Best Norway Tours & Holidays

Join Classic Tours for outstanding value and a lively travel experience shared with up to 40 like-minded adventurers. All must-see attractions are included, along with comfortable accommodation and the perfect balance of expert-led activities and free time to explore at your own pace.

Our Small Group tours offer a wonderful balance of companionship and personalized service with groups of approximately 20 travelers. You'll enjoy comfortable, well-located accommodations, a thoughtful selection of included meals featuring local cuisine and carefully planned excursions to the country's magnificent highlights. 

For those seeking an elevated experience, our Platinum guided tours of Norway offer a more refined journey. With smaller groups limited to 16 guests, you'll enjoy superior boutique accommodations in picturesque locations, a more comprehensive dining program and memorable culinary experiences. The Premium experience provides those special moments and thoughtful touches that truly distinguish an extraordinary journey from an ordinary one.

While nature offers no guarantees, our winter group tours to Norway are designed to maximize your chances of witnessing the Aurora Borealis. We time our visits for the prime Northern Lights season (October to March) and include multiple nights in optimal viewing locations away from light pollution. Our experienced guides monitor aurora forecasts and are adept at finding the best viewing spots. For more detailed information about viewing this natural phenomenon, check out our Guide to the Northern Lights. Many of our guests successfully witness this magical display, but it's important to understand that factors like cloud cover and solar activity ultimately determine visibility. We recommend booking tours with multiple nights in northern regions to increase your chances substantially.

Our Norway winter tours offer magical experiences you simply can't have in summer. Imagine witnessing the spectacular Northern Lights dancing across dark Arctic skies, gliding through snow-covered landscapes on husky sleds, and experiencing the unique blue twilight that bathes everything in an ethereal glow during the polar nights. Winter is when Norway becomes a wonderland, with cozy evenings by crackling fires after days of adventure. Our winter itineraries, are carefully designed to maximize these once-in-a-lifetime experiences.

Winter in Norway demands proper preparation. For our Norway guided tours, we recommend packing several thin layers rather than a few thick ones. Start with thermal base layers, add mid-layers of wool or fleece, and top with a substantial waterproof winter jacket. Don't forget a warm hat, balaclava/buff, waterproof gloves (mittens are warmer than finger gloves), a scarf, and most importantly, proper winter boots with good grip. We strongly recommend bringing snow spike shoes for walking on icy surfaces—while sometimes available locally, bringing your own ensures the right fit. Cold-sensitive travelers should consider hand and foot warmers. With temperatures potentially dropping to 5°F, proper clothing is essential for safely enjoying the winter wonderland on our tours to Norway.

Given that winter gear is bulkier and heavier than its summer counterpart, we recommend confirming the luggage limits for your flights before you start packing. Also keep in mind that you will be responsible for handling your luggage from the coach to the accommodation (up to a few hundred meters), so where possible, opt for warm but lightweight clothing options.

Our Norway tours 2025 require a moderate level of fitness. While we don't include extreme activities, you should be comfortable walking on snowy or icy terrain for 1-2 hours at a time, handling your own luggage in sometimes snowy or icy conditions, and boarding coaches and other transportation. Winter activities like snowshoeing or optional husky sledding require reasonable fitness but don't demand athletic ability. 

The cold climate can be physically taxing, so being in generally good health helps you enjoy the experience fully. If you have mobility concerns, please contact us before booking—we're happy to discuss whether our guided tours to Norway are suitable for your needs and can recommend specific itineraries that might work better for you.

Solo travelers often tell us our group tours of Norway provided some of their most memorable travel experiences. You'll enjoy the perfect balance of companionship during activities and meals while having personal space and freedom during free time. 

We offer single supplements for those wanting guaranteed privacy in their own room. Alternatively, to avoid the single supplement, we can pair you with another solo traveler of the same gender on many departures. With its cozy evenings and shared wonder at natural phenomena like the Northern Lights, winter in Norway creates a natural bonding experience. Many solo travelers appreciate having logistics handled by our experienced guides while making lasting friendships with like-minded adventurers from around the world.

Winter weather in Norway can be unpredictable, with heavy snowfall, blizzards, and icy conditions sometimes affecting transportation and activities. Your safety is our absolute priority during our guided tours in Norway. Our experienced tour leaders are adept at making real-time adjustments to itineraries when necessary, whether that means altering transportation methods, substituting activities, or modifying schedules. We build some flexibility into our winter programs precisely because we understand Norway's weather conditions. Rather than viewing potential changes as disruptions, we encourage guests to embrace them as part of the authentic Arctic experience—sometimes, an unexpected detour or alternative activity becomes a highlight! Our guides communicate any changes clearly, ensuring you remain informed while focusing on delivering the best possible experience regardless of what Mother Nature has in store.

Norway offers distinct seasonal experiences worth considering when planning your trip. Winter (October to March) is ideal for those seeking the Northern Lights, particularly on our Norway tours from the U.S. focusing on this natural phenomenon. Winter also brings magical snow-covered landscapes and unique activities like husky sledding and snowshoeing. Summer (June to August) delivers the famous Midnight Sun when daylight extends nearly 24 hours in northern regions, perfect for hiking and exploring fjords. Spring (April-May) showcases blooming landscapes and flowing waterfalls from melting snow, while autumn (September) offers spectacular foliage colors and fewer tourists. 

For detailed seasonal insights, visit our guide on the best time to visit Norway. Each season transforms Norway into a completely different destination worth experiencing.

Norwegian cuisine offers delicious tastes of local culture you shouldn't miss during your Norway travel experience. Start with traditional favorites like "brunost" (sweet brown cheese) on fresh bread, hearty reindeer stew with lingonberries, or "kjøttboller" (Norwegian meatballs). Seafood enthusiasts should sample freshly caught Arctic cod, "rakfisk" (fermented trout) for the adventurous, and the world-famous Norwegian salmon. For sweet treats, look for "skillingsboller" (cinnamon buns), "krumkake" (thin rolled cookies), and "multekrem" (cloudberry cream). During winter, warm up with "gløgg" (mulled wine) and "fiskesuppe" (creamy fish soup). 

While vegetarian options can be limited in smaller towns, major cities offer excellent plant-based alternatives. On our tours of Norway, your guide can recommend the best local eateries to experience authentic Norwegian flavors.

Norway functions mainly as a cashless society, making it one of the easiest destinations for card-reliant travelers on our group tours to Norway. Visa and Mastercard are accepted almost everywhere, from upscale hotels to tiny cafés and even remote gift shops. Many smaller establishments actually prefer card payments, and some no longer accept cash. ATMs are readily available in cities and towns, though they become less common in very remote areas. 

The local currency is the Norwegian Krone (NOK), and while you'll rarely need cash, carrying a small amount (around 500 NOK) is useful for the occasional small vendor or emergency. Before traveling, notify your bank about your trip to prevent card blocks, and check foreign transaction fees, as Norway's near-universal card acceptance means you'll likely use your cards frequently throughout your Norway holidays.

Understanding local customs enriches your Norway travel experience. 

• Norwegians value personal space, so maintain an arm's length distance in conversations and queues. 
• Punctuality is highly respected, so arrive on time for activities and meals. 
• Indoor shoes are common; be prepared to remove footwear when entering private homes.
• "Janteloven" (the Law of Jante) influences the culture, emphasising modesty and community over individual achievement—Norwegians typically don't boast about accomplishments or wealth. 
• The concept of "friluftsliv" (outdoor life) is central to Norwegian identity; even in cities, you'll see locals embracing nature regardless of weather. 
• While English is widely spoken, learning basic Norwegian phrases shows respect.
• Tipping isn't obligatory, but rounding up bills by 5-10% for good service is appreciated. 

Understanding these cultural nuances helps you connect more authentically with locals during your best Norway tour experience.

Winter daylight hours vary dramatically depending on when and where you visit during our Norway tours. In Oslo (southern Norway), during December, expect about 6 hours of daylight, typically from 9 am to 3 pm. However, head north to Tromsø, and you'll experience the polar night—from late November to mid-January, the sun doesn't rise above the horizon at all. Rather than traditional daylight, you'll experience a beautiful blue twilight for a few hours at midday. By February, daylight rapidly increases to about 6-8 hours in northern regions and 8-10 hours in the south. This limited daylight actually enhances your chances of seeing the Northern Lights and creates a magical atmosphere with twinkling lights adorning streets and homes. Our tours are carefully planned around these light conditions, scheduling outdoor activities during daylight hours and focusing on cozy indoor experiences or aurora hunting when darkness falls.

Visa requirements for your Norway tours depend entirely on your nationality. Norway is part of the Schengen Area, meaning some citizens can visit for up to 90 days within a 180-day period without a visa. However, this arrangement varies by country, and some nationalities will require a Schengen visa before arrival. Additionally, remember that Norway, while closely associated with the EU, maintains its own border controls. We strongly recommend checking our Visa Entry Requirements page immediately after booking to verify your specific requirements. Your passport must be valid for at least three months beyond your planned departure date from the Schengen Area. 

Starting in 2025, many travelers currently exempt from visas will need to apply for ETIAS (European Travel Information and Authorization System) authorization before visiting. Planning ahead ensures smooth entry for your Norwegian adventure.

Ready to experience the magic of Norway? Booking your dream tour of Norway couldn't be simpler. Browse our range of carefully crafted itineraries on our website, where you'll find detailed day-by-day plans, inclusions, and transparent pricing. 

Need personalized guidance? Our friendly Inspiring Vacations travel specialists are just a phone call away at 1 888 356 2021, ready to answer your questions, share insider tips, and help tailor your Norwegian journey. From private tours for more exclusive experiences to tailor-made tours crafted exactly to your preferences, we're committed to creating your perfect Nordic adventure.