This FULLY ESCORTED tour gives you a more extensive insight in to Scandinavian culture and nature as you travel through Denmark, Sweden, Finland and Norway. The tour incorporates overnight cruises, scenic coach tours and a close up look at Norway's spectacular fjords and glaciers. It's a great way to combine the charm and style of the capital cities of Copenhagen, Stockholm, Helsinki and Oslo with the peace and tranquillity of the sea, mountains and countryside.
Holiday price is from £3,895 per person based on availability and two persons sharing a standard double/twin room. Single supplement is £1,070.
2018 Departure Dates:
| Departure |
Return |
23 Jun
|
07 Jul
|
30 Jun
|
14 Jul
|
07 Jul
|
21 Jul
|
14 Jul
|
28 Jul
|
21 Jul
|
04 Aug
|
28 Jul
|
11 Aug
|
.
Enquire now »
Package includes
Flights from London Heathrow to Copenhagen and from Helsinki back to London Heathrow on British Airways or SAS – Scandinavian Airlines (we can arrange flights from other airports upon request).
Airport transfers in Copenhagen and Helsinki
12 nights accommodation including daily 3-course or buffet dinner (except on second evening in Stockholm) and Scandinavian buffet breakfast, in centrally located first class hotels, all rooms with private facilities.
4 lunches on days 5, 9, 10, & 11
Overnight cruise Copenhagen - Oslo, incl. accommodationin 2-berth outside cabin with shower/WC, buffet dinner and breakfast on board.
Entrance to Tivoli Gardens for dinner on day 2
3 hours guided tours of Copenhagen, Oslo & Helsinki, 4 hours Stockholm, incl. all entrances
Panorama tour of Bergen incl. ride on the Bergen Funicular to Mt. Fløien.
Ride on the Flåm Railway, Flåm-Myrdal-Flåm
Approx. 2 hours cruise on Sogn and Nærøy Fjords, and 1 hours cruise on the Geiranger Fjord
Excursion to Briksdal Glacier in open car
All ferry crossings in Norway
Overnight cruise Stockholm - Helsinki, incl. accommodation in 2-berth outside cabin with shower/WC, dinner and buffet breakfast on board
Luggage assistance at all hotels
English speaking tour escort throughout
Transportation by modern deluxe coach
- Flights from London Heathrow to Copenhagen and return from Helsinki with British Airways or Scandinavian Airlines (we can arrange flights from other airports upon request)
- 1 piece of check-in luggage per traveler (up to 23 kg)
- Airport transfers in Copenhagen and Helsinki
- 12 nights' accommodation including daily 3-course or buffet dinner (except on second evening in Copenhagen and second evening in Stockholm) and Scandinavian buffet breakfast, in centrally located first class hotels, all rooms with private facilities
- 5 lunches on days 5, 6, 9, 10, & 11
- Overnight cruise Copenhagen - Oslo, incl. accommodation in 2-berth outside cabin with shower/WC, dinner and buffet breakfast on board
- Entrance to Tivoli Gardens
- 3 hours guided tours of Copenhagen, Oslo & Helsinki, 4 hours of Stockholm, incl. all entrances
- Panorama tour of Bergen incl. ride on the Bergen Funicular to Mt. Fløien
- Ride on the Flåm Railway, Flåm-Myrdal-Flåm
- Approx. 2 hours cruise on Sogn and Nærøy Fjords and 1 hours cruise on the Geiranger Fjord
- Excursion to Briksdal Glacier in open car
- All ferry crossings in Norway
- Overnight cruise Stockholm - Helsinki, incl. accommodation in 2-berth outside cabin with shower/WC, dinner and buffet breakfast on board
- Luggage assistance at all hotels
- English speaking tour escort throughout
- Transportation by modern deluxe coach with reclining seats and seatbelts
- 24 hour emergency service
- ATOL protection
- All taxes
Day 1: Arrival in Copenhagen
Arrive at Copenhagen Kastrup Airport. Transfer to hotel in connection with individual flight arrivals. Dinner and accommodation at Admiral Hotel. Your tour escort will meet you at 19.45 hrs (before dinner) in the hotel lobby.
Day 2: Copenhagen
Buffet breakfast at the hotel and start of 3 hour guided tour of the city. Famous sights include the Royal Amalienborg Palace, Christiansborg Palace (the Danish Parliament Buildings), Gefion Fountain and Nyhavn. The afternoon is free for exploring this fairytale city. Your tour escort will provide you with entrance tickets for the famous Tivoli Gardens. Accommodation at Admiral Hotel. Dinner is not included tonight.
Day 3: Copenhagen - Oslo
Morning free in Copenhagen. Afternoon transfer by coach from hotel to DFDS Seaways terminal for your overnight cruise by ferry to Oslo, departing at 16.30. Enjoy your first Scandinavian smörgåsbord dinner as you cruise gently up the Kattegat. Accommodation in 2-berth outside cabins with shower/WC. We recommend you bring an overnight bag for this cruise, to avoid having to carry large suitcases to and from your cabin.
Day 4: Oslo
A delicious buffet breakfast is served as you cruise along the enchanting Oslo Fjord. Arrive in Oslo at 09.30 hrs, followed by a 3 hour guided tour of the Norwegian capital. You will visit the impressive Vigeland Sculpture Park and many other sights. Afternoon free in Oslo. We can recommend a visit to the Munch Museum or a stroll along the Karl Johan shopping boulevard. Dinner and accommodation at Thon Hotel Opera Oslo, ideally situated close to the Karl Johans Gate and Royal Palace.
Day 5: Oslo - Ulvik
After breakfast, we make a visit to the world-famous Viking Ships before we depart from Oslo, driving via Hønefoss along the charming Halling Valley to the tourist resort town of Geilo. Buffet lunch at local restaurant. After lunch cross the wild Hardanger Mountain Plateau to Fossli, stopping to view the thundering Vøringsfoss Waterfall with a vertical drop of 180 m, the highest in Norway. Descend the amazing Måbødal Canyon to the idyllic Hardanger Fjord. Cross the Hardanger Bridge, followed by a drive along the Ulvik Fjord, a branch of the Hardanger Fjord, to the picturesque village of Ulvik. Dinner and accommodation at Brakanes Hotel, ideally located on the banks of the fjord.
Day 6: Ulvik - Bergen
After a buffet breakfast, we start a scenic tour along the beautiful Hardanger Fjord, famous for its many fruit orchards, via the towns of Øystese and Norheimsund, and arrive in Bergen around midday. Lunch at local restaurant. In the afternoon there is a 2 hour tour of Bergen, including a visit to the popular Fish and Flower Market, the famous Bryggen Harbour with its gabled packhouses, and the old Hanseatic Quarter. You will also ride on the funicular to Mt. Fløien, for the best views of the city and fjords below you. Accommodation at First Hotel Marin, centrally located close to the pedestrian shopping streets.
Day 7: Bergen - Flam - Balestrand
After breakfast, we depart 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 Flåm Railway, a masterpiece of engineering descending 2,838 feet in less than one hour. The descent to the fjord side village of Flåm offers opportunities for photo shots of exciting waterfalls and mountain scenery. After a short rest in Flåm, start a 2 hour cruise by boat along the narrow Aurlands and Nærøy 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 Nærøy Fjord, continue by coach through the amazing Stalheim Canyon and Nærøy Valley, across the Vika Mountains to Vangsnes, for the short ferry crossing to the beautiful resort of Balestrand. Dinner and accommodation in fjord view rooms at Kvikne’s Hotel, superbly located on the banks of the fjord and surrounded by mountains.
Day 8: Balestrand - A Day in the Fjords
The day is free to explore Balestrand, giving you the opportunity to enjoy the outstanding beauty and nature of the fjords. The day starts with a traditional Norwegian buffet breakfast in the hotel’s elegant dining room. You may want to spend the morning relaxing on the hotel terrace, breathing in the fresh mountain air and enjoying the spectacular views. We can also recommend a visit to the local aquarium and art gallery, or you may prefer to rent a bike or rowing boat from the hotel, or even go on foot up to the nearest mountains. A walking tour of the village of Balestrand, with its historic buildings and other noteworthy sites can also be arranged. Dinner and accommodation at Kvikne’s Hotel.
Day 9: Balestrand - Geiranger
After breakfast depart 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 Fjærland, passing under the Jostedal Glacier, the largest in Europe, to the village of Skei at the northern end of beautiful Lake Jølster. 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 cruise along the spectacular Geiranger Fjord, possibly the most impressive of all the Norwegian fjords. During the cruise you will pass 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 10: Geiranger - Oslo
Buffer breakfast at the hotel before leaving Geiranger. From the top of the famous 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 Vågå, 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 Mjøsa, Norway’s largest lake, back to Oslo. Dinner and accommodation at Thon Hotel Opera Oslo.
Day 11: Oslo - Stockholm
After breakfast, we depart from Oslo, continuing by coach towards the Swedish border. Cross into the attractive province of Vãrmland to arrive in the city of Kalrstad on Lake Vänern, the largest in Sweden. Lunch in Karlstad. After lunch the tour continues through a landscape of forests and sparkling lakes before reaching the Swedish capital in the late afternoon. Dinner and accommodation at the Clarion Hotel Sign, a first class, centrally located hotel.
Day 12: Stockholm
Breakfast at the hotel and start with a 4 hour guided tour of the city. Famous sights include the Royal Palace, Parliament Buildings, Cathedral, Royal Theatre, etc. You will also visit the enchanting Old Town (Gamla Stan) with its narrow cobbled streets and numerous antique shops. The highlight of the tour is a visit to City Hall with its famous Blue and Golden Halls, where the Nobel Prize banquet is held each year. The afternoon is free to explore Stockholm, with the possibility of visiting the famous Wasa Museum, or taking one of the popular canal tours. Accommodation at the Clarion Hotel Sign. Please note that dinner today is not included in the program, as our experience shows that whilst in Stockholm guests prefer to eat out at a restaurant of their own choice. Your tour escort will gladly advise and make table reservations for you.
Day 13: Stockholm - Helsinki
Breakfast at the hotel and morning free in Stockholm. Afternoon transfer from hotel to pier, for embarkation on a luxurious cruise ferry of the Silja Line at 17.00. Departure of cruise from Stockholm, sailing slowly down the glorious archipelago past numerous small islands. Dinner on board. Choice of entertainment, bars, shops and casino. Accommodation is in 2-berth outside cabins (seaside) with shower/WC. We recommend bringing an overnight bag for this cruise, to avoid having to carry large suitcases to and from the cabin.
Day 14: Helsinki
Enjoy your buffet breakfast as you sail into Helsinki. After disembarking, there is a 3 hour guided tour of Helsinki. Famous sights include the Senate Square, Uspenski Cathedral, Parliament House, Finlandia Hall, Sibelius Park & Monument, Underground Temple, and much more. Afternoon free in Helsinki. Dinner and accommodation at Haven Hotel, a first-class hotel conveniently located in the centre of Helsinki.
Day 15: Departure from Helsinki
Your grand tour of Scandinavia ends after buffet breakfast at the hotel, with transfer to Helsinki Vantaa Airport to connect with your flight home.
Visas
For your holidays to Norway, Iceland, Sweden, Denmark, Finland, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Slovakia or Ukraine, you will not need a visa if you have a valid passport from any EU country, Australia, Canada, USA, Japan (there are more, so check with us to make sure). Please note that your passport should be valid for at least six months after the date of your return.
However, if you plan to travel to Russia, you will need a visa, which we can help organise for you.
Insurance
Travel insurance is required and also advisable. If you do not have a valid policy, please check our Insurance link on the bottom of our homepage or http://www.baltictravelcompany.com/insurance. We can offer quotes for all nationalities.
Our recommended partner is FS Ball who are authorised and regulated by the Financial Services Authority. If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to contact us.
Language
You will be able to communicate quite well with the locals, as most people in the service industry are quite adept at speaking English. If English doesn't work, then try Russian (if you can), or German. The further you go from the major cities, the less English you will hear. However, do not let the language barrier keep you from exploring the beauty of the country side. We can always arrange English speaking guides to accompany you wherever you wish to go.
The Estonian language is similar to Finnish and is unrelated to Latvian, Lithuanian or Russian. Latvian and Lithuanian are two of the oldest languages, with roots traceable to Sanskrit. This makes them quite challenging to learn, but attempting a few words will put a smile on the local faces. Russians use the Cyrillic alphabet, so reading street signs and tube maps will be a challenge in St Petersburg .
Currency
You can get local currency from ATMs at the airport where you land or in the major cities. Be aware that your bank will charge you a service fee and exchange rate fee for the transaction, but this is likely to be less than exchanging money in the UK before you depart. Please note that in Russia exchange bureau's and banks will not except Scottish bank notes.
We suggest choosing the right credit card for spending abroad. Most credit cards will have an additional cost (about 3%) to the bank exchange rates. You can avoid it by obtaining a specialist overseas card that does not add this % and will give you good exchange rates that are better than money exchange bureau rates.
Credit cards charge you interest rates, but some debit cards (bank account cards) could have fees that could add up to £ 1.50 every time you spend.
We recommend checking with your bank what fees/interest rates will be applied to your card when using it abroad in order to make an educated decision on what card to use.
Most restaurants and shops will take credit/debit cards like Visa and Mastercard, however, many places will not accept AMEX.
Traveller's cheques are difficult to cash, so we recommend not to use them.
Airport or ferry terminals in most cases will have the worst money exchange rates, so if you must get it from the airport, pre-order money for pick-up to get a better rate.
The local currencies are (alphabetic order):
Denmark - Danish Kroner
Estonia - Euro
Finland - Euro
Greenland - Danish Kroner
Iceland - Icelandic Kroner
Latvia - Euro
Lithuania - Euro
Norway - Norwegian Kroner
Poland - Polish Zloty
Russia - Russian Ruble
Sweden - Swedish Kroner
Ukraine - Hryvnia
Restaurants
Dining opportunities are plenty, from ethnic to exotic. We would suggest you to try some national dishes and get a real taste of the region. Note that most traditional dishes contain meat and are fairly heavy, but very tasty.
Reservations in advance are recommended for up-market restaurants, especially for Friday and Saturday evenings.
Tipping - many of the up-market establishments will let you know how good their service is by including it on the bill. Rounding up the bill is usually sufficient, unless you feel your server deserves an extra bit of recognition.
Mobile Phones
There are several mobile operators in each Baltic country, the Nordics ( Norway, Sweden, Denmark and Finland incl. Iceland and Greenland as well as Poland, Ukraine and Russia. If you have an international connection, there shouldn't be any problems with your incoming and outgoing calls.
In case your phone doesn't work, please check in the local mobilephone shops and you can buy Calling cards etc. or ask in your hotel, they should be able to advise you too.
Internet Access
Internet access is available at Internet Cafés, which mostly are located in the central part of the city. Most hotels have internet access.
Postal Services
Stamps are available in the post offices and in most newspaper kiosks. Approximate price for a stamp to European Union countries will vary but between appx. £ 0.30 to £ 0.70. You'll see post boxes on the streets or you can ask hotel representative to send your post card, they'll gladly help you.
Emergency Numbers
Emergency telephone number for the police, ambulance services or fire department in Norway, Iceland, Denmark, Sweden, Finland, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Russia, Ukraine and Poland - 112.
Greenland uses 911 and for mobile phones only 112.