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Worldwide Escorted Bus Tours & River Cruises
Northern Highlights & The Arctic Circle
Few places on earth are as fascinating as those you will visit on this extraordinary vacation. Begin in Rovaniemi, the capital of Finnish Lapland, where you will experience the enchanting beauty of the land of reindeer and the midnight sun. Highlights include an Arctic Circle crossing and visits to Santa’s workshop, the Gold Museum, Finland’s main national park, and the open-air Sámi Museum. On to Norway, where fjords and pristine landscapes are the order of the day. Drive to the North Cape, take a spectacular coastal cruise from Honningsvåg to Hammerfest, then back on land through forests and past lakes, waterfalls, and archetypal wooden churches. Visit Narvik with its war museum, Mo, and Trondheim with its beautiful fjord. Arrive in Sweden to marvel at the grand mountain scenery and rural countryside. Visit Lake Siljan with its shoreside villages, and the university town of Uppsala. Continue to Stockholm for guided sightseeing of the beautiful Swedish capital with its canals, lakes, palaces, and parks. An overnight ferry returns you to Finland for a guided tour of Helsinki and the finale of your grand vacation.
Highlights:
Arctic Circle crossing, Lapland and Santa Claus Workshop, Lake Siljan
Itinerary:
| Day #1 |
ROVANIEMI, FINLAND. Check into your hotel. The rest of the day is free for you to start exploring Rovaniemi. Tonight, meet your Tour Director and fellow travelers. |
| Day #2 |
ROVANIEMI. A whole day to enjoy the capital of Finnish Lapland. For hundreds of years it was famous for exporting furs and salmon to the world’s rich and powerful. Unfortunately, the town was totally destroyed during World War II. The new town, which you’ll visit during this morning's orientation drive, was designed by Alvar Aalto in the shape of reindeer antlers. Sights include Lappia Hall, the Town Hall, the new modern church with its intriguing frescoes, and the Arctic Center. Afternoon at leisure or join an optional excursion to find out more about Lapland. (B) |
| Day #3 |
ROVANIEMI–TANKAVAARA–SAARISELKÄ. As you cross the Arctic Circle (66°31’N), you are in incomparable, unspoiled Lapland, land of reindeer and the midnight sun. Stop at the Santa Claus Workshop with a chance to meet Father Christmas himself. North to Sodankylä, where you see the charming Vanha Kirkko, Lapland’s oldest wooden church dating back to the 17th century. At Tankavaara, visit the Gold Museum and try panning for gold if you wish. Overnight in Saariselkä, on the edge of the virgin wilderness and part of Finland’s major national park. It is the largest winter sport center in Finland and a paradise for hikers and mountain bike lovers in summer. (B,D) |
| Day #4 |
SAARISELKÄ–HONNINGSVÅG, NORWAY. Via Ivalo you cross into Norway for a visit to the fascinating Sápmi Park. Further into Norway and across the beautiful Porsangen Fjord to Honningsvåg on the island of Magerøya, home to 4,000 people and 5,000 reindeer. Tonight, one of the highlights of this tour is the included drive to the North Cape, Europe’s last northern outpost, on a sheer cliff rising 1,000 feet from the Atlantic Ocean. From May 11 to July 31, if the sky is clear, you’ll see the midnight sun rolling just above the horizon! (B,D) |
| Day #5 |
HONNINGSVÅG–COASTAL CRUISE–HAMMERFEST–ALTA. One of the highlights of this tour is today’s fjord cruise from Honningsvåg to Hammerfest. You will enjoy some of Norway’s most beautiful coastal and mountain scenery as you cruise southwards. Disembark at Hammerfest and drive to Alta, situated at the mouth of the world’s richest salmon river, for an overnight. (B,D) |
| Day #6 |
ALTA–MÅLSELVFOSSEN–NARVIK. Continue your unforgettable journey south along the stunning shoreline of Norway. The road meanders along Kvaenangenfjord and Lyngenfjord. You are now in the Troms Province, still way beyond the Arctic Circle but with a climate mild enough to allow very successful farming. Stop for pictures at the thundering Målselvfossen Waterfall. Hear about fierce World War II battles as you approach Narvik, rebuilt after near total destruction. (B) |
| Day #7 |
NARVIK–MO. Visit Narvik’s War Museum and relive how Norwegian troops, with the help of their allies, showed the world that the Nazi war machine was not invulnerable. Enter Nordland; not far from Mo you cross the Arctic Circle again and are back in a world where the sun rises and sets every day of the year. Overnight in the little town of Mo I Rana. (B) |
| Day #8 |
MO–MOSJÖEN–TRONDHEIM. On the agenda today: the ancient octagonal church of Mosjöen; the spectacular Laksforsen Waterfall; the forests and rivers of Namdalen Valley; and vistas of Trondheimsfjord, the World War II hideout of the German battleship Tirpitz. (B,D) |
| Day #9 |
TRONDHEIM–ROROS. Spend this morning getting to know something about Norway’s third-largest city, also known as the “Gateway to the North.” The main sight in town is the Nidarosdomen, the most famous cathedral in Norway. In the afternoon, travel southeast through some fine alpine scenery to Roros, not far from the Swedish border, for an overnight. (B,D) |
| Day #10 |
ROROS–LAKE FEMUND–MORA AREA, SWEDEN. Grand mountain scenery and beautiful Lake Femund are part of today’s journey south on the way to Falun. In the heart of the Dalarna region, the most typical and unspoiled countryside in Sweden. (B,D |
| Day #11 |
MORA AREA–UPPSALA–STOCKHOLM. Continue your scenic drive through typical Dalarnian villages. A short stop in the university city of Uppsala, then just a few more miles before reaching Sweden’s capital, Stockholm, for an overnight. (B) |
| Day #12 |
STOCKHOLM–OVERNIGHT BALTIC SEA CROSSING TO HELSINKI, FINLAND. Stockholm is perhaps the most beautiful of the Scandinavian capitals. The effect of its crystalline waters flowing through the city’s intersecting canals gives a luminous appearance to palaces, castles, and parks. Sightseeing includes the City Hall and other landmarks. The afternoon is free for your own exploration. In the evening, embark on the Silja Line ferry to Helsinki. On board you can enjoy music, dancing, and shopping. (B) |
| Day #13 |
HELSINKI. After breakfast on board, disembark for your city sightseeing tour with a Local Guide. Highlights will include the City Hall and Parliament House, the Presidential Palace, the monumental railway station, and the great Lutheran Cathedral. An afternoon of leisure or for some individual exploring. (B) |
| Day #14 |
HELSINKI. Your vacation ends with breakfast this morning. (B) |
Hotels:
Rovaniemi Scandic (F), Saariselkä Holiday Club (F), Honningsvåg Rica Nordkapp (F) or Rica Bryggen (F), Alta Rica Alta (F), Narvik Quality Grand Royal (F), Mo Fjordgården (ST), Trondheim Quality St. Augustin (ST), Roros Roros (F), Mora Area First Hotel Grand (F) at Falun, Stockholm Quality Nacka (ST), Helsinki Sokos Alexanteri (F)
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Pricing Options:
| Depart US | Land-Only |
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| 05/30/2011 | $2,139.00 | | 06/06/2011 | $2,139.00 | | 06/13/2011 | $2,259.00 | | 06/20/2011 | $2,259.00 | | 06/27/2011 | $2,259.00 | | 07/04/2011 | $2,259.00 | | 07/11/2011 | $2,259.00 | | 07/18/2011 | $2,259.00 | | 07/25/2011 | $2,259.00 | | 08/01/2011 | $2,189.00 | | 08/08/2011 | $2,189.00 | | 08/15/2011 | $2,189.00 | | 08/22/2011 | $2,119.00 |
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