A comprehensive tour of the Nordic and Baltic capitals, starting in Copenhagen, Denmark and ending in Vilnius, Lithuania. Experience the beauty of the Norwegian fjords and explore iconic landmarks in each city along the way. There will be a tour escort following the route of the tour from Copenhagen to Vilnus. So don’t worry about having vouchers for hotels, trains or ferries, these will be taken care of, so you can sit back, relax and enjoy the ride!
Itinerary
Day 1 Copenhagen Arrival
Welcome to Copenhagen, capital of The Kingdom of Denmark. Arrival at Copenhagen Airport and transfer to your hotel. Remainder of the day at leisure. Meeting with the tour leader at the hotel reception at 18:00 this evening or at 08:00 tomorrow if you have a late arrival. Overnight at Scandic Copenhagen Hotel or similar.
Day 2 Copenhagen City Sightseeing, Odden - Aarhus
Morning Copenhagen city sightseeing tour by bus with a local guide. Appreciate the old architecture, and the district and port of Nyhavn. In this thousand-year-old city, its historical charm offers at the same time everything expected of a modern metropolis: theatres, museums, restaurants, shops. Other points of interest that we will pass are Amalienborg Palace – house of the royalty of Denmark, Christianborg Palace where the Danish Parliament is located, the National Museum of History and the Old Stock Exchange. End the tour with a visit to the Little Mermaid. Afternoon departure for Odden, to take the ferry to Aarhus. Overnight at Scandic Aarhus City or similar.
Day 3 Aarhus City Sightseeing, Hirtshals - Stavanger by Overnight Ferry
Morning Aarhus city sightseeing tour by bus with a local guide. This is the second most populous city in Denmark and its strategic location made it an important Viking city, and later a flourishing commercial place. Stop at the Romanesque-Gothic Cathedral. Time at leisure to continue discovering the city on your own. In the afternoon, continue to the North of Denmark to reach Hirtshals where we will board an overnight ferry to Norway. Overnight in an outside cabin with breakfast and dinner.
Day 4 Stavanger: Optional Pulpit Rock Cruise or Hike
Breakfast on board and disembark in Stavanger, Norway. Enjoy a guided walk to discover the charming old town of Stavanger. Remainder of the day at leisure, or choose one of the two optional activities:
Option A: Lysefjord Cruise 3hrs. Get up close to one of the fjord's waterfalls and then see Pulpit Rock towering above the stunning scenery.
Option B: Lysefjord Cruise and Preikestolen (Pulpit Rock) Climb 8hrs. Cruise through the Lysefjord and experience the imposing Preikestolen from below. Afterwards, enjoy a peaceful afternoon hike to Preikestolen, to see the view of the fjord from above. You must be in good physical condition for this option. Travellers choosing Option B will not take the morning guided walk tour of Stavanger
Overnight at Scandic Stavanger City Hotel or similar.
Day 5 Stavanger - Bergen: City Sightseeing
Morning transport from Stavanger to Mortavika. Ferry from Mortavika to Årsvågen and ferry from Sandvikvåg to Halhjem. Arrival in Bergen and time at leisure. Afternoon walking tour of Bergen with a local guide. See the famous fish market and the Hanseatic quarter, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Remainder of the day at leisure. Perhaps take a ride on the Floibanen funicular to the top of mountain Floyen. From there, you can admire the magnificent views of the city and its surrounding landscapes. Overnight at Scandic Ornen Hotel Bergen or similar.
Day 6 Bergen - Flam Railway - Flam - Balestrand
Continue to Voss for a spectacular train trip ascending almost 900 meters with incredible views of the fjord. The train journey will start from Voss and take you to Myrdal station in the mountains, located about 13km from the village of Flåm. In Myrdal, board the famous Flåmsbana - one of the steepest train lines in the world. The train journey runs through fantastic nature, past the Rallar road, steep mountains, breathtaking waterfalls and tunnels. Arrival in Flåm and time at leisure to discover this quaint village. Continue by ferry on the Sognefjord to Balestrand, a rural area surrounded by nature. The initial part of the fjord, called Aurlandsfjord, is an arm of the world’s second longest fjord, the Sognefjord. It is one of the most picturesque fjords in the world. Overnight and dinner at Kviknes Hotel Balestrand or similar.
Day 7 Balestrand - Borgund Church - Oslo
Continue through mountains, valleys and incredible landscapes with numerous villages scattered by nature. Transport today includes ferries from Dragsvik to Hella and from Manheller to Fodnes. Stop at the Borgund Church, an exceptionally well preserved wooden stave church. In the afternoon continue to Lake Tyrifjord and arrive in Oslo. Overnight at Thon Hotel Europa Oslo or similar.
Day 8 Oslo City Sightseeing - Karlstad
Morning Oslo city sightseeing tour by bus with a local guide, including Frogner Park with the Vigeland sculpture complex. Pass City Hall, the Royal Palace, and the modern Opera House. Time at leisure to further explore the city on your own. Afternoon departure to Sweden. Arrive in Karlstad, located in the delta formed by two of Sweden's great natural watercourses: the Klara River and the impressive Lake Vänern. Overnight at Elite Stadshotellet Karlstad or similar.
Day 9 Karlstad - Stockholm City Sightseeing
Morning departure from Karlstad to Stockholm, the Swedish capital. Built on 14 islands and surrounded by the Lake Mälaren and the Baltic Sea, with grand public buildings, palaces, rich cultural history and museums tell its beautiful history. Upon arrival in Stockholm, enjoy a city sightseeing tour by bus with a local guide. Visit the old town "Gamla Stan" with its network of small squares and cobbled streets, and see the exteriors of the Royal Palace, the Cathedral and the Parliament. Time at leisure to explore the city on your own. Overnight in at Clarion Sign Hotel Stockholm or similar.
Day 10 Stockholm - Helsinki by Overnight Ferry
Morning at leisure to further explore Stockholm on your own. Afternoon transfer to Stockholm harbour for departure on the overnight ferry to Helsinki. Overnight in an outside cabin with breakfast.
Day 11 Helsinki City Sightseeing - Tallinn by Ferry
Breakfast on board and disembark in Helsinki, Finland. City sightseeing tour upon arrival. See Senaatintori, the Senate Square, and Kauppatori, the picturesque market square, characterised by an abundance of flowers, fruits and busy traders. Stop at the Tuomio Cathedral and Temppeliaukio Kirkko - the church carved into the rock, which gives excellent acoustics. One of the last stops is the Uspenski Cathedral. Late afternoon transfer to the harbour, and embark on a 2-hour-cruise to Tallinn across the Gulf of Finland. Upon arrival transfer to your hotel. Two nights at Park Inn by Radisson Meriton Tallinn or similar.
Day 12 Tallinn City Sightseeing
Morning Tallinn city sightseeing tour with a local guide. The old town is located in the heart of Tallinn. Divided in two very distinctive parts: Toompea Hill and The Lower Town, centred on the Town Hall Square, surrounded by a fortified wall. Admire the Orthodox Alexander Nevsky Cathedral and Toompea Castle, City Hall Square, the house of the Brotherhood of Blackheads, St Olaf and Niguliste churches. Remainder of the day at leisure to explore the city at your own pace. Second overnight at Park Inn by Radisson Meriton Tallinn or similar.
Day 13 Tallinn - Riga
Morning at leisure. Afternoon departure by coach towards Latvia. There is a short stop in Pärnu, a bustling beach retreat with early 20th-century buildings, and a beautiful promenade where you have time to try a local snack before continuing to Riga. Two nights at Wellton Riverside Spa Riga or similar
Day 14 Riga City Sightseeing
Morning Riga city sightseeing tour with a local guide. Visit the elegant Art Nouveau district and the Old Town with many medieval churches. Drive along the central boulevards of Riga surrounded by beautiful Canal Park and Bastion Hill. See the New Opera House and Riga Castle. Walk along the cobblestone streets of Riga and admire the impressive Powder Tower, Swedish Barracks and Swedish Gate. See the "Three Brothers”, Brotherhood of Blackheads building, majestic Dome Cathedral, House of Cats, Richard Vagner Street and Theatre, Great and Small Guild Houses. Remainder of the day at leisure to explore the city at your own pace. Second overnight at Wellton Riverside Spa Riga or similar.
Day 15 Riga - Vilnius City Sightseeing
Morning departure by coach towards Lithuania. After crossing the border, there is a short photo stop at the impressive pilgrimage site Hill of Crosses before continuing to Vilnius. Afternoon Vilnius city sightseeing tour with a local guide. The Old Town offers a maze of winding streets, inner courtyards and old churches. See Vilnius Cathedral and Saint Anne's Church, one of Lithuania's Gothic masterpieces. Two nights at Congress Hotel Vilnius or similar.
Day 16 Vilnius
Full day at leisure in Vilnius. Second overnight at Congress Hotel Vilnius or similar.
Day 17 Vilnius Departure
Transfer from hotel to Vilnius Airport and end of arrangements.
2024 departures:
05, 19 July
09, 23 August
Notes:
Maximum Group Size: 33 passengers
All optional excursions must be pre-booked.
Pre and post nights can be added - please enquire.
