Viking Capitals Escorted Group Tour

DAY 1: (THURSDAY): ARRIVAL COPENHAGEN 

Arrival to Copenhagen Airport, meet & greet by our local representative for your transfer to your hotel.  At 18:30 hours we invite you to join the welcome cocktail where you will meet your fellow travelers and your Tour Director. 

DAY 2: (FRIDAY): COPENHAGEN

Breakfast at the hotel. Meet your local guide for a panoramic sightseeing tour of Copenhagen. The perfect introduction to “Wonderful Copenhagen”. Admire the City Hall Square where the famous pedestrian street “Stroeget” begins. Tivoli Gardens, the New Carlsberg Glyptotheque and the National Museum. Drive by the Old Stock Exchange and the Naval Church. The Kings New Square, the home of the Royal Danish Theatre with the world-famous ballet, and the old canal area, Nyhavn, with is picturesque houses and boats. Continue to the impressive Gefion Fountain and the Royal residence, Amalienborg Palace. Finally, meet the landmark of Copenhagen, the statue of the Little Mermaid. During the tour, you can also delight in Christiansborg Palace from the outside, as well as Rosenborg Castle, which houses the Crown Jewels. The tour ends at the hotel.

OPTIONAL: Copenhagen like the Danes
PRICE: 40 EUR /Person
Start: 12:30 hours from the hotel  
Duration:  3 hours  
Includes: Metro Ticket, Copenhagen water bus, guide & visit to Reffen
Min 2 persons          
Available by pre-booking only
Experience the city from another perspective, together with your local guide. Take the water bus to Reffen, Copenhagens famous Street Food Market. Here you will have some free time to explore the many stalls with local foods and beverages and to enjoy the relaxed and informal atmosphere that characterizes the Danes. The aspiration is to make a meeting point of the food market, innovative workshops and startups, cultural experiences and inventive activities that pull in and inspire both local people and vacationers. Most of the stalls need to pursue the practical creeds 'Decrease and Reuse': Use high-quality food services, lessen the food waste, and utilize natural and organic, free and nearby ingredients at every possible opportunity. They likewise need to sort their waste so it can be reused beyond what many would consider possible. From the water, you will see the churches, towers, and modern architecture that blends with historical Copenhagen. Tour ends in the city centre or at your hotel.

DAY 3: (SATURDAY): COPENHAGEN - AARHUS

Breakfast at the hotel. 09:00 Depart Copenhagen towards Roskilde the former capital of Denmark between 1200 and 1300. Roskilde has a long history, dating from the pre-Christian Viking Age. Its UNESCO-listed Gothic Cathedral now housing 39 tombs of the Danish monarchs, was completed in 1275, becoming a focus of religious influence until the Reformation in the 13th century. After visiting Roskilde Cathedral continue to Aarhus via Odense, the birthplace of the famous Danish writer Hans Christian Andersen.  In Odense you will have some free time to enjoy the charming 3rd largest city in Denmark. 

Before check-in to your hotel enjoy a guided visit to Den Gamle By (The Old City) an open-air town museum located in the at the city's Botanical Garden in central Aarhus.  In 1914, the museum opened as the world's first open-air museum of its kind, concentrating on town culture rather than village culture, and to this day it remains one of just a few top-rated Danish museums outside Copenhagen, serving more than 400,000 visitors per year. Today the museum consists of 75 historical buildings collected from 20 townships in all parts of the country.  The rest of the evening is at leisure or join your Tour Director on a walking tour of the centre of Aarhus before enjoying dinner at one of the many great restaurants of the city. Denmark's second-largest city has a vibrant and cozy vibe due to its many students living in Aarhus. 

DAY 4: (SUNDAY): AARHUS to STAVANGER

Breakfast at the hotel. Depart Aarhus towards the Hirtshals located in the very north of the Peninsula of Jutland. Noon (11:45) departure by ferry to Kristiansand in Norway. Upon early afternoon arrival (14:00) in Kristiansand continue to Stavanger, Norway's 4th largest city. The city's rapid population growth in the late 20th century was primarily a result of Norway's booming offshore oil industry. Today the oil industry is a key industry in the Stavanger region and the city is widely referred to as the Oil Capital of Norway. Your hotel is in the very center of Stavanger from which you can join your Tour Director on this evening pre-dinner walk in charming Stavanger. Evening at leisure. 

DAY 5: (MONDAY): STAVANGER to BERGEN 

Breakfast at the hotel. Departure from the hotel at 10:00 hours. This morning will be dedicated to exploring the majestic Lysefjord and its Pulpit Rock.  Enjoy the fresh summer breeze while sailing through the beauty of the magnificent Lysefjord. Board an electric boat and sail from downtown Stavanger to Lysefjord and Preikestolen. 11:00 hours the 3-3,5 hours Lysefjord cruise will take you to Fantahålå (Vagabond's Cave) you see where the “vagrants” hid from the sheriff in the old days. Not long after, you arrive at Preikestolen, where Tom Cruise climbed the sheer mountain face in the movie Mission Impossible 6. Continue to the towering Hengjanefossen waterfall, where the crew brings the bow so close to the falls that you risk getting your face doused with delightful spray! Along the way, we stop to feed our goats at the summer pasture in Lysefjord. They love your visit! With luck, you might see the occasional seal sunbathing on a rock. Depart Stavanger early afternoon at 14:30 towards Bergen. Drive along the Norwegian coast where the fjords and archipelago are connected by bridges and ferry crossings.  Arrival in Bergen and check-in to your hotel at the end of the afternoon 18:30. Rest of the day at leisure.

DAY 6: (TUESDAY): BERGEN

Breakfast at the hotel. This morning (09:00) will be dedicated to exploring beautiful Bergen, the capital of the Norwegian fjords. Bergen is Norway’s second-largest city and one of the three university cities in the country. Experience the ambiance of the Hanseatic port Bryggen a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Enjoy the ride with the Funicular to the top of Mount Floien and admire the beauty of Bergen, located between seven Mountains. Pass by Mary St. Marys Church, Haakon’s Hall (no entrances) and the colorful and picturesque fish markets where you will enjoy a fish platter with local delicacies. The Floibanen funicular in Bergen in the heart of Bergen is one of Norway’s best-known attractions. The journey up to the peak of Mount Floyen (320 m above sea level) takes 5-8 minutes. The journey is an experience, cutting through the steep mountainside and forests revealing more of the city below. At the top, you can enjoy fantastic views over Bergen and the Norwegian coastline. 
We strongly recommend joining our optional Edvard Grieg Experience commencing right after lunch at the Fish market.

OPTIONAL: Optional: Edvard Grieg Experience with Live Piano Concert at Troldhaugen
(only available between June 20th and August 20th)
PRICE: 85 EUR /Person
Time: 12:20 - 15:00 
Duration: 2.5 - 3 hours 
Includes: Concert, guide & entrance to Troldhaugen 
Min 2 persons
Available by pre-booking only
Troldhaugen was the home of Nina and Edvard Grieg, Scandinavia’s greatest compositor and the author of great works like Peer Gynt Suites, Piano concerti in A Minor among many. The Villa was built in 1885, and the couple lived there the last 22 summers of Edvard Grieg’s life. Troldhaugen became a museum in 1928 and includes Grieg’s Villa, the composer’s hut and the Grieg couple’s gravesite as well as a modern museum building and the concert hall Troldsalen, a chamber music hall seating 200 people. Troldsalen is the centre of the museum’s extensive concert activities and has excellent acoustics. Start the visit with a 30-minute live piano concert followed by a guided visit of Edvard’s Grieg’s home. The tour ends at your hotel. Rest of the day at leisure to explore Bergen by your own hand.
 

DAY 7: (WEDNESDAY): BERGEN to HEMSEDAL 

Breakfast at the hotel. Early morning departure from Bergen and travel to the Naeroy Valley with a stunning background of snow-clad mountains. Enjoy a break with Norwegian waffles and the breathtaking views down the valley from the Stalheim Hotel. Continue down the Naeroy valley to Gudvangen for a beautiful fjord cruise along the Naeroyfjord, one the narrowest and most impacting journeys in fjord Norway. The western Norwegian fjord landscape with the Naeroyfjorden and Geirangerfjorden at the head was listed on UNESCO's World Heritage List in 2005. According to UNESCO, the two fjords are considered archetypal fjord landscapes, almost untouched in modern times, and among the most scenic in existence. Your fjord experience has been designed with vessels especially designed to maximize the sightseeing experience. They are fully electrical with no noise or emissions disrupting the atmosphere of peace and tranquility. Here you will get the feeling of gliding through the fjord, very different from what you experience on the more traditional passenger vessels. Tall panoramic windows give a full view to the marvelous landscape of the calm fjord, tall mountains, and beautiful waterfalls when sitting inside the lounges. Disembark in the stunning village of Flaam where you will have some time at leisure, before or after joining one of the must-dos of Fjord Norway. As the possibilities are various you can design your afternoon as per your preference. The guests that choose not to join an experience will have a couple of hours to enjoy the village of Flaam.

OPTIONAL: Stegastein Viewpoint 
PRICE: 40 EUR /Person
Time: 15:30 - 17:00 
Duration: 1,5 hours
Includes: Guide & ticket and seat reservation 
Min 10 persons
Available by pre-booking & on site 
An unmissable sightseeing trip for any visitor to Flaam. The Stegastein Viewpoint is part of the Norwegian Scenic Route that runs from Aurland to Laerdal. This structure, which juts out 30 meters from the mountainside, 650 meters about the fjord, offers and unparalleled panorama. A more amazing view of the fjord, mountains and surrounding is hard to imagine. 

Optional: Flamsbana Railway (available for pre-booking) 
PRICE: 65 EUR /Person
Time: 14:00 - 16:30
Duration: Approximately 2 hours 
Includes: 2 x 50 minutes panoramic train ride & seat reservation 
Min 10 persons
Available by pre-booking only
Flamsbana is one of the steepest train lines in the world on normal tracks. The 2-hour train journey runs through fantastic nature, past the Rallar road, steep mountains, breathtaking waterfalls, 20 tunnels and offers a multitude of views. In the span of a single hour, the train takes you from the ocean level at the Sognefjord in Flam to the mountaintop at Myrdal Mountain station on Hardangervidda, 863 meters above the ocean. When back in Flaam enjoy a little free time. 

Continue through the mountains to Borgund where you will have the opportunity to admire from the outside the beauty of one of the remaining Norwegian stave churches dating back to the 12th century (entrance not included). Continue to Hemsedal and check in at Fyri Resort where you will overnight for the next two nights.

DAY 8: (THURSDAY): HEMSEDAL

Breakfast at the hotel. Day at leisure for relaxation and enjoyment of the surroundings and the spa facilities. In the evening meet your fellow travelers and enjoy a dinner with local delicacies. The Pool Club offers treatments, always a good idea to reserve prior to the arrival at the hotel.

DAY 9: (THURSDAY): HEMSEDAL to OSLO

Breakfast at the hotel. After breakfast, travel towards Oslo, leaving the mountains behind. Arrive in Oslo and visit the famous and impressive Munch Museum where you can admire Munch’s masterpiece, The Scream. Guiding is not allowed inside the museum. Visit the museum at your own pace or enjoy a platter of seafood and Munch Deli & Café. Early afternoon your local guide will share the many beautiful spots of the Norwegian Capital beautifully located by the fjord. Admire the view from the Opera house. The Vigeland Park, one of the major Scandinavian cultural treasures, will delight you with sculptures by Gustav Vigeland, who dedicated his life to his artistic works. Pass also pass by the Royal Palace and the main street, Karl Johan. The tour ends at your hotel at 16:00 hours with the check-in. 

At 18:30 hours join your Tour Director for a walking tour to Akker Brygge. Enjoy the local vibe of the capital and try a local shrimp salad at one of the many cafés and restaurants

DAY 10: (FRIDAY): OSLO to STOCKHOLM

Breakfast at the hotel. Depart Oslo and heading to Stockholm, passing Norwegian and Swedish forests through the region of Varmland, the home of many legends. Lunch will be served in Karlstad located by Lake Vänern. Arrival in Stockholm by the end of the afternoon and check-in. Join your Tour Director for a walking tour of the Swedish Capital. The evening is at leisure.

DAY 11: (SATURDAY): STOCKHOLM

Breakfast at the hotel. Meet your local for a city sightseeing of the Swedish capital. The city is built on 14 islands and connected by 57 bridges often called the “Beauty on Water”. Stockholm embraces the unique character of the 13th-century Old Town and modern high-tech architecture. Its islands are bordered by Lake Mälaren in the west and the Baltic Sea in the east where the archipelago, with its 30.000 islands awaits exploration. The capital is a big city with a small-town personality. Go back 750 years in time and feel the medieval atmosphere of the Old Town "Gamla Stan" as you wander through its narrow streets. The seven-hundred-year-old cathedral of Stockholm, seat of the archbishop, will be seen during your stroll through Old Town, where you will have the opportunity to see Stortorget, the place where the Stockholm Blood Bath took place. An inside visit is paid to one of the city’s best-known symbols, the City Hall with its Blue and Golden Halls, where the great Nobel banquet is celebrated every December. The tour ends at the hotel. The afternoon is for leisure to explore Stockholm independently or to join today’s optional experience.

OPTIONAL: VASA Museum
PRICE: 60 EUR /Person
Time: 12:00 
Duration: 1,5 hours - 2 hours 
Duration: approximately 2 hours 
Includes: Entrance, transportation & local guide 
Min 10 persons
Available by pre-booking & in situ
Scandinavia’s top museum was built around the only intact 17th-century warship. Following the city tour visit the Swedish warship, Vasa - considered as one of the world's largest and the pride of the mighty Swedish navy. The Museum was built around the 17th century warship, which sank in Stockholm's inner harbor on her maiden voyage in 1628; its discovery in 1956 and subsequent salvage in 1961 is one of the most important events in marine archaeology. Painstakingly restored to its original magnificence, the Vasa represents an authentic piece of living history.
 

DAY 12: (SUNDAY): STOCKHOLM 

Breakfast at the hotel. Our representative will meet you for your transfer to the Airport.

*Please note! Regular Departure Transfer Services included in the program are only available for transfer to Arlanda Airport in Stockholm and only on the official end date of tour. The transfers are escorted by an English-speaking representative and are shared with other fellow passengers; therefore, minor waiting time at the airport may occur.