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Northern Highlights

Depart:
Escorted Tour-Land Only

12 Days/11 Nights

2019 Departures

June 11, 18 and 25
July 2, 9, 16, 23 and 30
Price per Person:

In a double room $3999
Single supplement $1039

Package Includes:

10 nights first class hotel accommodation with private facilities.
Overnight cruise Stockholm-Helsinki in a 2 berth outside cabin with private facilities.
Buffet breakfast daily
9 dinners-drinks not included
5 lunches-drinks not included
Luggage handling at hotels (1 piece per person except on ship)
Round trip airport transfers on scheduled days
English speaking tour escort
Deluxe coach transportation
Sightseeing and entrance fees as per itinerary.
Hotel taxes and service charges.

Itinerary

Day 1 Arrive Oslo
Upon arrival in Oslo you will be met and transferred to your hotel. Remainder of the day is at leisure to relax or begin your visit to the Norwegian Capital. Dinner and overnight Hotel Radisson Blu Plaza.

Day 2 Oslo-Geilo-Ulvik
After breakfast you will visit the world-famous Viking Ships. Afterwards departure from Oslo, driving via Honefoss along the charming Halling Valley to the tourist resort town of Geilo. Lunch will be served at a local restaurant. After lunch cross the wild Hardanger Mountain Plateau to Fossli, stopping to view the thundering Voringsfoss Waterfall with a vertical drop of 180 m. Descend the amazing Mabodal Canyon to the idyllic Hardanger Fjord. Cross the Hardanger Bridge and on to Ulvik. Dinner and overnight at the Hotel Brakanes, ideally located on the banks of the fjord. Fjord view room.

Day 3 Ulvik-Bergen
After breakfast, start a scenic tour along the beautiful Hardanger Fjord, famous for its many fruit orchards. Travel via the towns of Oystese and Norheimsund, arriving to Bergen around midday. Lunch at a local restaurant. This afternoon enjoy a 2 hour tour of Bergen, including a visit to the popular Fish and Flower Market, the famous Bryggen Harbor with its gabled pack houses, and the old Hanseatic Quarter. You will also ride on the funicular to Mt. Floien, for the best views of the city and the fjords below. Overnight at the First Hotel Marin, centrally located next to the old Bryggen harbor and close to the pedestrian shopping streets.

Day 4 Bergen-Flam-FlamRailway-Balestrand
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 Flam Railway, a masterpiece of engineering descending 2,838 feet in less than one hour. The descent to the fjord side village of Flam offers opportunities for photo shots of exciting waterfalls and mountain scenery. After a short rest in Flam, begin a 2 hour cruise along the narrow Aurlands and Naeroy 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 Naeroy Fjord, continue by coach through the amazing Stalheim Canyon and Naeroy 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. Fjord view room.

Day 5 Balestrand
After breakfast full day at leisure in this beautiful setting. We suggest a visit to the aquarium, art gallery or shop for handicrafts. Dinner and overnight Hotel Kvikne’s. Fjord view room.

Day 6 Balestrand-Geiranger
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 Fjaerland, passing under the Jostedal Glacier, the largest in Europe, to the village of Skei at the northern end of beautiful Lake Jolster. Descend to the 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 views. Lunch will be served in a nearby mountain restaurant facing the glacier. After lunch the tour continues around the Nord Fjord 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

Day 7 Geiranger-Lillehammer-Oslo
From the top of the 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 Vaga, before descending the magnificent Gudbrands Valley to the popular tourist town of Lillehammer. Stop for lunch in Lillehammer. After lunch the journey continues alongside Lake Mjosa, Norway’s largest lake, back to Oslo. Dinner and overnight at the Hotel Radisson Blu Plaza.

Day 8 Oslo-Karlstad-Stockholm
After breakfast departure from Oslo, continuing by coach towards the Swedish border. Cross into the attractive Swedish province of Varmland to arrive in the city of Karlstad on Lake Vanern, the largest in Sweden. Lunch in Karlstad. After lunch the tour continues through a landscape of forests and sparkling lakes to reach the Swedish capital in the late afternoon. Dinner and overnight Hotel Clarion Sign.

Day 9 Stockholm
Morning city tour to include, the Royal Palace, Parliament Buildings, Cathedral and the Royal Theater. You will also visit the charming Old Town (Gamla Stan) with its narrow cobbled streets and quaint shops. Highlight of the tour is an inside visit to the City Hall with its impressive Blue and Gold Halls, where the Nobel Prize banquet is held each year. Afternoon at leisure to shop or visit one of the city’s many wonderful museums. Overnight Clarion Sign Hotel.

Day 10 Stockholm-Overnight Cruise to Helsinki
Morning at leisure in Stockholm. Afternoon coach transfer to the pier, for embarkation on your Silja Line ship to Helsinki. Sail slowly down the picturesque archipelago past numerous small islands. Dinner on board. Overnight 2 berth outside cabin. We suggest you take carry on bags to the cabin as luggage assistance is not available. Large cases will be stored on the ship.

Day 11 Helsinki
Buffet breakfast on board. Upon arrival in Helsinki enjoy a city tour of the cosmopolitan Finnish capital. See the famous Senate Square, Uspenski Cathedral, Parliament House, Finlandia Hall, Sibelius Park and Monument and the Underground Temple. Afternoon at leisure to explore the Market place or shop for famous Finnish design products. Dinner and overnight Haven Hotel.

Day 12 Helsinki-End of Tour
After breakfast transfer to the airport or continue on one of our extension tours. You may also extend your stay in Helsinki or continue to the Baltic States or Russia.

Additional nights in Oslo and Helsinki available.
Combine this tour with our St Petersburg or Moscow and St. Petersburg extensions.




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