Winter Tours » Santa Claus Holidays » Northern Highlights, St. Petersburg & Moscow
Northern Highlights, St. Petersburg & Moscow– Finland, Norway, Sweden, Russia –18 days / 17 nights, Oslo - Hardanger - Bergen - Sognefjord - Flåm - Balestrand - Fjaerland - Geiranger - Oslo - Stockholm - Helsinki - St. Petersburg - MoscowWhile exploring Scandinavia and Russia on the Northern Highlights & St. Petersburg Tour, ride the famous Flåm Railway to enjoy Norway's majestic fjords. Cruise the Geiranger Fjord and the Sognefjord. Explore Sweden's Lake Country and Stockhom's Old Town. Visit the bustling capital, Helsinki, cross the Russian border and experience the highlights of St. Petersburg: the Hermitage and Winter Palace. In Moscow, visit Red Square and the Armoury Museum.
| Operation | July 3 - August 10, 2012 |
| Departure | Guaranteed departures: July 3, 24 |
| Price | $7,655 per person in double room $9,610 single room |
| Included | 16 nights first class hotel accommodation with private facilities Scandinavian breakfast buffet daily 14 nights first class hotel accommodation with private facilities Scandinavian breakfast buffet daily 6 x luncheons on days 2, 6, 7, 8, 13 & 14 1 x packed lunch on train Helsinki - St. Petersburg, day 12 Daily 3-course or buffet dinner Transportation by modern deluxe coach with reclining seats etc. 3 hours guided tour of Helsinki 4 hours guided tour of Stockholm Entrance fees Panoramic tour of Bergen Ride on the Bergen Funicular to Mt. Fløyen Ride on the Flåm Railway, Flåm-Myrdal-Flåm 2-hour cruise on the Sogne Fjord & Nærøy Fjord 1-hour cruise on Geiranger Fjord Excursion in open car to the Briksdal Glacier All visits as mentioned in itinerary All ferry crossings as per itinerary 1 night cruise on Silja Line, Stockholm - Helsinki, 2-berth Seaside cabin, dinner and buffet breakfast on board Train Helsinki - St. Petersburg Coach transfer between hotels and railway stations Complete program in St. Petersburg, including 3 hours city tour Peter & Paul Fortress, St. Isaac's Cathedral Hermitage Museum including Winter Palace Excursion to Peterhof All entrance fees Hydrofoil St. Petersburg - Peterhof 1 hour Canal tour Folklore show at Nikolaevsky Palace, including snacks during intermission Dinner at Backstage Restaurant Luggage assistance at all hotels (1 piece per person) English-speaking tour escort throughout Transfers airport/hotel on first and last days All services above plus 3 x luncheons on days 15, 16 & 17 Daily 3-course or buffet dinner Flight economy class St. Petersburg - Moscow Luggage handling at airports Guided transfers Complete program in Moscow Panoramic Moscow city tour 3-hour visit to the Kremlin and Armoury Museum Excursion to town of Pushkin including visit to Catherine's Palace Guided Metro tour Visit to WW2 Memorial and Borodino Panorama All entrances Coach transfers between restaurants and hotel |
| Not Included | International airfare & airport taxes Gratuities Alcoholic beverages Personal insurance / personal items Russian Visa Fee $25 Service fee |
| Please Note | Transfers to/from a different airport than the one mentioned in the tour program may incur a supplement. These tours are organized by our Associate Partners in Copenhagen. In order to offer a greater variety of tours options, the programs allow for participants to join or depart from the tour in various transit locations. We do hope that the possible change of group participants does not cause any inconvenience. Please inquire about our favorable airfares on Icelandair or SAS |
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Day 1 ARRIVE OSLO (D) Transfer from Oslo Gardermoen Airport to hotel in connection with your flight arrival. Dinner and accommodation at Thon Hotel Opera, centrally located facing the new Opera House and close to the Oslo Fjord and Harbor. Your tour escort will meet you at 19.50 hrs in the hotel lobby.
Day 2 OSLO - ULVIK (B, L, D) fter breakfast departure from Oslo, driving past the beautiful Tyri Fjord and along the picturesque Hallingdal Valley to the tourist resort town of Geilo. Buffet lunch at Bardøla Mountain Hotel. After lunch cross the scenic Hardanger Mountain Plateau to Fossli, stopping to view the mighty Vøringsfoss Waterfall with a vertical drop of 180 m., the highest in Norway. Descend the amazing Måbødalen 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 overnight at the Rica Brakanes Hotel.
Day 3 ULVIK - BERGEN (B, D) After breakfast, start the scenic tour along the Hardanger Fjord. Pass the towns of Oystese and Norheimsund arriving into Bergen this afternoon. Enjoya 2-hour afternoon city tour of Bergen. Visit the Fish and Flowers Market, the famous Bryggen Harbor, the Old Hanseatic Quarter and a ride on the funicular to Mt. Fløyen. Dinner and overnight.
Day 4 BERGEN - FLÅM - BALESTRAND (B, D) After a delicious breakfast buffet, we depart Bergen and drive via Dale to Voss. Continue along the Stalheim Canyon to Flåm. Board the train for scenic ride on the Flåm Railway to Flåm. Board the sightseeing boat for a 2-hour cruise along the narrow Aurland and Nærøy Fjord to Balestrand. Dinner and accommodation at Kvikne's Hotel, one of Norway's finest historic hotels, anno 1877.
Day 5 BALESTRAND - A DAY IN THE FJORDS (B, D) Breakfast at the hotel. Spend the day at your leisure in Balestrand. Relax on the hotel terrace or visit the local aquarium and art gallery or perhaps rent a bike or rowing boat from the hotel. Dinner and overnight.
Day 6 BALESTRAND - GEIRANGER (B, L, D) After breakfast departure from your hotel by ferry, for a one hour's cruise along the fjord to Fjærland. Continue by coach along the scenic route, passing under the Jostedalen 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. Enjoy a typical Norwegian lunch in sight of the glacier. During the afternoon the tour continues via Loen and Stryn, to the picturesque village of Hellesylt. Board the ferry for the one hour's cruise along the spectacular Geiranger Fjord, one of the most impressive of all the Norwegian fjords. Pass some magnificent waterfalls, such as the Bridal Veil and the Seven Sisters. Dinner and accommodation at the fabulous Union Hotel, overlooking the Geiranger Fjord.
Day 7 GEIRANGER - LILLEHAMMER - OSLO (B, L, D) Leaving the fjord village of Geiranger, we ascend the famous Serpentine Road with amazing views of the fjord below. Cross the exciting Grotli Mountains to Lom, renowned for its well preserved 14th century stave church. Continue via Lake Vågå, before descending into the picturesque Gudbrandsdalen Valley to the Olympic town of Lillehammer. Lunch in Lillehammer. Continue the journey alongside Lake Mjøsa to Oslo. Dinner and accommodation at the Thon Hotel Opera.
Day 8 OSLO - STOCKHOLM (B, L, D) After breakfast departure from Oslo, continuing by coach towards the Swedish border. Cross into the attractive province of Värmland to arrive in the city of Karlstad on Lake Vänern, the largest in Sweden. Lunch in Karlstad. 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 the Sheraton Stockholm Hotel, a new first class hotel, centrally located.
Day 9 STOCKHOLM (B) The day starts with a 4 hour guided tour of the city. Famous sights include the Royal Palace, Parliament Buildings, Cathedral, Royal Theatre, etc. 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 Wasa Museum or take one of the popular canal tours. Overnight at the Clarion Hotel Sign. Please note that dinner today is not included in the program, as our experience shows that whilst in Stockholm guests prefer to eat out at a restaurant of their own choice. Your tour escort will gladly advise and make table reservations for you.
Day 10 STOCKHOLM - HELSINKI (B, D) 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 on the luxurious Silja Line ship cruise bound for the Baltic Sea, sailing slowly down the picturesque archipelago past numerous small islands. Buffet 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 an overnight bag for this cruise, to avoid having to bring suitcases to and from your cabin.
Day 11 HELSINKI (B, D) Enjoy your buffet breakfast as you sail into Helsinki harbor. You retain your cabin on the ship. After disembarkation 3-hour guided tour of Helsinki. Famous sights include the Senate Square, Uspensky 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. Dinner and overnight at the Radisson SAS Royal Hotel, a first class hotel centrally located.
Day 12 HELSINKI - ST. PETERSBURG (B, L, D) Breakfast followed by transfer by coach from hotel to railway station. 10.00 hrs: Departure
from Helsinki on 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 1 hour’s guided
boat cruise along the Neva River and visit at 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.
Day 13 ST. PETERSBURG (B, L, D) Buffet breakfast at hotel. The day begins with 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 local restaurant. After
lunch, 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.
Day 14 ST. PETERSBURG (B, L, D) Buffet breakfast at hotel and transfer to town of Pushkin followed by a visit to Catherine’s
Palace including the famous Amber room. Lunch at Admiralty Restaurant. Return to St.
Petersburg and spend a few hours free for leisure. 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.
Day 15 ST. PETERSBURG - MOSCOW (B, L, D) Buffet breakfast at hotel. Transfer to the Neva River for cruise by hydrofoil to Peterhof, the magnificent summer residence of all the Russian
Tsars. Tour of the Lower Park including Grand Palace (inside visit). Coach transfer to St.
Petersburg railway station for departure at 13:00 with “Saspan” train. Lunch on board.
17:45: 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 16 MOSCOW (B, L, D) 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. 13.00 hrs: 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.
Day 17 MOSCOW (B, L, D) 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.
Day 18 MOSCOW DEPARTURE (B) Buffet breakfast at hotel followed by transfer with assistance to Moscow Airport for your flight home.