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The Heart of Scandinavia and Russia 21 days/20
nights
First/Superior First Class
We are pleased to offer you the
ultimate tour of Scandinavia and Russia, a quality first class tour at a
leisurely pace during which you will experience Scandinavia whilst staying
at good first class hotels right in the heart of each city. You will have
time to explore the 3 capitals and you will travel through some of the
most beautiful parts of the Norwegian Fjords and the South of Scandinavia. The scenic
highlights include the longest fjord in Norway - The Sognefjord, the
Geirangerfjord and the Briksdal Glacier. In the area of the Fjords your
accommodation will be at hotels belonging to "The Prominent Hotels of the
Fjords of Norway". You will be travelling on the famous Flåm Railway and
cruising the fjords by ferries and boat. Bergen, the Capital of the
fjords, will surprise and enchant you. In Copenhagen, Stockholm and Oslo,
there is plenty of time to enjoy the amenities on offer and to get to know
these capital cities, each one of them with a distinct different atmosphere. From
Stockholm you will travel Eastwards to explore Helsinki and enjoy the
impressive and unforgettable Russian cities of St Petersburg and Moscow.
Throughout the tour you will travel by first class coach and one of our
professional Tour escorts will ensure you get full enjoyment of the three
weeks. This tour is one of the best and most complete ones offered today on the market.
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Day 1 Saturday
Copenhagen
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Individual arrival at your hotel. In the early evening your Tour escort will
arrange a get-together to give information about the tour and give you a
chance to meet your fellow travellers. Accommodation at hotel, centrally
located in Copenhagen. |
Day 2 Sunday
Copenhagen
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Buffet breakfast at the hotel. The day starts with a 3 hours
guided tour of the city. Famous sights include the Royal Amalienborg
Palace, Christiansborg Palace, Gefion Fountain, Nyhavn and of course the
Little Mermaid. Afternoon free for exploring this fairytale city.
Overnight. |
Day 3 Monday
Copenhagen-Oslo
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Buffet breakfast at the hotel. Morning free in Copenhagen. Your
tour escort will be happy to advise you about places of interest to visit
- we can suggest an optional tour to the three castles in North Sealand,
including the Kronborg Castle of Hamlet. Afternoon transfer by coach
from hotel to DFDS Seaways terminal for your overnight cruise to Oslo,
departing at 17.00 hours. Enjoy your first Scandinavian smörgåsbord
dinner as you cruise gently up the Kattegat. Accommodation in
2-berth outside cabins with shower/WC. We recommend bringing an overnight
bag for this cruise, to avoid having to carry your suitcases to and from
the cabin. |
Day 4 Tuesday
Oslo
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Buffet breakfast onboard. Enjoy a delicious buffet breakfast as
you cruise along the enchanting Oslo Fjord. Arrival in Oslo around 09.00
hours, followed by 3 hours guided tour of the Norwegian capital. You will
visit the world-famous Viking Ships Museum and the impressive Vigeland Sculpture
Park. Accommodation at centrally situated hotel in Oslo. |
Day 5 Wednesday
Oslo
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Buffet breakfast at hotel. Day free in Oslo. The bustling Aker
Brygge Harbour, the Akershus Fortress, and other popular attractions are
all within walking distance of your hotel. Your tour escort will assist
you in planning your day and offer optional excursions. Accommodation at
hotel. |
Day 6 Thursday
Oslo-Lofthus in Hardangerfjord
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Buffet breakfast at hotel. Departure from Oslo, driving to the
mountain resort of Geilo for a stop. The tour continues skirting the wild
Hardanger Mountain Pleateau, stopping at Fossli to admire Norway´s highest
waterfall, Vöringsfoss, with a vertical drop of 180 m. Descent to the
lovely Hardanger Fjord where you will be spending the night at the
traditional Ullensvang Hotel, situated at the water´s coast. Dinner
and accommodation at hotel. |
Day 7 Friday
Lofthus-Bergen
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Buffet breakfast at hotel. Short ferry crossing, before
continuing via Norheimsund to Bergen, capital of Western Norway and
gateway to the fjords. In the afternoon you will have a 3 hours city tour
of this beautiful Old Hansa Town, surrounded by 7 mountains. The tour
escort will show you the Old Bryggen Area and the popular Fish &
Flower Market, the ancient Maria Church, Hanseatic Quarter, Old Bryggen
Harbour and other famous sights. Accommodation at centrally located hotel.
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Day 8 Saturday
Bergen-Balestrand
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Buffet breakfast at hotel. Today you will have a scenic tour to
the Sognefjord starting with a train journey from Voss to Flåm. This train
journey is one of the most famous in Norway and gives fantastic views of
the fjord. In Flåm you will take a 2 hours cruise along the Aurlands,
Naeröy and Sognefjord. After this you have a
breathtaking ascent of the Stalheim Canyon, with impressive views of the
Naeroy Valley, its mountain peaks and waterfalls. Continue by coach over
the Vika mountains to Vangsnes, followed by a short trip by ferry crossing the
Sognefjord. Arrival in Balestrand in time for dinner and
accommodation at the magnificent Kvikne´s Hotel, beautifully located
overlooking the fjord. |
Day 9 Sunday
Balestrand-Loen
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Buffet breakfast at hotel. Departure from your hotel by ferry,
for a one hour´s cruise along the fjord to Fjaerland. Visit to the glacier
Museum. Continue by coach along the scenic route, passing under the
Jostedal Glacier, the largest in Europe, arriving at 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 troll cars to give you the best of views. During the afternoon the tour
continues to Loen. Dinner and accommodation at the first class
hotel Alexandra in Loen. |
Day 10 Monday
Loen-Geiranger-Lillehammer
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Buffet breakfast at hotel. Travel through Stryn to the village
of Hellesylt. From here you board the ferry for the one hour´s cruise
along the spectacular Geiranger Fjord. During the cruise you will pass
close by some impressive waterfalls, such as the Bridal Veil and the Seven
Sisters. Disembark in the picturesque village of Geiranger. Visit the
interesting Fjord Museum and continue across the Grotli Mountains to Lom,
travelling along Lake Vågå and descending the remarkable Gudbrands Valley,
renowned for its old farmsteads and beautiful river. Arrive at the small town of
Lillehammer, known as the Olympic Winter Games host city in 1994.
Accommodation at Radisson SAS Lillehammer Hotel. |
Day 11 Tuesday
Lillehammer-Stockholm
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Buffet breakfast at hotel. Time to look around Lillehammer
before continuing alongside Lake Mjösa, the biggest lake in Norway and on
to Gardemoen, the international airport outside Oslo. We will take a
non-stop flight to Stockholm of approximately 1 hour's duration. Arrival
at Arlanda International Airport in Stockholm. Arrival transfer to your
hotel. Overnight at centrally located hotel. |
Day 12 Wednesday
Stockholm
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Buffet breakfast at hotel. The day starts with a 4 hours 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. 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. Afternoon free in Stockholm, with possibility to visit the
famous Wasa Museum or take one of the popular canal tours. Accommodation
at hotel. |
Day 13 Thursday
Stockholm
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Buffet breakfast at hotel. Full day for independent activities.
Your Tour escort will help you with information and suggestions of what
you can do and see in Stockholm during your free time. In the afternoon you will be transferred
to hotel Grand Saltsjöbaden which is located by the sea. Tonight you will be served a farewell dinner
at this unique and majestic hotel. Accommodation
at hotel. |
Day 14 Friday
Stockholm-Helsinki
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Buffet breakfast at hotel. Morning free in Stockholm. At
15.00hrs transfer from hotel to pier, for embarkation on a cruise ferry of
the Silja Line. At 16.45 hrs 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 in 2-berth outside cabins with shower/WC. |
Day 15 Saturday
Helsinki
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Buffet breakfast onboard. Enjoy your buffet breakfast as you
sail into Helsinki. After disembarkation 2 hours 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. Accommodation . |
Day 16 Sunday
Helsinki-St. Petersburg
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Packed breakfast at hotel. Early coach transfer from hotel to
railway station. Train to St. Petersburg. Afternoon
arrival in St. Petersburg, a city of outstanding architectural beauty,
famous for its magnificent palaces, cathedrals, fountains and bridges.
Transfer to hotel. Accommodation at a first class hotel. |
Day 17 Monday
St. Petersburg
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Buffet breakfast at hotel .In the morning panoramic tour of the
city by coach with local English-speaking guide, including a visit to the
famous Peter & Paul Fortress, burial place of the Russian Tsars. Other
famous sights include the Admiralty, Palace Square, Smolny Convent, St.
Isaac’s Cathedral. Afternoon free.Accommodation. |
Day 18 Tuesday
St. Petersburg -Moscow
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Buffet breakfast at hotel. In the morning 4 hour tour of the
the world-famous Hermitage Art Museum. Return to the hotel. Afternoon free. In the evening
coach transfer with assistance to St. Petersburg Airport. Approx.
1 hour’s flight to Moscow. Coach transfer from airport. Accommodation at
First class hotel. |
Day 19 Wednesday
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 by foot as no coaches are allowed inside
the area. The Kremlin is the heart of the city. It stands on the crest of
a hill above the Moskva River. It is flanked by the Red Square, that is
crowned by the unique and gorgeous St. Basil’s Cathedral. You will pass by
the Lenin Mausoleum and the grave of the unknown soldier, where brides
still leave their wedding bouquets, the famous St. Basil’s Cathedral and
visit one of the 5 Cathedrals located on the territory of the Kremlin. The
Armoury Museum. Return by coach to hotel.
Accommodation at your hotel. |
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Day 20 Thursday
Moscow
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Buffet breakfast at hotel. 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.During your 3 hours
panorama tour of the city 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
impressive buildings from previous eras and numerous other famous
sights. In the evening you will be attending a performance of the Famous
Russian Circus. Accommodation at your hotel. |
Day 21 Friday
Moscow
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Buffet breakfast at hotel. After breakfast you will have
transfer with assistance to Moscow Airport for your flight home. |
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