CLASSIC SCANDINAVIA 2006

14 days / 13 nights, Stockholm - Swedish Countryside - Copenhagen –

North Sealand Castles - Oslo - Flåm Railway - Balestrand - Sogne Fjord - Fjærland -

Briksdal Glacier - Geiranger Fjord - Bergen

Departures: May 19, 26 / June 04, 16, 23, 30 / July 07, 14, 21, 28
August 04, 11, 18, 25 / September 01, 08

The carefully designed and choreographed itinerary is a refreshing combination of sightseeing, leisure, adventure and culture. You'll experience spectacular scenery and exciting events other travelers only dream about. Enjoy your stay in some of the best rooms at the world's finest hotels, manor houses and country resorts! Explore Sweden's Lake Country, with travels to Copenhagen and Northern Denmark, and cruise overnight to Oslo. Take a breathtaking train ride to Flåm followed by touring and cruising through Norway's majestic fjords.

Day 1 ARRIVAL STOCKHOLM (D)
Individual arrival in Stockholm. Transfer from the Arlandia Airport to your hotel on your own to the hotel. Spend the day at your leisure. Tour begins tonight at 6:00 pm at the hotel. Enjoy a Welcome reception and dinner. Overnight at the Sheraton Stockholm Hotel and Towers.

Day 2 STOCKHOLM (B)
Accompanied by a private guide, make a fascinating visit to the Vasa Museum. Built in 1628,
it is the largest battleship of its kind - unfortunately it sank when launched, spending the next 333 years on the bottom of the sea until it was raised in 1961. City sites include the Stockholm City Hall, built in the early 20th century in National Romantic style. The afternoon is free to explore Stockholm on your own. The Old Town is both irresistibly charming and a "must see" when visiting the city, set on 14 islands laced with waterways and canals. Overnight at the Sheraton Stockholm Hotel and Towers.

Day 3 TOFTAHOLM (B, L, D)
Today travel through the beautiful Swedish countryside, where varied landscapes range from gentle meadows and tidy towns to vast areas of forests, lakes, and canals. Arrive in Toftaholm; your accommodation is a small, family-run hotel ideally situated on a lake that is truly "away from it all." Overnight at the Toftaholm Hotel.

Day 4 COPENHAGEN (B, L, D)
Visit Sofiero Slott, a majestic castle built in 1865 by Crown Prince Oscar and his wife Sophia, whose magnificent grounds include an extensive rhododendron collection. Travel from Sweden across the Oresund Bridge to Denmark, arriving in the lively capital city of Copenhagen. Your acclaimed hotel was designed by the famous Danish architect Arne Jacobsen; it is truly a testament to modern Danish architecture. Tivoli Gardens are nearby, a miniature city reminiscent of the 18th-century pleasure gardens found in Paris, Vienna and London. Overnight at Radisson SAS Royal Hotel.

Day 5 STORY BOOK CHARMS OF COPENHAGEN  (B)
City sightseeing this morning includes a visit to Rosenborg Palace which holds, among many other treasures, the Danish crown jewels. See the 1913 statue commemorating Hans Christian Andersen’s The Little Mermaid and the Museum of the Danish Resistance 1940-1945. Spend the remainder of the day at your leisure or join a local expert for an optional walking tour. Dine as you please this evening, perhaps visiting the world-famous Tivoli Gardens. Overnight at Radisson SAS Royal Hotel.

Day 6 NORTH SEALAND - CRUISE TO OSLO (B, L, D)
The area called North Sealand is an attractive kaleidoscope of villages, lakes, forests and palaces. Visit 17th-century Frederiksborg Castle, set harmoniously on three islands within a small lake; it is considered one of the finest examples of Danish Renaissance. The "yellow roads" lead to a typically rustic country inn where you will partake in a light, simple lunch of local fare. Return to Copenhagen along the "Danish Riviera" and embark on the luxurious DFDS Seaways ferry to Oslo, crossing Kattegat and Skagerrak. Overnight on board in your seaside cabin.

Day 7 OSLO (B, L)
View an array of beautiful sights along both coastlines as your ship heads up the narrows of the beautiful Oslo Fjord. Enjoy a guided tour upon arrival, seeing sculptures by the artist Gustav Vigeland and visiting the Viking Ship Museum on the Bygdøy peninsula, featuring well-preserved ships and artifacts from the Viking era. The afternoon is yours to explore; perhaps take a stroll to Akershus Slott, a Renaissance castle; Norges Hjemmefront-museum, the castle's "resistance museum;" or the National Gallery. Overnight at the Hotel Royal Christiania.

Day 8 OSLO - FLAM (B, L, D)
Following a Norwegian buffet breakfast, walk to Oslo’s main railway station for a 5-hour journey on the scenic Bergenbanen to Myrdal. Change trains and continue on the famous Flam Railway to Flåm; the distance is not great, but the train covers a descent of some 2,600 feet, with breathtaking sights along the way. Your hotel in Flåm is located within walking distance of Aurlandsfjord, a magnificent fjord with deep valleys and roaring waterfalls. Overnight at the Fretheim Hotel.

Day 9 STALHEIM - BALESTRAND (B, L, D)
The fjords of Norway are considered among the most beautiful areas in the world. Cruise the Aurlandsfjord, known for sheer cliffs, narrow valleys and meadows before entering the spectacular Naeroyfjord. Disembark in Gudvangen, then travel to picturesque Stalheim for a visit the Stalheim Folk Museum, accompanied by a local guide. See the Hopperstad Stave Church before taking a ferry across the lovely Sognefjord to the Norwegian town of Balestrand. Continue to Vangsnes, and take a ferry across the lovely Sognefjord to the town of Balestrand. Overnight at the historic Kvikne's Hotel.

Day 10 FJAERLAND - BRIKSDAL GLACIER (B, L, D)
Travel from Balestrand to Fjaerland to visit the Norsk Bremuseum (Norwegian Glacier Museum) for a fascinating look at snow, ice and glaciers. Journey to Briksdal Glacier, located at the end of one of the Nordfjord's three branches. Drive to a mountain meadow, then climb to the glacier's tongue on a slightly strenuous hike; the view is magnificent. Spend the next two nights in Loen at a renowned family-run hotel. Overnight at the Hotel Alexandria.

Day 11 DALSNIBBA - GEIRANGERFJORD (B, L, D)
Journey from Loen to Hellesylt. Take a thrilling boat ride on one of Norway's most beautiful fjords, Geirangerfjord, cruising past rushing waterfalls and farmsteads clinging to steep cliffs. Upon arrival in the town of Geiranger, climb to Dalsnibba, the region's highest point reachable by road. Enjoy memorable views, weather permitting. Overnight at the Hotel Alexandria.

Day 12 BERGEN (B, L)
Travel south through Norway's lovely fjords to the Hanseatic town of Bergen. The oldest part of town overlooks the busy harbor; along the harbor's edge are a myriad of shops, boutiques, restaurants and the famous open-air fish market. Samuel Beckett referred to Norway as "a daughter of the sea;" your two nights in this lovely Norwegian city by the sea will afford an opportunity to understand why. Your hotel is centrally located in Bryggen, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Overnight at the Radisson SAS Royal Hotel.

Day 13 BERGEN - TROLDHAUGEN (B, D)
Bergen, on the inner reaches of the Byfjord, is Norway's second largest city. This charming, 900-year-old town is characterized by its location on the water and a sea trade with the world that goes back to the Middle Ages. Travel to Troldhaugen to visit the lovely home, now a museum, of beloved composer Edvard Grieg. Spend the afternoon at your leisure. We invite you to join us tonight for a farewell reception and dinner. Overnight at the Radisson SAS Royal Hotel.

Day 14 USA (B)
After breakfast, transfer from the Radisson SAS Royal Hotel to Bergen Airport on your own. Allow a minimum of   2 1/2 hours for flight check-in.

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Departure Dates 2006

Guaranteed departures

May 19, 26

June 04, 16, 23, 30

July 07, 14, 21, 28
August 04, 11, 18, 25
September 01, 08

Prices in US Dollars