2024 Splendours of Scandinavia

Day 1 / Mon 3 June 2024 START COPENHAGEN

Welcome to Denmark!

We start our Scandinavian trip with a Welcome Drink and quick info session before our lovely Canal and Harbour Cruise. Afterwards we visit the famed Tivoli Gardens fun-park for an included highlight dinner in their oldest restaurant and get to know your fellow travelling companions. Built in the mid 1800’s with it’s beautiful lights and buildings set amidst all the fun of the fair.  (HD)

ACCOMMODATION: Copenhagen 2 Nights – The Square Copenhagen

Day 2 / Tues 4 June 2024 COPENHAGEN

We begin our sightseeing tour with a visit to the Christiansborg (the Danish Parliament Building) to marvel at it’s opulent interior. Then past the Cathedral and University to see the Rosenborg Palace, Stock Exchange and Amalienborg Palace and, of course Hans Christian Andersen’s ‘Little Mermaid’ gazing across the harbour. Free time for lunch in beautiful “Nyhaven” or along the “Strøget” walking street. Tonight, a highlight traditional “Danish Christmas” Dinner in the middle of town in a cosy local restaurant.  (BB,HD)

Day 3 /  Wed 5 June 2024 – COPENHAGEN to BERGEN

Departing our hotel with local guide we head north to see the home of Queen Margrethe II, Fredensborg Palace, followed by a visit to the mighty Fredriksborg Castle. Following the Danish Riviera we see the beautiful and traditional thatched Danish homes along the coastline before continuing to the airport for our flight to pretty Bergen on the west coast. Tonight, an included highlight dinner in the heart of the old Bryggen wharf area.   (BB,HD)

ACCOMMODATION: Bergen 2 nights – First Hotel Marin, Bergen (Superior rooms)

Day 4 / Thurs 6 June 2024 BERGEN

With a local expert guide, we take a walking tour of beautiful UNESCO-listed “Bryggen” by our hotel before a city driving tour and then visit to the lovely home of Norway’s most famous composer, Edvard Grieg. Then an exciting journey up Bergen’s “Fløibanen” funicular for stunning views over the city. This afternoon and evening at leisure to explore the picturesque port area and wonderful seafood markets of Bergen.         (BB)

Day 5 /  Fri 7 June 2024  BERGEN to FJORDLAND

Departing the coast, we join a local train and slowly climb to the scenic mountains at Myrdal. There we board the famed Flåm mountain train with majestic views of valleys and waterfalls as we descend to the pretty fjord village of Flåm itself. Free time for lunch before a fjord cruise to witness the natural beauty of the UNESCO listed Sognefjord, considered one of the most beautiful in the world. Travelling the world’s longest road tunnel, the 24km Lærdal-tunnel we make a quick photo stop at Norway’s best preserved Stave Church in Borgund to arrive in the quaint wooden village of Lærdal. (BB,BD)

Day 6 /  Sat 8 June 2024 – FJORDLAND to ALESUND

A short drive brings us to the fascinating new Glacier Museum with its spectacular panorama film and interactive exhibits. Nearby we arrive at the impressive Bøyabreen glacier for our lunch stop. Continuing on we travel alongside fjords and mountain to reach the picturesque coastal town of Ålesund, voted “Norway’s Most Beautiful City” for a relaxing two-night stay. (BB,BD)

ACCOMMODATION: 2 Nights Alesund – Thon Hotel Alesund (Superior rooms)

Day 7 /  Sun 9 June 2024 – ALESUND

Firstly, a walking orientation tour of this impossibly picturesque coastal city including entry to the Art Nouveau Museum. We then travel under and over-sea via tunnels and bridges to visit the pretty Alnes Lighthouse from 1876 on the remote island of Godøy. The lighthouse is protected, and a relic of Norwegian coastal culture and affords striking views of the coastline and ocean. Upon return the rest of the afternoon and evening is at leisure to explore this stunning city.  (BB)

Day 8 /  Mon 10 June 2024 – ALESUND to GEIRANGER

Leaving Ålesund, today we visit one of Norway’s most famous and spectacular sights, “The Troll’s Road”. Crossing fjords and climbing valleys to above the tree line we reach the top of “Trollstigen”. Time for views over the many hairpin bends of this remarkable road before we take the breathtaking journey down and up again. Shop and lunch at the visitor center before continuing back down the valley and across a fjord as we ascend to The Eagles Rd, high above Geiranger with breathtaking views of the Geirangerfjord. Descending into World Heritage Listed Geiranger we settle into our 4-star hotel above the fjord for our relaxing 2-night stay.     (BB,BD)

ACCOMMODATION: Geiranger 2 nights – Hotel Union Geiranger (Fjord view rooms)

Day 9 /  Tues 11 June 2024 GEIRANGER

This morning a spectacular fjord cruise seeing the stunning waterfalls and cliffs of this famed UNESCO area. Afterwards we take a fascinating and adventurous trip way up into the mountains to visit a secluded 300 yo working goat farm nestled away in a high alpine valley.    (BB,BD)

Day 10 /  Wed 12 June 2024 GEIRANGER – LILLEHAMMER

Today we ascend out of Geiranger until reaching the hair-pinned road that climbs up to renowned Dalsnibba Peak at 1,500m with breathtaking 360˚ views of the Geirangerfjord and region. We then follow lakes, rivers and forests to the pretty town of Lom. We stop to see their 800-year-old Stave Church before continuing along the scenic “Peer Gynt” Valley, finally arriving in Lillehammer, site of the 1994 Winter Olympics where we take a breathtaking ride up the chairlift beside its Olympic ski jumps. This evening at leisure to explore the delightful wooden city of Lillehammer.       (BB)

Day 11 / Thurs 13 June 2024 – LILLEHAMMER to FALUN

Farewelling Norway we enter Sweden and follow the route of their most famous ski-race, the Vasaloppet. Reaching the “Dala” region famous for their painted wooden toy horses, we visit a Dala horse factory and learn about this old Swedish tradition. Our hotel tonight is in Falun, famed for its copper mine that produces the paint for the traditional red houses of Sweden.    (BB,BD)

ACCOMMODATION: tba

Day 12 / Fri 14 June 2024 – FALUN to STOCKHOLM

Travelling through Dalecarlia, this morning we stop to view Sweden’s largest Dala horse before continuing to the historic city of Uppsala, seat of Scandinavia’s oldest university, for our lunch break. Visit the lofty Cathedral where the Swedish kings were once crowned. We then travel via Lake Mälaren to tiny, quaint Sigtuna, once the Viking capital and now boasting Sweden’s smallest City Hall. A short drive to our central Stockholm hotel before a unique “Viking Dinner” in the beautiful Old Town.   (BB,HD)

Day 13 / Sat 15 June 2024 – STOCKHOLM

This morning with a local guide we visit the imposing City Hall with its Golden Room where the annual Nobel Prize presentation gala banquet takes place. Then cross into the medieval heart of the city to see the Cathedral and the Royal Palace plus the changing of the Royal Guard Parade. The rest of your day and evening is at leisure to explore the pretty “Gamla Stan”, the old town and shopping streets. (BB)

Day 14 / Sun 16 June 2024 – STOCKHOLM and OVERNIGHT CRUISE

Today we visit the Museum housing the incredible Vasa Galleon, which sunk on its maiden voyage in the 1600’s and not rediscovered in the archipelago until the 20th C. You then have a choice to visit either the delightful “Skansen” zoo and open-air museum or ABBA Museum. Moose, wolves and other typical Scandinavian animals as well as traditional Swedish cultural life. Later that afternoon we board our overnight cruise-ship to Helsinki. Departing in the late afternoon, we cruise out of the world’s most beautiful archipelago on our beautiful cruise ship. Those on the 14-day trip, sadly, your holiday ends as the group departs for Finland. Bon Voyage!  (BB)

ACCOMMODATION: Silja Line Cruise – A-Class Outside Cabins

Day 15 /  Mon 17 June 2024 – ARRIVE HELSINKI

A morning arrival into Finland’s capitol, Helsinki. Straight into a city tour with local expert guide to see this pretty city. This afternoon free-time to explore the city-centre and nearby markets around our central hotel whilst on our Scandinavia tour 2024.   (BB,BD)

Day 16 / Tues 18 June 2024 – TALLINN DAY-TRIP

Today we catch the 2hr fast-ferry across the Baltic to visit beautiful Tallinn, capitol of Estonia. Driving and walking tours of this beautifully preserved old city with local guide and free-time to explore. Tallinn is renowned as being the best-preserved Medieval City in Europe and is one of the most beautiful cities we see on our tour of Scandinavia in 2024!   (BB)

Day 17 / Wed 19 June 2024 HELSINKI to ROVANIEMI

This morning we fly north to Rovaniemi located right on the Arctic Circle! An orientation tour and visit to the Arktikum center with it’s fascinating displays about life at and above the Arctic Circle. Afterwards, we get up-close-and-personal with some reindeer at a local reindeer farm before an included dinner in our central hotel.               (BB,BD)

ACCOMMODATION: Rovaniemi 1 Night – Scandic Rovaniemi (Superior rooms)

Day 18 / Thurs 20 June 2024 – ROVANIEMI to IVALO

A relaxed morning as we take a visit to see Santa at his “home” in Rovaniemi’s Santa Park before heading northward through lovely Finnish countryside. We pass by the Kekkonen National Park and take in stunning views over the region from the lookout at Kaunispää by Saariselkä ski resort. Tonight a relaxed evening in Ivalo. (BB,BD)

Day 19 / Fri 21 June 2024 – IVALO to HONNINGSVAG

Heading past Inari we cross the border into Norway! We stop in Karasjok, home to the Sami Parliament of Norway and here we have a guided tour of the Sami Museum. Continuing northwards along the spectacular coastal drive up to pretty Honningsvåg for a two-night stay. After dinner we visit the fascinating Nordkapp Visitor Center set upon it’s 300m cliff-top, the most northern point in Europe on our Scandinavia tour in 2024!                    (BB,BD)

Day 20 /  Sat 22 June 2024 – HONNINGSVAG

Today we take an adventurous boat trip out on an Arctic Circle Safari-Cruise to see the wondrous variety of birds and animal life that exist in these northernmost reaches. Puffins, eagles, gannets, kittiwakes and many other species living and nesting in the spectacular and remote Gjesværstappen islands by Gjesvær village. One of the main highlights of our tour through Scandinavia in 2024. (BB)

Day 21 / Sun 23 June 2024 – HONNINGSVAG to ALTA

Today we make the scenic journey southwards until reaching the small northern city of Alta. Firstly, a fun visit to a working husky sled-dog center to learn about this traditional form of transportation and to meet these friendly and exciting dogs! An included light lunch in their renowned cosy restaurant before we take the short drive to famed Sorrisniva Wilderness resort for an exhilarating 30minute boat ride on the Alta River, famed for its salmon fishing. Sorrisniva is the location of the world’s northernmost and largest ice-hotel built thee every winter out of ice and snow. for a lunch and information about this remote part of Norway. New since 2022, once again we’ll be staying in their stunning new river-side Wilderness Lodge overnight.  This evening a highlight visit and dinner with local Sami in their “lavvu” (Sami tent)!  (BB,L,HD)

ACCOMMODATION: Alta 1 Night – NEW Sorrisniva Wilderness Lodge

Day 22 / Mon 24 June 2024 – ALTA to OSLO

A relaxing late check-out gives us time to explore and relax around their beautiful Norwegian wilderness by the mighty Alta River. We make a stop in the city of Alta to visit the striking Northern Lights Cathedral with it’s modern Titanium clad exterior. Afterwards our flight south to Oslo and upon arrival, a city tour and visit to Frogner park with it’s fascinating Vigeland Sculptures. The evening is free to explore this pretty capitol from our top Oslo central hotel!                                            (BB)

Day 23 / Tues 25 June 2024 – OSLO

Firstly, we visit the amazing and unique Viking Ship Museum with local expert guide. Then a sightseeing tour that takes us to the impressive “Fram” Icebreaker and Polar Explorations Museum as well as a visit to the fascinating Kon-tiki Museum to see Thor Heyerdahl’s balsa raft from his 1940’s Pacific trip. Tonight a trip to the incredible Holmenkollen ski jump and dinner with views over the Oslofjord. Time to recount all the adventures of the last 23 days on our last evening of the trip!     (BB,HD)

Day 24 / Wed 26 June 2024 – END  OSLO

Our wonderful “Splendours of Scandinavia” small group tour through Scandinavia 2024 finishes after breakfast. Enjoy further time in Oslo or continue your holiday onto your next destination. Thanks for travelling with us and all the best with your onwards journeys!  (BB)