Norwegian Fjords & Scottish Highlands — Self-Launched Version
16 days · Norway & Scotland
G Adventures charges £6,500
No-markup version: ~£2,085 per person
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
A self-launched overland-and-ferry take on G Adventures' 16-day Tromsø-to-Edinburgh expedition. Instead of a small expedition ship with Zodiac landings, you piece the same coastline together with Norway's public express boats, coastal ferries, the Flåm Railway, and North Sea/Shetland crossings, then finish with Edinburgh and a DIY Highlands day trip. You'll see Nordkapp, the Lofoten Islands, Svartisen glacier, Vega, Trondheim, Geirangerfjord, Olden/Briksdalbreen, Flåm, the Shetland and Orkney Islands, and the Highlands — without the cruise price tag. Note: this is a land/sea public-transport version, so it's more moving parts and less deep-fjord Zodiac access, but far cheaper and more flexible. All costs are approximate per-person estimates.
Day-by-day
Arrive Tromsø — Gateway to the Arctic
Tromsø, Norway
Fly or bus into Tromsø (flybussen from the airport ~£8). Settle into a central hostel and spend the afternoon wandering the harbour and the Arctic Cathedral. Stock up on groceries — Norway is expensive, so self-catering breakfasts and packed lunches save a lot. In summer, stay up for the midnight sun.
🚌Airport flybussen to city centre (~£8); walkable city
🛏Central Tromsø hostel dorm (~£30)
- →Arctic Cathedral
- →Tromsø harbour walk
- →Midnight sun viewing
Nordkapp (North Cape) day trip
Honningsvåg / Nordkapp, Norway
Take an early flight or the long Hurtigruten/coach connection north to Honningsvåg, then the local bus to the North Cape plateau (307m) where the Atlantic meets the Arctic. Explore the barren clifftop and fishing villages. This is a big travel day — consider a cheap short-haul flight Tromsø–Honningsvåg (book early, ~£60–90) and overnight in Honningsvåg.
🚌Flight Tromsø–Honningsvåg (~£70) + local bus to North Cape (~£15 return)
🛏Honningsvåg guesthouse/cabin (~£35)
- →North Cape plateau
- →Nordkapp entrance
- →Fishing village walk
Return south — travel day
Tromsø, Norway
Fly back to Tromsø and use the day to reposition. Rest, do laundry, and prep for the Lofoten leg. If time allows, visit the Polaria museum or the Tromsø University Museum to learn about Arctic marine life.
🚌Flight Honningsvåg–Tromsø (~£70)
🛏Tromsø hostel dorm (~£30)
- →Polaria or University Museum
- →Trip prep
Lofoten Islands — Svolvær, Henningsvær & Nusfjord
Svolvær / Lofoten, Norway
Fly Tromsø–Svolvær (or take the Hurtigbåt express boat, ~£40, 3.5hrs). Rent a bike or join a local bus/coach tour of the islands: quirky Henningsvær fishing village and art galleries, the preserved village of Nusfjord for lunch, the Tørrfiskmuseum (stockfish museum), and end at the photogenic village of Å. Consider the famous Trollfjord — book a small-boat Trollfjord safari from Svolvær (~£70) as your Zodiac substitute.
🚌Express boat Tromsø–Svolvær (~£40); local bus/bike on the islands (~£10)
🛏Svolvær hostel/rorbu (~£35)
- →Henningsvær village
- →Nusfjord
- →Tørrfiskmuseum
- →Å village
- →Trollfjord boat safari (optional ~£70)
Svartisen Glacier & Arctic Circle
Svartisen / Vikingen, Norway
Travel south along the coast (bus/ferry combo) toward the Svartisen glacier area — the Engabreen arm near Holandsfjord is accessible by local boat plus a short hike. Look out for the Vikingen globe sculpture marking the Arctic Circle. This leg genuinely needs a car or patience with local buses — a shared car rental may be the best value.
🚌Local buses/ferries or shared car rental south (~£30)
🛏Ørnes/Mo i Rana area guesthouse (~£35)
- →Svartisen glacier viewpoint
- →Vikingen Arctic Circle globe
- →Coastal hike
Vega Island & Torghatten
Vega / Brønnøysund, Norway
Head to Vega Island (UNESCO World Heritage fishing landscape) by ferry. Wander the fishing villages, do a self-guided nature walk, and savour the slow pace. In the afternoon, hike up Torghatten — the mountain with the famous natural hole through it — for sweeping views. Ferries are the backbone here: check the Torghatten Trafikkselskap timetable.
🚌Ferry to Vega (~£12) + local bus to Torghatten (~£8)
🛏Brønnøysund guesthouse (~£35)
- →Vega Island UNESCO villages
- →Torghatten hole-in-mountain hike
- →Fishing village wandering
Trondheim
Trondheim, Norway
Travel south to Trondheim (bus or the Hurtigruten coastal steamer). Choose your day: hike in Bymarka Nature Reserve, or do a self-guided city walk to Nidaros Cathedral (built 1070–1300) and Sverresborg Folk Museum. Free afternoon to explore the riverside wharves of Bakklandet.
🚌Bus or Hurtigruten south (~£35)
🛏Trondheim hostel (~£32)
- →Nidaros Cathedral
- →Sverresborg Folk Museum
- →Bakklandet riverside walk
- →Bymarka hike
Geirangerfjord & Dalsnibba
Geiranger, Norway
Travel to Geiranger (bus connections via Åndalsnes/Molde, or take a scenic ferry into the fjord — the ferry arrival into Geiranger is a highlight in itself). Take the local Dalsnibba shuttle or a coach tour up to the UNESCO-listed viewpoint, or do the 10km mountain hike for fjord views from above. Overnight in the village.
🚌Buses/ferry to Geiranger (~£40); shuttle to Dalsnibba (~£25)
🛏Geiranger campsite cabin/hostel (~£35)
- →Geirangerfjord ferry views
- →Dalsnibba viewpoint
- →Fjord mountain hike
Olden & Briksdalbreen Glacier
Olden, Norway
Bus from Geiranger to Olden (via Stryn). From Olden, take the local bus or taxi to the Birksdal area, then hike to Briksdalbreen glacier — or take the trolley ride and a shorter walk to the glacier lake. A genuine glaicer-tongue moment without the cruise.
🚌Bus Geiranger–Olden (~£20); local bus to Briksdal (~£10)
🛏Olden hostel/guesthouse (~£35)
- →Briksdalbreen glacier hike
- →Briksdal trolley option
- →Olden fjord walk
The Flåm Railway
Flåm, Norway
Travel to Flåm and ride the celebrated Flåm Railway (Flåmsbana) through valleys and mountain passes — book online in advance, ~£45–55 one-way. Wander the fjord village of Flåm afterward, or rent a bike for the Rallarvegen valley path. Overnight in Flåm or nearby Aurland.
🚌Bus/flight connection to Flåm (~£35); Flåm Railway (~£50)
🛏Flåm hostel/cabin (~£38)
- →Flåm Railway
- →Fjord village walk
- →Rallarvegen bike option
Cross to the Shetland Islands — Lerwick
Lerwick, Shetland, Scotland
Big travel day. Fly or bus to Bergen, then take the North Sea connection to Shetland (fly Bergen–Sumburgh via Aberdeen, or ferry via Hirtshals, Denmark). Alternatively, the summer NorthLink/norwegian ferry links work. Arrive in Lerwick, explore the town and its Norse-Scots culture. Optional: Shetland Museum (free).
🚌Bergen–Shetland flight (~£120–150)
🛏Lerwick hostel (~£28)
- →Lerwick harbour walk
- →Shetland Museum (free)
Puffins & Jarlshof
Sumburgh Head, Shetland, Scotland
Join the local Puffin Bus or catch a public bus to Sumburgh Head for puffins and seabird photography (weather-dependent, best May–July). Visit the Jarlshof prehistoric settlement — 4,000 years of history at the edge of the sea. Return to Lerwick for the evening.
🚌Local bus to Sumburgh (~£10 return)
🛏Lerwick hostel (~£28)
- →Sumburgh Head puffins
- →Jarlshof archaeological site
- →Shetland coastal walk
Orkney Islands — ancient ruins
Orkney, Scotland
Fly or ferry from Shetland to Orkney (fly to Kirkwall, ~£60, or ferry via Aberdeen). Spend the day exploring the heart of Neolithic Orkney: the Standing Stones of Stenness, the Ring of Brodgar, and the village of Skara Brae. Hop-on local buses and the Orkney bus network make this doable without a coach tour; a day-bus pass is cheap.
🚌Shetland–Orkney flight (~£60); local bus day pass (~£10)
🛏Kirkwall hostel (~£28)
- →Ring of Brodgar
- →Standing Stones of Stenness
- →Skara Brae
To Edinburgh
Edinburgh, Scotland
Travel Kirkwall to Edinburgh — cheap flight via Aberdeen or Inverness, or a ferry+bus via Scrabster/Inverness. Arrive and settle into an Old Town hostel. Evening stroll down the Royal Mile and up to Arthur's Seat viewpoint if you still have daylight.
🚌Flight Orkney–Edinburgh (~£80)
🛏Edinburgh Old Town hostel dorm (~£35)
- →Royal Mile walk
- →Arthur's Seat viewpoint
Edinburgh — Castle & city
Edinburgh, Scotland
Do a self-guided or free-walking-tour version of the Edinburgh highlights: Edinburgh Castle (book tickets online, ~£20), the Old Town closes, Grassmarket, and the National Museum of Scotland (free). Optional: Edinburgh food tour or a ghost tour in the evening.
🚌Walkable city; Lothian buses (~£5)
🛏Edinburgh Old Town hostel dorm (~£35)
- →Edinburgh Castle
- →National Museum of Scotland
- →Old Town walking tour
- →Ghost/food tour (optional)
Scottish Highlands day trip & departure
Scottish Highlands / Edinburgh
Take a small-group Highlands day tour from Edinburgh (GetYourGuide ~£45–60) covering Glencoe or Loch Lomond and a whisky distillery stop (Deanston or similar). Return to Edinburgh in the evening for onward travel. If your flight is next day, add a night at the hostel.
🚌Highlands day tour coach (~£50 return)
🛏Optional Edinburgh hostel (~£35) or depart
- →Highlands day tour
- →Whisky distillery visit
- →Loch Lomond/Glencoe
Self-launched vs. G Adventures
| This itinerary (self-launched) | G Adventures | |
|---|---|---|
| Price per person | ~£2,085 | £6,500 |
| Duration | 16 days | 16 days |
| Who books it | You and your group, direct | Tour operator, guided group |
| Savings | £4,415 per person (68%) | |
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
Want to see more G Adventures-style trips? Check them out here.~£2,085
estimated per person
You never pay Travel Crew for this — you pay hostels, transport, and activity providers directly, the same as if you'd booked it all yourself.
This publishes your dates so other travellers can find and join you — no tour operator needed.
Customise with Tour BusterCreated by
Travel Crew
0 trips
Frequently asked questions
How much does Norwegian Fjords & Scottish Highlands — Self-Launched Version cost?+
Doing it yourself with this self-launched itinerary costs an estimated £2,085 per person for 16 days in Norway & Scotland. This is an AI-generated estimate based on typical budget-traveller prices — actual costs will vary by season and how you book.
Is this cheaper than booking with G Adventures?+
Yes — G Adventures charges around £6,500 per person for a similar tour. Doing the same route independently, using the same standard of accommodation and activities, costs an estimated £2,085 — a saving of roughly £4,415 (68%) per person.
How long is the Norway & Scotland trip?+
This itinerary runs 16 days, covering 16 day-by-day stops through Norway & Scotland.
How do I join this trip?+
You can join an existing open departure using this itinerary if one is scheduled, or launch your own departure with your own dates and invite other travellers to join you — no tour operator required.
Isn't it easier to just use a tour operator?+
Well, yes, a tour operator will book all the individual parts of your travel for you and provide a guide. That's obvious, but doing this has the potential to save the group thousands, which can in turn improve your itinerary substantially or save you huge amounts of money. Also, when you launch a departure, Travel Crew has tools in place to help you book the individual sections of the trip or make it easier for you to do this as a group. Really, you do not need a middle man. If you are more comfortable paying more and using a middle man, then you should certainly do this.
Is it safer to book through a tour operator?+
Arguably, there isn't much difference. A self-launched trip runs on the same principle as a group travel crew: collective responsibility, everyone looking out for each other, the same way it would if a group of friends organised the trip themselves — because that's exactly what's happening. You should always take out travel insurance before you go, self-launched or not; that doesn't change either way. Every open departure is published publicly with real dates and a real trip organiser, so it's never an anonymous arrangement, and our support team is reachable any time you need help, including in an emergency while you're away. Longer-term, we're building direct relationships with ground DMCs in popular destinations, offered as an optional paid add-on for extra on-the-ground support. Ultimately, though, the group is responsible for its own conduct and safety on a self-launched trip, same as on any trip you plan yourself.
What kind of trip is this?+
This is a adventure, hiking, culture trip through Norway & Scotland, self-launched rather than run by a tour operator — you organise it with a group you find or bring yourself.
Would you like to name the operator, name the trip, or have any suggestions about how to improve this itinerary?
Drop your comment below — if you've done a similar route, tell us what worked, what you'd add, or what you'd skip.
No comments yet — be the first to share your take.
Sign in to leave a comment.