Winter Tours » Santa Claus Holidays » Grand Tour of Scandinavia & St. Petersburg
Grand Tour of Scandinavia & St. Petersburg– Denmark, Finland, Norway, Russia, Sweden –18 days / 17 nights, Copenhagen - Oslo - Bergen - Sognefjord - Flåm - Balestrand - Briksdal Glacier - Geiranger Fjord - Stockholm - Helsinki - St. PetersburgOur comprehensive escorted tour to Scandinavia and Russia features a combination of spectacular Fjords in Norway, colorful Scandinavian capitals of Copenhagen, Oslo, Stockholm, Helsinki and historic St. Petersburg. Travel by private motor coach and cruise on DFDS Seaways and Silja Line across the Baltic Sea.
| Operation | June 30 - August 7, 2012 |
| Departure | Guaranteed departures: June 30 July 21 |
| Price | $6,780 per person in double room $8,555 single room |
| Included | 15 nights first class hotels, all rooms with private facilities Scandinavian breakfast buffet daily 6 x Luncheons on days 5, 9, 10, 11, 16 & 17 Overnight cruise DFDS Seaways, Copenhagen - Oslo Outside 2-berth cabin, buffet dinner and buffet breakfast on board 1 night onboard Silja Line Cruise, Stockholm - Helsinki, Seaside 2-berth cabin Entrance to Tivoli Gardens for dinner on day 2 3-hour guided tour of Copenhagen 3-hour guided tour of Oslo 3-hour guided tour of Helsinki 4-hour guided tour of Stockholm All entrance fees Panorama tour of Bergen Ride on the Bergen Funicular to Mt. Fløyen Ride on the Flåm Railway, Flåm-Myrdal-Flåm Cruise on Nærøy & Sogne Fjord, 2 hours Cruise on Geiranger Fjord, 1 hour Excursion to Briksdal Glacier in open car All ferry crossings in Norway Overnight cruise Stockholm - Helsinki Seaside 2-berth cabin with shower/WC Dinner and buffet breakfast on board 15 x Dinners (lunch instead of dinner on 2nd day in Stockholm) Train Helsinki - St. Petersburg 1 packed lunch on day 15 on train to St. Petersburg Coach transfers between hotels and railway stations First class motor coach transportation Complete program in St. Petersburg 3 hours city tour St. Petersburg Peter & Paul Fortress, St. Isaac's Cathedral Hermitage Museum and Winter Palace Excursion to Peterhof All entrance fees Hydrofoil Peterhof - St. Petersburg 1 hour Canal cruise Folklore show at Nikolaevsky Palace Snacks during intermission Dinner at Backstage Restaurant English-speaking tour escort throughout Luggage assistance at all hotels (1piece per person) Transfers airport/hotel first & last days. Transfers to/from a different airport than the one mentioned in the tour program may incur a supplement |
| 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 tour 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. Russian Visa is required. We will be happy to assist you with Visa application papers. |
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Day 1 ARRIVE COPENHAGEN (D) Arrive Copenhagen Kastrup Airport. Transfer to hotel in connection with individual flight arrivals. Dinner and accommodation at Radisson SAS Scandinavia Hotel. Your tour escort will meet you at 19.50 hrs in the hotel lobby.
Day 2 COPENHAGEN (B, D) The day starts with a 3 hours guided tour of the city. Famous sights include the Royal Amalienborg Palace, Christiansborg Palace (Danish Parliament Buildings), Gefion Fountain, Nyhavn, and of course the famous Little Mermaid. Afternoon free for exploring this fairytale city. In the evening you will be taken to dinner at the Tivoli Gardens. Overnight at your hotel.
Radisson SAS Scandinavia Hotel
Day 3 COPENHAGEN - OSLO (B, D) Morning free in Copenhagen. Afternoon transfer by coach from hotel to DFDS Seaways terminal for your overnight cruise by ferry to Oslo, departing at 17.00 hrs. Enjoy your first Scandinavian smörgasbord dinner as you cruise gently up the Kattegat. Accommodation in 2-berth outside cabins with shower/WC. We recommend you to bring an overnight bag for this cruise, to avoid having to carry suitcases to and from your cabin.
Day 4 OSLO (B, D) A delicious buffet breakfast is being served as you cruise along the enchanting Oslo Fjord. Arrival in Oslo at 09.30 hrs, followed by 3 hours guided tour of the Norwegian capital. You will visit the world-famous Viking Ships, the Polar exploration ship Fram, and the impressive Vigeland Sculpture Park. Afternoon free in Oslo. We can recommend a visit to the Munch Museum or a stroll along the Karl Johan shopping boulevard. Dinner and accommodation at Thon Hotel Opera, ideally situated close to the Oslo Harbour and facing the new Opera House.
Day 5 OSLO - ULVIK (B, D) After breakfast departure from Oslo, driving via Hønefoss along the charming Hallingdal Valley to the tourist 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 with a vertical drop of 180 m., the highest in Norway. Descend the amazing Måbødal 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 accommodation at Rica Brakanes Hotel, ideally located on the banks of the fjord.
Day 6 ULVIK - BERGEN (B, L, D) After buffet breakfast, start of scenic tour along the beautiful Hardanger Fjord, famous for its many fruit orchards, via the towns of Øystese and Norheimsund, arriving in Bergen around midday. Afternoon 2 hours tour of Bergen, including a visit to the popular Fish and Flower Market, the famous Bryggen Harbour with its gabled pack houses, and the old Hanseatic Quarter. You will also ride on the funicular to Mt. Fløyen, 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 harbor.
Day 7 BERGEN - FLÅM - BALESTRAND (B, L, D) After breakfast departure from Bergen and drive via Dale to the town of Voss. Descend the Nærøy Valley, passing the Stalheim Canyon, to the fjord village of Flåm. Board your train for an exhilarating ride on the amazing Flåm Railway to Myrdal, a masterpiece of engineering ascending 2.838 feet in less than one hour. The descent from Myrdal to Flåm offers opportunities for photo shots of some exciting waterfalls and mountain scenery. After short rest in Flåm, start of approx. 2-hour cruise by boat along the narrow Aurlands and Nærøy Fjords, both branches of the Sogne Fjord, the longest and deepest fjord in the world. Enjoy the spectacular scenery of cascading water-falls, sheer mountain cliffs, snow-clad peaks, and a variety of wildlife. After disembarking in Gudvangen at the head of the Nærøy Fjord, continue by coach across the Vika Mountains to Vangsnes, for the short ferry crossing to the beautiful resort of Balestrand. Dinner and accommodation at Kvikne's Hotel, superbly located on the banks of the Sognefjord.
Day 8 BALESTRAND - DAY IN THE FJORDS (B, D) 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; we can also recommend a visit to the local aquarium and art gallery, or you may prefer to rent a bike or rowing boat from the hotel, or even go on foot up to the nearest mountains. A walking tour of the village of Balestrand, with its historic buildings and other noteworthy sites can also be arranged. Dinner and overnight at Kvikne's Hotel.
Day 9 BALESTRAND - FJÆRLAND - GEIRANGER (B, L, D) After breakfast departure from your hotel by ferry from Dragsvik to Hella, followed by a scenic tour along the northern side of the Sogn Fjord to Sogndal. The tour continues by road to Fjærland, passing under the Jostedal Glacier, the largest in Europe, to the village of Skei at the northern end of beautiful Lake Jølster. Descend to the 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 views. Lunch will be served in a nearby mountain restaurant facing the glacier. After lunch the tour continues around the Nord Fjord via Loen and Stryn, to the picturesque village of Hellesylt. Board the ferry for the one hour's cruise along the spectacular Geiranger Fjord, now on UNESCO's list of World Heritage Sites. Pass close by magnificent waterfalls, such as the "Bridal Veil" and the "Seven Sisters". Dinner and overnight at the excellent Union Hotel, overlooking the Geiranger Fjord.
Day 10 GEIRANGER - LOM - OSLO (B, L, D) From the top of the famous Serpentine Road, you have the opportunity to digest some amazing views of the fjord, before crossing the rugged Grotli Mountains to Lom, well known for its 14th century stave church. The tour continues via Lake Vågå, before descending the magnificent Gudbrandsdalen Valley to the popular tourist town of Lillehammer. Stop for 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 accommodation at the Thon Hotel Opera.
Day 11 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 Clarion Hotel Sign, a first class hotel opened in February 2008 and centrally located.
Day 12 STOCKHOLM (B) 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. Visit the 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 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 13 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 of cruise from Stockholm, sailing through the archipelago past numerous small islands. Dinner on board. Choice of entertainment, bars, shops and casino. Accommodation is in 2-berth outside cabins (seaside) with shower/WC. We recommend bringing an overnight bag for this cruise, to avoid having to carry suitcases to and from the cabin.
Day 14 HELSINKI (B, D) Enjoy your buffet breakfast as you sail across the Baltic Sea into Helsinki. After disembarkation a 3- hour 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. Dinner and accommodation at Radisson SAS Royal Hotel, a first-class hotel conveniently located in the centre of Helsinki.
Day 15 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 16 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 17 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 18 DEPART ST. PETERSBURG (B) For guests on the 17 night tour Copenhagen - St. Petersburg, this ends after buffet breakfast at hotel with transfers to St. Petersburg Airport to connect with homeward flights.