Insight Vacations Grand Tour of Scandinavia

• Alta: Meet Trine Lyrek at her working husky farm. Gain an insight to the challenges Trine and her Alaskan Huskies face when competing in marathon Arctic dog sled races. There’s also time to have a play with these gorgeous pups.

• VIP door-to-door transfer service – taken directly from your door to departing airport.
• Airport transfers at destination.
• Quality accommodation as per itinerary.
• Experiences & quality dining as per itinerary.
• Coach with more legroom, air-conditioning, sound system, video & Wi-Fi.

Day 1: Arrive in Copenhagen

Your complimentary, private transfer takes you to your local departure airport. On arrival at Copenhagen Airport, your transfer shuttle service will leave for your hotel at 09:00, 12:00 and 15:00. Join your Travel Director at 17:30, for a warm and friendly Welcome Dinner.

Day 2: Sightseeing in Copenhagen

Your Local Expert will reveal the charm of Denmark’s capital. Meet Hans Christian Andersen’s Little Mermaid gazing wistfully across the harbour and visit Christiansborg Palace, the seat of the Danish Government.

Day 3: On to Stockholm

Travel from Denmark to Sweden by crossing the incredible Øresund Bridge. Spanning 16km over the Flinte channel it’s the longest road and rail bridge in Europe

Day 4: Stockholm and Baltic Sea Cruise

Join a Local Expert for your visit to the City Hall’s marvellous Gyllene salen, the Golden Hall, and the Blå hallen, the Blue Hall, where the Nobel Prize banquets are held. Continue to Gamla Stan, the medieval heart of the city. In the evening, board your Baltic cruise to Finland and voyage through the largest archipelago in the world.

Day 5: Helsinki

Helsinki is known as a global trendsetter in design, fashion, stunning architecture and luscious parks. Disembark your Baltic cruise to meet your Local Expert. Visit the astonishing modern Church in the Rock and see the Sibelius Monument and Finlandia Hall.

Day 6: Lakes and Forests to Kuopio

Finland is a land of beautiful lakes and enchanting forests. Sit back and relax as you take in the spectacular scenery. On arrival in Kuopio, ascend Puijo Tower for a splendid panorama that will reveal why Finland is called the land of a thousand lakes.

Day 7: The Road to Rovaniemi

Journey towards the Arctic and into Lapland, the home of the Sami people. Travel via the port and university town of Oulu, to Rovaniemi, the modern capital of the region.

Day 8: Rovaniemi and Lapland

Join a Local Expert to see the Town Hall, designed by Aalvar Aalto and visit Rovaniemi Church. Next, a delight for the young at heart! Visit the Santa Claus Village where it is Christmas all year round. Meet Santa, visit the post office and cross the Arctic Circle – you’ll receive a certificate to prove you were there!

Day 9: Across the Arctic Circle

Enjoy a morning at leisure before journeying north on the road of the four winds, where you may see reindeer roaming freely as you head for one of the oldest churches in Lapland. Travel through Europe’s last great wilderness to see the national park near the gold centre of Tankavaara.

Day 10: The North Cape

Cross the rolling tundra into Norway and stop at Karasjok, the seat of the Sami Parliament and a centre of Sami culture. Visit a Sami folk museum before continuing through the unique scenery on the way to North Cape, locally known as Nordkapp.

Day 11: Through Finland to Alta

Maybe set out on a bird watching safari in the morning before returning to the mainland and travelling to Alta.

Day 12: Alta

In the morning, enjoy time at leisure in Alta. Maybe check out the prehistoric UNESCO-protected rock carvings or take a wilderness river trip? Later, at a working Husky farm, learn about the Alaskan Huskies and Arctic dog sleigh racing.

Day 13: Narvik

Travel through stunning northern scenery, past mountains and fishing villages to Narvik. Along the way, see the fjord where the battleship Tirpitz hid out and hear tales of one of the first large-scale battles of World War Two.

Day 14: Across Tysfjord to Mosjøen

Take a ferry across Tysfjord and pass Rago National Park – its fjords cutting deep into the landscape. Bid farewell to the Arctic before reaching Mosjøen, a pleasant town on the Vefsnfjord, that has a large concentration of listed wooden buildings and Norway’s oldest octagonal church.

Day 15: Laksfoss Falls to Trondhim

Drive through Namdalen then watch for salmon leaping upstream to their spawning-grounds at the mighty Laksfoss Falls. Continue via the village of Hell to Trondheim, seat of the ancient Viking kings, and Norway’s third largest city.

Day 16: Geirangerfjord

Begin one of the most scenic days you will ever experience. Norwegian Fjordland is a dream world of soaring mountains, icy glaciers and rivers which cascade thousands of feet into the green valleys below. Cross the Dovre Mountains, which form Norway’s oldest National Park.

Day 17: Geiranger at leisure

Enjoy a whole day of relaxation amid the fjords and mountains, a UNESCO World Heritage area. Consider taking an optional scenic drive along the amazing Troll’s Road, a masterpiece of engineering when it was built over 70 years ago.

Day 18: Oslo

Journey through the countryside immortalised by Ibsen in ‘Peer Gynt’ and inspiration for Edvard Grieg. Continue to Lillehammer, host of the 1994 Winter Olympics, for an orientation with your Travel Director. Then it’s on to the modern Norwegian capital of Oslo.

Day 19: Exploring Oslo

In the morning, sightseeing with a Local Expert will show you the spires and ramparts of medieval Akershus Castle guarding the harbour, the Royal Palace, and includes a visit to the Viking Ship Museum.

Day 20 Depart Oslo

Departure transfers arrive at Oslo Airport at 07:15 & 10:15.

Please note, prices listed are guide prices only and are based on 2 people sharing and don’t include any additional supplements. Holiday prices are fluid and dynamic and may be changed at a moment’s notice, prior to booking, at which point they are confirmed. Please call the team free on 0800 707 6229 for more departure dates available and a quote.