Itinerary:
Day 1 USA - Helsinki - Copenhagen
Board our flight bound for Helsinki, our entry point into Copenhagen.
Day 2 Helsinki (Finland) - Copenhagen (Denmark¡^
Morning arrival in Helsinki. Immediately take a connecting flight for Copenhagen. Upon arrival, we are taken to lunch then transferred to hotel. This evening you may visit the Tivoli Garden, the oldest amusement park in Europe, on your own. (L)
Day 3 Copenhagen - Cruise - Oslo (Norway¡^
Our half-day panoramic sightseeing tour takes us to the symbol of the city - the Little Mermaid in Hans C. Andersen's fairy tale, the Stock Exchange, the City Hall, and a photo-stop at Amalienborg Palace. Today¡¦s highlight is a visit to Rosenborg Palace, where you will find the three famous silver lions guarding the royal throne. In the afternoon, we board our luxurious ferry for Oslo. Tonight, enjoy a spectacular Scandinavian buffet dinner. (B, D)
Day 4 Oslo
After a typical Scandinavian buffet breakfast, we disembark in Oslo. Our city tour takes us to the Viking Ship Museum for an orientation to the awesome technical skills the Vikings displayed in constructing their seafaring ships, and to the Vigeland Sculpture Park, where granite and bronze sculptures portray joy and sorrow, life and death. Later, a scenic drive leads us to Holmenkollen Ski Jump for a panoramic view of the city and the Oslo Fjord. This afternoon is free at leisure. (B, D)
Day 5 Oslo - Fjord Train - Bergen
Board the famous and luxury scenic train from Oslo to Bergen. It is one of the most unforgettable and comfortable train ride in the world. The train passes snow-capped mountains, tumbling waterfalls, tranquil lakes and lovely villages. We arrive in Bergen in the late afternoon. (B, D)
Day 6 Bergen - Gudvangen - Fjord Cruise - Laerdal
Bergen is Norway¡¦s second largest city and principal port on the west coast. Our half-day tour visits the harbourside Bryggen, where once stood the houses of the German merchants and later, after many devastating fires, gradually replaced by stone warehouses. Nearby is the outdoor Fish Market where you may sample the freshly cooked shrimps, lobsters, and giant crabs. After lunch, travel to Gudvangen for a cruise along the Sognefjord, the longest and deepest fjord in Norway. We overnight in Laerdal, a town well known for its carved wooden houses. (B,D)
Day 7 Laerdal - Oslo
Today, we travel back to Oslo by land. Along the Laerdal River, the remnants of an ancient trail are still visible, part of it hanging precariously to the rocky mountainside just above the fast flowing river. We make a quick stop at a wooden stave churches. This one, dating back to the 12th century, is the best preserved in the country. (B, D)
Day 8 Oslo - Stockholm (Sweden)
We travel in our comfortable coach to the second largest city in Scandinavia - Stockholm, Sweden. Along the way we pass through some of the loveliest countryside: rolling green pasture lands, dense forests, charming lakes. (B, D)
Day 9 Stockholm
Our half-day city tour gives us a in depth introduction to this perhaps the most beautiful of all Scandinavian capitals. The visit to Vasa Museum takes us back in time to an era when Sweden was the dominant maritime power of Northern Europe; the Vasa Ship, raised from the bottom of the sea after more than 400 years, is a testament to that power. Later, we visit the stunning City Hall and its fabulous golden mosaics. It is where the Nobel Prize Banquet is held after the ceremony. (B, D)
Day 10 Stockholm - Cruise - Helsinki (Finland)
This morning, our drive takes us to the outskirts of Stockholm for a visit to the elegant Drottningholm Palace. This is once upon a time the royal residence, and part of it is still used by the royal family. In the afternoon, board our overnight ferry for Helsinki, the beautiful city by the Baltic Sea. After a splendid Scandinavian buffet dinner, plenty of time to enjoy the many facilities on board: duty free shopping, cinema, sauna, etc. (B, D)
Day 11 Helsinki
Early morning arrival in Helsinki, our sightseeing tour features the imaginative monument to the Finnish Composer Jean Sibelius, the Tapiola Garden City, Russian Uspensky Cathedral, Olympic Stadium, Senate Square, Lutheran Church, Market Square, Parliament Building, and the Rock Church. (B, D)
Day 12 Helsinki - USA
Morning is free at leisure. Perhaps some last minute shopping or strolling around town before our homebound flight. (B)
