Home >> Scandinavia >> Norwegian Fjords with Baltic Highlights St.Petersburg & Moscow
| 18 days / 17 nights Oslo - Ulvik - Bergen - Flam - Balestrand - Geirganger - Oslo - Stockholm - Helsinki - St. Petersburg- Moscow |
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Day 1 Arrive Oslo |
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Transfer from Oslo Gardemoen Airport to hotel. Dinner and overnight at Thon Hotel Opera, which faces the new Opera House, Oslo Fjord and the harbor. |
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Day 2 Ulvik |
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Day 3 Ulvik - Bergen |
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After buffet breakfast, start of scenic tour along the beautiful Hardanger Fjord, famous for its many fruit orchards, via the towns of Oystese and Nordhimsund, arriving Bergen midday. After noon 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. Dinner and overnight at Radisson SAS Hotel Norge, centrally located on Ole Bull's Square, close to the pedestrian shopping streets and within walking distance of the old Bryggen harbour. |
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Day 4 Bergen - Flåm - Balestrand |
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After buffet breakfast, depart from Bergen driving via Dale to the town of Voss. Descend the Nærøy Valley, passing the amazing Stalheim Canyon, to the fjordside village of Flåm. Board your train for an exhilarating ride on the amazing Flåm Railway to Myrdal. The descent from Myrdal to Flåm offers opportunities for photo shots of waterfalls and mountain scenery. Back in Flåm, board the M/S Lady Elisabeth for a 2 hour cruise along Sognefjord, longest and deepest fjord in the world. After disembarking in Gudvangen at the head of the Nærøyfjord, 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, superbly located on the banks of the fjord and surrounded by mountains. |
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Day 5 Balestrand |
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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 many prefer to rent a bike or row boat from the hotel. A walking tour of the village of Balestrand, with it's historic buildings and other noteworthy sites, can also be arranged. Dinner and overnight at Kvikne's Hotel. |
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Day 6 Balestrand - Geiranger |
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Day 7 Geiranger - Oslo |
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More magnificent scenery today. Cross the Grotli Mountains to Lom, follow Lake Vågå and descend the Gudbrands Valley to the town of Lillehammer. Lunch in Lillehammer. After lunch, the journey continues alongside Lake Mjøsa, Norway's 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. Dinner and overnight at Holmenkollen Park Hotel. |
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Day 8 Oslo - Stockholm |
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Depart Oslo by coach to the Swedish border. Cross into the province of Värmland, arriving in the city of Karlstad on Lake Vänern. Lunch in Karlstad. Reach the Swedish capital in the late afternoon. Dinner and overnight at Clarion Hotel Sign. |
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Day 9 Stockholm |
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Enjoy a 4-hour guided tour of the city. Sights include the Royal Palace, Parliament Buildings, Cathedral and Royal Theatre. Visit the enchanting Old Town (Gamla Stan) with its narrow cobbled streets and numerous antique shops, and the City Hall, where the Nobel Prize banquet is held each year. Afternoon free in Stockholm. Overnight at Clarion Hotel Sign. |
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Day 10 Stockholm - Helsinki |
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Morning free in Stockholm. Afternoon transfer from hotel to pier, to board a Silja Line luxurious cruise ferry for a 5:00 p.m. departure. Dinner onboard. Enjoy a choice of entertainment, bars, shops and casino on board. Overnight in 2-berth outside cabins with private facilities. |
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Day 11 Helsinki |
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Enjoy a buffet breakfast as you sail into Helsinki harbor. Enjoy a 3-hour guided tour of Helsinki. Sights include the Senate Square, Uspenski Cathedral, Parliament House, Finlandia Hall, Sibelius Park & Monument and the Rock Church. In the afternoon you can explore the busy market place or the many souvenir shops close to the harbor. Dinner and overnight at Radisson SAS Royal Hotel. |
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Day 12 Helsinki - St. Petersburg |
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Early morning coach transfer from the hotel 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. Transfer by coach from the railway station to the hotel combined with visit to Peter & Paul Fortress, burial place of the Russian Tsars, and St. Isaac's Cathedral. Welcome dinner and overnight at Hotel Ambassador, located in the city centre, near the famous Mariinsky Theatre. |
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Day 13 St. Petersburg |
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After a buffet breakfast, go on a 3-hour panoramic tour of the city by coach. St. Petersburg is a city of outstanding architectural beauty, famous for its magnificent palaces, cathedrals, fountains and bridges. Lunch at the Hermitage Restaurant of similar, followed by a tour of the world famous Hermitage Art Museum and the State Rooms of the Winter Palace. Dinner and overnight at Ambassador Hotel. |
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Day 14 St. Petersburg |
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Morning departure by hydrofoil for Peterhof, the magnificent summer residence of all the Russian Tsars. Tour of the Lower Park including Monplaisir, Bath House & Grand Cascades. Return to the city for lunch, followed by 1 hour guided boat tour along the rivers and canals of St. Petersburg. This evening you will be taken to see a colorful Russian Folklore Show at the Nikolaevsky Palace, with snacks during intermission. Dinner at the Backstage Restaurant of the Mariinsky Theatre. Overnight at Ambassador Hotel. |
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Day 15 St. Petersburg - Moscow. |
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Buffet breakfast then excursion to town of Pushkin including tour of Catherine's Palace with its famous Amber Room. Lunch then transfer to airport for flight from St. Petersburg to Moscow. Arrival in Moscow followed by coach transfer with English-speaking guide to your hotel, centrally located 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 Tverskaya Marriott Hotel, a centrally located 4 star hotel. |
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Day 16 Moscow |
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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 meters 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 the Coronation Church of the Tsars, and the famous Vasilij Cathedral. The Armoury Museum contains the largest collection in the world of crown jewels and coronation robes, including the wedding dress of Catherine the Great and the famous 189 carat Olov diamond. You will also see the golden horse-drawn carriages of all the Tsars and many other treasures. Lunch in Godunov Restaurant. After lunch, walk through the Red Square to rejoin your coach for a 3 hours 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 Tverskaya Marriott Hotel. |
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Day 17 Moscow |
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Buffet breakfast at hotel. Morning: Guided tour of the WW 2 Memorial on Poklonnaya Hill, followed by a visit to Borodino Panorama - the largest panoramic painting of the Borodino Battle with Napoleon in 1812. Russian lunch at Sudar Rstaurant, followed by guided tour of the famous Moscow Metro, followed by a walk along the fascinating pedestrian street Arbat, known as the Montmartre of Moscow. 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 Tverskaya Marriott Hotel. |
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Day 18 Moscow Departure |
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Buffet breakfast at hotel followed by transfer with assistance to Moscow Airport for your flight home. |
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Includes: |
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Rates: ***$150.00 pp *** Early booking discount if paid by Feb 26, 2010 |
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Per person based on double occupancy from $8,280 |
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Dates: |
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After breakfast departure from Oslo, driving via Hønefoss along the charming Halling Valley to the 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, highest in Norway. Descend the amazing Måbødal Canyon to the idyllic Hardanger Fjord. Short ferry ride, followed by drive around the Ulvik Fjord to the picturesque village of Ulvik. Dinner and overnight at Rica Brakanes Hotel, ideally located on the banks of the fjord.
After breakfast departure from your hotel by ferry, for a 1-hour cruise along the fjord 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 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.