Grand Scandinavia - with St. Petersburg
18 days/17 nights: Copenhagen - St. Petersburg  2008 Departure Dates and Prices: July 1, 15, 29
| $6,195 per person double | | For dates above | $2,175 supplement | Early booking discount $75.00 per person if paid by Feb 29, 2008 | | | | |
Day 1: Arrive Copenhagen Arrive Copenhagen Airport and transfer to hotel. Dinner and overnight at Radisson SAS Scandinavia Hotel.
Day 2: Copenhagen The day starts with a 3-hour guided tour of the city. Famous sights include the Royal Amalienborg Palace, the Christiansborg Palace, the Gefion Fountain, Nyhavn, and of the Little Mermaid. Spend the afternoon free and explore this fairytale city. Dinner at the Tivoli Gardens. Overnight at the Radisson SAS Scandinavia Hotel.
Day 3: Copenhagen - Oslo Morning free in Copenhagen for shopping and sightseeing. Afternoon transfer by coach to DFDS Seaways terminal for an overnight cruise to Oslo, departing at 5:00 p.m. Enjoy your first Scandinavian smörgåsbord dinner as you cruise up the Kattegat. Overnight in 2-berth outside cabin with private facilities.
Day 4: Oslo Enjoy a Scandinavian buffet breakfast as you cruise along the Oslofjord. Arrive in Oslo at 9:00 a.m. followed by a 3-hour guided tour of Oslo to see the famous Viking Ships, the Polar Exploration ship Fram and the impressive Vigeland Sculpture Park. Afternoon free. Dinner and overnight at Radisson SAS Scandinavia Hotel.
Day 5: Oslo - Ulvik After breakfast departure from Oslo, driving via Honefoss along the charming Halling Valley to the tourist resort town of Geilo. Buffet lunch at Bardola Mountina Hotel. After Lunch cross the wild Hardanger Mountain Plateau to fossli, stopping to view the thunderingVoringsfoss Waterfall, the highest in Norway. Descent the amazing Mabodal Canyon to the idyllic Hardanger Fjord. Short ferry, followed by drive around the Ulvik Fjord, to picturesque village of Ulvik. Dinner and accommodation Rica Brakanes Hotel, ideally located on the banks of the fjord.
Day 6: Ulvik - Bergen
After breakfast, start of scenic tour along the beautiful Hardanerfjord, famous for its many fruit orchards, arriving in Bergen mid day. Afternoon tour of Bergen, including a visit to the popular Fish and Flower Market, the famous Bryggen Harbour and the old Hanseatic quarter. You will also ride on the funicular to Mt. Floien, for the best views of the city and fjords below. Dinner and overnight at Radisson SAS Hotel Norge.
Day 7: Bergen - Flam - Balestrand After breakfast, depart from Bergen driving via Dale to the town of Voss. Descent the Naeroy Valley, passing the amazing Stalheim Canyon, the the fjordside village of Flam. Board your train for an exhilarating ride on the amazing Flam Railway to Myrdal. The descent from Myrdal to Flam offers opportunities for photo shots of waterfalls and mountain scenery. Back in Flam, board the M/S Lady Elisabeth for 2 hours cruise along Sognefjord, longest and deepest fjord in the world. After disembarking in Gudvangen at the head of hte Naeroyfjord, continue by coach across the Vika Mountains to Vangsnes, for the short ferry crossing to the beautiful resort of Balestrand. Dinner and overnight at Kvikne's Hotel, one of Norway's finest hotels, superbly located in private grounds on the banks of the fjord and surrounded by mountains.  Day 8: Balestrand 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 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 may also recommend a visit to the local aquarium and art gallery, or you may prefer to rent a bike or row boat from the hotel. A walking tour of the village of Balestrand, with its historic buildings and other noteworthy sites can also be arranged. Dinner and overnight Kvikne's Hotel.
Day 9: Balestrand - Geiranger After breakfast departure from your hotel by ferry, for a 1-hour cruise along the fjord to Fjaerland. 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 world-famous Briksdal Glacier. The journey up to the glacier will be made in open cars to give you the best of views. Afterwards a typical Norwegian lunch will be served in sight of the glacier. During the afternoon, the tour continues via Loen and Stryn, to the picturesque village of Hellesylt. From here you go on board the ferry for a 1-hour cruise along the spectacular Geiranger Fjord, possibly the most impressive of all the Norwegian fjords. During the cruise you will pass close by some magnificent waterfalls, such as the Bridal Veil and the Seven Sisters. Dinner & overnight at Union Hotel
Day 10: Geiranger - Oslo More magnificent scenery today, as you cross the Grotli Mountains to Lom, follow Lake Vågå and descend the Gudbrands valley to Lillehammer. Lunch in Lillehammer. After lunch the journey continues alongside Lake Mjosa, the largest lake in Norway, back to Oslo and Holmenkollen, home of the world famous ski jump, offering unforgettable views of the city and Oslofjord far below. Dinner and overnight at the famous Holmenkollen Park Hotel.
 Day 11: Oslo - Stockholm Depart Oslo by coach to the Swedish border. Cross into the province of Värmland, arriving in the city of Karlstad on Lake Vänern – the largest lake in Sweden. Lunch in Karlstad. Continue through a landscape of forests and lakes to reach the Swedish capital in the late afternoon. Dinner and overnight at Stockholm Sheraton Hotel.
Day 12: Stockholm The day begins with a 4-hour guided tour of the city. Famous sights include the Royal Palace, the Cathedral, and the Royal Theater. Visit the enchanting Old Town (Gamla Stan) with its narrow cobbled streets and many antique shops, and the City Hall, with its famous Blue and Golden Halls, where the Nobel Prize banquet is held. Lunch at your hotel, Spend the afternoon free in Stockholm, where you can visit the famous Wasa Museum or take one of many canal tours. Overnight at Stockholm Sheraton Hotel.
Day 13: Stockholm - Helsinki Morning free in Stockholm. In the afternoon, transfer to the pier to board a luxurious Silja Line cruise ferry for a 5:00 p.m. departure. Dinner onboard. Choice of entertainment, bars, shops and casino onboard. Overnight in a 2-berth outside cabin with private facilities.
Day 14: Helsinki Enjoy a buffet breakfast as you sail into Helsinki harbor. After arrival, there will be a 3-hour guided tour of Finland’s capital. Famous sights include the Senate Square, Uspenski Cathedral, Parliament House, Finlandia Hall, Sibelius Park & Monument, and the Rock Church. Afternoon free in Helsinki. Dinner and overnight at Radisson SAS Royal Hotel.
 Day 15: Helsinki - St. Petersburg
The 14-night Copenhagen-Helsinki tour ends after breakfast at the hotel, with transfers to Helsinki Vantaa Airport to connect with individual flight departures. Guests continuing to St. Petersburg have an early morning coach transfer to the railway station for an early morning departure on the Finnish train “Sibelius”. Box lunch on train. Arrive St. Petersburg in the early afternoon. Coach transfer to the hotel followed by a 3-hour guided tour of the city with a local, English-speaking guide. Famous sights include the Admiralty, Palace Square, Smolny Convent and St. Isaac’s Cathedral. Dinner and overnight at Ambassador Hotel.
Day 16: St. Petersburg After a buffet breakfast, enjoy a 3-hour visit to the world-famous Hermitage Art Museum and the State Rooms at the Winter Palace. This afternoon, go on an excursion by coach starting with lunch in Peterhof, followed by a visit to Peterhof Grand Palace, the magnificent summer residence of all the Russian Tsars. Dinner will be served at a typical Russian restaurant. Overnight at Ambassador Hotel.
Day 17: St. Petersburg This morning, accompanied by an English-speaking Russian guide, visit the famous Peter and Paul Fortress, burial place of the Russian Tsars. Enjoy lunch in a Russian restaurant. Spend the afternoon free to explore St. Petersburg, a city of outstanding architectural beauty, famous for its magnificent palaces, cathedrals, fountains and bridges. In the evening, enjoy a colorful Russian folklore show at the Grand Duke Nicholas Palace. After the show, dinner will be served at the Palace. Overnight at Ambassador Hotel.
Day 18: St. Petersburg departure Tour ends after breakfast, with transfers to St. Petersburg Airport in connection with your flight home.
Price includes:
14 nights Copenhagen - Helsinki
- 12 nights accommodation including daily 3-course or buffet dinner except day 12 and Scandinavian buffet breakfast in centrally located first-class hotels, all rooms with private facilities
- 7 lunches on days 5, 9, 10, 11, 12, 16 & 17
- Overnight cruise Copenhagen - Oslo, including accommodation in 2-berth outside cabin with private facilities, buffet dinner and breakfast onboard
- Entrance to the Tivoli Gardens for dinner on day 2
- 3-hour guided tours of Copenhagen, Oslo, Bergen and Helsinki, as well as a 4-hour guided tour of Stockholm, including entrances to the Viking Ships, Fram Museum, the Maria Church, and Stockholm's City Hall
- Ride on the Bergen Funicular to Mt. Fløien
- 2-hour cruise on the Nærøyfjord and Aurlandsfjord, and a 1-hour cruise on both the Fjaerland and Geiranger Fjord
- Excursion to Briksdal Glacier in open car
- Ride on the Flam Railway, Flam - Myrdal- Flam
- All ferry crossings in Norway
- Overnight cruise Stockholm - Helsinki, including accommodation in a 2-berth, outside cabin with private facilities, buffet dinner and breakfast onboard
- Luggage assistance at all hotels
- Experienced tour escort throughout
- Transportation by modern, deluxe coach with reclining seats
- Transfers airport/hotel on first and last days to coincide with individual flight times
17 nights Copenhagen – St. Petersburg All the services mentioned above, plus -
- 3 nights accommodation in St. Petersburg, including daily 3-course dinner and buffet breakfast, rooms with private facilities. Dinner on day 14 will be served at Grand Duke Nikolas Palace
- Train Helsinki - St. Petersburg, including box lunch and St. Petersburg – Helsinki
- Coach transfers between hotels and railway stations in Helsinki and St. Petersburg
- 2 lunches on days 16 and 17 in St. Petersburg
- Complete program in St. Petersburg, including a 3-hour city tour, a visit to Peter & Paul Fortress, the Hermitage/Winter Palace, and an excursion to Peterhof. All entrances are included, plus folklore show at Grand Duke Nikolas Palace with dinner
Note: A 3-night Moscow extension option is also available with this tour – Ask for details. This tour is also offered without St. Petersburg, ending in Helsinki , 15 days/14 nights - Ask us for prices. We offer competitive airfare from most U.S. cities - ask us for prices! |
