The journey through wartime Norway unfolds against a backdrop of some of Europe’s most breathtaking landscapes. From the elegant boulevards and waterfront of Oslo to the tranquil waters of the Oslofjord, the route follows sweeping valleys, dramatic mountain passes, and glittering lakes framed by pine forests. The drive through Telemark and the Setesdal Valley reveals timeless wooden farmsteads and mirror-like rivers winding beneath snow-dusted peaks. Along the southern coast, Kristiansand offers a blend of maritime charm and rugged fortifications overlooking the Skagerrak, while the road north passes through ever-changing scenery — from fjords and fishing villages to wild uplands dotted with reindeer. In Trøndelag and northern Norway, the landscape grows more elemental: vast granite ridges, deep blue fjords, and the clear Arctic light that once illuminated the battles of Narvik. Throughout the tour, Norwegian culture shines through — from simple, hearty cuisine and coastal traditions to the quiet pride of a people who rebuilt their nation from occupation to freedom. Encounters with local guides, museums, and memorials bring personal stories to life, while the scenery itself offers a powerful reminder of the endurance and beauty that have long defined Norway and its people. Whilst most of this tour is classed as level 2, there are a couple of occasions that we offer optional level 3 walks which are denoted in the itinerary.

In April 1940, Norway became the focus of one of the most dramatic campaigns of the Second World War. Hitler’s Germany sought to secure vital iron-ore shipments from Sweden and dominate the North Sea by occupying Norway. The surprise invasion on 9 April brought sudden war to a neutral nation and tested both Allied resolve and Norwegian courage. The campaign witnessed fierce naval battles in icy fjords, heroic resistance in the mountains, and the first airborne assaults in military history. Cities such as Oslo, Trondheim, and Narvik became battlegrounds where Norwegian troops, aided by British, French, and Polish forces, fought against overwhelming odds. Although Norway eventually fell, the campaign delayed German plans elsewhere and inspired a determined resistance movement that would harass the occupiers for the next five years. From Quisling’s betrayal to the daring commando raids against the Vemork Heavy Water Plant, Norway’s wartime story is one of courage, sacrifice, and endurance amid some of Europe’s most dramatic landscapes. This journey follows that story from the first invasion to the final battles in the north — tracing the footsteps of those who fought for freedom in a land of fjords, forests, and unyielding spirit.

Day 1: Arrival
Fly from London to Oslo or make independent arrangements to join the tour in Oslo. Check-in to a central Oslo hotel for 2 nights. Introductory talk over drinks followed by dinner.

Day 2: Oslo
Visit Villa Grande, former home of Vidkun Quisling, Norway’s puppet Führer, with access to the bunker and interpretation of the Norwegian Holocaust. At Victoria Terrasse, examine the impact of the failed Mosquito raids on the German headquarters. In the afternoon, explore Akershus Fortress, including the site of Quisling’s final hours, the Resistance Museum, Norway’s Defence Museum, and the medieval castle.

Day 3: Oscarborg
Drive to Drøbak and take the short ferry to Oscarborg, the fortress island guarding the entrance to the Inner Oslofjord. Study the German approach on 8/9 April 1940 and the sinking of the heavy cruiser Blücher; explore the surviving defences and visit the island’s five military-history museums. Overnight accommodation in former barracks converted into a five-star hotel.

Day 4: Gaustabanen
Return to the mainland and drive to Gaustabanen to ride the Cold War-era funicular and cable railway built inside Gaustatoppen. From the summit, enjoy a panoramic view over the landscape associated with Operation Gunnerside. Check-in to a Rjukan hotel for 2 nights.

Day 5: Saboteurs’ Trail and Vemork
Optional morning walk along the 8 km (2-hour, level 3) trail following the route taken by the Norwegian commandos during the attack on the Vemork Heavy Water Plant. In the afternoon, visit the hydroelectric power station and its cavernous generator halls. Explore the interactive exhibition in the Heavy Water Cellar charting Operation Gunnerside, depicted in The Heroes of Telemark

Day 6: Setesdal Valley and Odderøya
Drive through the Setesdal Valley with a stop at Bygland to examine the story of the Lancaster bomber crew buried there. In the afternoon, explore the batteries and defences on Odderøya island, which twice repulsed German assault. Check-in to a Kristiansand hotel for 1 night.

Day 7: Kristiansand and The Altmark
Visit the occupation exhibition in the cells of the former Gestapo headquarters in Kristiansand, then continue to Møvik Fort to view the German-installed Krupp gun controlling the Skagerrak. En route to Stavanger Airport, stop at Jøssingfjord to examine the Altmark incident, and at Eiganes Cemetery to honour the captured commandos tortured and executed after the failure of Operation Freshman. Fly to Trondheim and check-in to a central hotel for 2 nights.

Day 8: Trondheim
Explore the trenches, tunnels and gun positions embedded in the mountainside at Hegra, site of the 25-day battle of April 1940. Continue north to the former SS prison camp at Falstad. Back in Trondheim, visit the Armoury Museum to view the region’s extensive military collections.

Day 9: Harstad
Visit Kristiansten Fortress before taking the midday flight to Narvik. Drive to Harstad’s Trondenes Fort to examine the four remaining battleship-grade guns of the Adolfkanonen battery. Continue to Narvik and check-in to the hotel for 3 nights.

Day 10: Narvik
Full-day study of the battles for Narvik: the war museum; the naval battles of 10 & 13 April; the Norwegian–German engagements at Gratangen; the Franco-Norwegian attacks in the Gratangsdalen; the Foreign Legion landings near Bjerkvik; and the final fall of Narvik.

Day 11: Endgame
Take the scenic Ofoten Railway to the Swedish border at Bjørnfjell. Spend the afternoon locating and examining the opposing positions on Haugfjell (level 3).

Day 12: Tirpitz and Departure
Drive to Håkøya Island to visit the commemorative monument and Tallboy bomb crater marking the destruction of the German battleship Tirpitz. Continue to Tromsø Airport for the afternoon flight to Oslo, connecting with the return flight to London or concluding the tour in Oslo.