Scandinavian Itinerary

 Denmark (May 1-12)

Date                    City

May 1-5               Copenhagen (CS)

                                    • Tivoli gardens   

                                          

                                    • Statue of the Little Mermaid

                                    • freetown of Christiania

                                    • Amalienborg Palace

                                    • Strøget shopping street

May 6-8               Aarhus (CS)

                                    • City sights 

                                    • Hans Christian Andersen Fairy Tale Tour

May 9-11             Aalborg (CS)

                                    • City sights

                                    • Skagen – The Top of Denmark tour

May 12                Flight from Aalborg to Copenhagen (Copenhagen Go Hotel)

Finland & Norway (Northern Highlights Tour) (May 13-28)

 

May 13                Flight from Copenhagen to Helsinki; Start Northern Highlights Tour

Day    Description
1    HELSINKI, FINLAND.

• Check into your hotel. The rest of the day is free for you to start exploring Helsinki. Tonight, meet your Tour Director and fellow travellers.

2    HELSINKI-KUOPIO.

• An included orientation drive this morning features the City Hall and Parliament House, the Presidential Palace, and the great Lutheran Cathedral. Then, head north through unspoiled forests and lakes for an overnight in Kuopio. (B,D)

3    KUOPIO-OULU-ROVANIEMI.

• Stop in the picturesque university town of Oulu, situated on the Bothnian Bay. Then, follow the shoreline as far as Kemi before heading inland to Rovaniemi for an overnight. (B)

Oulu

4    ROVANIEMI.

• A whole day to enjoy the capital of Finnish Lapland. For hundreds of years it was famous for exporting furs and salmon to the world's rich and powerful. Unfortunately, the town was totally destroyed during World War II. The new town, which you'll visit during this morning's orientation drive, was designed by Alvar Aalto in the shape of reindeer antlers. Sights include Lappia Hall, the Town Hall, the new modern church with its intriguing frescoes, and the Arctic Centre. Afternoon at leisure or join an optional excursion to find out more about Lapland. (B)

Santa's Village, Rovaniemi

5    ROVANIEMI-SONANKYLA-TANKAVAARA-SAARISELKA.

• As you cross the Arctic Circle (66 degrees 31'N degrees), you are in incomparable, unspoiled Lapland, land of reindeer and the midnight sun. Stop at the Santa Claus Workshop with a chance to meet Father Christmas himself. North to Sodankyla, where you see the charming Vanha Kirkko, Lapland's oldest wooden church, dating back to the 17th century. At Tankavaara, visit the Gold Museum and try panning for gold if you wish. Overnight in Saariselka, on the edge of the virgin wilderness and part of Finland's major national park. It is the largest winter sport centre in Finland and a paradise for hikers and mountain bike lovers in summer. (B,D)

6    SAARISELKA-HONNINGSVAG,NORWAY.

• Via Ivalo you cross into Norway for a visit to the fascinating Sami Park. Further into Norway and across the beautiful Porsangen Fjord to Honningsvag on the island of Mageroya, home to 4,000 people and 5,000 reindeer. Tonight, one of the highlights of this tour is the included drive to the North Cape, Europe's last northern outpost, on a sheer cliff rising 305 metres (1,000 feet) from the Atlantic Ocean. From May 11 to July 31, if the sky is clear, you'll see the midnight sun rolling just above the horizon! (B,D)

North Cape

7    HONNINGSVAG-COASTAL CRUISE-HAMMERFEST-ALTA.

• An early start today: one of the highlights of this vacation is a fjord cruise from Honningsvag to Hammerfest. You will enjoy some of Norway's most beautiful coastal and mountain scenery as you cruise southwards. Disembark at Hammerfest and drive to Alta, situated at the mouth of the world's richest salmon river, for an overnight. (B,D)

Hammerfest

8    ALTA-MALSELVFOSSEN-NARVIK.

• Continue your unforgettable journey south along the stunning shoreline of Norway. The road meanders along Kvaenangenfjord and Lyngenfjord. You are now in the Troms Province, still way beyond the Arctic Circle but with a climate mild enough to allow very successful farming. Stop for pictures at the thundering Malselvfossen Waterfall. Hear about fierce World War II battles as you approach Narvik, rebuilt after near total destruction. (B)

Malselvfossen Waterfall

9    NARVIK.

• Visit Narvik's War Museum and relive how Norwegian troops, with the help of their allies, showed the world that the Nazi war machine was not invulnerable. Afternoon and evening are at leisure. Optional excursions are available. (B)

10    NARVIK-MO.

• This morning, enter Nordland. Not far from Mo you cross the Arctic Circle again and return to a world where the sun rises and sets every day of the year. Overnight in the little town of Mo I Rana. (B)

11    MO-MOSJOEN-TRONDHEIM.

• On the agenda today: picture stop in Mosjoen; the spectacular Laksforsen Waterfall; the forests and rivers of Namdalen Valley; and vistas of Trondheimfjord, the World War II hideout of the German battleship Tirpitz. (B,D)

12    TRONDHEIM-GEIRANGER AREA.

• Leave Norway's third-largest city, also known as the "Gateway to the North" this morning. Travel via the spectacular Atlantic Road from Christiansund to Molde to reach the Geiranger area for an overnight. (B,D)

Christiansund

13    GEIRANGER AREA.

• Enjoy the sites of this enchanting area on your own or join the optional Geiranger fjord cruise. (B,D)

14    GEIRANGER AREA-LOM-LILLEHAMMER.

• Today, travel via Dalsnibba for a stop in Lom. Take pictures of the stave churches before heading toward the famous winter sport resort, Lillehammer, host of the 1994 Winter Olympics. (B)

15    LILLEHAMMER-OSLO.

• Head for Oslo via Eidsvoll. On arrival, vistas of Akerhus Castle, the 14th-century fortress guarding the harbour, a highlight on the included tour that features the soaring City Hall, National Theatre, Parliament, Royal Palace, Broadcasting House, and Gustav Vigeland's stark sculptures of people and animals in Frogner Park. (B)

16    OSLO.

• Your holiday ends with breakfast this morning. (B)

Sweden (May 28-June 30)
 

Date                    City

May 28-May 30  Stockholm (CS)

May 31-June 2    Stockholm (CS)

• Gamla Stan (Old City)
• Vasamuseet maratime museum
• Skansen open-air museum and zoo
• Gustav Vasa Kyrka 
• The Royal Palace

Gamla Stan

Skansen

Vasamuseet

June 3-6               Visby, on the island of Gottland (Hotel Stottsbacken)

                                    • Raukar on west side

                                    • Island of Faro

Visby

Raukar

Faro Island

June 7-9               Gränna, near Jönköping (CS)

June 10                Göteborg (Sankt Sigfrid Bed & Breakfast)

June 11-13           Fjällbacka (Bryggan Hotel)
                          

June 14-17           Göteborg (Gothenburg in English) (CS)  
     

June 18-22           Halmstad (CS)

                                    • Helsingborg

Halmstad

Helsingborg Castle

June 23-25           Malmö (CS)

                                    • Ystad

                                    • Lund

Malmö

Ale Stones, near Ystad

Lund

June 26-29           Lapland Land of the Midnight Sun tour 

Day 1: Kiruna, Lapland and Midnight Sun

At arrival to Kiruna you are met and transferred to your hotel. In the evening, you will be picked up an taken to our camp Kurravara for a welcome dinner. After the dinner we continue by minibus up the mountain Luossavaara. From here you have a magnificent view over the Torne River and Jukkasjärvi—and the magnificant midnight sun, of course.

Day 2: Kiruna Undergroud and River Cruise with Wilderness Dinner

In the morning, you’ll visit the world’s biggest underground mine. We’ll travel by bus right into the mountain and through the mine, which is half a kilometre underground. This is an authentic mining environment, where exhibits, films, slide shows and multimedia presentations explain the fascinating world of iron- and steel-making. (Children under 6 years of age are not allowed in the mine for security reasons). In the afternoon, we’ll go for an excursion along the beautiful Torne River and visit the Jukkasjärvi old wooden church and a reindeer herder*, and take part in feeding the reindeer. We’ll take a break on an island, where we will have dinner around the camp fire.

 
Day 3: Abisko National Park

Today we will enjoy a guided tour to the Abisko National Park situated in a high mountain area in the vicinity of Kiruna. Lunch will be served in Björkliden during the tour.

Dat 4: Icehotel production

We go by minivan to Icehotel for guided tour at Icehotel production. You will see factory where icebar's glasses are made. Guide will tell you about how to build Icehotel. You will have a chance to see some cold accommodation.

Day 5: Departure

Today you will be transferred to the airport for your trip back home. We hope you had a fantastic time and that you will come and visit us soon again!

June 30                Paris