentally friendly cities. It has a very high quality of life. Read more about Copenhagen, Denmark