DAY 1

• HELSINKI

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• Get Settled
• Meet your private driver and vehicle for an airport transfer. Your driver will be holding a name sign at the arrival gates. For your added comfort, an English-speaking assistant will assist you at hotel check-in, walk you through your welcome package documents and itinerary, and answer any questions you may have.
• A welcome package with a city map, train tickets (if relevant), and any other touristic information that we deem you may find useful, will be provided to you on your first day in destination.

DAY 2

• HELSINKI

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• Explore with an Expert
• Helsinki is one of Europe’s most modern and culturally progressive cities, yet it remains in touch with an intriguing history stretching back over 450 years. Meet your private guide and set out on foot for a walking tour of Helsinki, discovering the highlights of the city like Senate Square, the oldest part of central Helsinki, with the iconic bright white Helsinki Cathedral elevated above the surrounding Government Palace and University of Helsinki. See the unique architecture of the Parliament House and Finlandia Hall, and admire the 19th century Uspenski Cathedral. When possible, you’ll also visit Temppeliaukion Church, also known as the Church of the Rock, with its interior walls comprised of the exposed natural bedrock which was excavated to supports its copper dome. Then, parting ways with your guide, you’ll board a ferry with direct service to Suomenlinna, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and island fortress, dating back to the 18th century. Upon arrival, you’ll be greeted by your private Fortress guide, to enjoy the beautiful nature of the island or explore the tunnels and Suomenlinna Museum. After about an hour, you’ll bid farewell to your guide and the island, as you board the return ferry for your return to Helsinki.
• Meet your private driver and vehicle for a port transfer. Your driver will be holding a name sign near the exit from the ship.

DAY 3

• STOCKHOLM

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• The Journey Continues…
• Upon disembarkation, a private English-speaking assistant will be waiting for you at the port near the ship's exit, holding a sign with your name on it. They will direct you to your awaiting private transfer, and accompany you to your hotel for check-in.
• Meet your private guide and driver, departing from your hotel on a half-day tour of Stockholm's 18th century Royal Palace and historic Old Town. The Royal Palace, also known as the Stockholms Slott or Kungliga Slottet, is the official residence of the Swedish monarchy. The stunning palace has hundreds of rooms decorated in Baroque and Rococo style. See Queen Kristina's silver throne in the Hall of State, admire the beauty of the exquisite reception rooms, stroll between segments of the palace's five museums, and even revel in the royal costumes and armor in the Armory. Afterward, spend some time exploring the charming Gamla Stan, Stockholm's medieval Old Town. Walk around and admire the lovely cathedrals and North German-style architecture of the surrounding buildings as you stroll the old cobblestone streets. Discover Stortget, Stockholm's oldest square, and Kopmangatan, the oldest street in the city, with history linking back to the city's 13th century founding.

DAY 4

• STOCKHOLM

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• Treasures and Pleasures
• Meet your private guide and driver, and depart on a half-day tour to the 17th century Drottningholm Palace, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and the private residence of the Swedish royal family. The crown jewel among Swedish palaces, the beautiful Drottningholm is located 7 miles west of Stockholm on Lovö Island in Lake Mälaren. "Versailles in miniature", is an oft-used epithet for this former summer residence. The palace boasts magnificent suites from the 17th to 19th centuries, extensive parks, its own theater and a Chinese pavilion. The Drottningholm Court Theater is a unique attraction with its original scenery, 200-year old stage machinery and interior decoration virtually untouched by the passage of time. Take in lavish luxury and majestic beauty today as you discover the palace of the Swedish royals.

DAY 5

• STOCKHOLM TO OSLO

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• En Route
• Meet your private driver and vehicle for a train station transfer. Your driver will be holding a name sign near the first coach.
• Depart by train from Stockholm to Oslo. Approximate travel time ranges from 6-7 hours depending on the departure.
• Embark on a short, self-guided walking transfer, with your hotel and the central Train Station just two minutes apart.

DAY 6

• OSLO

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• Get a Lay of the Land
• For your added comfort, an English-speaking assistant will meet you at your hotel to walk you through your welcome package documents, your itinerary, and answer any questions you may have.
• Set out on a half-day walking tour with a private guide, exploring the heart of Oslo, the Norwegian capital. Walk the ramparts of the 13th century Akershus Fortress, medieval residence of the royals with a coastal view. Discover the city’s main street Karl Johans gate, rich with Oslo’s highlights, where you can admire the likes of the 19th century Royal Palace, and stroll part of the surrounding 54-acre public green space known as Palace Park, with its finely kept grounds. View the Parliament Building known as The Storting, see the 17th century Oslo Cathedral, admire some of the grandiose old university buildings, and venture over to Radhusplassen where you can view the Radhus, Oslo’s City Hall where the annual Nobel Peace Prize ceremony is held.

DAY 7

• OSLO TO FLAM

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• Cross an Item off the Bucket List
• For your added comfort, your luggage will be picked up at your hotel in Oslo and safely transferred to your upcoming hotel in Bergen. With luggage being taken care of, you can sit back and enjoy your train journey hassle-free, taking in the breathtaking views along the way.
  
  Note: please pack a small overnight bag if you're spending a night in the fjords before arriving to your Bergen hotel.
• Embark on a short, self-guided walking transfer, with your hotel and the central Train Station just two minutes apart.
• Transfer from Oslo to Flam today by train, with a connection in Myrdal. The Bergen Railway is a unique experience on Northern Europe's highest-altitude railway line. One of the greatest challenges is the harsh and quickly changing weather. The line is exposed to deep low-pressure centers from the west, which can mean strong winds and heavy snow for part of the year. Keeping the railway open demands great effort and technical expertise. Today, skilled workers, effective equipment, tunnels and snow tunnels make the Bergen Railway one of the safest and most comfortable ways of travelling between Oslo and Bergen. The line is consistently ranked among the top rail experiences in the world. Four stops before the end of the line in Bergen, you'll disembark in Myrdal. In Myrdal, board a cogwheel train to Flam on the Flam Railway. The scenic 12-mile route between Myrdal and Flam is one of the steepest non-rack railway tracks in the world and provides some of Norway's wildest and most magnificent scenery. On the ride you can see rivers that cut through deep ravines, waterfalls cascade down the side of steep, snow-capped mountains, and mountain farms cling dizzily to sheer slopes. There are also a few spirals along the route which allow trains to rise on a steady curve until it has completed a loop, passing over itself as it gains height, allowing the railway to gain vertical elevation in a relatively short distance.
• Take a short, self-guided walking transfer. Hotels in Flam are all located within just a few minutes of the Train Station.
• Setting out from the pier on a small, specially-designed RIB boat, your captain and guide will take you and a small group of participants on a picturesque fjord safari up the Aurlandsfjord and into the Naeroyfjord, which makes up part of the West Norwegian Fjords UNESCO World Heritage Site. Cruise toward Gudvangen at the end of the fjord, using it as your turning point. This is the narrowest part of the fjord where the dramatic cliffsides converge, creating an ever impressive stretch of scenery. You'll head back to Flam on the other side of the fjord for a different view, stopping along the way to admire the scenery, looking to spot seals, porpoises, and eagles. Hear about the fjord, local history, and the wildlife, along with tales, and legends, from various places of interest. At Undredal, you'll go ashore to enjoy this little village squeezed in between a tall mountain. Inhabited by 65 people and almost 500 goats, it's no surprise that the specialty of this village is the production of goat cheese, which you'll get to sample at a local cafe! You will also hear about the tradition of cheese production, and you listen to folktales and folk songs before returning to Flam.
• Enjoy an included dinner this evening at Fretheim Hotel. The hotel restaurant, Arven, has a view looking straight toward the fjord, and locally-sourced ingredients is at the heart of its cuisine, which is only natural when some of the best producers of cheese, meat, fruits and vegetables are right outside the door!

DAY 8

• FLAM TO BERGEN

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• All Aboard!
• This morning, enjoy time at leisure to explore at your own pace, or relax at your hotel.
• Take a short, self-guided walking transfer. Hotels in Flam are all located within just a few minutes of the Port.
• Enjoy the incredible scenery of your boat ride from Flam to Bergen, passing through Sognefjord, Norway's largest and deepest fjord. Cruise past the entrance to the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Naeroyfjord, catching glimpses of what's considered the world's number one natural heritage site by the National Geographic Society. The total journey will take approximately 5.5 hrs.
• Take a short, self-guided walking transfer. Your hotel is located within just a few minutes of the Port.

DAY 9

• BERGEN

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• Explore with an Expert
• Depart your hotel on foot alongside your private guide, setting out on a highlights walking tour of the colorful city of Bergen. You'll stroll through the old wharf area known as Bryggen, a UNESCO World Heritage Site revered for its Hanseatic commercial buildings, a nod to Bergen's former importance in the 14th-16th century Hanseatic League empire. Visit the town's traditional fish market, a lively and oddly picturesque area where the local catch has been traded for over 800 years. Discover small wooden houses from the 18th and 19th century, tucked away on charming streets and narrow alleyways, and enjoy a round-trip ride on the Floibanen funicular railway to the top of Mount Floyen, offering magnificent views of the city below.

DAY 10

• BERGEN TO COPENHAGEN

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• See the Signature Sights in Style
• Meet your private driver and vehicle for an airport transfer.
• Board a flight in Bergen with direct service to Copenhagen. Approximate flight time is 1.5 hours.
• In the company of a private guide and driver, enjoy an airport transfer combined with a panoramic city tour of Copenhagen. You'll first meet your driver at the arrival gates before embarking on your journey. Consistently ranked as the world's most liveable city, Copenhagen is laced with stunning Danish design, cutting edge Nordic cuisine, quaint and colorful historic buildings, and a jovial, laid-back local lifestyle. Admire the city’s must-see sights and monuments, like the 18th century Christiansborg Palace, home to the Danish Parliament, the Old Stock Exchange building – one of the oldest in Copenhagen, and Kongens Nytorv, where you can see the renowned Royal Theater – host of the Royal Ballet. Take in Nyhavn, the 17th century waterfront and canal, lined with colorful townhouses, many of which house modern cafes and restaurants, then bear witness to the 18th century rococo Amalienborg Palace resides, residence of the Danish royal family. Pass by Copenhagen's inner-city amusement park, Tivoli Gardens, and make a visit to the Gefion Fountain and the Little Mermaid statue, inspired by famous Dutch author H.C. Andersens fairytale.
  
  

DAY 11

• COPENHAGEN

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• City Streets and Tasty Treats
• Setting out on foot with a private guide, explore the tastes of Copenhagen on a half-day, food-based walking tour, with a number of included tastings. Starting at Torvehallerne, the new covered market halls, you’ll sample artisan cheese, developed in collaboration with the city’s Michelin-starred chefs. Try liquorice, caramels and preserves from some of the most interesting small-scale local producers. You’ll explore the city, wander through Copenhagen Botanical Gardens, and relax in the beautiful green surroundings – all while talking about produce and local foods. Over the course of your tour, you’ll pass several of the city’s greatest landmarks and get to discuss its history, food being the overarching focus. Try smørrebrød, an open-faced sandwich, sample three different types of beer at a microbrewery, and even a gourmet hotdog, a reworked classic of the Copenhagen street food scene. Conclude back at Torvehallerne, where you’ll have a chance to explore further on your own, not to mention do some shopping - so best to leave yourself plenty of time to explore the city and its food after the tour. Please note, tastings may vary according to season and supply.

DAY 12

• COPENHAGEN
• Until Next Time…
• Meet your private driver and vehicle for an airport transfer.

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