Fabulous Scandinavia, Helsinki and Tallinn

Arrival to Copenhagen Airport, meet & greet by our representative and transfer to the hotel.  At 18:30 hours we invite you to join the welcome cocktail by where you will meet your fellow travelers and your Tour Director. 

Overnight in Copenhagen.

After breakfast, meet your local guide for a comprehensive city tour of Copenhagen's highlights. Admire City Hall Square, which marks the start of the renowned pedestrian thoroughfare "Stroeget," the National Museum, the New Carlsberg Glyptotheque, and Tivoli Gardens. Next, drive by the Naval Church and the Old Stock Exchange. The historic canal district, Nyhavn, with its charming houses and boats, and the Kings New Square, the location of the Royal Danish Theatre and the world-famous ballet. Continue to the magnificent Gefion Fountain and the Royal Amalienborg Palace. Meet the Little Mermaid statue, an icon of Copenhagen. As part of the trip, you will also see the Christiansborg Palace and the Rosenborg Castle, home to the Crown Jewels, from the outside. The journey concludes at the hotel. 

Overnight in Copenhagen (Breakfast)

After breakfast, depart Copenhagen in the direction of Roskilde, the capital of Denmark, between 1200 and 1300. Roskilde has a long past that dates back to the early Viking Age. After being finished in 1275, the city's UNESCO-listed Gothic Cathedral, which today houses 39 tombs of the Danish kings, served as a center of religious influence until the Reformation in the 13th century.

Continue to Aarhus through Odense, the birthplace of renowned Danish author Hans Christian Andersen. You will get some free time in Odense to explore the lovely third-largest city in Denmark.

Before checking into your hotel, enjoy a guided tour of Den Gamle By (The Old City), an open-air town museum situated in the city's Botanical Garden in the heart of Aarhus, before checking into your accommodation. The museum served more than 400,000 visitors per year when it first opened in 1914 as the first open-air museum of its kind worldwide, focusing on urban rather than village culture. Today, it is still one of the few highly regarded Danish museums outside Copenhagen. 75 historical structures have been acquired from 20 townships and are now on display at the museum.

The numerous students residing in Aarhus give Denmark's second-largest city a lively and welcoming atmosphere. Spend the remainder of the evening at your leisure or go on a walking tour of Aarhus's city center with your tour guide before dining at one of the city's top restaurants.

Overnight in Aarhus (Breakfast)

Breakfast at the hotel. Depart Aarhus towards the Hirtshals located in the very north of the Peninsula of Jutland. Noon (11:45) departure by ferry to Kristiansand in Norway.

Upon early afternoon arrival (14:00) in Kristiansand, continue to Stavanger, Norway's 4th largest city. The city's rapid population growth in the late 20th century was primarily a result of Norway's booming offshore oil industry. Today the oil industry is a key industry in the Stavanger region, and the city is widely referred to as the Oil Capital of Norway. Your hotel is in the very center of Stavanger, from which you can join your tour director on this evening pre-dinner walk in charming Stavanger. Evening at leisure. 

Overnight in Stavanger (Breakfast, Dinner)

After breakfast, a departure from the hotel. This morning will be dedicated to exploring the majestic Lysefjord and its Pulpit Rock. Enjoy the fresh summer breeze while sailing through the beauty of the magnificent Lysefjord. Board an electric boat and sail from downtown Stavanger to Lysefjord and Preikestolen. The 3-3,5 hours Lysefjord cruise will take you to Fantahålå (Vagabond’s Cave), where the vagrants hid from the sheriff in the old days.

Not long after, you arrive at Preikestolen, where Tom Cruise climbed the sheer mountain face in the movie Mission Impossible 6. Continue to the towering Hengjanefossen waterfall, where the crew brings the bow so close to the falls that you risk getting your face doused with delightful spray!

Along the way, we stop to feed our goats at the summer pasture in Lysefjord. They love your visit! With luck, you might see the occasional seal sunbathing on a rock.

Depart Stavanger early afternoon towards Bergen. The drive is along the Norwegian coast, where the fjords and archipelago are connected by bridges and ferry crossings. Arrive in Bergen and check in to your hotel in the late afternoon.  

Overnight in Bergen (Breakfast)

Breakfast at the hotel. This morning will be dedicated to exploring beautiful Bergen, the capital of the Norwegian fjords. Bergen is Norway's second-largest city and one of the three university cities in the country. Experience the ambiance of the Hanseatic port Bryggen a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Enjoy the ride with the Funicular to the top of Mount Floien and admire the beauty of Bergen, located between seven Mountains. Pass by Mary St. Mary's Church, Haakon's Hall (no entrances), and the colorful and picturesque fish markets, where you will enjoy a fish platter with local delicacies.

The Floibanen funicular in Bergen in the heart of Bergen is one of Norway's best-known attractions. The journey up to the peak of Mount Floyen (320 m above sea level) takes 5–8 minutes. The journey is an experience, cutting through the steep mountainside and forests, revealing more of the city below. At the top, you can enjoy fantastic views over Bergen and the Norwegian coastline.  

We strongly recommend joining our optional Edvard Grieg Experience commencing right after lunch at the Fish market.

Overnight in Bergen (Breakfast, Lunch)

Breakfast at the hotel. In the morning, we leave Bergen and drive to the beautiful Naeroy Valley, surrounded by snow-capped mountains. We take a break at the Stalheim Hotel and enjoy some Norwegian waffles and the breathtaking view down the valley.
Continue down the Naeroy Valley to Gudvangen for a beautiful fjord cruise along the Naeroyfjord, one of the narrowest and most impressive journeys in the Norwegian Fjords.

In 2005, the Naeroyfjorden and Geirangerfjorden were added to the UNESCO World Heritage List. According to UNESCO, the two fjords are archetypal fjord landscapes. They are almost untouched by modern times and are some of the most beautiful places in the world. We will sail through the fjords by boats designed to give you the best possible view. They are powered by electricity and don't make any noise or release emissions that might disturb the peaceful nature. You'll feel like you're gliding through the fjord, which is very different from what you get on the more common passenger ships. Sitting in one of the lounges, you can look out the tall windows and see the calm fjord, the towering mountains, and the beautiful waterfalls. You'll get off the boat in the beautiful village of Flaam and have some free time for optional activities or to explore the village of Flaam on your own.

Later today, we will continue through the mountains to Borgund, where you will have the opportunity to admire from the outside one of the remaining Norwegian stave churches dating back to the 12th century. Then, continue to Hemsedal and check in at Fyri Resort, where you will overnight for the next two nights.

Overnight in Hemsedal (Breakfast, coffee with waffles)

Breakfast at the hotel. A day to relax and enjoy the spa and the area around it at your own pace. There are spa treatments offered at the Pool Club. Making a reservation before arriving at the hotel is always a good idea. In the evening, meet your fellow travelers to enjoy a dinner of local delicacies.

Overnight in Hemsedal (Breakfast, Dinner)

Breakfast at the hotel. After breakfast, travel towards Oslo, leaving the mountains behind. Arrive in Oslo and visit the famous and impressive Munch Museum, where you can admire Munch’s paintings, especially his masterpiece, The Scream. Guiding is not allowed inside the museum. Visit the museum at your own pace or enjoy a platter of seafood and Munch Deli & Café.

Early afternoon your local guide will show you many beautiful spots of the Norwegian capital located by the fjord. Admire the view from the Opera house. Vigeland Park is a remarkable architectural and cultural treasure of Oslo, where you will walk among famous sculptures by Gustav Vigeland. Pass by the Royal Palace and the main street, Karl Johan. The tour ends at your hotel at 16:00 hours with the check-in.

In the evening, join your tour director for a walking tour to Akker Brygge. Enjoy the local vibe of the capital and try local food at one of the many cafés and restaurants.

Overnight in Oslo (Breakfast)

Breakfast at the hotel. In the morning, we depart Oslo heading to Stockholm, passing Norwegian and Swedish forests through the region of Varmland, the home of many legends. Lunch will be served in Karlstad, located by Lake Vänern.  Arrive in Stockholm by the end of the afternoon and check in. Join your tour director for a walking tour of the Swedish Capital. The evening is at leisure.

Overnight in Stockholm (Breakfast, Lunch)

In the morning, meet with your local guide to explore the Swedish capital's.  The city, known as the "Beauty on Water," is constructed on 14 islands and connected by 57 bridges. The 13th-century Old Town and contemporary high-tech buildings both contribute to Stockholm's distinctive identity. Lake Mälaren in the west and the Baltic Sea in the east encircle the archipelago's 30.000 islands, which are just waiting to be discovered. The nation's capital is a large city with a small-town feel. Travel back 750 years in time as you stroll around the Old Town, or "Gamla Stan," and experience its medieval ambience. While strolling around Old Town, you will have the chance to witness Stortorget, the site of the Stockholm Blood Bath, as well as the seven hundred-year-old cathedral of Stockholm, the archbishop's residence. One of the city's most recognizable landmarks, City Hall with its Blue and Golden Halls, where the prestigious Nobel Banquet is held each December, is visited from the inside. The journey concludes at the hotel.

The afternoon is free time, so you can either continue with today's program or independently explore Stockholm.

Overnight in Stockholm (Breakfast)

Breakfast at the hotel. The morning is at your leisure in Stockholm. Departure from the hotel at 13:00 hours to visit one of Stockholm's hidden beauties. To be disclosed on the scene, but we guarantee a taste of heaven on earth. A unique lunch experience will be provided. After your hidden adventure, proceed to the pier to join the Tallink Silja overnight boat sailing over the Baltic Sea to Helsinki. Dinner will be served on board.

Arrival in Helsinki, followed by a 2-hour sightseeing tour of the city. Senate Square, the University, and the Lutheran Cathedral are all included in the city tour. We will also see the vibrant Market Square, Kaivopuisto Park, diplomatic buildings, the commanding statue of Marshall Mannerheim, the Parliament Building, Finlandia Hall, the Orthodox Russian Church Uspenski, and the Sibelius Monument. In addition, we will visit Temppeliaukio Church, commonly known as the "Rock Church" because of its carving into solid rock (the church reserves the right not to allow the entry of visitors in case of ceremonies).

Later, your tour guide will take you to the food market hall for a degustation of Finnish specialties.

Enjoy Helsinki's atmosphere at night by strolling through Esplanade Square and dining at one of the numerous inviting cafés and restaurants. 

Overnight in Helsinki (Breakfast, Light Lunch)

Transfer to the Helsinki pier in the early morning to board a two-hour cruise to Tallinn.  Meet your Tallinn guide for a city tour and uncover the mysteries of Tallinn's Old Town, a designated UNESCO World Heritage Site. The tour includes climbing Toompea Hill, where you can see the ancient Toompea Castle and the Alexander Nevsky Cathedral.
The Dome Church is commonly known as the Cathedral of Saint Mary. Stop at one of the panoramic platforms to take a breathtaking picture of the old town's red roofs against the dark blue Tallinn Bay.

Continue through the lower city, passing by wonderful ancient buildings until we reach Town Hall Square. Tallinn's Gothic-style Town Hall, erected in the 15th century, is the Baltic country's oldest surviving town hall. A few meters away lies the famed Town Hall Pharmacy, which has existed in the same location since the early 15th century.

After the tour, you will have a couple of hours free to appreciate this jewel of a city before returning to the port and boarding the ferry back to Helsinki.

Transfer to your hotel upon arrival in Helsinki late at night.

Overnight in Helsinki (Breakfast)

Breakfast at the hotel. Our representative will meet you for your transfer to the Airport. (B)