Top holidays in the world's happiest country
The results are in and Norway has been named the happiest country in the 2017 World Happiness Report thanks to its good income, health, freedom and wellbeing. To celebrate this spectacular Scandinavian gem shooting to the top of the list and provide you with a few ideas for holidays in Norway, we've rounded up five of our favourite trips to take this year.
SEE ALSO: Where to go skiing in Norway and Sweden
SEE ALSO: Ten cruises that take you to see the Northern Lights
Whether you fancy discovering picturesque towns on a Norwegian fjords cruise or getting adventurous and chasing the Northern Lights on a snowmobile tour, you'll love these terrific getaways in one of the world's most beautiful countries.
Jumping from fourth place in 2016 and overtaking Denmark, Iceland and Sweden this year, Norway reached the top spot based on factors including its mutual trust, shared purpose, generosity and good governance, while producing its own oil and investing the proceeds in the future rather than spending them in the present.
This superb holiday destination offers dramatic landscapes, Scandinavian culture and incredible wildlife, along with ample activities for outdoors lovers, enchanting villages and vibrant cities just waiting to be explored. Here are five ways you can experience the best of beautiful Norway...
Take to the water on a stand-up paddleboard
Responsible Travel's first-ever stand-up paddleboarding holiday takes you to Norway on a five-day guided tour into the heart of some of the country's most stunning and unexplored fjords. You'll pass waterfalls, paddle with seals and porpoises, and camp under the wilderness sky. From £717 per person, excluding flights, with departures from June to August.
Spend a whole weekend trekking
For an unforgettable long weekend in Norway, experience two full days of walking as you cram in as many majestic sights as possible on Exodus Travels' four-night Norway Trekking Weekend. You'll take a glacier walk on Folgefonna, the third largest glacier on mainland Norway, and visit the famous Trolltunga, a vertiginous ledge of rock jutting horizontally out of a mountain above the fjords. From £1,399 per person, including flights, with departures on 23 June, 14 July, 18 August and 1 September.
See Svalbard on a snowmobile safari
Active travellers can explore the snowy peaks, ice-locked fjords and mighty blue glaciers of Spitsbergen, the largest of the Svalbard islands, via snowmobile on a four-night break with Discover the World. You'll witness the blue glow of the polar night and, with luck, the Northern Lights. There are three itineraries to choose from, including the True Arctic Story, which involves snowmobiling to the Nordenskiöld Lodge (the world's northernmost commercial cabin) before ice-climbing on a glacier, skiing around the fjord and visiting the Russian ghost town of Pyramiden. From £2,291 per person, including flights, with departures in April and May.
Cruise to the Midnight Sun
One of the best times to visit Norway is during the Midnight Sun and on Thomson Cruises' 14-night sailing aboard Thomson Celebration, you can experience the natural phenomenon that occurs only in the summer, while visiting gorgeous places including Flam, Bergen, Geiranger and Honnisvag. The Norway's Midnight Sun cruise departs Newcastle and offers on-board entertainment, such as Broadway shows, bars and a casino. From £1,350 per person on a full-board basis.
Explore the fjords on foot
Fjord Norway was made for walkers and offers epic national parks, outstanding views and plenty of photo opps. On Exodus Travels' eight-day Walking the Fjords holiday, you'll set off on foot to explore birch forests, climb to panoramic views and immerse in one of the most beautiful and tranquil places on the planet, taking in Molden, Nigardsbreen Glacier and the Jotunheim National Park. From £1,999 per person, including flights, based on 6 or 27 August departures.
