Four Nordic Crowns

Following breakfast, we embark on the iconic Flåm railway towards Oslo. Known as one of the most beautifully scenic railroad Journeys in the world, pass cascading waterfalls, alongside spectacular mountains and through 20 dramatic tunnels. Starting at sea level at the Sognefjord in Flåm to the Myrdal mountain station, situated at 867 metres above sea level, take-in every moment of this breathtaking Journey. Enjoy lunch on board before arriving in Oslo, settle into our hotel before enjoying a relaxing dinner.

A trendy and sophisticated metropolis blended with historical riches, Oslo has plenty to discover. During our visit of the Norwegian Capital we will admire the Royal Palace, National Theater, Parliament, Opera House by the waterfront, and the medieval Akershus fortress. There will be time for a stroll through Frogner Park with the controversial sculptures by Gustav Vigeland. Following lunch, we visit the Viking Ship Museum and the Kontiki Museum, filled with grand artifacts and famous findings from Thor Heyerdahl’s worldwide tour on the famous Kon-Tiki raft. A truly history-filled day! We make our way to our hotel for dinner. 

This morning we fly to Stockholm, Sweden.  On arrival, we are met by our guide and who takes us on a tour of the city often referred to as the ‘Venice of the North.’ We begin at Fjällgatan to see the magnificent view of the Swedish capital, spread out on 14 islands with Lake Mälar on one side and the Baltic Sea on the other. We see the Old Town with its fascinating narrow cobble-stoned alleys, the Royal Palace, the Cathedral, and the City Hall where the festivities of the annual Nobel Prize award take place. The visit also takes us to the recreational island Djurgården where many of the fine museums are found.

Following lunch in a local restaurant, we visit the Vasa Museum to see the only preserved 17^th-century ship in the world. This evening dinner is just a short walk from the hotel.

In the morning we will walk with our local guide to the city hall pier and board a scenic cruise on Lake Mälaren to reach Drottningholm Palace, Sweden’s best-preserved royal palace constructed in the 17^th century, the permanent residence of the royal family and one of Stockholm’s three World Heritage Sites.

Once we arrive, we enjoy lunch at the Palace café, followed by a guided tour of the Palace. The palace was constructed according to a French prototype by the architect Nicodemus Tessin the Elder, by a commission of Queen Hedvig Eleonora. Many royal personages have left their mark on the palace since then. The palace features magnificent salons from the seventeenth, eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, a beautiful park, a unique palace theatre and a Chinese Pavilion. The imposing Baroque garden was laid out beginning in 1681 according to drawings by Nicodemus Tessin the Younger. The remainder of the afternoon is yours to explore on your own. Dinner this evening is at our hotel.

We begin with a visit to Sigtuna, the oldest town in Sweden and today a picturesque small town situated on the shores of Lake Mälaren. Be amazed by the diverse elements of this naturally beautiful town. Visit ancient burial sites and see engraved runes at Gamla Uppsala (Old Uppsala), then spend some free time strolling the charming streets of Uppsala, the country’s former capital. 

Following lunch, we visit the Uppsala Cathedral that was built 750 years ago, with its treasury and Skattkammaren museum, situated in the cathedral’s north tower. St. Erik’s reliquary, the cathedral’s major artifact, was moved here from the former cathedral in Old Uppsala as early as 1273.

Positioned on a rocky headland cradling the Baltic Sea, Helsinki is one of Europe’s most handsome, eccentric and captivating capital cities. The city maintains a personality that is markedly different from that of other Scandinavian capitals, and in many ways is closer in temperament and certainly in looks to the major cities of Eastern Europe.

Today we fly to Helsinki, Finland. On arrival in Helsinki, we begin our tour of the Finnish capital by admiring the major sights such as the Rock Church, the Senate Square surrounded by the Lutheran Cathedral of Helsinki, the Senate, the University and Library of Helsinki, the Sibelius monument, the Olympic stadium, and the new Opera House.  Following lunch, we check in to our hotel and the remainder of the afternoon is at your leisure. Enjoy dinner this evening at our hotel.

Porvoo has an incredibly unique atmosphere where the old is gracefully blended with the new. Finland’s second-oldest town, Porvoo was originally an important trading post but became a town in 1380. Admire the compelling historic centre, riverside warehouses and cobblestone streets that are lined with colourful wooden homes. After breakfast, we set off to explore the 18^th-century residential area of Old Porvoo, an idyllic district perched on a hill by Porvoonjoki. Then we make our way towards Porvoo Cathedral, one of the city’s most well-known buildings that has been burnt down and rebuilt five separate times. Enjoy ambling around this picturesque town before our farewell dinner together at a local restaurant.