Scandinavia & Baltic Highlights Tour

Refer to the “Arrival Instructions” for directions on where and when to meet your Tour Manager for the transfer to your Copenhagen Airport area hotel. During the “Welcome to Scandinavia” dinner, get acquainted with your fellow travelers.

This morning, a local guide will introduce you to the treasures of Copenhagen, including Amalienborg Palace (residence of the king and royal family), Frederiks Kirke (also known as the Marble Church), and Copenhagen’s trademark statue of the Little Mermaid. Following your city tour, Copenhagen’s Nyhavn district is the perfect setting for an independent lunch amid the colorful townhouses and historic wooden ships that line the canal. The afternoon is free to continue your exploration of Copenhagen or join your Tour Manager for an optional Danish Castles excursion. This evening, enjoy an included visit to the Tivoli Gardens, Copenhagen’s famous amusement park and pleasure garden. Take in the vibrant nightlife during an independent dinner at one of the park’s many restaurants.

Denmark is made up of the Jutland Peninsula as well as more than 400 islands, with Zealand and Funen as the largest. Upon departing the Danish capital, located on Zealand, travel west to Funen via the 18 kilometer (11.25 mile) Storebælt (Great Belt) Fixed Link, consisting of two bridges and a tunnel. By late morning, arrive in Odense for an included visit to the Hans Christian Andersen Museum. Born in 1805, Andersen went from humble beginnings to enormous fame for his beloved fairy tales including “The Ugly Duckling,” “The Princess and the Pea,” and “The Emperor’s New Clothes.” Continue north on the Jutland Peninsula to the port city of Hirtshals, where you will embark on an overnight cruise to Bergen, Norway. Dinner will be served on-board.

Wake up to the invigorating breeze of the North Sea and arrive in Bergen’s harbor by mid-day. Bergen is one of Europe’s oldest port cities, established as a center of trade in the 12th century. Bergen’s old wharf, known as Bryggen, is a reminder of the town’s importance as part of the Hanseatic League’s trading empire. Wander among the historic row houses where you will find potters, jewelers and leather crafters, as well as restaurants and cafés. Departing Bergen, take in the pure Norwegian scenery on the way to your hotel in Stalheim. Before your included dinner, explore the grounds and take photos of the hotel’s aesthetically unique location.

Spectacular vistas abound today! Experience a one-hour journey on the scenic Flåm Railway, past mountains, waterfalls and stunning landscapes. The railway itself is an engineering marvel, descending 2,844 feet as you approach Flåm. Pause in Flåm to enjoy a relaxing independent lunch and explore the village shops or the railway museum. This afternoon, board a fjord steamer for a two-hour cruise through the Aurlandsfjord and the Nærøyfjord, the world's narrowest fjord and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Disembark at Gudvangen where the motor coach will be waiting to return you to the Stalheim hotel for dinner.

This morning, visit the Borgund Stave Church. Made of wood and coated in a unique natural tar, stave churches dotted the countryside of Norway during the Middle Ages. Built around 1180, Borgund is exceptionally well preserved and is one of the most distinctive stave churches still standing. From Borgund, lush wooded areas, hills, lakes and resort villages complement the journey towards Oslo. Make an afternoon stop before reaching your Oslo hotel for check-in and an included dinner.

A local city guide will accompany you and provide insight into Oslo’s scenic waterfront, fjord-dominated landscape and Norwegian culture. The fascinating Vigeland Sculpture Park is included in your orientation tour. You’ll also see landmarks such as the Parliament building, Royal Palace, and Oslo City Hall the venue for the Nobel Peace Prize ceremony. The rest of the day is yours to discover all that Oslo has to offer. Aker Brygge, the revitalized waterfront district, is a pleasant place for an independent lunch and for further exploration. Consider spending the rest of your free time touring the Akershus Fortress, studying intriguing works of art at the Munch Museum, or joining the optional Bygdoy Peninsula excursion, including the Fram and the Norwegian Museum of Cultural History. Dinner is independent this evening, providing you opportunity to experience Oslo’s rich culinary culture.

Today is a full day of travel from Oslo to Stockholm. Take in the beautiful scenery as you pass by rich farmlands, expansive pine forests, rustic terrain and pristine lakes. Stop for an independent lunch in one of the small towns along the way. Dinner will be served after check-in at your Stockholm area hotel.

Start the day with an overview of city landmarks by motor coach, followed by a walking tour through Gamla Stan, Stockholm’s Old Town. Situated on Stadsholmen Island and two islets, Gamla Stan dates back to the 13th century and consists of medieval alleyways, cobbled streets, and well-preserved Gothic buildings including the Royal Palace, Stockholm Cathedral, and the Riddarholmen Church (one of the oldest buildings in Stockholm). For your independent lunch in Gamla Stan, try a Swedish smörgåsbord at one of the many restaurants. The afternoon is free for independent sightseeing or join your Tour Manager for an optional Drottningholm Palace excursion. This evening, return to the Stockholm city center for an independent dinner in the lively and bustling Swedish capital.

Stroll along Stockholm's harbor or join your Tour Manager for the optional Vasa Museum excursion. By lunchtime, transfer to Skansen, the world’s first open-air museum. Founded in 1891, Skansen features 150 Swedish farms and dwellings illustrating how people lived between the 16th and the early 20th centuries. Staff members are dressed in period clothing and provide insight into daily life over the past 500 years. The museum is also home to the Stockholm Zoo, which features native Nordic animals. After an independent lunch in Skansen, transfer to the harbor to check-in for the overnight cruise to Helsinki, Finland. Explore the ship before dining on a lavish buffet dinner. Spend the rest of your evening experiencing all that the ship has to offer including tax free shopping, musical entertainment and dancing.

Enjoy breakfast on the ship's deck as the island-dotted shores of Finland come into view. The cruise ship will dock in Helsinki by mid-morning. Board the motor coach and proceed to the city center where a local guide will join you to share some of the city’s notable sites including the Rock Church, Senate Square, Uspenski Cathedral and Helsinki Cathedral. This afternoon, visit Helsinki’s open-air markets where local merchants sell traditional foods and local treats, as well as handicrafts and souvenirs. After check-in at your hotel, continue your exploration of the city during an independent dinner.

Transfer to the Helsinki ferry terminal for a two-hour crossing over the Gulf of Finland to Tallinn, Estonia. Tallinn’s Old Town is one of the best maintained medieval cities in Europe. A local guide will take you on a walking tour through the winding cobbled streets. This well-preserved 13th-century city is divided into two distinct parts: Toompea Hill, home to the gentry that ruled over the countryside; and the Lower Town, where merchants traded goods from around the world on the Town Hall Square. Find a quiet restaurant in the Old Town for an independent dinner or participate in the optional Olde Hansa Dinner excursion.

Depart Tallinn and travel to Pärnu, a medieval city and the ultimate Estonian summer destination. While there take in its laid-back atmosphere, sandy beaches, spas and restaurants. Stop at a local market to purchase snack items for a picnic along the beach promenade, or have lunch at one of the sidewalk cafés. This afternoon, continue your journey into Riga, the capital city of Latvia, where you will spend the next two nights.

Riga is the largest of the three Baltic capitals, boasting a skyline of Gothic spires and one of the world’s richest collections of Art Nouveau architecture. A local guide will point out some of the city’s highlights including the Castle, St. Peter’s Church and Dome Cathedral. The remainder of the day is at your leisure. For lunch, wind your way through the enormous Central Market offering savory sausage, cheese, black bread, smoked fish and other local favorites. Or, enjoy a hearty meal at a friendly bistro. You may wish to try the mysterious Riga Black Balsam, a traditional Latvian herbal liqueur made with natural ingredients mixed in pure vodka. Another choice for the afternoon is to join your tour manager for the optional "Museum of Occupation" excursion, providing a look into the occupations of Latvia by the Nazis and the Soviet Union between the years of 1940 - 1991. Riga's Old Town is within easy walking distance of the hotel and is an excellent place to soak up the local sights and flavors during an independent dinner.

A morning drive takes you over the border and into Lithuania. Your first stop is the unique Hill of Crosses, a pilgrimage location thought to have been established in 1831 after an uprising during the Polish - Russian war. Continue to the nearby city of Šiauliai where a local guide will introduce you to the history of the area. During your free-time, stop into one of Šiauliai's many museums such as the Chocolate Museum, the Cat Museum, or the Šiauliai History Museum. Return to Riga this evening for a "Farewell Dinner" with your fellow tour participants.

Early morning transfer to the Riga Airport for your return flight home.