Scandinavia by rail holiday, London to Tromso

Planet

We have put together a selection of our favourite rail journeys including some truly epic trans-continental adventures. A welcome by-product is that it also allows us to consider our impact on the environment when we travel. Maintaining a balance between looking after the planet and supporting the 10% of the global population who depend upon tourism for an income, often in poverty stricken areas where their culture is a viable asset, demands some significant soul-searching. By choosing to travel by land, even in at least one direction, we can promote the role of responsible tourism as a way forward for the future. Our adventures are based on taking regular scheduled train services which form vital connections, linking countries and communities. And we avoid using so-called ‘cruise trains’ which carry far fewer people and operate for tourists only.

One of the highlights on this adventure is a spectacular two day cruise on-board an iconic Hurtigruten vessel as we explore the fabled North Cape to discover a rugged, fjord-fissured coastline, alive with incredible displays of cliff-nesting birdlife and encounter Europe’s remotest ports. What stands out is that this is an opportunity to enjoy a voyage on a ‘working ship’ – a daily service which provides a lifeline to some of the remotest communities in Europe. Furthermore we know that Hurtigruten takes the issue of sustainability very seriously. For example they are building the first ever hybrid-electric powered expedition cruise ships with two vessels already in operation and they have removed all single-use plastic from their our entire fleet.

The hotels used on our rail based trips have been chosen for their proximity to the railway stations and ports, therefore often avoiding the need to take a road transfer. When possible we also actively encourage travellers to explore each location on foot. And again accommodation has been carefully selected with this in mind.

People

We believe that tourism is a double edged sword that needs to be wielded very carefully. Our philosophy is to have a limited amount of group departures – usually between one and three a year - for each of our itineraries or we may offer private trips only. By limiting our presence in areas where local culture can be quite fragile, we aim to avoid ‘over tourism’ whereby an area changes in character due to repeated and prolonged exposure to large numbers of tourists. We want to visit an area as friends, not intruders and to ensure that what we see will also be there for others to enjoy for many years to come.

This particular tour operates on a private basis only and you will travel unaccompanied. This has much less impact when travelling through rural areas, reducing our environmental and social affects. In Russia you will meet a local guide for sightseeing who will be pleased to offer recommendations about where to eat. They will only suggest locally owned establishments with menus based on regionally sourced produce. Otherwise for much of this adventure you will be unaccompanied and you will explore each stopover on your own which we encourage you to do on foot. As well as deciding what you would like to see in each place, you will be free to choose where you would like to eat. As the tour only includes breakfast, plus dinner when on the Hurtigruten voyage, you will pay for most of your meals locally. You will find plenty of locally owned establishments close to your accommodation which we encourage you to try rather than taking the majority of your meals at the hotels.

Whilst enjoying your voyage around the North Cape you will have the opportunity to attend an on-board lecture, for example to learn about the local wildlife. Hurtigruten believes that it is important to invest in educating their guests. Their mission is to create ambassadors for every destination, on every voyage, through actively engaging guests in the cultures they visit, the ecosystems they explore, and how we can all learn about the consequences of climate change.

Finally to emphasis our commitment to Responsible Tourism all clients will receive a copy of our Travellers Code of Conduct with their travel documents.