17D16N Scanbaltic Tour

<p><strong>TODAY’S HIGHLIGHTS:</strong> Arrival. Transfer to the hotel.</p><p><strong>Welcome to Europe!!!</strong> Upon arriving at the airport we will be waiting to transfer you to your hotel. You can enjoy free time until your tour starts. Please, check the informative posters placed at the hotel reception area which have all the information about your upcoming services such as meeting place, time and the guide’s name.</p>

<p><strong>TODAY’S HIGHLIGHTS:</strong> Visit of Copenhagen, pleasant scenery in southern Denmark.</p><p>In the morning we enjoy a comprehensive tour of the Danish capital with a local guide. Copenhagen is the largest Scandinavian city, and full of contrasts, the popular Tivoli, Christiansborg Palace, the terraces of Nyhavn, and The Little Mermaid. We will then travel to Jutland, passing through pleasant scenery on our way. En route we take a 20km bridge over the sea and stop at <strong>ODENSE</strong>, where we can visit its gothic cathedral and the house of Andersen. We continue on to <strong>AARHUS</strong> and our accommodation.</p>

<p><strong>TODAY´S HIGHLIGHTS:</strong> Norwegian coastline. </p><p>We will travel to <strong>HIRTSHALS</strong>, where we will take a <strong>ferry crossing the North Sea to Norway</strong>. A three-hour voyage to <strong>KRISTIANSAND</strong>. We will continue along Norway’s southern coastline and enjoy its stunning landscapes. Next stop <strong>STAVANGER</strong>, a small picturesque town that has an active port by the fjord. </p><p><em>Note:</em> Ferry operation hours vary depending on the months. Sometimes it is normally reserved to have lunch on the boat.</p>

<p><strong>TODAY´S HIGHLIGHTS:</strong> beautiful fjord and sea landscapes. Funicular trip to mount Floyen.</p><p>Upon leaving the city, we will stop at the <strong>‘Swords in Rock’</strong> monument, where we will be reminded of the Vikings, before continuing the very beautiful scenic tour. We follow the route going through tunnels, bridges and travel some stretches by <strong>boat to go along the fjord coast of Norway</strong>. One of its undersea tunnels is the deepest one in the world. This stage gets more relaxed and spectacular with its two boat trips. We will arrive in <strong>BERGEN</strong> at lunch time. We take a <strong>funicular trip to Mount Fløyen</strong> which offers amazing views of the town and Bergen fjord. There will be some leisure time later to enjoy the capital city of fjords.</p>

<p><strong>TODAY´S HIGHLIGHTS:</strong> Spectacular scenery of mountains and fjords. Cruise. </p><p>More fantastic landscapes today, images of Norway’s interior region fjords, glaciers, lakes and forests. We will travel to <strong>SOGNEFJORD</strong>, Norway’s largest fjord. Prior to arrival, we will stop at the beautiful <strong>TVINDEFOSSEN waterfall</strong>. We will take a magnificent <strong>cruise</strong> between the cities of <strong>GUDVANGEN</strong> and <strong>FLAM</strong>; enjoy stunning landscapes during this two-hour voyage. We continue our journey crossing magnificent snow-covered landscapes. We travel through Lærdal Tunnel, one of the longest in the world. Next, a visit to <strong>BORGUND’s 12th century wooden church (entrance included)</strong> which is considered Norway’s best-preserved medieval church. We arrive in <strong>OSLO</strong> with free time to check out its port, main streets, and the artworks at Frognerparken.</p>

<p><strong>TODAY´S HIGHLIGHTS:</strong> Sightseeing tour in Oslo. impressive scenery with mountains, forests and lakes.</p><p>We include a <strong>sightseeing tour</strong> with a local guide of the Norwegian capital; this city combines its vibrant modern architecture with its classical buildings, magnificent scenery and large parks with sculptures. It has been nominated the "European green capital". After the tour, if you want you can visit the Vikings museum. Departure for Sweden. Enjoy landscapes with forests and lakes. Next stop in <strong>OREBRO</strong>, a town next to a beautiful lake with a castle and charming historic center. Time for stroll and to take lunch. Continuing to <strong>STOCKHOLM</strong>, arriving in the evening.</p>

<p><strong>TODAY´S HIGHLIGHTS:</strong> Stockholm sightseeing. </p><p>Today we make a <strong>panoramic tour</strong> of this very beautiful capital city built on 13 islands joined together. We will see the Gamla Stand or the “City between the Bridges”, the old quarter of the city, full of life where there are many monumental buildings such as the Nobel Museum, alongside the main square of Stortorget, which pays tribute to the winners of the Nobel Prizes, the Cathedral and the Royal Palace. Whenever possible, we will enjoy a pretty view from the Fjällgatan viewpoint. Then leisure time. We recommend visiting the museums and parks. Optionally, we suggest a visit to the City Hall and to the Vasa museum-ship.</p>

<p><strong>TODAY’S HIGHLIGHTS:</strong> Ferry to Finland. Enjoy a free day of leisure in Stockholm. </p><p>In the evening we will <strong>board a modern ferry</strong> traveling overnight to <strong>Finland</strong> , where accommodation will be in double cabins with private bathrooms.</p>

<p><strong>TODAY’S HIGHLIGHTS:</strong>Forests, lakes, pleasant landscapes. </p><p>As we arrive to <strong>Finland</strong>, we recommend that you go to the ship’s deck for sunrise, enjoy mesmerizing landscapes from the sea as we sail along Aland Islands, hundreds of islands covered by forests. We disembark the ferry and have time to walk around <strong>TURKU</strong>, a city with a very strong Swedish influence. We continue our journey to the neighbouring city of <strong>NAANTALI</strong>, a very picturesque town with wooden houses next to the sea. We travel on until we arrive in <strong>HELSINKI</strong>,reaching at lunchtime. In the afternoon enjoy leisure time, you will be able to explore the city, with its old market, buildings with Russian influence and churches.</p>

<p><strong>TODAY’S HIGHLIGHTS:</strong> Stage by the sea with beautiful landscapes on the way out of Helsinki. </p><p>We enjoy a <strong>boat trip to Suomenlinna Islands</strong>, a group of islands where we can witness a great fortress that used to protect the sea entry to the city, it has been declared World Heritage. Take time to walk around, it is possible to cross the islands through small pedestrian bridges. Later we will board a ferry to <strong>Estonia</strong>. The ferry trip will be around 2 hours 30 minutes. During the departure from Helsinki you have great views of the surrounding islands. On to <strong>TALLINN!</strong></p>

<p><strong>TODAY’S HIGHLIGHTS:</strong> city tour of Tallinn. </p><p>Tallinn, the capital of Estonia is a wonderful city with a well-conserved medieval centre. We will enjoy a <strong>comprehensive tour</strong> of the city, its walls, churches, squares, and its medieval streets filled with tourist attractions. An afternoon at leisure.</p>

<p><strong>TODAY’S HIGHLIGHTS:</strong> Beautiful extensive landscapes covered with woods and small towns on the way. Turaida Castle. Lunch included.</p><p>Today we pass through forests and plains to reach <strong>PARNU</strong> , a popular spa city. We then travel on to <strong>Latvia</strong> . In <strong>TURAIDA</strong> we visit the medieval castle, surrounded by a large park with sculptures dedicated to Latvian Folklore. After lunch, included, we pay a visit to <strong>SIGULDA</strong> , the small and charming capital situated in a very beautiful landscape. We continue our journey, arriving to <strong>RIGA</strong> in the middle of the afternoon.</p>

<p><strong>TODAY’S HIGHLIGHTS:</strong> Sightseeing of Riga.</p><p>Enjoy a <strong>sightseeing tour of the capital city</strong>, Riga. It is the most populated city of the Baltic countries, with a more modern look, which better preserves the remnants of the Soviet rule. The afternoon is free time.</p>

<p><strong>TODAY’S HIGHLIGHTS:</strong> Rundale palace, Hill of crosses, Trakai castle. Lunch included.</p><p>We will depart for <strong>LITHUANIA</strong> early in the morning. On our way there, we will visit the <strong>BAROQUE PALACE OF RUNDALE</strong>, built by the same architect who designed Saint Petersburg’s Hermitage Museum. We will cross over into <strong>Lithuania</strong>. This country has a strong Catholic influence, highlighted by the impressive <strong>HILL OF CROSSES</strong>, thousands of crosses of all sizes. <strong>Lunch included</strong> will be taken en route. Afterwards, we will visit <strong>TRAKAI</strong>, a gorgeous castle located on an island in a lake, close to Vilnius. Ending the day in <strong>VILNIUS</strong>.</p><p>Note: Depending on the duration of sunlight, the visit to Trakai may take place on Wednesday after visiting the city.</p>

<p><strong>TODAY’S HIGHLIGHTS:</strong>Sightseeing of Vilnius.</p><p><strong>Sightseeing tour of the city</strong> built on top of seven hills (like Rome, to which they like comparing it). In the city centre, enjoy the Baroque churches, its walls, its castle, its market streets, and its 1,200 medieval houses. Afternoon at leisure.</p>

<p><strong>TODAY’S HIGHLIGHTS:</strong> Grutas Park</p><p>Today we continue to <strong>Poland</strong>. We will visit <strong>GRUTAS PARK</strong>, known as “Stalin’s World”, a park with 86 statues from Soviet times. Lunch stop in the charming town of <strong>AUGUSTOW</strong> which is located next to a lake. We will continue to the centre of Poland. Arriving in <strong>WARSAW</strong> at the end of the day.</p>

<p><strong>TODAY’S HIGHLIGHTS:</strong> Sightseeing tour of Warsaw.</p><p>We start the day with a <strong>sightseeing tour of Warsaw</strong>. We will visit its Old Town, Royal Castle, the Ghetto Heroes Monument, and Lazienki Park. Enjoy some free time afterwards, to stroll around.</p><p>End of our services. Check the time of your flight in case you need an additional night.</p>