The Side of Europe Most Travellers Miss
Fjords that cut deep into the mountains, Arctic skies that glow green, saunas beside the sea and capital cities that regularly top liveability rankings. The Nordic countries bring all of that together in one corner of northern Europe, and many travellers are only just discovering it.
This guide introduces the five Nordic countries, explains how they differ and shows you when to go. It then looks at Gantu's Nordic countries tour packages, which cover Iceland, Norway and Finland. Whether you're after the northern lights, fjord cruises or city breaks, you'll find the best Nordic countries to visit for your travel style, and you can browse all of Gantu's Nordic holiday packages when you're ready to plan.
The Nordic Countries at a Glance
People often use "Scandinavia" and "the Nordics" as if they mean the same thing. They don't. Scandinavia usually covers just Norway, Sweden and Denmark, while the Nordic region adds Finland and Iceland, which makes five countries in all. Each has its own character, so it helps to know what you're choosing between.
| Country | Best for | Gantu tours |
| Iceland | Glaciers, geothermal pools and the northern lights | 2 packages |
| Norway | Fjords and Arctic adventures | 4 packages (2 Norway-only, 2 combined with Finland) |
| Finland | Saunas, Lapland and Santa Claus Village | 2 packages (combined with Norway) |
| Sweden | Stockholm's islands and design-led city breaks | Enquire with Gantu |
| Denmark | Copenhagen's canals, cafés and cycling | Enquire with Gantu |
Four Countries, Four Very Different Trips
Norway is the place for dramatic scenery. Oslo has its waterfront and museums, a fjord cruise takes you between towering cliffs, and Tromsø is a favourite base for Arctic experiences such as the northern lights and reindeer sledding.
Sweden is a city-and-water trip. Stockholm is spread across islands, and its old town, Gamla Stan, is made for slow walks along cobbled lanes.
Denmark is easy and relaxed. Copenhagen has colourful canals, great cafés and a cycling culture that makes the whole city feel close together.
Finland mixes city style with wilderness. Helsinki has design shops and a lively waterfront, while Lapland brings snow, reindeer and sauna culture, and Rovaniemi is home to Santa Claus Village.
Only in the Nordics: Experiences You Won't Find Elsewhere
A few experiences are tied to this corner of the world.
- Glass igloos: in Finnish Lapland, you can lie in bed and watch the aurora through the roof.
- Saunas: part of everyday life in Finland, usually ending with a plunge into a lake or the sea.
- Sami culture: the Sami are Europe's indigenous people, and their reindeer-herding traditions stretch across northern Norway, Sweden and Finland.
- Midnight sun: in summer the far north barely gets dark, and evenings seem to go on forever.
- Fjord cruises: glide through Norway's deep, narrow inlets.
- Geothermal spas: soak in naturally heated water in Iceland.
Several of these are built into Gantu's tours, including northern lights safaris, reindeer sledding with a Sami cultural experience, Norwegian fjord cruises, Santa Claus Village and Iceland's geothermal baths.
Start Your Nordic Countries Tour with Gantu
Gantu has six Nordic countries tour packages, ranging from 7 to 12 days. Every one of them includes a northern lights experience, and each package page lists the full day-by-day itinerary, hotels and inclusions. Here is what each one covers.
Arctic Aurora Escape: Finland & Norway (7 nights, 8 days)
If you only have about a week, the Arctic Aurora Escape is the one to look at, because it combines Finland and Norway. It starts in Helsinki, where a Hop-On Hop-Off city tour takes in landmarks such as Senate Square, Helsinki Cathedral, Market Square, the Sibelius Monument and the Design District. A return ferry day trip across the Baltic takes you to Tallinn's UNESCO-listed Old Town.
You then fly north to Tromsø, Norway's "Gateway to the Arctic". Your first evening is a guided northern lights safari, and the next day brings a reindeer sled ride and a traditional Sami meal in a lavvu, hosted by indigenous herders. The final day in Tromsø is free to explore the Arctic Cathedral, the waterfront or the Fjellheisen viewpoint.
The package includes breakfast, airport transfers, the activities above, visa assistance and travel insurance. International flights and the Helsinki to Tromsø flight are not included.
Complete Nordic Circle (11 nights, 12 days)
The Complete Nordic Circle is the big one. It is Gantu's longest Nordic trip and links five cities: Oslo, Bergen, Tromsø, Rovaniemi and Helsinki.
- Oslo: a Hop-On Hop-Off bus ticket and a sightseeing cruise on the Oslofjord.
- Bergen: the Norway in a Nutshell journey, combining a Nærøyfjord cruise and the Flåm railway, plus a return ticket on the Ulriken cable car.
- Tromsø: a whale-watching tour on a hybrid-electric boat and a small-group northern lights chase with photos.
- Rovaniemi: a visit to Santa Claus Village and the Arctic Circle line, a reindeer farm visit with a sleigh ride, Arctic ice fishing and a northern lights tour, with an icebreaker cruise also available.
- Helsinki: an overnight Santa Train from Rovaniemi, then a ferry day trip to Tallinn.
Hotels range from 3-star to 4-star, and daily breakfast, airport transfers, visa assistance and the embassy visa fee are included. All flights, including the Bergen to Tromsø leg, are not included.
Norway: Oslo and Tromsø (6 nights, 7 days)
Gantu has two Norway-only packages on the same Oslo-and-Tromsø route. Both start with three nights in Oslo and end with three nights in Tromsø, and both include daily breakfast and airport transfers.
In Oslo, you get a Hop-On Hop-Off sightseeing bus ticket and a scenic Oslofjord cruise with audio-guide commentary. You then fly to Tromsø, where you can visit the Arctic Cathedral or, weather permitting, ride the Fjellheisen cable car up Mount Storsteinen for views over the city and fjords. Two Arctic experiences are included: a northern lights safari with expert guides, which travels away from the city lights and includes photos, and a reindeer feeding, sledding and Sami cultural experience with a guided visit to a Sami camp.
- Oslo to Tromsø: Gateway to the Arctic: lists a 24 or 48-hour Hop-On Hop-Off ticket, and the northern lights minibus tour includes hot drinks, snacks and thermal suits on request.
- The Grand Norwegian Escape: uses 3-star hotels in Oslo and Tromsø, and lists applicable taxes and service charges as included. Its page says the Oslo to Tromsø flight is included if it is part of the final package, so confirm this when you enquire.
Iceland: Iceland Elite and Iceland at its Best
Iceland is the quickest Nordic country to cover, and Gantu offers two options.
- Iceland Elite: Aurora & Ice Odyssey (7 days): based in Reykjavík, with a northern lights bus tour and hot cocoa, a full day on the Golden Circle, the south coast waterfalls and Reynisfjara black sand beach, the Laugarvatn Fontana geothermal baths and horse riding.
- Iceland at its Best with Northern Lights (10 days): adds the Blue Lagoon, the Diamond Circle in the north, an Into the Glacier tour inside the Langjökull ice tunnel, Jökulsárlón glacier lagoon and Diamond Beach, and the Golden Circle.
When to Go: Midnight Sun or Polar Night?
The Nordic countries have two very different seasons, and both are rewarding.
Summer (June to August) brings long days, green landscapes and fjord cruises. In the far north, the sun barely sets, so you get more hours for sightseeing.
Winter (roughly November to March) brings snow, cosy evenings and Arctic adventures. The long, dark nights are also prime time for chasing the northern lights in the far north.
Gantu's Norway, Finland and Iceland tours are built around the winter experiences: northern lights, reindeer sledding, Santa Claus Village and glacier landscapes. Check each package page for travel dates.
Smart Travel Tips
- Budget: the Nordics are expensive, and meals, transport and activities add up quickly. A package with hotels, transfers and sightseeing included makes the cost easier to predict.
- Packing: layers work in every season. Bring a waterproof jacket all year, and add thermals, gloves and shoes with good grip for winter. Pack swimwear if you'll visit geothermal pools.
- Visas: Iceland, Norway, Sweden, Denmark and Finland are all part of the Schengen area, so Indian travellers can cover the region with one Schengen visa. Apply early, and check each package page for the visa assistance offered.
- Flights: international flights are not included in the Norway and Finland packages, and internal flights such as Helsinki to Tromsø and Bergen to Tromsø are listed separately. Plan them around your package dates.
- Booking: the aurora season and the summer months are popular, so reserve early for the best choice of dates.
From Plan to Memories: Travel the Nordics with Gantu
A good Nordic trip is easier when the details are sorted for you. Gantu arranges the hotels, transfers and sightseeing before you leave, so once you land you only have the trip to think about.
There are six ready-made packages to choose from across Iceland, Norway and Finland. If another Nordic destination is on your list, share your dates and interests with Gantu's team and ask what is possible. Travellers who have been to Norway with Gantu talk about it on the testimonials page, and you can read more about Gantu and its trips across Europe on the main site.
Start Planning Your Nordic Countries Tour
The Nordic countries reward every kind of traveller, from fjord cruisers to aurora chasers. Whether you start with a week in Tromsø, a Finland and Norway combination or a full Nordic circle, there is a route to match your dates.
Take a look at Gantu's Nordic holiday packages, pick the route that suits you and start planning your Nordic countries tour.
