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Nordic Essence

12 Days / 9 locations in Finland, Estonia, Sweden, Denmark, and Norway

STARTING IN HELSINKI, THIS TOUR INCLUDES THE MEDIEVAL BEAUTY OF TALLINN, THE THREE SCANDINAVIAN CAPITALS AND THE FASCINATING AND WILD NATURE OF THE NORWEGIAN FJORDS. ENJOY A COMBINATION OF DIVERSE CULTURE,AND HISTORIC ATTRACTIONS IN THE CAPITALS,AND FEEL THE ESSENCE OF THE NORTH

Itinerary

 
Day 1     Helsinki
Accommodation: Scandic Grand Marina Hotel

Arrival to Helsinki Airport, meet & greet by an English-speaking representative, for Regular. Arrival Transfer Service to the hotel for check-in (Please see notes below for this service). Please consult the welcome letter,which you will receive on check-in to your hotel, and kindly note where and when to meet your tour leader. A short welcome meeting will be held, where you will receive information on the upcoming tour program. The rest of the day is at leisure.

 
Day 2     Helsinki - Tallinn
Accommodation: Park Inn by Radisson Meriton
Meals: Breakfast

Breakfast at the hotel. The day starts with meeting your local guide fora 2-hour panoramic city tour of the capital of Finland, also known as “The Daughter of the Baltic Sea”.The tour includes the Senate Square, the University and Lutheran Cathedral –all displaying neo-classical architecture of the 1840’s, the colourful Market Square, Kaivopuisto Park and diplomatic residences, the imposing statue of Marshall Mannerheim, the Parliament Building, Finlandia Hall, the Orthodox Russian Church Uspenski and the Sibelius Monument. The tour also includes, when possible,a visit to Temppeliaukio Church –called the “Rock Church” as it is carved into solid rock.The visit will end at the pier, where you will board Tallink Silja Line Cruise for an approximate 2-hour crossing to Tallinn.Transfer to the hotel followed by a 2-hour panoramic city tour of the Old Town. A walking tour includes visits to the Toompea Hill with its Castle, Alexander Nevsky Cathedral and the Dome Church. We stop at the Viewer Square (panorama platform). We continue along Lühike Street to the lower part of the city. We walk through this historic area of Tallinn until we reach the City Hall, where the Old Farm and the Church of the Holy Spirit are also located. We continue our tour along Pühavaimu Street approaching the Italian and Latin neighborhood of the city, where there are street markets, studios and craft shops.The visit ends at the hotel. Afternoon and evening is at leisure

 
Day 3     Tallinn - Stockholm
Meals: Breakfast

Breakfast at the hotel. Morning is at leisure.In the afternoon, transfer to the pier by private coach to embark the overnight cruise of the Tallink Silja line in an inside cabin, crossing the Baltic Sea, to Stockholm. Dinner is not included.

 
Day 4     Stockholm
Accommodation: Marriott Courtyard Hotel
Meals: Breakfast

Arrival in Stockholm(Breakfast)Breakfast on board. After disembarking, we meet a local guide and depart by private coach for a 3-hour panoramic city tour of Stockholm, the capital of Sweden. The city of Stockholm, built on 14 islands and connected by 57 bridges, embraces a unique character of 13th century Old Town with modern high-tech architecture. Stockholm's islands are bordered by Lake Mälaren in the west and the Baltic Sea in the east,where the archipelago with its 30.000 islands awaits exploration. The capital is a big city with a small town personality. Its handy size with short walking distances makes it easy to cover a lot in a short amount of time. Stockholm is proudly called “Beauty on Water” and the sightseeing tour, which includes a walk through the Old Town, passing the City Hall where the Nobel festivities take place, makes for a memorable morning tour. Discover a city of contrasts. Go back 750 years in time and feel the medieval atmosphere of Old Town "Gamla Stan" as you wander through narrow streets. You will see the seven hundred year old cathedral of Stockholm, seat of the archbishop,during your stroll through Old Town and get a chance to see Stortorget,where the Stockholm Blood Bath took place.We will also stop at Fjällgatan, where you will be able to enjoy the best view of Stockholm. (No entrances included). The tour ends at the hotel.The afternoon is at leisure.

 
Day 5     Stockholm
Accommodation: Marriott Courtyard Hotel
Meals: Breakfast

Breakfast at the hotel.Day is at leisure to further explore this magnificent city and its treasures.

 
Day 6     Stockholm - Copenhagen
Accommodation: Tivoli Hotel
Meals: Breakfast

Breakfast at the hotel. Early morning departure by long distance coach, which will take us to the enchanting capital of Denmark, Copenhagen. During this trip, we will pass by beautiful Swedish countryside villages until reaching Malmoe, situated by the Swedish coast directly across from the Danish capital. The two cities are connected by one of the longest bridges in the World – the Oresund Bridge. After crossing this impressive bridge, we will continue on to our hotel in Copenhagen.The remainder of the afternoon and evening are at leisure

 
Day 7     Copenhagen
Accommodation: Tivoli Hotel
Meals: Breakfast

Breakfast at the hotel. This morning you will depart by private coach with your local guide for a 3-hour city sightseeing tour. This tour will be the perfect introduction to "Wonderful Copenhagen". We start with a drive towards the City Hall Square where the famous pedestrian street "Strøget" begins. We pass the Tivoli Gardens, dating back to 1843 and onwards past the New Carlsberg Glyptotheque and the National Museum. Next up is the Old Stock Exchange and the Naval Church. We drive past the Kings New Square, the home of the Royal Danish Theatre with the world famous ballet, then through the old canal area, Nyhavn, with its picturesque houses and vessels. We continue on to see the impressive Gefion Fountain and then make a photo stop at the Royal residence, Amalienborg Palace. Finally, we stop by a landmark of Copenhagen, the statue of the Little Mermaid, known from Hans Christian Andersen's fairy tale.During the tour, we will also delight in Christiansborg Palace, housing the Danish Parliament and Rosenborg Castle, which houses the Crown Jewels. (No entrances included). The tour ends at the hotel. The afternoon and evening is at leisure for optional tours

 
Day 8     Copenhagen - Oslo
Accommodation: First Hotel Millenium
Meals: Breakfast

Breakfast at the hotel. Early morning departure by long distance coach, which will take us to the capital of Norway, Oslo. We leave wonderful Copenhagen behind and drive to Elsinore situated in the north of Zealand Island. Here we will embark on a short distance ferry to Helsinborg, in Sweden. After disembarking, we continue along the west coast of Sweden until we reach Norway and Oslo at the end of the afternoon. The evening is at leisure.

 
Day 9     Oslo - Geilo
Accommodation: Bardola Hotell
Meals: Breakfast / Dinner

Breakfast at the hotel. Early in the morning, we meet a local guide and board our private coach for a panoramic city sightseeing tour of theNorwegian capital, beautifully situated by a fjord. We will enjoy the viewfrom the Opera house situated right on the Oslo fjord, where you will spend some time on the outside terrace area before heading off to Bygdoy Island. The Vigeland Park, one of the major Scandinavian cultural treasures, will welcome us with the sculptures of Gustav Vigeland, who dedicated his life to his artistic works. We will also pass by the Royal Palace and the main street, Karl Johan. The tour ends downtown, from where you will have some free time to explore the Viking capital at your own pace. Courtesy transport is available to and from the Viking Ship Museum, for those that are interested in visiting this interesting venue on their own.In the afternoon, we continue our journey across Hoenefoss, Nesbyen, surrounded by a landscape where forests of pines alternate with lakes; we arrive in the beautiful Hallingdal Valley. Just a few kilometres away, we will visit Gol followed by Geilo, a small town surrounded by mountains and famous for its Ski resorts. Arrival at the hotel, followed by check-in. Dinner at the hotel is included.

 
Day 10     Geilo - Bergen - Voss
Accommodation: Fleischer Hotel
Meals: Breakfast / Dinner

Breakfast at the hotel. Early in the morning, we board our private coach in the direction of Brimnes, where we will cross the newly inaugurated Hardanger Bridge to Bruravik. We continue our journey bordering the fjord, passing by Nordheimsund and crossing forests of birches until we arrive inBergen. Here we will make a short visit to the internationally famous fish market of Bergen, where we will have free time for lunch (lunch not included). We continue with the second part of our panoramic visit (1.5-hour), which includes a walking tour through Bryggen (UNESCO World Heritage Site). At the end of the afternoon, we continue in the direction of the mountains and our hotel, located at the foot of a mountain in the heart of the valley. Arrival to the hotel in the evening (approximately 20:00) for check-in, followed by dinner. (Dinner is included).

 
Day 11     Voss - Flam - Oslo
Accommodation: First Hotel Millenium
Meals: Breakfast

Breakfast at the hotel. Early in the morning, we depart from our hotel byprivate coach through the charming village of Gudvangen followed by a tunnel that takes us to Flaam, where there will be a stop. Flaam is located at the bank of the Aurland Fjord, a branch of the Sognefjord, the longest and deepest fjord of Norway. Optional tour: For those who wish to enjoy a journey along the Naeroy Fjord, between Gudvangen and Flaam, we optionally offer the possibility of buying, on site or with preliminary reservation, a ferry trip of approximately 2-hours duration between Gudvangen and Flaam. The passengers not joining the optional tour will have approximately 3 hours of free time in Flaam. In the early afternoon, we leave Flaam through the Laerdal tunnel, the longest in Norway with its 25.5km. We will make a quick stop (exterior stop – no entry) at the Stave Church of Borgund (built in 1100) and continue our journey via Hemsdalen, Gol and Hoenefoss, arriving in Oslo at approximately 20:00.

 
Day 12     Oslo
Meals: Breakfast

Breakfast at the hotel. An English-speaking representative will meet you for the Regular Transfer Service to Oslo Airport.

(Please see notes below for this service)

 

Notes

Please note! Regular Arrival Transfer Services included in the program are only available for transfers from the Airport in Helsinki & to the Airport in Oslo and only on the published official date of beginning & end of the tour. The transfers are escorted by an English-speaking representative and are shared with other fellow passengers; therefore minor waiting time at the airport may occur. This transfer service is not valid for passengers with pre/post nights or passengers who require private transfers –for a supplement, private transfers can be reserved for these passengers

Price Includes
Regular Transfers Helsinki and Oslo Airport
Panoramic City Tours in the Cities of Helsinki, Tallinn, Stockholm,
Visits, Excursions and Entrances As Mentioned in the Program
All Touring by Private Coach, Including All Sightseeing Mentioned in the P
English Speaking Tour Escort from Day 1 to Day 11 Inclusive;
2 Dinners As Mentioned in the Program
Breakfasts, Buffet Style
1 Night on Board of Tallink Silja Line Cruise (Inside Cabin)
10 Nights at Hotels Mentioned in Standard Dbl/Twin Rooms With Private
Price Does Not Include
 Optional Excursions
 Air
 Luggage Servicesat Tall, Hel& Sto Piers
BOR-1269
1.28.15.WP26