Norway Sweden Finland Russia Tour

Shorter versions of this tour are available.

Please see:

Northern Highlights Tour

Northern Highlights Tour With St. Petersburg

Itinerary

Transfer from Oslo Gardermoen Airport to hotel in

connection with your flight arrival. Dinner at hotel.

After breakfast departure from Oslo, driving via Hønefoss along the charming Halling Valley to the tourist resort town of Geilo. Buffet lunch at Bardøla Mountain Hotel. 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. Short ferry crossing, followed by drive around the Ulvik Fjord, a branch of the Hardanger Fjord, to the picturesque village of Ulvik. Dinner and accommodation at Rica Brakanes Hotel, ideally located on the banks of the fjord.

After buffet breakfast, start of scenic tour along the beautiful Hardanger Fjord, famous for its many fruit orchards, via the towns of Øystese and Norheimsund, arriving in Bergen around midday. Afternoon 2 hours 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 way below.

Departure from Bergen, drive to Voss. Train ride on the Bergen Railway to Myrdal. From Myrdal, Flåm Railway to Flåm. From Flåm, 2 hours’ cruise to Gudvangen. Continuation by coach through the Stalheim Canyon and Nærøy Valley, across the Vika Mountains to Vangsnes, for short ferry crossing to Balestrand. Dinner and accommodation at Kvikne’s Hotel

Day free in 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 hotels 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 interesting sites can also be arranged. Dinner and accommodation at Kviknes Hotel.

Departure from your hotel on a one hour fjord cruise to Fjærland. Continue by coach along the scenic route passing under the Jostedal Glacier, the largest in Europe to the village of Skei. Descend to the beautiful Nord Fjord making a detour at Olden to visit the famous Briksdal Glacier. The journey up to the glacier will be made in open cars to give you the best view. A typical Norwegian lunch is served in sight of the glacier. During the afternoon the tour continues via Loen and Stryn to the picturesque village of Hellesylt. Here you go onboard the ferry for the one hour cruise along the spectacular Geiranger Fjord, possibly the most impressive of all Norwegian fjords. During the cruise you will pass close to some magificent waterfalls such as the Bridal Veil and Seven Sisters. Dinner and accommodation at the famous Union Hotel, overlooking the Geiranger Fjord.

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, Norways largest lake, back to Oslo and Holmenkollen, home of the world-famous ski jump, offering unforgettable views of the city and Oslo fjord way below.

Continue by coach towards the Swedish border, crossing into the attractive province of Värmland to arrive in the city of Karlstad on Lake Vänern, the largest in Sweden. Lunch. After lunch the tour continues through a landscape of forests and sparkling lakes to reach the Swedish capital in the late afternoon. Dinner and accommodation at Stockholm Clarion Sign Hotel, a first class hotel centrally located.

The day starts with a 4 hours guided tour of the city. Famous sights include the Royal Palace, Parliament Buildings, Cathedral, Royal Theater, etc. You will also visit the enchanting Old Town (Gamla Stan) with its narrow cobbled streets and numerous antique shops. Highlight of the tour is a visit to City Hall with its impressive Blue and Golden Halls, where the Nobel Prize banquet is held each year. Afternoon free in Stockholm, with possibility to visit the famous Vasa Museum or take one of the popular canal tours. Accommodation at the Clarion Hotel Sign.

Morning free in Stockholm. Afternoon transfer from hotel to pier, for embarkation on a luxurious cruise ferry of the Silja Line. 17.00 hrs: Departure from Stockholm, sailing slowly through the picturesque 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 you to bring anovernight bag for this cruise, to avoid having to bring suitcases to and from your cabin.

Enjoy your buffet breakfast as you sail into Helsinki. Morning 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. During the afternoon you can explore the busy market place or the many souvenir shops close to the harbour. Finnish crystal and leather goods are an excellent buy.

Early breakfast followed by transfer by coach from hotel to railway station. 10.00 hrs: Departure from Helsinki on the train ’Allegro’ for St. Petersburg. Lunch box on train. 14.36 hrs: Arrival in St. Petersburg. Coach transfer from railway station to hotel combined with a 1 hour guided boat cruise along the Neva River and a visit to St. Isaac’s Cathedral. Welcome dinner incl. shot of vodka and 1 glass wine, and accommodation at Ambassador Hotel, a four star hotel located in the city centre, near the famous Mariinsky Theatre.

Buffet breakfast at hotel. 09.30 hrs: 3 hours panoramic tour of the city by coach with local English-speaking guide. St. Petersburg is a city of outstanding architectural beauty, famous for its magnificent palaces, cathedrals, fountains and bridges. 12.30 hrs: Lunch at the Hermitage Restaurant. 14.00: Tour of the world-famous Hermitage Art Museum and the State Rooms of the Winter Palace. Return to hotel. Dinner and accommodation at Ambassador Hotel.

Buffet breakfast at hotel. 09.30 hrs: Excursion to town of Pushkin including tour of Catherine’s Palace with its famous Amber Room. 12.00 hrs: Lunch at Admiralty Restaurant. After lunch, 1 hour’s guided boatcruise along the Neva River. This evening you will be taken to see a colourful Russian folklore show at the Nikolaevsky Palace, with snacks during the intermission. Dinner at the Backstage Restaurant of the Mariinsky Theatre. Accommodation at Ambassador Hotel.

Buffet breakfast at hotel and checkout from the hotel. Time for leisure. At 11:30am transfer to St. Petersburg railway station for departure at 1.00pm with SAPSAN train to Moscow. Lunch on board. 5:45pm arrival in Moscow followed by coach transfer to

your hotel in the Russian capital. Moscow was founded in the 12th century, built as a wooden fortress on the banks of the Moscow River to keep out barbarian invaders from the east. Today it is a modern city with wide boulevards and green parks, yet proudly preserving its historic monuments and impressive buildings from previous eras. Dinner and accommodation at Hilton Leningradskaya Hotel, centrally

located hotel.

Day

Buffet breakfast at hotel. Morning tour of the Kremlin and Armoury Museum, with local English-speaking guide. This tour lasting approx. 3 hours has to be done on foot as no coaches are allowed inside the area. The Kremlin, which was the home, not only of the Tsars,but also of Lenin and Stalin, is surrounded by 7 metres

thick walls and covers an area of 29 acres. You will pass by the Lenin Mausoleum and the grave of the unknown soldier, where brides still leave their wedding bouquets, to visit one of the impressive Russian Orthodox Cathedrals. This will be followed by a guided tour of the Armoury Museum, containing the largest collection in the world of crown jewels and coronation robes, including the wedding dress of Catherine the Great and the famous189 carat Olov diamond. You will also see the golden horse-drawn carriages of all the Tsars and many other treasures. 1.00pm Lunch at local restaurant. After lunch walk through the Red Square to rejoin your coach for a panoramic city tour, including a visit to Saviour Cathedral. On this tour you will see the amazing golden, blue and green towers of the Orthodox churches, the

Bolshoy Theatre, Gorkij Park (Moscow’s largest entertainments park), the State University of Moscow, and numerous other famous sights. Return by coach to hotel. Dinner and accommodation at Hilton Leningradskaya Hotel.

Buffet breakfast at hotel. Morning tour of the WWII Memorial on Poklonnaya Hill followed by a visit to Novodevichy Convent, a 16th century cluster of sparkling domes, one of the city most beautiful groups of buildings and full of history and treasures. The adjacent Novodevichy Cementery is Moscow most prestigious resting place after Kremlin (entrance). Lunch at local restaurant. After lunch guided tour of the famous Moscow Metro, ending with a walk along the fascinating pedestrian street Arbat, known as the ’Montmartre of Moscow’. Rest of afternoon free for shopping in the GUM department store or exploring Moscow on your own. We can recommend a visit to the Pushkin Museum, famous for its collection of monuments from Ancient Egypt, or the popular Tretiakov Art Gallery. Dinner and accommodation at Hilton

Leningradskaya Hotel.

Buffet breakfast at hotel followed by transfer with assistance to Moscow Airport for your flight home.

Notes