Experience the most beautiful journey through Scandinavia, including the Arctic Circle. Start in Stockholm, scene of Stieg Larsson’s Millennium, then enter Denmark and overnight in Copenhagen with its Little Mermaid statue. A peaceful North Sea cruise brings you to Norway for overnight stays in Telemark—with a guided visit of Vemork from the movie The Heroes of Telemark—and in Bergen, one of Norway’s most picturesque cities. A spectacular ride on the Flam train is included before boarding the regular train to Oslo, Norway’s capital. From Oslo, fly to Tromsø, and enter the land of the “Midnight Sun.” Enjoy spectacular ferry rides on the Ullsfjord and Lygenfjord, with breathtaking views of the Lynghen Alps and their glaciers. Explore the North Cape Visitor Center, a sheer cliff rising 1,000 feet from the Atlantic Ocean. Enter Finland, cross the Arctic Circle, and stop at Santa Claus Village to receive your Arctic Circle Certificate. Stay overnight in Rovaniemi, with a chance to join an optional dinner at a Sami home. Via the ski resort of Lahti, arrive in Helsinki, where a special farewell dinner awaits you as a proper farewell to beautiful Scandinavia.
Itinerary:
Day #1 Arrive in Stockholm, Sweden. Welcome to Stockholm! At 6 pm, meet your Tour Director and traveling companions for a welcome dinner at your hotel. (D)
Day #2 Stockholm. Sightseeing with a Local Guide features the Royal Palace, Riddarholm Church, and the blue and gold chambers in the CITY HALL, where the annual Nobel Prize banquet is held. Choose from our exciting optional excursions to make the most of your stay. (B)
Day #3 Stockholm–Copenhagen, Denmark. Enjoy the Swedish countryside during a comfortable drive south via Lake Mälar and Lake Vättern to Helsingborg. Cross by FERRY to Denmark and enjoy views of Hamlet’s Kronborg Castle at Elsinore. Arrive in Copenhagen, proud capital of Denmark. Tonight is your chance to join an optional dinner to try out Danish specialties. (B)
Day #4 Copenhagen. Overnight Cruise to Oslo Harbor, Norway. Sightseeing with a Local Guide features the Church of Our Savior and the Stock Exchange on the way to Christiansborg Palace, where you visit the elegant ROYAL RECEPTION ROOMS. Drive past the National Museum and the Royal Theater, and stop for pictures of Amalienborg Palace and at the LITTLE MERMAID statue. In the late afternoon, board your ship for the overnight NORTH SEA CRUISE to Norway. Dinner will be served on the ship. (B,D)
Day #5 Oslo Harbor–Telemark. After disembarkation, stop to admire the Heddal STAVE CHURCH, the largest of the country’s remaining wooden churches. Via Lake Tinnsjöen—where saboteurs sank a ferry loaded with heavy water, ruining Nazi hopes of winning the race for the atomic bomb—enter the Rjukan Valley. Then, the highlight of the day: a guided visit of VEMORK, scene of the daring sabotage action featured in the movie The Heroes of Telemark. Learn about the dramatic events of 1943 and about the technology of hydroelectric power generation, one of the pillars of Norway’s economy. Continue to rustic, unspoiled Telemark. (B,D)
Day #6 Telemark–Bergen. Drive along Lake Totak to the Hankeli mountains, where polar explorer and Nobel Laureate Fritjof Nansen prepared his polar expedition. Admire thundering Lãtefoss Waterfall and continue via Odda and the orchards along Sorfjorden, whose tranquil splendor was the inspiration for Grieg’s Morning Mood. Cross Hardjangerfjord by FERRY, and arrive in picturesque Bergen. (B)
Day #7 Bergen. During your orientation tour, hear about its 11th-century origins and its association with the Hanseatic League. Stroll through the colorful fish market and the narrow lanes of ancient Bryggen, and ride the funicular up to Mount Fløyen. Exciting optional excursions are available. (B)
Day #8 Bergen–Flam–Oslo. A wonderful day: drive along the shores of beautiful Sognefjord. Continue to Flam, and have free time for lunch. Then, [LF] experience a spectacular ride on the FLAM TRAIN and see the magnificent Kjosfossen Waterfall. At the Myrdal mountain station, change to the regular TRAIN, which takes you through the Hardanger National Park and the beautiful Hallingdalen Valley to Oslo, Norway’s proud capital. (B,D)
Day #9 Oslo. Sightseeing with a Local Guide features the National Theater, Parliament, and the Royal Palace. Highlight visits: FROGNER PARK with Gustav Vigeland’s famous stark sculptures and the ornate CITY HALL. The afternoon is free, with a chance to join an optional excursion to the relics of a glorious seafaring past. (B)
Day #10 Doslo–Tromsø. Board your flight to Tromsø and arrive in the world’s most northern university city, starting point of many great polar explorers. Here, winters can be hard and summers usually surprisingly warm because of the warm gulf currents and the “Midnight Sun.” During your orientation, visit the ARCTIC CATHEDRAL. This evening, a special dinner with wine at a local restaurant has been prepared for you. (B,D)
Day #11 Tromsø–Alta. Leave the capital of northern Norway and continue your journey northwards. [LF] Enjoy FERRY CROSSINGS on the Ullsfjord and Lygenfjord, one of the most spectacular ferry rides because of the breathtaking views of the Lynghen Alps and their glaciers, and arrive in Alta. Tonight you can experience the midnight sun for the first time. (B,D)
Day #12 Alta–North Cape. Orientation features a visit to the spectacular ROCK CARVINGS, one of the UNESCO World Heritage Sites, then continue to Honnigsvåg, the northernmost point of the North Cape. [LF] A unique opportunity: discover the North Cape Visitor Center, a sheer cliff rising 1,000 feet from the Atlantic Ocean. (B,D)
Day #13 North Cape–Karasjok, Finland–Ivalo. A scenic drive across the border into Finland. Stop in Karasjok, seat of the Sami Parliament, before arriving in Ivalo. (B,D)
Day #14 Ivalo–Arctic Circle–Rovaniemi. Cross the Arctic Circle (66°31’N), and stop at SANTA CLAUS VILLAGE, with a chance to see Father Christmas himself. Here you will receive your [LF] Arctic Circle Certificate. Arrive in Rovaniemi, where an orientation features the Town Hall and the Arctic Cathedral. Tonight is your chance to join an optional dinner at a Sami home. (B)
Day #15 Rovaniemi–Oulu–Jyväskylä. A comfortable drive south to the university city of Oulu, where there is time to have lunch before continuing to Jyväskylä. (B,D)
Day #16 Jyväskylä–Lahti–Helsinki. Arrive in the international ski resort of Lahti, with its three enormous ski jumps. Then, continue via Järvenpää, Sibelius hometown, to Helsinki, capital of Finland. Guided sightseeing features the City Hall and the Parliament House, the Presidential Palace, the monumental railroad station, the great LUTHERAN CATHEDRAL, the Olympic Stadium, the SIBELIUS MONUMENT, and Helsinki’s local arts and crafts OPEN-AIR MARKET. (B)
Day #17 Helsinki. A full day at leisure offers the opportunity to join an optional excursion to Tallinn, capital of Estonia, known as one of the “Pearls of the Baltic” countries. Tonight, a special farewell dinner with wine awaits you at one of Helsinki’s fine restaurants to celebrate the success of your Arctic vacation. (B,D)
Day #18 Helsinki. Your vaction ends with breakfast this morning. (B)
