Planning your dream summer trip? Travel specialist Discover the World has just launched a variety of new Nordic holidays – and they’re perfect for those with a love for the great outdoors
It’s time to embrace your wild side. From island hopping around Norway’s coastal fjords and hiking iconic trails to sea kayaking and horse-riding on the beautiful Lofted archipelago, there’s plenty of ways to explore with Discover the World this summer.
Here’s a few of the adventures awaiting…
1 Try a Finnish lake houseboat adventure
Central Finland has a wealth of lakes and waterways just waiting to be explored, and this new three-night houseboat holiday allows guests to do just that. Embarking at Jyväskylä Harbour (an easy three-hour train ride from Helsinki) guests can be cruising the waterways, anchoring at pretty villages, lakes and beaches en route.
You can also find a secluded place for a swim, try your hand at fishing or rent bicycles to explore further inland. In the evening, enjoy a steaming hot sauna on board before lighting the barbecue and relaxing under the midnight sun. Talk about dreamy.
Make it happen
Cost: 3x night short break (May-October) available from £635pp based on four adults sharing or from £847 per adult and £288 per child based on a family of four sharing on an accommodation-only basis with return flights from London Heathrow to Helsinki and return train journey between Helsinki and Jyväskylä. Larger houseboats occupying up to six and eight are also available. See more here.
2 Take on a guided hiking challenge in the Norwegian fjords
Love a challenge? This new week-long tour takes in three of the most iconic hikes in the Norwegian Fjords; The Pulpit Rock, Trolltunga and Kjerag. Small groups will trek for several hours each day, taking in beautiful mountain and fjord scenery whilst enjoying activities like hiking the Folgefonna glacier and climbing the longest wooden staircase in the world (a whopping 4,444 steps).
The last day also includes a trek to Mount Kjerag where the bravest can stand on Kjeragbolt; a rock that literally hangs mid-way between two mountains! Days end with well-deserved traditional dishes and late-night Jacuzzis at guesthouses and mountain huts en route. The tour ends with a drive to Oslo, with the chance to stay for a night or two in the capital.
Make it happen
Cost: 6x night escorted tour (between June-August) available from £2,071pp based on two sharing on an all-inclusive basis, including all excursions and return flights. Departures run weekly on Sundays from 24 June to 26 August 2018. See more here.
3 Enjoy an all-inclusive ‘Lofoten Explorer’ escorted tour
This eight-night escorted tour combines active pursuits with exploring one of the most photogenic areas in the whole of Norway; Lofoten. Enjoy the great outdoors with an experienced adventure company visiting jagged mountains, sandy beaches and endless hidden gems.
Hike on some incredible trails and relax on beautiful untouched beaches with a small group of like-minded travellers. Guests can also try beachside horse-riding under the midnight sun, sea kayaking between gigantic sheer-sided fjords or RIB Safaris spotting seals and sea-eagles. Come evening, relax in a mixture of fisherman’s cabins, traditional lodges… and even a lighthouse.
Make it happen
Cost: 8x night escorted tours (departing 14 July and 25 August 2018) available from £3,088pp based on two sharing on an all-inclusive basis (with 8x breakfasts, 5x lunches and 7x evening meals throughout) including return flights from London Heathrow to Oslo, flight from Oslo to Bodø, all transportation, 1x Hurtigruten voyage and a selection of activities. See more here.
4 Get active with a hiking & biking break on Norway’s largest fjord
Love a good hike? Based in the small village of Lavik, this three-night break gives guests an authentic taste of Norwegian life, with easy access to mountain hikes, beaches, lakes and Sognefjord; Norway’s largest fjord extending 204km inland.
Lavik is also a hiker’s heaven and boasts a network of well-marked trails available from the hotel doorstep (with route maps provided at reception). If that’s not enough, enjoy a canoe trip on the beautiful Lake Sorestrand and a one-day bike rental pass, with the chance to follow the coastal road to Leirvik and Hyllestad. Here, you can even visit the ancient Millstone Park Museum to enjoy a tour and bake fresh bread.
Make it happen
Cost: 3x night short break (May- September) available from £616pp based on two sharing accommodation at Lavik Fjord Hotel on a half board basis including return flights from London Gatwick to Bergen, ferry from Bergen to Lavik, bike rental for one day, and one three-hour canoeing trip. See more here.
Hungry for more? Visit www.discover-the-world.co.uk or call 01737 886 131
