Fjords Denmark Norway Sweden

2010 Departures

June	05
July	03, 17, 31
August	07, 14, 21
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It all begins in the fairytale capital, Copenhagen, then experience the Viking capital, Oslo, before ending in the enchanting and elegant capital of Sweden, Stockholm. Along the way you will be witness to the spectacular mountains and magnificent fjords of Norway, and the fascinating capitals with their cobble-stoned streets, palaces and canals.

It is possible to upgrade to a Fjord View Package where rooms in applicable hotels will have a guaranteed fjord vew. Please inquire.

On the August 7, 2010 departure, accommodations in Geiranger will be at the Union Hotel.

On the August 21, 2010 departure, accommodations in Stockholm will either be in Gripsholm's Vardshus or Grand Hotel Saltsjobaden.

Arrival to Copenhagen, transfer by own means. An information bulletin will be available at the hotel.

Between 9:00 & 10:00 AM, meet your tour escort at the hotel's reception to receive information on today's trip. At 13:30, departure by private coach with your local English-speaking guide for a 3-hour city sightseeing. 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 "Stroget" begins. We pass Tivoli Gardens, dating back to 1843 and onwards past the New Carlsberg Glyptotheque and the National Museum. Next it is the Old Stock Exchange and the Naval Church. Kings New Square is the home of the Royal Danish Theatre with the world famous ballet, we drive through the old canal Nyhavn with its picturesque houses and vessels and continue to see the impressive Gefion Fountain. A photo stop is made by the Royal residence Amalienborg Palace, and finally we stop by the landmark of Copenhagen, the statue of the Little Mermaid, known from Hans Christian Andersen's fairy tale. (The sculpture is on a cultural exchange to China in 2010 so a multimedia presentation is set up at the site. A copy of the Little Mermaid can be seen in Tivoli Garden).During the tour we shall also appreciate the Christiansborg Palace, housing the Danish Parliament and the Rosenborg Castle which houses the Crown jewelry. The tour will end at the hotel.

Morning free at leisure. In the afternoon, transfer to the pier by private coach to embark the Scandinavian Seaways cruise ship. At 17:00, departure to Oslo. Accommodation in outside cabins. Dinner buffet will be served on board.

9:15 AM arrival in Oslo. Disembarkation and departure by private coach. Driving across Honefoss, Nesbyen, surrounded by a landscape which alternates with forests of pines and lakes, we arrive to Hallingdal Valley, very well known in Norway. Just few kilometers away from there, we will find Gol followed by Geilo, a small town surrounded by mountains and very famous for its ski runs. We will drive along the Hardangerfjord. Afterwards, bordering the impressive fjord, we will arrive to Lofthus, one of Edvard Grieg's favorite haunts, and one of the most beautiful points of the fjord. Dinner at your hotel.

Short drive to Kinsarvik to embark a ferry that will carry us to a crossing along the splendid Hardanger fjord, the widest in Norway. After we disembark in Kvandal, we will continue by coach, bordering the fjord, passing by Nordheimsund and crossing forests of birches until we arrive in Bergen, the capital of the fjords, Norway's second city and one of the three university cities in the country. Arrival to Radisson Sas Norge Hotel. Early in the afternoon, meet the English-speaking local guide for a 3-hour city sightseeing during which we will appreciate St. Mary Church, Haakon's Hall, the colorful and picturesque fish market and the Hanseatic Museum. Tour ends at the hotel.

Morning departure from Bergen and travel to the historic town of Voss, with a stunning background of snow clad mountains. Here we board a train which will take us across the mountain plateau to Myrdal where we change to the World famous Flam railway, the highlight of the day. Experience one of the most spectacular rail journeys, descending down from the Mountain station of Myrdal to the quaint fjord village of Flam. Here we have some free time before embarking the afternoon ferry, which will carry us on a breathtaking crossing along the lovely Sognefjord, the longest and deepest fjord in Norway. The coast offers very strong contrasts, sometimes you will experience rocks falling dramatically into the fjord and other times the river turns into a wonderful green. Disembarkation in Balestrand and arrival at your hotel, located on the edge of the stunning fjord.

Depart by coach to Dragsvik, from where we will cross the beautiful Sognefjord once again, before disembarking in Hella. We will then continue driving via Sogndal, through several picturesque villages, forests of birches and crops, until we arrive in Skei, located at the foot of Europe's biggest mainland glacier named "Jostedalsbreen". After a short break we continue our journey to Loen from where we continue to the Briksdal Glacier. Here we travel by small motorized Troll cars to the very snout of the glacier and experience the breathtaking blue ice. We return to Loen and arrive at the hotel late in the afternoon. Here we will spend two nights in the wonderful surroundings of mountains and fjords, and get the most out of this extraordinary part of the world.

On August 8 departure, Hotel Union in Geiranger will be used on day 7 and 8 instead of Alexandra Hotel.

Morning departure by coach, via Hellasylt where we will take the ferry, crossing the dramatic and ever so impressive, UNESCO's World Heritage listed, Geiranger Fjord, situated among lush mountains and wild waterfalls. We disembark in the village of Geiranger where we will have time to admire and be inspired by this beautiful unspoiled landscape. Lunch is included at the stunning 4th generation run Hotel Union, where you enjoy a 3 course lunch with incredible views of the fjord. After lunch we board the coach and travel up to the Dalsnibba viewpoint of Geiranger. This is probably the most fantastic view in the world, at 1,500 meters above sea level. After this we return to Loen and our hotel.

Early morning departure by coach to the capital Oslo. We travel via Lom, where we can admire the oldest wooden church in Norway, which dates from the 12th Century. We will continue, via Otta, leaving the fjords area of Central Norway, which is characterized by mountains and lakes and which is the major attraction in the country. Late in the afternoon we will arrive in Oslo and check-in to our hotel.

After breakfast, meet our local English-speaking guide for a 3-hour city sightseeing tour in the Norwegian capital, beautifully situated by a fjord. We will enjoy a magnificent view of the Oslo Fjord from Holmenkollen Hill, with the famous ski jumps where the Winter Games were held in 1952. Among other highlights, we will visit the Viking Ship Museum, with its three Viking vessels. The Vigeland's 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 as well. The tour ends at the hotel, from where you will be free to explore the Viking capital at your own pace.

Depart by coach to Stockholm, passing through Norwegian and Swedish forests, and through the region of Varmland, the home of many legends. We will continue to Karlstad and Mariefred, where we make a stop to admire the outside of Gripsholm Castle, dating from the 16th Century. During our trip we will see changing landscapes, varying between green forests and crystalline lakes. We arrive in Stockholm late in the afternoon for check-in to the hotel.

Meet our local English-speaking guide and depart by private coach for a 3-hour city sightseeing. The city of Stockholm, built on 14 islands, connected by 57 bridges, embraces the unique character of the 13th century Old Town and modern high-tech architecture. Stockholm's islands are bordered by Lake Malaren in the west and the Baltic Sea in the east where the archipelago with it's 30.000 islands awaits exploration. Renowned for its beauty, Stockholm is also the hub of the Baltic area with easy access to the Nordic capitals and the Baltic countries. The capital is a big city with a small town personality. Its handy size and short walking distances makes it easy to cover a lot in a short time. Stockholm is proudly called Beauty on Water and a sightseeing tour including a walk in the Old Town and inside visits to the City Hall, where the Nobel festivities take place, and the Cathedral makes a memorable morning tour. Discover a city of contrasts. Go back 750 years in time and feel the medieval atmosphere of the Old Town "Gamla Stan" as you wander through the narrow streets. The seven hundred year old cathedral of Stockholm, Seat of the archbishop, will be visited during your stroll in the Old Town, where you will also get a chance to see Stortorget; where the Stockholm Blood Bath took place. An inside visit is paid to the best known of the city's symbols, the City Hall, where the Nobel Banquet takes place in the Blue and Golden Halls. The tour ends at the hotel. The afternoon is at leisure.

Arrangements end after breakfast.