Essence of Scandinavia

Helsinki is known for its creativity and, as such, was awarded the UNESCO “City of Design” title in 2012 —it even has its own Design District and “design tram route” (Line 6). Some notable city landmarks to visit include the Senate Square, the Uspenski Cathedral, the Parliament House, Finlandia Hall, the Opera House and the Sibelius Park. Of course, there are also plenty of great shops, galleries and museums, not to mention some fabulous outdoor food markets for a quick bite.

In the late afternoon, you will board the overnight cruise headed for Stockholm. There’s plenty to do on board besides sleep, with a variety of cafes, restaurant and shops to enjoy. When you do need your rest, spend the night in an outside cabin with a window and ensuite bathroom.

Cruise departure: approx. 17:00

Enjoy breakfast on board the ship as you sail into the gorgeous Stockholm Archipelago—consisting of more than 24,000 islands and islets. After arriving at around 10:00, you will make your way to the hotel and then enjoy some free time. We suggest a walk down the busy Drottninggatan shopping street or through the bohemian neighbourhood of Södermalm, both areas with numerous cafés where you can take part in the Swedish ritual of fika—a relaxing coffee break with a sweet dessert.

At 18:00, we will gather for a friendly and relaxed welcome dinner to meet our fellow travel companions and tour leader and chat about the days ahead.

Spend the night at Nordic C Hotel in Stockholm.

Today we will explore the historical heart of Stockholm, with a local guide showing us city landmarks. Starting with a short bus tour we will see attractions such as the City Hall and Fjällgatan, the panoramic viewpoint of Stockholm, and then we’ll end with a walk through the medieval cobblestone streets of Old Town (Gamla Stan) and a tour of the Royal Palace.

After some time on your own for lunch, we will continue with a ferry ride to the island of Djurgården for a visit to the famous Vasa Ship Museum. Afterwards, the rest of the afternoon is free for your own sightseeing. You may wish to stay on Djurgården—a green oasis within the city—to visit other top attractions like the Abba Museum, the Gröna Lund amusement park or the Skansen open-air museum. Tonight dinner is on your own; the town is full of dining options, and your tour leader will be able to offer suggestions.

Spend another night at Nordic C Hotel in Stockholm.

This is a day full of great scenery as we head to our next Scandinavian destination. After breakfast we’ll head to Stockholm Central Station for a 5-hour and 15 minutes long train journey across the idyllic farmlands and forests of southern Sweden to Copenhagen.

After arriving and setting in at our hotel, a local guide will take us on a walking tour (approx. 3 km) around Copenhagen’s main landmarks. We’ll stroll through the grand courtyard of the Amalienborg Palace, where the Danish Royal Guard stands watch day and night, along with Frederiks Kirke (“The Marble Church”), the star-shaped fortress of Kastellet and the well-known Nyhavn with its colourful, narrow houses lining the canal. After the tour we’ll enjoy dinner together.

Spend the night at Admiral Hotel in Copenhagen.

There’s a lot to explore in Copenhagen! Today we will enjoy a guided tour of the Renaissance-era Rosenborg Castle followed by a walk through the lush Botanical Garden, a lunch stop at the Torvehallerne food market—a favourite among local foodies—and a short boat tour with views of Christiansborg Palace, the Opera House and the colourful Christianshavn canal.

The rest of the afternoon and evening, including dinner, is on your own. Enjoy complimentary entrance to the famous Tivoli Gardens amusement park, a nostalgic atmosphere with games, rides, lights and music.

Spend another night at Admiral Hotel in Copenhagen.

Explore Copenhagen on your own for the first part of the day. If you’re up for some physical activity, walk up the winding staircase of Rundetårn Tower, or for amazing city views climb the 400 stairs to the spiralling steeple of Church of our Saviour in Christianshavn. Art lovers will enjoy the Ny Carlsberg Glyptotek art museum and beer lovers will find something for all tastes at the historic Carlsberg Brewery. Or stroll down the famous “Strøget” for some world-class shopping.

Today you also have the possibility of taking a leisurely stroll along the shoreline to the world famous Little Mermaid statue.

For the next part of our journey, we’ll board the ship to Oslo in the late afternoon and enjoy a traditional Scandinavian dinner buffet on board in the evening. As we sail up the Kattegat Sund to Norway’s capital city, you can take part in the dancing and entertainment on board or just relax and watch the sunset from the deck.

Spend the night on the cruise ship, in an outside cabin with private facilities. 

Enjoy the views of the Oslo Fjord during breakfast as the ship sails into port. After disembarking, we’ll get right to exploring our new destination with a local guide. Among our highlights in Oslo are the beautiful Vigeland Sculpture Park—filled with over 200 metal and stone artworks, the Royal Palace and the Opera House, a marvel of modern Scandinavian architecture. And as skiing is a big part of Norwegian life, you’ll also see the Holmenkollen ski jump, which—at 417 metres above sea level, is enough to give anyone goose bumps.

Tonight, enjoy the city and dining at your leisure.

Spend the night at Comfort Hotel Grand Central in Oslo.

Today we will get an early start and head to Oslo Central Station to start our Norway in a Nutshell® railway journey towards Bergen. This train ride, voted one of the 20 best in the world, takes us over Norway’s “mountainous rooftop” and through charming villages like Gol and Geilo. In Myrdal, we will switch trains to the Flåm Railway for an incredible 20 km ride with a 900-metre descent to the beautiful village of Flåm.

In the village you’ll have free admission to the Flåm Railway Documentation Centre, located right beside Flåm Station, where you can learn about the construction of the world’s steepest railway line. Then in the evening we will enjoy dinner together at the hotel restaurant.

Spend the night at Fretheim Hotel in Flåm.

Departure – June 06, July 04, July 18 & August 15
Departure from Oslo: approx. 08:05*
Arrival to Flåm: approx. 14:25*

Departure – June 27 & August 01
Departure from Oslo: approx. 12:03*
Arrival to Flåm: approx. 16:48*

* Times may differ slightly between different departures

NOTE: For added comfort, our luggage will be picked up in Oslo and will be waiting for us on arrival in Bergen. Remember to pack an overnight bag for your night in Flåm.

Until afternoon you are free to explore Flåm how you wish, perhaps with some optional activities. Then we’ll re-group and continue our journey, this time by boat. From the village we will take a boat tour in Aurlandsfjord and the World Heritage-listed Nærøyfjord, the narrowest fjord in Europe. This is perhaps the most beautiful and wildest arm of the Sognefjord, with its tall mountains, mighty waterfalls and small farms clinging to the steep mountainsides.

On arrival at the pier in Gudvangen, we’ll switch to a coach bus for a thrilling ride around the 13 hairpin bends of Stalheimskleiva, Northern Europe’s steepest stretch of road. After a brief pause to enjoy the view from Stalheim Hotel, we will continue to Voss, we will take the train for the last stretch of the journey to Bergen.

Spend the night at Hotel No 13 in central Bergen.

Departure from Flåm: approx. 15:10*

Arrival to Bergen: approx. 20:34*

* Times may differ slightly between different departures

Despite being Norway’s second largest city, Bergen—The Capital of the Fjords—still has the charm of a small town. We’ll experience many charms first-hand as a local guide leads us on a walking tour around Bryggen, the medieval part of the city listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. We will then take the cable-cars up to a mountain for stunning panoramic views over the city.

The afternoon is at your leisure, and then this evening we’ll enjoy one last dinner all together at a nice local restaurant, a great chance to compare notes on our favourite moments from our Scandinavian adventures.

Spend the night at Hotel No 13 in central Bergen.