Luxury Vacations in Norway

Mountains that rise out of the mist. Waterfalls that flow down to otherwise silent fjords. Deep forests of birch, spruce and pine, strewn with folklore and wildflowers. Norway has always been famed for its natural wonders, but recently it feels as if this Nordic nation – always a little elusive, happy to stay out of the limelight – is being discovered by travellers, drawn to its unspoiled, wild places and an intrepid new breed of hotel.

You’ll find these in pretty Ålesund and Bergen on the west coast, where you can ski the laidback slopes and float over fjords in a helicopter; in Alta, in the far north of the country, where visitors race huskies and gasp at the shimmering Northern Lights on a skidoo safari; and in Tromsø, Trondheim and other fishing towns that line the coast, jumbles of brightly painted houses that are stepping stones for outdoor adventure – as are the craggy, remote Lofoten Islands, with their dazzling white beaches. Nature may be big in Norway but its cities are small, though unassuming Oslo has gained a new-found confidence, adding shiny museums to its waterfront, along with inventive cocktail bars and seafood restaurants that pluck their ingredients straight from the water. You can take in the view from one of the floating saunas in the harbor, sipping an Arctic beer, then step outside and jump into the water. Bracingly fresh, Norway is a country to rinse away your cares.