Spectacular Scandinavia and its Fjords - 15 Days

Revel in outstanding Scandinavian scenery as you cruise the glassy fjords and ride the Flam Railway. While in the cities you can soak up all the seafaring history.

Included Premium Highlights

    * Visit Copenhagen's world-famous Tivoli Gardens
    * Visit the Swedish galleon Vasa, tragically sunk on its maiden voyage in 1628
    * Take in the spectacular scenery of Geirangerfjord on your highlight cruise
    * Ride the Flam Railway, Europe's most exciting rail trip, affording spectacular scenery
    * 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
    * A visit to Maihaugen open-air museum to discover a complete recreation of traditional rural society in Norway

Included Other Excursions & Sights

    * Admire the opulent interior of Copenhagen's Christiansborg, (Danish Parliament Building)
    * See Copenhagen's Little Mermaid, Stock Exchange & the Rosenborg & Amalienborg Palaces
    * Visit Hans Christian &ersen's Museum in the old district of Odense
    * Visit the Gold Room in Stockholm's City Hall & see the Royal Palace & Cathedral
    * See the tiny City Hall in the old Viking capital of Sigtuna
    * Visit Uppsala's Gothic Cathedral, for 300 years Sweden's coronation church
    * Visit Nusnas in the beautiful Dalarna region to see wooden horse making
    * Follow Peer Gynt's valley to see the 12C Stave Church in Lom
    * Enjoy a photo stop at the Bøyabreen Glacier
    * Tour Norwegian Fjordl& including a scenic cruise on the Sognefjord
    * See Haakon's Hall & Fish Market in the 'wooden city' of Bergen
    * See the impressive Akershus Castle & Royal Palace in Oslo
    * Visit the controversial Vigel& sculptures in Oslo's Frogner Park
    * Scenic Drives - Peer Gynt valley & Fjordland, Lake Vattern

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 15
    * Should your flights not coincide with these arrival & departure transfers, please make your own way to/from the airport

Included Quality Dining

    * Highlight Dinner in a local restaurant in Frederikshavn (HD)
    * Choose from a selection of restaurants in Bergen on your Dine-Around evening (DA)
    * 14 Buffet Breakfasts (BB) & 5 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, your airport shuttle service leaves for the tour hotel at 10:30, 12:30 & 15:30. Then you are at leisure. Tonight enjoy a Welcome Drink & dinner, 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

Meet Hans Christian Andersen's Little Mermaid gazing wistfully across the harbour this morning, followed by a highlight visit inside the Danish Parliament Building (Christiansborg) to marvel at the opulent interior. See the Rosenborg & Amalienborg Palaces, & the Renaissance Stock Exchange. This afternoon there is free time to enjoy as you wish - perhaps join an optional tour through the Danish countryside? (BB)

Day 3 - COPENHAGEN - ODENSE - FREDERIKSHAVN

Cross from Zealand to the Island of Fyn, to visit the birthplace of Hans Christian Andersen in Odense. Then head to the peninsula of Jutland, known as the 'the mainland of Denmark'. Stay in the port of Frederikshavn, where tonight you enjoy a highlight dinner at a local restaurant.

Hotel: Jutlandia (BB,HD)

Day 4 - FREDERIKSHAVN - STOCKHOLM

Bid farewell to Denmark as you cross the waters of the Kattegat to Gothenburg. Continue through fertile farmland & along the shores of Lake Vattern, to Stockholm, known as 'the city that floats on the water'.

Hotel: Clarion (BB)

Day 5 - STOCKHOLM SIGHTSEEING

Start the day if you wish, with an interesting insight from our guest speaker, into the Swedish welfare state. Learn about the myths & realities of maintaining these first class benefits. Now join a local guide for your sightseeing tour. Visit the City Hall's 'Gold Room' where the Nobel Prize banquets are held. Then continue into the medieval island heart of the city to view the cathedral, walk through the Old Town & see the Royal Palace. Now a highlight visit to the unique Vasa Galleon - a marvellous impression of life on board a 17C naval vessel. (BB)

Day 6 - STOCKHOLM - SIGTUNA - UPPSALA - FALUN

Travel via Lake Mälaren to tiny Sigtuna, once the Viking capital and now boasting Sweden's smallest City Hall. Then to Uppsala, seat of Scandinavia's oldest university. Visit the Cathedral where the Swedish kings were crowned. Later, travel through rural Dalecarlia the old historic mining town of Falun.

Hotel: First Grand (BB,D)

Day 7 - FALUN - NUSNAS - LILLEHAMMER

A scenic drive along the shores of Lake Siljan in the Dalarna region, brings you to Nusnas, to witness colourful wooden horses being made. Continue deep into the forested heart of Sweden. Cross into Norway & pass the Olympic ice skating rink called the 'Viking Ship' at Hamar, on your way to Lillehammer.

Hotel: Rica Victoria (BB)

Day 8 - LILLEHAMMER - MAIHAUGEN - LOM - GEIRANGER

Enjoy a visit to the Maihaugen open-air museum to see old Norway's rural life come alive. Now continue to the Norwegian Fjordland. Enjoy Peer Gynt's valley to Lom with its 12C Stave Church followed by vistas of cascading waterfalls, glistening lakes and snow-capped peaks. Now its on to the remote village of Geiranger, overlooking fjords & soaring mountains.

Hotel: Union (BB,D)

Day 9 - GEIRANGER AT LEISURE

A day for relaxation amidst the most breath taking scenery, which has been granted World Heritage status by UNESCO. Later maybe take an excursion along the Trolls' Road with outstanding photo opportunities. (BB,D)

Day 10 - GEIRANGER - FJORD CRUISE - FJORDLAND

Start with a spectacular cruise on the mirror-smooth waters of Geirangerfjord, with its towering cliffs & cascading waterfalls. Continue to the Bøyabreen Glacier for a photo stop. Then a scenic drive along the Sognefjord brings you to the ferry over to Laerdal at the head of the majestic fjord.

Hotel: Lindstrom/Fretheim (BB,D)

Day 11 - FJORDLAND - FLAM RAILWAY - BERGEN

Magnificent Sognefjord is the world's longest & deepest fjord, & you cruise upon its serene waters today. Now embark on a spectacular scenic journey on the Flam Railway, ascending from sea level to 3,000 feet. Your destination is the historic port of Bergen. Tonight there is a great selection of restaurants to choose from on our Dine-Around evening.

Hotel: Radisson Blu Norge (BB,DA)

Day 12 - BERGEN SIGHTSEEING

The ancient Hanseatic port of Bergen still largely looks to the sea for its living, as evidenced by the colourful fish market, the largest in Sc&inavia. Today is yours to explore all that this exciting town has to offer, such as the 13C Haakon's Hall. Or perhaps you might like to visit the home of composer Edward Grieg before ascending Mount Floyen by the only funicular in Scandinavia? (BB)

Day 13 - BERGEN - OSLO

Bid farewell to 'the wooden city' this morning travel east through the rugged landscape of the Hardangervidda. Cross scenic mountains & travel through ski-resorts on your way to the Norwegian capital of Oslo.

Hotel: Radisson Blu Scandinavia (BB)

Day 14 - OSLO SIGHTSEEING

Your guided sightseeing tour passes the Royal Palace, as well as the spires & ramparts of Akerhus Castle, the 14C fortress guarding the harbour. At Frogner Park view the controversial Vigeland Sculptures, before a highlight visit to the Viking Long Ship Museum. (BB)

Day 15 - OSLO

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

STO02 - SWEDISH SUMMER DINNER + CRUISE
This evening enjoy a half-hour cruise on the largest archipelago in the world and then try some authentic local cuisine served in a peaceful lakeside setting. EURO 63

FAL02 - CARL LARSSON'S FARM
Sweden's world famous painter, Carl Larsson, lived and painted on his beloved farm in the idyllic village of Sundborn. This is a unique opportunity to visit his traditional Swedish country home which he shared with his artistic wife and their many children. EURO 30

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 Trollís Road, a masterpiece of engineering when it was built over 70 years ago. EURO 43

BRG01 - EDWARD GRIEG'S HOME & FUNICULAR
Troldhaugen - the home of Nina and Edvard Grieg is one of the great tourist attractions in Norway. The attractive Swiss-style house was designed by the architect Schack Bull and built in 1884-85. It has been meticulously preserved. Situated in lush surroundings, Trollhaugen lies on a promontory jutting into Lake Nordaas with an outstanding view over the water. To fully appreciate our surroundings we ascend the only funicular railway in Scandinavia to enjoy breathtaking views over Bergen from one of the seven mountains surrounding the city - Mount Floyen. EURO 36

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