Christmas in the Norwegian Fjords

Fly to Bergen, the historic Gateway to the Fjords, and then travel by coach through the glorious Norwegian scenery to Flam. This tiny resort shelters beside beautiful Aurlandsfjord, one of the remote corners of mighty Sognefjord, in the heart of Western Norway’s winter wonderland.

The historic Fretheim Hotel is a beautifully preserved wooden manor house with a modern extension, just two minutes from the water's edge, and has been greeting guests since the 1870s. It's the perfect base for your Christmas stay. Settle in to your room, and later enjoy your first dinner at the hotel.

As the long Norwegian night dawns into a short-lived day, and the village and the fjord are bathed in beautiful blue winter sunlight, you'll wrap up warm in the cold-weather gear provided, and board a RIB (rigid inflatable boat) for an exhilarating guided cruise through the fjords. Cruise out of Aurlandsfjord and around the headland into Naeroyfjord's UNESCO-listed landscape of snow-covered mountains that plunge into still, dark waters.

Your guide will bring to life the region's history, geology, nature and culture during your tip, and you'll also call in the beautiful Undredal, which was cut off from road traffic until the 1988 opening of the tunnel through the mountain from Flam. Undredal is famous for its tiny, white-washed stave church and for its goats' cheese, and you'll learn about the art of cheese-making, and enjoy a tasting, before you return to your hotel.

Today you'll have the option to take to the water once more, this time aboard the eco-friendly, all-electric Future of the Fjords. This stylish, state-of-the-art 400-passenger catamaran will carry you up the full length of Naeroyfjord to Gudvangen. Enjoy a traditional Viking lunch, see history and myth come to life at the Viking Village, and soak up the staggering views from atop the extraordinary Stegastein viewing platform, which juts out from the mountainside 650 metres above the fjord.

Back at the hotel, this evening, your Christmas celebrations will begin with a traditional Norwegian Christmas meal.

Hear stories of Christmases past and other traditional tales, this morning, as your day begins with a walking tour of Flam. Back in the warmth of your hotel you'll enjoy a Christmas lunch, and then have the afternoon free to relax in the hotel’s comfortable lounges until dinner.

A memorable Boxing Day begins with a journey on the Flamsbana Mountain Railway, which snakes its way through winter wonderland surroundings, through tunnels and over bridges, from Flam at the water's edge to Myrdal, which nestles amid the mountains some 870 metres above. The route is one Europe’s Top 10 Railway Journeys, and was voted the best train ride in the world by Lonely Planet in 2014.

Your day will include lunch at the Vatnahalsen Hotel, a mountain retreat in a superb setting, before you return to Flam to enjoy your final evening in Norway. Dine in the hotel (not include), or perhaps complete your wonderful Christmas break with a farewell meal at the famous Aegir Brewery, where craft beers, served in unique whole-top-opening cans, accompany a Viking-inspired menu.

Bid farewell to your Norwegian hosts and make the scenic return transfer back to Bergen to catch your flight home at the end of your marvellous Christmas break.