June-September 2010, 18 days/17 nights.
Tour Dates:
- MSR04: 04.06-21.06.10
- MSR06: 18.06-05.07.10
- MSR07: 25.06-12.07.10
- MSR08: 02.07-19.07.10
- MSR09: 09.07-26.07.10
- MSR10: 16.07-02.08.10
- MSR11: 23.07-09.08.10
- MSR12: 30.07-16.08.10
- MSR13: 06.08-23.08.10
- MSR14: 13.08-30.08.10
- MSR16: 27.08-13.09.10
- MSR18: 10.09-27.09.10
Tour Itinerary:
Day 1, Friday: Arrival in Copenhagen, optional transfer to Hotel Clarion Neptun**** / Hotel First Vesterbro**** or similar, check-in, welcome meeting.
DAY 2, Saturday: Copenhagen. Copenhagen is Scandinavia’s largest and most lively city and one of Europe’s most romantic capitals with its old castles and churches and charming squares and harbours. The morning sightseeing tour will acquaint us with all the city’s treasures:the Little Mermaid guarding the port, the Royal Castle, Nyhavn with its restaurants and small boats and the City Hall Square. The afternoon is free for individual visits, perhaps to the Tivoli amusement park or an optional tour to Roskilde.
Day 3, Sunday: Copenhagen-Oslo. We depart early for North Zealand and the town of Helsingor famous for the Kronborg Castle, where Hamlet was set. From here we catch a ferry over to Helsingborg in Sweden and we continue along the Swedish west coast and cross into Norway. Towards the evening we arrive in Oslo and check-in at Hotel Stefan*** / Hotel Scandic Kna**** or similar.
Day 4, Monday: Oslo. Founded in 1048 Oslo is Scandinavia’s oldest capital and today it is a very pleasant and casual city with an interesting jumble of historical and modern architecture. During the morning sightseeing tour we enjoy a walk around the Frogner Park decorated with the unique sculptures of Gustaf Vigeland. We pass by the City Hall and the main street, Karl Johan, leading to the Royal Palace. The afternoon is spent at leisure for independent activities, perhaps a vigorous cruise in the Oslofjord.
Day 5, Tuesday: Oslo-Bergen. Today we enter the breathtaking Norwegian nature. Following a drive through the Hallingdal Valley, known for its folkloric traditions, we cross the Hardanger mountain plateau and on the descent towards the fjord we pass the famous Voringsfossen Waterfall. We cross the Hardangerfjord by ferry and continue along its shores to Bergen, where we check-in at Hotel Clarion Holberg*** / Hotel Clarion Admiral**** or similar.
Day 6, Wednesday: Bergen. Situated on a peninsula surrounded by 7 mountains the history of Bergen is closely connected with the sea and this is very noticeable in the city, especially at the city’s picturesque waterfront. The morning sightseeing tour introduces us to this remarkable Hanseatic city with the Bryggen area of old wooden houses, the traditional Fish Market and the city centre with the Maria Church. The afternoon is free to explore more of Bergen individually.
Day 7, Thursday: Bergen-Geilo. Today we are travelling through the fjord region with its formidable water-drowned glacial valleys, flanked by impossible rugged terrain. We are stunned by the fantastic views from Stalheim as well as by the two-hour cruise on the majestic Sognefjord, the largest fjord in Norway. After the cruise we continue to the mountain resort of Geilo. We check-in at Hotel Highland Geilo*** / Hotel Bardola**** or similar. In the evening we enjoy a casual dinner at the hotel.
Day 8, Friday: Geilo-Karlstad. Today we continue through central Norway and we enter the county of Varmland in Sweden. Throughout the balance of the day we drive through typical Swedish landscapes and thick forests, which evoke an atmosphere of intriguing fairytales. In the afternoon we arrive at Karlstad at the Lake Vanern and we check-in at Hotel Clarion Bilan*** / Hotel Clarion Plaza**** or similar.
Day 9, Saturday: Karlstad-Stockholm. In the morning we continue towards Stockholm through a varied landscape of forests, lakes and fertile farmland. We arrive in Stockholm around lunch time and check-in at Hotel First Aramanten**** or similar. The afternoon is free for individual encounters with the Swedish capital.
Day 10, Sunday: Stockholm. Stockholm - the beauty on the water - is undoubtedly one of the most beautiful capitals in the world, built on 14 islands and protected from the sea by Skargarden, the Stockholm archipelago. The morning sightseeing tour takes us to the Old Town with the Royal Palace, Stockholm Cathedral and the city center with its famous City Hall. The afternoon is free for individual visits, perhaps to the Wasa Museum or an optional tour to Uppsala.
Day 11, Monday: Stockholm-Helsinki. The morning is free to explore more of Stockholm individually. Mid-afternoon we leave for the pier to embark on the Silja Line ferry bound for Helsinki. While we travel slowly down the archipelago past numerous islands and islets we enjoy a sumptuous dinner on board the ship. And afterwards there is a wide choice of entertainment with bars, shops, casino and much more.
Day 12, Tuesday: Helsinki-St. Petersburg
Helsinki is truly located at the crossroads of Western and Eastern culture and this is reflected everywhere in the green and lively Finnish capital. Directly after disembarkation we start a sightseeing tour, which takes us around the harbors, up central Mannerheim Street and by the Parliament Building, the Finlandia Hall, and the Sibelius Monument and the famous Church-in the-Rock. The tour ends at the rail station where we embark the Repin train bound for Russia and St. Petersburg. Upon arrival transfer to Hotel Sokos Olympic Garden**** / Hotel Reval Sonya**** or similar and check-in.
Day 13, Wednesday: St. Petersburg
St. Petersburg is an amazing city. Its imperial palaces and museums enjoy worldwide fame, while the Neva River and the many canals have deservedly given the city the title “The Venice of the North”. During the morning sightseeing tour we get acquainted with all the splendors of the city: the Peter-Paul Fortress, the Winter Palace, St. Isaac’s Cathedral, the Church of the Bleeding Savior, the Nevsky Convent and much more. The afternoon offers an optional visit to the world-famous Hermitage Art Museum. In the evening enjoy an optional visit to the Nikolaevsky Palace with an exiting Russian folklore show and Russian “Champagne” and snacks.
Day 14, Thursday: St. Petersburg
An optional excursion in the morning offers a visit to Peterhof, an uncontested masterpiece of the time of Peter the Great, with the impressive Grand Palace, Grand Cascade and Water Avenue and its wonderful parks. The afternoon is reserved an optional excursion to Zarskoye Selo with the impressive Catherine’s Palace and the Amber Room, which vanished during World War II and was restored for St. Petersburg’s tri-centennial celebrations. In the evening enjoy an optional Russian dinner at Restaurant Na Zdoroviye.
Day 15, Friday: St. Petersburg - Moscow. The morning is reserved for an optional guided shopping tour to fashion and souvenir boutiques on the Nevsky Prospect. In the afternoon we go to the Moscow Railway Station and board the Aurora train bound for Moscow. The train ride takes us through endless Russian landscapes along the River Volga. In the evening we arrive to Moscow and check in at Hotel Holiday Inn Lesnaya**** / Hotel Mariott Grand Moscow***** or similar.
Day 16, Saturday: Moscow
Moscow, The Mother of Russia, is a genuine Russian city with the Kremlin and its onion domed cathedrals. The dramatic changes over the last decade have made the city to one of the most dynamic metropolis in the world. The morning sightseeing tour includes all the highlights of the vast city: the Red Square with Kremlin, the Theater Square with Bolshoi Theater, Sparrow Hills with Moscow University and a visit to the famous Moscow Metro. In the afternoon is offered an optional excursion to the Kremlin grounds with a visit to the cathedrals.
Day 17, Sunday: Moscow. The day offers an optional excursion to Novidevichy Convent, a 16th century cluster of sparkling domes, one of the city’s most beautiful groups of buildings and full of history and treasures. The adjacent Novodevichy Cemetery is Moscow‘s most prestigious resting place after the Kremlin. The balance of the day is reserved for exploring more of Moscow individually. The evening offers an optional visit to the Old Russian Circus.
Day 18, Monday: Moscow - Departure. Optional transfer to the airport.
Member discount:
10% discount for InfoHub customer. Request a free gift certificate.
Notes:
Airfare is not included in the tour price.
Prices:
- EUR 2495.00 or USD 3511.00 (dbl occupancy) p/p
- EUR 1375.00 or USD 1935.00 (sgl supplement) p/p.
Price Includes:
- 17 overnights at centrally located 3-4 star hotels
- 17 x buffet breakfast
- 2 x dinner (1x 3-course hotel dinner and 1 x buffet dinner with wines)
- Welcome meeting
- Welcome package
- Entrances to Peter and Paul Fortress and Moscow Metro
- Service of English speaking tour escorts on all tours
- Service of Spanish speaking tour escorts on all tours
- Service of 1st class motor coaches and 1st class minivans throughout the itinerary
- Overnight ferry Stockholm-Helsinki OW, outside cabins
- Train Helsinki-St. Petersburg OW, 2nd class 6-seat compartments
- Train St. Petersburg-Moscow OW, 2nd class 6-seat compartments
- Portage at hotels and Russian railway stations
- Service and VAT.
Also see tour packages in:
Europe
Denmark
Norway
Russia
Local Culture
Cultural Journey
Archeology/History
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