Grand Tour of Scandinavia

Sail the brackish Baltic Sea, cross rolling tundra and glassy fjords on your search for the Midnight Sun, all the while enjoying the local culture, history and pristine scenery

Included Premium Highlights

    * Visit Copenhagen's world-famous Tivoli Gardens
    * Visit the Swedish galleon Vasa, tragically sunk on its maiden voyage in 1628
    * Visit the most northerly point in Europe in search of the Midnight Sun
    * Take in the spectacular scenery of Geirangerfjord on your highlight cruise
    * Visit Oslo's Viking Long Ship Museum, housing three Viking ships from the ninth century

Included Personal Insights

    * Hear from our guest speaker, an interesting insight into the world famous Swedish welfare state & learn about the myths & realities of maintaining these first class benefits
    * Become acquainted with the culture & customs of the Sami people

Included Other Excursions & Sights

    * Admire the opulent interior of Copenhagen's Christiansborg, (Danish Parliament Building)
    * See Copenhagen's Little Mermaid, Stock Exchange, Rosenborg & Amalienborg Palaces
    * Visit the Gold Room in Stockholm's City Hall & see the Royal Palace & Cathedral
    * Visit Helsinki's 'Church in the Rock' & Sibelius Monument & see the Finlandia Hall
    * Ascend the Kuopio Viewing Tower for spectacular views
    * Visit the Cathedral & architect Alvar Aalto's Lapponia House in Rovaniemi
    * Receive an Arctic Circle certificate & visit Lappland's oldest church & a Lapp museum
    * Visit Laksfoss Falls & the village of Hell
    * See Lom's Stave Church
    * See Trondheim's Cathedral - coronation place of Norway's Kings
    * Visit Lillehammer, host of the 1994 Winter Olympics
    * See Akershus Castle, Royal Palace & visit the Vigel& sculptures in Oslo's Frogner Park
    * See Hamlet's Kronborg Castle
    * Visit Kekkonen National Park
    * Scenic Drives - Peer Gynt Valley, Rago National Park & Norwegian Fjordl&

Included First Class Services

    * Escorted by a professional Tour Director
    * Headsets for all guided visits & walking tours
    * Luxury air-conditioned 40 seat coach with extended leg room & on-board restroom
    * Insight Hotels include all service charges, taxes & porterage
    * Insight Traveller document wallet, map book journal & information pack
    * Airport arrival & departure transfers at scheduled times on Day 1 & Day 20
    * Should your flights not coincide with these arrival & departure transfers, please make your own way to/from the airport

Included Quality Dining

    * Highlight Dinner on your overnight cruise to Helsinki (HD)
    * Choose from a selection of restaurants in Helsinki on your Dine-Around evening (DA)
    * 19 Buffet Breakfasts (BB), 10 three-course table d'hôte Dinners, or Buffets, plus tea or coffee (D)
 

Day 1 - COPENHAGEN AT LEISURE

Welcome to Scandinavia! On arrival at Copenhagen Airport, transfers leave for the tour hotel at 10:30, 12:30 & 15:30. Then you are at leisure. Tonight enjoy a Welcome Drink & dinner at the hotel, followed by a visit to the glittering lights & enchanting atmosphere of the world famous Tivoli Gardens.

Hotel: Radisson Blu Scandinavia (D)

Day 2 - COPENHAGEN SIGHTSEEING

You are introduced to Hans Christian Andersen's Little Mermaid gazing wistfully across the harbour, before a highlight visit takes you inside the Christiansborg (the Danish Parliament). See the Rosenborg & Amalienborg Palaces & the Renaissance Stock Exchange. Consider also joining a tour through the Danish countryside. (BB)

Day 3 - COPENHAGEN - STOCKHOLM

Drive to Elsinore to see Hamlet's Kronborg Castle before taking a ferry across to Sweden. Your journey takes you through fertile farmland, & along the shores of Lake Vättern to Stockholm, which is set on 14 beautiful islands.

Hotel: Sc&ic Norra Bantorget (BB)

Day 4 - STOCKHOLM - OVERNIGHT CRUISE

Start the day if you wish with an insight into the Swedish welfare state - learn about the myths & realities of maintaining these first class benefits. Then the charms of Sweden's capital are revealed with your local guide. Visit the City Hall's 'Gold Room', where Nobel Prize banquets are held, the medieval Old Town & see the cathedral. Visit the 17th century Vasa Galleon, one of the greatest attractions of northern Europe, then embark on a Baltic cruise to Finland through the largest archipelago in the world. On board, enjoy a Highlight Dinner. (BB,HD)

Day 5 - HELSINKI SIGHTSEEING

Disembark in Helsinki to visit the astonishing modern 'Church in the Rock'. Also see the Sibelius Monument, Finlandia Hall, the Russian Orthodox church & the lively market. The remainder of the day is at leisure. This evening, choose your own Dine-Around restaurant from a selection in the heart of Helsinki

Hotel: Radisson Blu Plaza (BB,DA)

Day 6 - HELSINKI - KUOPIO

Travel through a land of beautiful lakes & forests today! This afternoon enjoy an ascent of Kuopio's Viewing Tower. The splendid panorama will reveal why Finland is called the land of a thousand lakes

Hotel: Sokos Hotel Kuopio (BB,D)

Day 7 - KUOPIO - ROVANIEMI

On towards the Arctic & into Lapland, the home of the Sami people. Your destination is Rovaniemi, the modern capital of the region

Hotel: Sokos Hotel Vaakuna (BB,D)

Day 8 - ROVANIEMI SIGHTSEEING

Visit the town hall, designed by Aalvar Aalto and the Cathedral. Later, perhaps choose to view the open-air museum & try a traditional Lapp dinner. (BB)

Day 9 - ROVANIEMI - ARCTIC CIRCLE - SARISELKÄE

Visit the Santa Claus Village today where it is Christmas all year round, crossing the Arctic Circle at the same time - & receive a certificate to prove it. Heading for the oldest church in Lapland, you may see herds of reindeer roaming freely along the way. Travel through Europe's last great wilderness to visit the national park near the gold centre of Tankavaara.

Hotel: Holiday Club Saariselka (BB,D)

Day 10 - SARISELKÄ - KARASJOK - NORTH CAPE

Cross the rolling tundra into Norway to stop at Karasjok, the seat of the Sami Parliament & a centre of Lapp culture. Visit a Lapp folk museum and it's then on through unique scenery to the North Cape. Your hotel is in Honningsvag on Mager Island, from where you will journey at night to the northern most point of Europe in search of the Midnight Sun.

Hotel: Rica Honningvag (BB,D)

Day 11 - NORTH CAPE – ALTA

Return to the mainland, travelling through stony, near deserted Finnmark to Alta, situated on one of the world's richest salmon rivers.

Hotel: Rica Hotel Alta (BB,D)

Day 12 - ALTA – NARVIK

Today pass the fjord where the battleship Tirpitz hid out during World War Two. Travel through some of the most stunning northern scenery, past mountains, fjords & fishing villages for a two-night stay in Narvik.

Hotel: Grand Hotel Royal (BB,D)

Day 13 - NARVIK AT LEISURE

A day has been set aside for you to enjoy at your own pace. Perhaps visit the War Museum, or take a superb mountain train into Sweden for the afternoon? (BB)

Day 14 - NARVIK – MOSJOEN

Take a ferry across Tysfjord & pass Rago National Park, its fjords cutting deep into the landscape. Bid farewell to the Arctic before reaching Mosjoen, a pleasant town on the Vefsnfjord, which has the oldest octagonal church in Norway.

Hotel: Fru Haugans (BB,D)

Day 15 - MOSJOEN - TRONDHEIM

Drive through Namdal then watch for salmon leaping upstream to their spawning-grounds at the mighty Laksfoss Falls. Continue via the village of Hell to Trondheim, seat of the ancient Viking Kings, to admire the cathedral.

Hotel: Royal Garden (BB)

Day 16 - TRONDHEIM - GEIRANGER

Cross the Dovre Mountains, which form Norway's oldest National Park. Arrive at the mirror-smooth waters of Geirangerfjord to embark on a spectacular Highlight cruise beneath towering cliffs & cascading waterfalls. Your hotel is in a superb setting overlooking the beautiful Norwegian Fjord landscape

Hotel: Union (BB,D)

Day 17 - GEIRANGER AT LEISURE

A day of relaxation amid the fjords & mountains, a UNESCO World Heritage area. Consider taking an excursion along the amazing Trolls' Road. (BB,D)

Day 18 - GEIRANGER - LOM - LILLEHAMMER - OSLO

Travel via lakes & snow-capped peaks to Lom - home to one of Norway's biggest & most beautiful stave churches. Continue through the countryside of 'Peer Gynt', immortalised by Ibsen, to Oyer to come face to face with the world's largest Troll. After stopping in Lillehammer, host of the 1994 Winter Olympics, it's on to the capital of Oslo.

Hotel: Radisson Blu Scandinavia (BB)

Day 19 - OSLO SIGHTSEEING

A panoramic tour takes in the Akershus Fort guarding the harbour & the Royal Palace & includes a visit to the Viking Long Ship Museum. Visit Frogner Park, housing the unique & controversial sculptures by Gustav Vigeland, before the afternoon at leisure. (BB)

Day 20 - OSLO

After breakfast, departure transfers arrive at Oslo Airport at 07:15 & 10:15. (BB)

Your Insight tour already includes a host of bonus highlights and comprehensive sightseeing. However, there is an exciting array of optional excursions which will turn an already amazing experience into the trip of a lifetime! These are entirely optional and can be booked through your Tour Director/Local Representative at the commencement of your tour. All prices are quoted in local currency. Payment can be made in cash or by Visa, Mastercard or American Express. To help your pre-tour budgeting we suggest you allow approximately EURO 45 per person per day for optional excursions.

CPH02 - NORTH ZEALAND CASTLE TOUR
We drive along the Danish Riviera Road, the scenic coastal road, to the castles of North Zealand. We see Fredensborg, the summer residence of the Royal Family. Then a visit to the 17th century Fredriksborg Castle, magnificently situated on an island, where we see the State Apartments and the Coronation Chapel. En route we also pass through small villages with thatched half-timbered houses. EURO 46

CPH03 - TRADITIONAL DANISH DINNER
Join us for dinner Danish style in the heart of Copenhagen. Two glasses of wine, beer or soft drinks of your choice included with your meal. EURO 63

STO02A - SWEDISH SUMMER DINNER
This evening, try some authentic local cuisine served in traditional surroundings. EURO 57

RVN01 - THE ARCTIC CENTRE & PIONEER FARM
An excursion to show us the conditions of a pioneering farmer in Lapland. We visit a typical 19th century farm, now converted into a museum portraying farm life and traditions. We then continue to the Arctic Centre, which gives us an insight into the past, present and future of Arctic life. This is the first museum in the world that portrays the demanding conditions and the challenge of coping with life in the dark, cold and barren Arctic.EURO 34

RVN02 - DINNER WITH A LAPP FAMILY
Tonight we leave the 20th century behind and visit a Lapp family at their farm situated right on the Arctic Circle. We meet Rudolf and his brothers and learn much about reindeer herding. During the evening we also enjoy a traditional Lapp dinner and a performance of local folk dancing. EURO 63

ALT01 - WILDERNESS RIVER TRIP
This river trip gives you a taste of the Lapland wilderness. The river Alta (Altaelva) is famous for its large salmon, and has carved one of the largest canyons in Europe. We pause during our river trip to enjoy hot coffee and waffles on the banks of the river. EURO 49

ALT02 - ROCK CARVINGS & MUSEUM
Visit Norway's only prehistoric UNESCO World heritage site and see rock carvings that are up to 6000 years old. These etchings depict animals, rituals and scenes from daily stone-age life. The Alta museum has a collection of photographs and objects related to the carvings, as well as information on the Sami culture, the aurora borealis (northern lights) and the region's history during World War II. EURO 33

NRV01 - RAILWAY JOURNEY TO SWEDEN
We take a railway ride on the Ofot Railway, an incredible engineering feat, constructed over 100 years ago to transport supplies of iron ore from Kiruna to Narvik for shipment around the world. The journey offers us incredible views of the surrounding fjords as the train clings to the mountainside. EURO 32

GRN01 - THE TROLL'S ROAD
Our tour of Geiranger includes a scenic drive up the Eagle's Road offering amazing views of the Geiranger Fjord and the stunning Seven Sisters Waterfall and the small village of Eidsdal where we cross the fjord by ferry. From here we climb through the abundant fruit growing valleys and leave civilisation behind as we go above the tree line, seeing some of the most breathtaking scenery before arriving at the Troll's Road, a masterpiece of engineering when it was built over 70 years ago. EURO 43

OSL04 - HOLMENKOLLEN SKI JUMP & OSLO DINNER
Before dinner we will take a scenic drive through the most fashionable residential suburbs of Oslo to the top of the Holmenkollen Hill, site of the worldís first ski jump used for the 1952 Olympic Games. From here we head to a delightful restaurant for our dinner with drinks included. EURO 63

OSL05 - NORWEGIAN FOLKLORE & HERITAGE
Norway's rural past will come to life when we visit a unique 13th century stave church. We also see the collection of beautiful Norwegian National costumes and the rare Lapland Exhibition. Another highlight is a visit to Thor Heyerdahl's extraordinary Kon-Tiki museum. EURO 38