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Included
Features
• Round
trip air transportation
• Fully escorted by an English speaking tour director throughout
• Accommodations in First Class and select hotels in twin
bedded rooms with private bath
• Continental breakfast and dinner daily
• Folkloric entertainment in St. Petersburg
• All transfers, sightseeing and excursions per itinerary
by private, deluxe motor coach
• Entrance fees for all included features
• Taxes, tips and service charges for all included features except tour
escort and driver
• Baggage handling included throughout the tour for one suitcase per
person, irrespective of air carrier
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Not included:
• Items not specifically mentioned
in itinerary
• Items of a person nature such as passport fees
• Tips to tour escort and driver
• Beverages with dinner
• Additional baggage other than one piece allowed
as mentioned in the itinerary
• Airport departure taxes
• Airport taxes, fees, Fuel &
security surcharges,
and September 11th Security Fee
• Travel insurance, Visas, etc.
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DAY 1 /
DEPARTURE
Depart USA on your overnight flight to Russia.
DAY 2 / ST. PETERSBURG (Leningrad)
Upon arrival at St. Petersburg, “The Venice of the North”, you will be
met and transferred to your hotel. Balance of the day at leisure.
DAY 3 / ST. PETERSBURG
Today, your city tour includes Nevskii Prospect, the main shopping
street of St Petersburg, Kazan Cathedral, the Winter Palace, and the
Peter and Paul
Fortress, home to many of the Russian Czars. This afternoon, visit the
Hermitage,
one of the world's richest art museums, which houses old masters,
impressionists,
as well as tapestries, old jewelry, and handicrafts.
DAY 4 / ST. PETERSBURG
Drive to Pushkin, the Czar's village, home of the Imperial family from
Peter the Great right up to the last Czar. Visit the 18th Century
Palace of Catherine the Great, then Pavlovsk, to see the Grand Palace.
Tonight, an evening of folkloric entertainment.
DAY 5 / ST. PETERSBURG / HELSINKI / SILJA LINE
This morning, ride the Russian express train crossing the border into
Finland. Upon arrival in Helsinki, view the Neo-Classical Senate
Square, with Engel’s Cathedral and its domes soaring above, and the
Market Square with its colorful open-air market. Stop to see the
Temppeliaukio Rock Church, carved out of solid rock and topped with a
copper dome.Your tour will continue to the Silja Line pier where you
will board your ship bound for Stockholm.
DAY 6 / STOCKHOLM
This morning, tour Sweden’s capital which is situated on 14 islands.
Visit City Hall, stroll through the Old Town with its cobblestone
streets
and medieval buildings and the 13th Century Cathedral and walk past the
Royal Palace and the Stock Exchange. Continue to Southern Island where
you
have a splendid view over the city and the harbor.
DAY 7 / STOCKHOLM
Breakfast at hotel, followed by entire day at leisure. Today, you have
time to explore on your own Stockholm’s museums and visit the wonderful
shopping areas.
DAY 8 / STOCKHOLM / KARLSTAD
Travel along the shores of Lake Malaren to the picturesque old town of
Mariefred, dominated by the hill-top 17th century church. In the old
town below, wooden houses line narrow lanes down to the lake. Continue
along the
shores of Lake Vaenern, Sweden’s largest lake, to Karlstad.
DAY 9 / KARLSTAD / SANDERSTOELEN
Today, cross the Swedish-Norwegian border to the old town of
Kongsvinger with its ancient fortress. Proceed to Eidsvoll, on the
south end of Lake Mjoesa, where the Norwegian constitution was framed
marking emancipation
from Danish rule. Continue along the shores of Lake Mjoesa, Norway’s
largest
lake, to the town of Gjoevik and past the village of Dokka and through
the
countryside to the resort center of Sanderstoelen.
DAY 10/
SANDERSTOELEN / FLAAM / ULVIK
This morning ascend the impressive Hallingskarvet Mountain Road before
descending to the fjord village of Aurland and proceed to the
tiny fjord village of Flaam at the head of the Aurlands Fjord. After
lunch, sail by a modern fjordferry for over a two hour cruise on the
impressive Aurlands and Naeroy Fjords. View cascading waterfalls,
isolated hamlets, and steep mountain sides, a photographer's dream.
Disembark at Gudvangen and drive
through the Naeroydal Valley before ascending the hairpin-curves of
Stalheim
Canyon Road and drive past Tvindefossen Waterfall to the resort town of
Voss,
birthplace of Knute Rockne, famous Notre Dame football star. Continue
past
the Skjervefossen Waterfall to the picturesque village of Ulvik, one of
the
famous fjord resorts in Hardanger.
DAY 11/ ULVIK
You will have a full day excursion to Bergen. Drive past charming fjord
villages and further along the shores of Hardanger Fjord and experience
the beauty of the steep mountains, waterfalls cascading into the
crystal clear fjord, and colorful green hillsides dotted with plush
fruit orchards and
stop at Steinsdalfoss Waterfall. Walk behind the thundering 100 feet
wall.
Proceed to the old Hanseatic town of Bergen and an orientation tour.
See
the colorful Fish and Flower Market along the Waterfront.
DAY 12 / ULVK / OSLO
Ferry from Bruravik to Brimnes and drive along the Soer Fjord and make
a stop at the Latefoss Waterfall, tumbling down the mountainside in a
double avalanche and gently spraying the road. Continue through the
Dyreskar Mountain Pass and across the vast Hardangervidda Mountain
Plateau, thousands of
square kilometers of heath, lakes and mountain peaks. Drive along Lake
Seljord to Heddal and visit the 12th century Heddal Stave Church,
Norway’s
largest stave church. Continued via Drammen and along the Oslo Fjord to
Oslo, Norway's capital.
DAY 13 / OSLO
Tour Oslo, the oldest capital of the north and Norway’s most important
maritime city. Visit the preserved Viking Long Ships, Frogner Park with
150 sculptures by Gustav Vigeland, and the Kon Tiki Raft. This
after-noon
is free for exploring on your own or for last minute shopping. Tonight,
enjoy a farewell dinner.
DAY 14 / OSLO / USA
This morning transfer to the airport for your flight home, bringing
with you wonderful memories of your fabulous trip.
Optional 3 Day Extension:
DAY 14 / CRUISING OVERNIGHT FERRY from OSLO to NORTHERN
DENMARK
DAY 15 / COPENHAGEN
Disembark this morning and continue through the Danish countryside
enroute to Copenhagen. Transfer to your hotel for the last two nights
of your interesting journey. A tour of Copenhagen will include the
visit to see the “Little
Mermaid” in the harbor. Christianborg Palace, seat of the Danish
Parliament.
DAY 16 / COPENHAGEN
Today will be at leisure. You may wish to take an optional half
day sightseeing tour of North Seeland. Visit Frederksborg &
Kronborg Castle's. Kronborg was Shakespeare's setting for Hamlet, and
was built in 1582. This evening you may wish to visit the famous Tivoli
Gardens, the city's
colorful amusement park, where you will enjoy your special farewell
dinner.
DAY 17 / COPENHAGEN / USA
This morning transfer to the airport for your flight home, bringing
with you wonderful memories of your fabulous trip.
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