Shorter and longer versions of this tour are available.

Please see:

Northern Highlights Tour

Itinerary

Transfer from Oslo Gardermoen Airport to hotel in connection

with your flight arrival. Dinner and accommodation at Radisson Blu Plaza Hotel, Oslo, ideally situated close to the Karl Johans Gate.

Your tour escort will meet you at 19.45 hrs (before dinner) in the hotel lobby

After breakfast you will visit the world-famous Viking Ships. Departure from Oslo, driving via Hønefoss along the charming Halling Valley to the tourist resort town of Gol. Lunch at a local restaurantAfter lunch cross the wild Hardanger Mountain Plateau to Fossli, stopping to view the thundering Vøringsfoss Waterfall with a vertical drop of 180 m. Dinner and accommodation at Brakanes Hotel , ideally located on the banks of the fjord. Fjord view room

After buffet breakfast, descend the amazing Måbødal Canyon to the idyllic Hardanger Fjord. Cross the Hardanger Bridge. Start of scenic tour along the beautiful Hardanger Fjord, famous for its many fruit orchards, via the towns of Øystese and Norheimsund, arriving in Bergen around midday. Lunch at local restaurant. Afternoon 2 hours

tour of Bergen, including a visit to the popular Fish and Flower Market, the famous Bryggen Harbour with its gabled packhouses, and the old Hanseatic Quarter. You willalso ride on the funicular to Mt. Fløien, for the best views of the city and fjords way below. Accommodation at First Hotel Marin a centrally located close to the pedestrian shopping streets and within walking distance of the old Bryggen harbour.

After breakfast departure from Bergen and drive via Dale to the town of Voss. Board the train in Voss for a ride on the beautiful Bergen Railway to the mountain station of Myrdal. From Myrdal ride on the amazing Flåm Railway, a masterpiece of engineering descending 2.838 feet in less than one hour. The descent to the fjord side village of Flåm offers opportunities for photo shots of exciting

waterfalls and mountain scenery. After a short rest in Flåm, start of approx. 2 hours cruise by boat along the narrow Aurlands and Nærøy Fjords, both branches of the Sogn Fjord, the longest and deepest fjord in the world. Enjoy the spectacular scenery of cascading waterfalls, sheer mountain cliffs, snow-clad peaks, and a variety of wildlife. After disembarking in Gudvangen at the head of the Nærøy Fjord, continue by coach through the amazing Stalheim

Canyon and Nærøy Valley, across the Vika Mountains to Vangsnes, for the short ferry crossing to the beautiful resort of Balestrand. Dinner and accommodation at Kvikne’s Hotel, superbly located on the banks of the fjord and surrounded by mountains.

Day free in Balestrand, giving you the opportunity to enjoy the outstanding beauty and nature of the fjords. The day starts with a traditional Norwegian buffet breakfast in the hotels elegant dining room. You may want to spend the morning relaxing on the hotel terrace, breathing in the fresh mountain air and enjoying the spectacular views. We can also recommend a visit to the local aquarium and art gallery, or you may prefer to rent a bike or rowing boat from the hotel, or even go on foot up to the nearest mountains. A walking tour of the village of Balestrand, with its historic buildings and other interesting sites can also be arranged. Dinner and accommodation at Kviknes Hotel.

After breakfast departure from your hotel by ferry from Dragsvik to Hella, followed by a scenic tour along the northern side of the Sogn Fjord to Sogndal. The tour continues by road to Fjærland, passing under the Jostedal Glacier, the largest in Europe, to the village of Skei at the northern end of beautiful Lake Jølster. Descend to the

beautiful Nord Fjord, making a detour at Olden to visit the world-famous Briksdal Glacier. The journey up to the glacier will be made in open cars to give you the best of views. Afterwards lunch will be served in sight of the glacier. During the afternoon the tour ontinues via Loen and Stryn, to the picturesque village of Hellesylt. From

here you go on board the ferry for the one hour’s cruise along the spectacular Geiranger Fjord, possibly the most impressive of all the Norwegian fjords. During the cruise you will pass close by some magnificent waterfalls, such as the Bridal Veil and

the Seven Sisters. Dinner and accommodation at the excellent Union Hotel, overlooking the Geiranger Fjord.

From the top of the famous Serpentine Road, you have the opportunity to digest some amazing views of the fjord, before crossing the rugged Grotli Mountains to Lom, well known for its 14th century stave church. The tour continues via Lake Vågå, before descending the magnificent Gudbrands Valley to the popular tourist town of Lillehammer. Lunch in Lillehammer. After lunch the journey continues alongside Lake Mjøsa, Norway’s largest lake, back to Oslo. Dinner at hotel or local restaurant. Accommodation at Radisson Blu Plaza Hotel.

Continue by coach towards the Swedish border, crossing into the attractive province of Värmland to arrive in the city of Karlstad on Lake Vänern, the largest in Sweden. Lunch. After lunch the tour continues through a landscape of forests and sparkling lakes to reach the Swedish capital in the late afternoon. Dinner and accommodation at Stockholm Clarion Sign Hotel, a first class hotel ideally located in the center.

The day starts with a 4 hours guided tour of the city. Famous sights

include the Royal Palace, Parliament Buildings, Cathedral, Royal

Theatre, etc. You will also visit the enchanting Old Town (Gamla

Stan) with its narrow cobbled streets and numerous antique shops.

Highlight of the tour is a visit to City Hall with its impressive Blue andGolden Halls, where the Nobel Prize banquet is held each year.

Afternoon free in Stockholm, with possibility to visit the famous Vasa

Museum or take one of the popular canal tours. Accommodation at

the Clarion Hotel Sign.

Morning free in Stockholm. Afternoon transfer from hotel to pier, for embarkation on a luxurious cruise ferry of the Silja Line. 16.45 hrs: Departure from Stockholm, sailing slowly through the picturesque archipelago past numerous small islands. Dinner on board. Choice of entertainment, bars, shops and casino. Accommodation is in 2-berth outside cabins (seaside) with shower/WC. We recommend you to bring anovernight bag for this cruise, to avoid having to bring suitcases to and from yourcabin.

Enjoy your buffet breakfast as you sail into Helsinki. After disembarkation 3 hours guided tour of Helsinki. Famous sights include the Senate Square, Uspenski Cathedral, Parliament House, Finlandia Hall, Sibelius Park & Monument, Underground Temple, and much more. Afternoon free in Helsinki. Dinner and accommodation at Haven Hotel, a first-class hotel conveniently located in the centre of Helsinki.

Breakfast followed by transfer by coach from hotel to railway station. Departure from Helsinki on train “Allegro” for St. Petersburg. Lunch box on train. Arrival in St.Petersburg. Coach transfer from railway station to hotel combined with 1 hour’s guided boat cruise along the Neva River and visit at St. Isaac’s Cathedral. Welcome dinner incl. shot of vodka and 1 glass wine, and accommodation at

Ambassador Baltic Club Hotel, a four star hotel located in the city centre, near the famous Mariinsky Theatre.

Buffet breakfast at hotel. The day begins with a transfer to Neva River cruise harbour for cruise by hydrofoil to Peterhof, including Grand Palace and lower parks with fountains. Lunch at local restaurant. After lunch, tour of the world-famous Hermitage Art Museum and the State Rooms of the Winter Palace. Return to hotel. Dinner and accommodation at Ambassador Hotel

Buffet breakfast at hotel and transfer to town of Pushkin followed by a visit to

Catherine’s Palace including the famous Amber room. Lunch at local restaurant.

After lunch 3 hours tour of the city by coach with local English-speaking guide. St.

Petersburg is a city of outstanding architectural beauty, famous for its magnificent

palaces, cathedrals, fountains and bridges and the tour includes sights as the Square

of Arts, the Russian Museum, the Cathedral of Our Saviour on the Spilt Blood,

Griboedov canal, Nevsky prospect, the Palace Square with the Winter Palace, the spit

of the Basil’s Island, the Menshikov Palace, the Senate Square, and the Bronze

Horseman. A visit will be paid to Peter & Paul Fortress. This evening you will be taken

to see a colourful Russian folklore show at the Nikolaevsky Palace, with snacks during

the intermission. Dinner at the Dostoevsky Restaurant or similar.

Accommodation at Ambassador Hotel.

This tour of the highlights of Northern Europe ends after breakfast, with transfers to St. Petersburg Airport in connection with your flight home.

Notes