Norway, from the Sognefjord to Tromsø

Travel: SAS nonstop, about 7.5 hrs

1. 3:30 pmAt Newark or JFK. Check bags through to Oslo.
2. 6:30 pmSAS nonstop from Newark (JFK leaves at 5:10 pm on the 2026 schedule). Eat, then sleep.

Travel: Oslo to Sogndal, 55 min · about 40 min

1. 7:00 amLand in Oslo. Clear immigration and check bags to Sogndal.
2. 10:00 amOptional: the airport train into Oslo for the Opera House roof and lunch on the waterfront. Be back at the airport by 12:45.
3. 2:00 pmWiderøe to Sogndal. Pick up car 1, which goes one-way to Ålesund.
4. 4:00 pmCheck in at Walaker. Nap, then walk the village along the fjord.
5. 7:30 pmThe four-course set dinner. Early night.

Travel: About 1 hr 15 each way to Jostedal

Today's hike: Nigardsbreen blue-ice walk · Guided, crampons provided · Half day · Moderate

1. 7:30 amBreakfast with Walaker's own jam.
2. 8:30 amDrive up the Jostedal valley to the Breheimsenteret visitor center.
3. 10:00 amGuided ice walk on Nigardsbreen, an arm of Jostedalsbreen, mainland Europe's largest glacier. Upgrade: the 6-hour combo that kayaks across the glacier lake first.
4. 4:00 pmDrive back to Solvorn.
5. 5:30 pmFerry across the fjord to Urnes Stave Church, a UNESCO site.
6. 7:30 pmDinner at Walaker.

Option: Prefer a summit? Molden, above the Lustrafjord: about 5.5 miles return, 2,000 to 2,300 ft up, 3 to 4 hrs.

Travel: About 5.5 hrs of driving · Eidsdal to Linge ferry

1. 8:00 amLeave Solvorn and climb onto Sognefjellet, the Norwegian Scenic Route across the mountains.
2. 11:30 amLunch in Lom.
3. 1:00 pmWest past Grotli, then up the Dalsnibba toll road to about 4,900 ft for the view down onto Geirangerfjord.
4. 3:30 pmFlydalsjuvet viewpoint, then down into Geiranger.
5. 4:30 pmUp the Eagle Road and across on the Eidsdal ferry.
6. 5:30 pmCheck in at Juvet. Walk the Gudbrandsjuvet gorge beside the hotel.
7. 7:30 pmDinner, then the outdoor hot tub.

Extra: In Lom, grab lunch at Bakeriet i Lom, one of Norway's most celebrated bakeries, and peek at the Lom stave church next door.

Travel: Under 1 hr to Trollstigen

Today's hike: Romsdalstrappa to Rampestreken · About 1.2 miles, 1,700 ft up · About 1.5 hrs up · Medium, many steps

1. 7:30 amBreakfast. Check Trollstigen is open.
2. 8:15 amTrollstigen before the tour buses. Stop at the top viewpoint, then take the 11 hairpins down to Åndalsnes.
3. 10:00 amClimb the Sherpa-built steps to Rampestreken, a platform 1,800 ft above the fjord, then on to the Nesaksla summit.
4. 12:30 pmFourth of July lunch at Eggen restaurant by the gondola station. Ride the gondola down.
5. 2:30 pmBack over Trollstigen to Juvet.
6. 4:00 pmSauna, steam room and hot tub.
7. 7:30 pmDinner at Juvet.

Extra: On the way back, stop at a Valldal strawberry stand. The valley is famous for its late-season strawberries, and early July is peak season.

Travel: About 1.5 hrs to Ålesund airport · Ålesund to Leknes, one stop · about 30 min

1. 6:30 amLeave Juvet. Return car 1 at Ålesund airport.
2. 9:00 amFly to Leknes, connecting through Oslo or Bodø.
3. 2:30 pmPick up car 2 at Leknes. It goes one-way to Tromsø.
4. 3:30 pmCheck in at Nusfjord and walk the village once the day visitors leave.
5. 8:00 pmFive-course dinner at Karoline.
6. 11:30 pmThe midnight sun from the harbor.

Travel: About 30 to 40 min to Fredvang

Today's hike: Ryten and Kvalvika beach · 4.5 to 6 miles, 1,600 to 2,300 ft up · 3 to 5 hrs · Moderate to hard

1. 8:00 amBreakfast. Pack a picnic.
2. 9:30 amRyten from the Fredvang side. Eat lunch on the ridge above Kvalvika beach, the best view in Lofoten.
3. 2:30 pmPhoto stops at Hamnøy and Sakrisøy on the way back.
4. 5:00 pmRest at Nusfjord.
5. 8:00 pmDinner at Karoline.

Extra: At Sakrisøy, try a fish cake at Anita's Sjømat, a tiny seafood shop beloved by hikers coming off the trail.

Travel: About 45 min to Reine

Today's hike: Reinebringen · 1 to 2 miles, about 1,500 ft up · 2 to 3 hrs · Steep stone steps

1. 9:00 amDrive to Reine.
2. 10:00 amBoat across Reinefjorden and walk out to Bunes beach.
3. 2:00 pmÅ, where the E10 ends, and the fishing village museum.
4. 5:00 pmEarly dinner in Reine.
5. 8:30 pmReinebringen under the midnight sun, with the gold light on Reinefjorden. Down by about 11:30 pm.

Option: Big-day option: Munkebu hut from Sørvågen, 7.5 to 9.5 miles, 2,600 to 3,300 ft up, 5 to 9 hrs, with scrambling. Clear weather only.

Extra: In Å, stop at the 1844 bakery for a cinnamon bun baked in the original wood-fired oven.

Travel: About 1.5 hrs plus stops

Today's hike: Offersøykammen · 2 to 3.5 miles, about 1,400 ft up · 2 to 3 hrs · Easy to moderate

1. 9:00 amCheck out and drive to Haukland.
2. 10:00 amOffersøykammen for a 360 degree view with no exposed ridge. Mannen next door is a similar alternative.
3. 1:00 pmPicnic on Haukland or Uttakleiv beach.
4. 2:30 pmLofotr Viking Museum at Borg on the way east.
5. 5:30 pmCheck in to a loft suite at Henningsvær Bryggehotell.
6. 8:00 pmDinner at the hotel restaurant.
7. 11:00 pmMidnight sun at the football pitch on the rocks.

Extra: Pass by Unstad, the world's northernmost surf beach, if you want a coffee and to watch Arctic surfers in wetsuits.

Travel: About 30 min to Svolvær

Today's hike: Festvågtind · About 2.5 miles return, 1,800 ft up · 2 to 3 hrs · Medium to hard

1. 8:30 amFestvågtind from the road outside Henningsvær for the view straight down on the village.
2. 12:30 pmLunch and galleries in Henningsvær.
3. 3:00 pmPrivate RIB from Svolvær into the narrow Trollfjord. Ask for a sea eagle stop on the way.
4. 7:30 pmDinner at the hotel.
5. 10:30 pmMidnight kayak from the harbor.

Travel: About 3.75 hrs to Andenes · Andenes to Gryllefjord, 1 hr 40 · about 45 min

1. 7:30 amLeave Henningsvær. Take the Fiskebøl to Melbu ferry, then lunch in Sortland.
2. 12:00 pmReach Andenes and join the ferry line an hour before the sailing. It cannot be booked.
3. 1:00 pmWhile you wait, walk Bleik beach.
4. AfternoonFerry to Gryllefjord, then 45 min to Hamn i Senja.
5. 9:00 pmDrive to Tungeneset, where the Okshornan peaks drop into the sea under the midnight sun.

Extra: Keep your eyes on the water during the Andenes ferry. The deep canyon offshore is sperm whale territory, and crossings sometimes spot whales and puffins.

Travel: Short hops on the scenic route

Today's hike: Segla · About 3 miles return, to 2,100 ft · 3 to 4 hrs · Strenuous

1. 8:00 amBreakfast, then drive to Fjordgård.
2. 9:30 amSegla, ending at a near-vertical drop to the sea. Still have legs? Hesten across the valley adds 2 to 3 hrs and has the best view of Segla.
3. 3:00 pmHusøy, a fishing village on its own islet.
4. 6:00 pmHot tub and sauna at Hamn, then dinner.

Option: Quieter option: Husfjellet from Skaland, 5 to 5.5 miles return, about 2,800 ft up, 3 to 4 hrs.

Travel: About 2.5 hrs via Finnsnes

1. 10:00 amCheck out and leave Senja by the bridge at Finnsnes. No ferry queue.
2. 12:30 pmLunch on the way.
3. 2:00 pmCheck in to a deluxe waterfront cabin.
4. 4:00 pmThe glass-fronted fjord sauna.
5. 8:00 pmDinner, then the midnight sun from your terrace.

Extra: Leaving Senja, a short detour to Bergsbotn viewing platform gives one last look over the fjords before the bridge.

Travel: About 1 hr each way to Tromsø

Today's hike: Sherpa steps to Storsteinen · Stone stairs, about 1,400 ft up · 1 to 1.5 hrs up · Steady climb

1. 10:00 amDrive into Tromsø.
2. 11:00 amThe Arctic Cathedral, then lunch on the harbor.
3. 2:00 pmWalk the old town and the waterfront. Polaria, the Arctic aquarium with its bearded seals, is a fun 45-minute stop.
4. 7:30 pmDinner in town.
5. 9:30 pmClimb the Sherpa-built stairs to Storsteinen, or ride the Fjellheisen cable car, for the midnight sun over the city. Ride down after.
6. 12:30 amDrive back to Malangen.

Extra: The Arctic Cathedral holds Midnight Sun concerts on summer evenings around 11 pm. Swap the summit for a concert if the weather turns.

Travel: About 1 hr to the airport · Tromsø to Oslo · Oslo to JFK, about 8 hrs 20

1. 5:00 amLeave Malangen. Return car 2 at Tromsø airport.
2. 7:00 amFirst flight to Oslo.
3. 1:20 pmSAS nonstop to JFK, landing about 3:40 pm New York time. Book everything on one ticket.