Scandinavian Spree

June,  2007
     

Day 2 St. Petersburg
Welcome to Russia! Upon arrival at the airport, we are met by our tour director and motorcoach. En route to our hotel, our English speaking guide will give us a brief orientation tour of the city formerly known as Leningrad. Dinner tonight is at a local restaurant with folk entertainment. Overnight at the Hotel Pribaltiskayac for next three nights.

Day 3 City Sightseeing
After breakfast we are introduced to this fabulous city known as the "Venice of the North". We'll pass Kazan Cathedral before arriving at the fabulous Winter Palace. We'll take in a superb view of the Peter and Paul Fortress and Cathedral, and pass the University and Academy of Fine Arts. We cross the River Neva along the English Embankment, stopping at the statue of Peter the Great on horseback. Continuing on, we arrive at St. Isaac's Cathedral, the former cathedral of the whole of Russia, and the Church of the Spilled Blood. At the Field of Mars and Summer Gardens, we'll view the spectacular Italian marble statues and also visit Smolny Cathedral. This afternoon we visit the Hermitage, one of the richest art museums in the world. Dinner is served at our hotel tonight.

Day 4 Pushkin & Catherine's Palace
This morning we travel to the town of Pushkin, formerly the Czar's village and home of the Imperial Family from the days of Peter the Great. Next to the palaces and gardens, the town developed as a summer resort of St. Petersburg's wealthy aristocrats. Our next stop is the elaborate, eighteenth-century palace of Catherine the Great. This baroque masterpiece features a façade almost one-thousand feet in length. The building is still in the process of being restored after extensive damage incurred during World War II. This afternoon we proceed to Pavlovsk where we'll visit the Grand Palace with its sixty-four columns rising up to its crowning dome. An early dinner is served at our hotel. Afterwards we'll transfer to Mariinsky Kirov Theater for an evening ballet performance.

Day 5 Helsinki & Silja
All aboard! We embark on our rail journey through the Russian countryside into Finland. Upon arrival in Helsinki, we are met by our local guide and board our motorcoach for a three-hour sightseeing tour of Helsinki. We'll see the Neo-Classical Senate Square, Engel's Cathedral, the statue of Alexander II of Russia and the Sibelius Memorial. At the colorful Market Square, numerous flower and produce vendors gather around the statue of Havis Amanda. One can purchase the catch of the day directly from a fishing boat along the harbor. We'll stop at Temppeliaukio Rock Church (carved completely out of rock) before we arrive at Silja Line pier to board our ship bound for Stockholm.

Day 6 Stockholm
We arrive in Sweden's capital city around 9:00 am and are met by our guide for a four-hour tour. We'll visit the Famous City Hall - site of the Nobel Prize banquet. As we stroll the cobblestone streets of the Old Town, we'll pass medieval buildings and the thirteenth-century Cathedral. After stopping to view the Stock Exchange and the Royal Palace, we rejoin our coach to the Southern Island for a splendid view over the city and harbor. On the island of Djurgaarden, we'll visit the unique Vasa Ship Museum. Here we'll see the recovered seventeenth-century warship and hear the fascinating story of its ill-fated maiden voyage. The remainder of the day is free in Stockholm. Dinner and overnight at the Hotel Scandic Continental.

Day 7 Oslo
This morning we depart Stockholm on our one-hour flight to Oslo. Our guide and motorcoach will be waiting for us at Gardemoen Airport and we'll be transferred into the city for a three-hour orientation tour. We'll hear the story of Norway's long maritime history at the peninsula of Bygdoy and visit the Viking Ship Museum. The thousand-year old Viking ships seem to make Norway's history come alive. An excellent view of the city and Oslo fjord awaits us at the Holmenkollen Ski Jump. Almost two-hundred sculptures exist over seventy-five acres in Frogner Park - an outdoor art exhibit and recreational area. In the center of Oslo, we'll pass by the medieval fortress of Akershus, the Royal Palace, Town Hall and the Domkirken (cathedral). Although not impressive in size, the cathedral contains a finely carved wooden pulpit, striking ceiling frescoes and wonderful stained glass windows. The remainder of our day is at leisure to explore the city on our own. Dinner and overnight is at the Hotel Bristol.

Day 8 Scenic Drive To Lofthus
An unforgettable ride through the Norwegian countryside takes us past mountain plateaus, glittering lakes, ancient farms, silvery rivers and picturesque villages. We'll make a stop at the eleventh-century Torpo Stave Church. Proceeding on, we'll pass the well known resort center at Geilo. We'll stop for a magnificent view of the Voeringfoss Waterfall, where the Bjoreia River plunges six-hundred feet into a narrow rock basin. We'll stop at the Hardanger Nature Center for an orientation on life in the fjords & valleys. A brief stop will be made at the charming Eidfjord Church before we continue along the shores of Eids Fjord. Our accommodations in Lofthus are at one of the finest resorts in Norway - the Hotel Ullensvang. A delightful buffet dinner awaits us at our hotel.

Day 9 Flaam Railway & Bergen
We leave Lofthus this morning and sail by ferry across the scenic blue Hardanger Fjord to Bruravik. Our journey includes a drive through one of the longest tunnels in Northern Europe - Vallavik Tunnel. We arrive in the resort town of Voss - birthplace of the famous Notre Dame coach, Knute Rockne. We leave Voss via the scenic Bergen Railway to Myrdal and change trains at the Flaam Gauge. This world famous train descends more than 2900 feet in less than one hour. Enjoy the breathtaking views of thundering waterfalls and the Flaam Valley during the ride. At the tiny fjord village of Flaam, we'll sail by modern ferry on an unforgettable fjord cruise past cascading waterfalls, isolated hamlets and steep mountainsides. Dinner and overnight in Bergen at the Hotel First Marin.

Day 10 Bergen & Copenhagen
Our motorcoach and local guide meet us at our hotel this morning for a three-hour tour of Bergen. We'll drive by the city's colorful Fish and Flower Market and continue to Bryggen - a monument to medieval Bergen and its trade. We'll visit the old, wooden warehouses jammed closely against each other, some of which now house stores and craft centers. We'll pass the medieval Viking Hall, Haakonshallen, built in 1261 for the crowning of King Magnus. We continue past St. Mary's Church, the oldest building in the city before arriving at Troldhaugen, home of world famous composer Edvard Grieg. This afternoon we transfer to Flesland Airport for our flight to Copenhagen. En route to our hotel, we'll drive along Hans Christian Andersen Boulevard by Tivoli Gardens, Kongens Nytorv and the Royal Theater, and Amalienborg Palace. Dinner and overnight at the Admiral Hotel.

Day 11 Copenhagen
A three-hour guided tour of Copenhagen takes us to Christiansborg Palace, seat of the Danish Parliament. We'll drive by the Naval Church and the beautiful, old Stock Exchange which was built in the seventeenth-century. We'll also see Kongens Mytorv with its Royal Theater and the home of the Royal Danish Ballet. We proceed to Rosenborg Castle, which contains a vast array of items from the Danish royal family. At Amalienborg Palace, the Queen's residence, we'll watch the ceremonial changing of the guards. Of course, no visit to Copenhagen is complete without visiting its most famous landmark, the Little Mermaid. We have the rest of the day on our own in the city to shop, visit some of its many museums or simply watch the activity from a sidewalk café. Dinner tonight is at the Restaurant Nimb inside Tivoli Gardens. After dinner, explore this world-famous amusement park on your own with its beautiful lakes, fountains, rides, arcades and gardens. We return to the Hotel Admiral for overnight.

Day 12 Homeward Bound
This morning we are transferred from our hotel to Copenhagen Airport. We reminisce of our storybook adventures in Scandinavia as we enjoy our flight back to the US.

Price: $3882.00 per person

Price Includes: First and superior first class hotels, daily buffet-style breakfast and daily dinner (including welcome dinner in St. Petersburg and farewell dinner in Copenhagen); three lunches, city tours and excursions as listed in itinerary, deluxe class motorcoach, fully airconditioned, all ferries, overnight ship between Helsinki and Stolkholm, first class train from St. Petersburg to Helsinki, train from Voss to Flaam, round trip airfare from Charleston (airfare available nation-wide), air taxes, fully escorted tour from Charleston.

Not Included: Travel insurance, tips and gratuities.

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