SCANDINAVIA HIGHLIGHTS
- Immerse yourself in Swedish culture with guided sightseeing, including Gamla Stan (Old Town).
- Visit the ABBA Museum, a joyful tribute to Sweden's most celebrated pop export.
- Change the pace with the overnight ferry cruise, in an exterior cabin, from Stockholm to Helsinki.
- Explore Helsinki's highlights with a locally guided city tour, including the striking Rock Church.
- Fly north to Finnish Lapland, visiting the Arktikum Museum, a working Amethyst Mine, and gaining insights into Sámi culture.
- Visit a family-run reindeer farm in Inari.
- Experience Nordkapp (North Cape) under the midnight sun with dinner.
- A relaxed two-night stay in Tromsø, including the Arctic Cathedral, Fjellheisen cable car, and the Full Steam Museum with Cod Tasting.
- Fly from Tromsø to Oslo to reduce lengthy road travel.
- Discover Oslo with guided sightseeing including Vigeland Park, the Fram Museum and the Kistefos Museum.
- Discover the fjord country of Norway, with highlight experiences including the Flåm Railway and the Nærøyfjord cruise to Gudvangen.
- Enjoy a relaxed two-night stay in Bergen, Norway's colourful port city, with the option to add a fjord cruise.
- Conclude in Denmark with a visit to Reffen, a guided city tour of Copenhagen and a farewell dinner inside Tivoli Gardens.
PRE TOUR STAY
Consider arriving a day before the tour start, or enjoy a stopover. You can relax and refresh after your flight. The cost of the additional night/s of stay applies. Ask our travel team about this option, and the additional costs.
DAY 1
Stockholm, Sweden
Welcome to Stockholm, the capital of Sweden, and the beginning of your Scandinavian adventure. Today is yours to enjoy however you like. Stockholm is a beautiful city made for wandering, so whether you head out to discover a neighbourhood, stroll along the waterfront or simply settle in and rest after your travels, there is no wrong way to start.
This evening, meet your fellow travellers and Tour Leader in the hotel for our welcome gathering, with drinks and snacks to get the conversation flowing and the adventure properly under way.
Meals: Welcome Drink
SNAPSHOT – WHAT'S INCLUDED:
- Arrival day at leisure in Stockholm
- Welcome gathering with Tour Leader
- Drinks and snacks on arrival evening
- Overnight in Stockholm
DAY 2
Stockholm, Sweden
Stockholm spreads across 14 islands, linked by bridges and threaded with waterways, and today we set out to discover the best of it with a local guide.
Our morning takes us through Gamla Stan, Stockholm's atmospheric Old Town, where cobblestone lanes wind between centuries-old buildings. We visit the Royal Palace and Parliament before heading to the Nobel Prize venue, Stockholm City Hall, for a guided tour of one of the city's most celebrated interiors. The afternoon continues with the Vasa Museum, home to the spectacularly preserved 17th-century warship that sank on her maiden voyage and lay on the seabed for over three centuries before being raised. From there, we explore Skansen, the world's oldest open-air museum, a vast living collection of traditional Swedish buildings, craftspeople and Nordic wildlife. We round off the day at the Fjällgatan viewpoint, where a sweeping panorama takes in the city's islands and waterways.
This evening we gather for our first group dinner at a classic Stockholm restaurant, a relaxed chance to reflect on the day and settle into the company of new friends.
Encounter Moment
Our first group dinner together in Stockholm, the perfect setting to share first impressions and begin what will be a very fine journey.
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
SNAPSHOT – WHAT'S INCLUDED:
- Full-day guided sightseeing of Stockholm
- Gamla Stan (Old Town)
- Royal Palace and Parliament
- Nobel Prize venue City Hall (guided)
- Vasa Museum and Skansen open-air museum
- Fjällgatan scenic viewpoint
- Group dinner at city restaurant
DAY 3
Stockholm → Overnight Ferry
The morning is free to make the most of Stockholm, however you'd like to spend it. Perhaps revisit a neighbourhood from yesterday, browse the city's design stores or simply find a waterside spot for a long morning coffee.
By late morning, we make our way to the ABBA Museum, a joyful and surprisingly moving tribute to Sweden's most celebrated pop export. Even those who would not call themselves fans tend to leave having enjoyed it thoroughly.
In the afternoon we transfer to the ferry terminal to board our overnight voyage to Finland. As Stockholm recedes behind us, the ship sails out through a beautiful coastal archipelago, and the views are ones that few visitors ever see. Dinner is served on board, and you will spend the night in the comfort of an A-class outside cabin.
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
SNAPSHOT – WHAT'S INCLUDED:
- Free morning in Stockholm
- ABBA Museum visit
- Overnight cruise Stockholm to Helsinki
- A-class outside cabin
- Dinner on board
- Scenic coastal sailing through the archipelago
DAY 4
Helsinki, Finland
Welcome to Helsinki, Finland's compact and rewarding capital. After disembarking this morning, we join a guided city tour to discover its highlights. We take in the historic centre, Senate Square and the grand Lutheran Cathedral, City Hall, the Presidential Palace and the Opera House. We also visit the Sibelius Monument, a striking abstract sculpture dedicated to Finland's most celebrated composer, before stepping inside the Temppeliaukio Rock Church, carved directly into solid granite and unlike any church you are likely to have visited before.
By early afternoon the tour concludes and the city is yours. Helsinki is easy to navigate on foot and full of good places to stop for coffee, a meal or a browse through its excellent design stores.
Meals: Breakfast
SNAPSHOT – WHAT'S INCLUDED:
- Guided city tour of Helsinki
- Senate Square and Lutheran Cathedral
- Presidential Palace, City Hall and Opera House
- Sibelius Monument
- Temppeliaukio Rock Church (entrance included)
- Afternoon at leisure in Helsinki
DAY 5
Helsinki → Rovaniemi, Finland
This morning we transfer to Helsinki Vantaa Airport for our flight north into the Arctic Circle.
On arrival in Rovaniemi, we visit the Arktikum Museum, which tells the story of the North through engaging exhibits on the history, culture and indigenous life of Finnish Lapland, as well as the Northern Lights and the remarkable natural world of the Arctic. Lunch is included at the museum's cafe, a warm and unhurried pause before we continue the afternoon.
Later, we visit Santa Claus Village, where the Christmas spirit is very much alive year-round. It is a festive and cheerful stop, though guests who prefer to explore Rovaniemi's cafés and city centre however they'd prefer are very welcome to do so instead.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
SNAPSHOT – WHAT'S INCLUDED:
- Flight from Helsinki to Rovaniemi
- Arktikum Museum visit
- Lunch at Arktikum cafe
- Optional visit to Santa Claus Village
- Overnight in Rovaniemi
DAY 6
Rovaniemi → Inari, Finland
Leaving Rovaniemi this morning, we travel north to Luosto for a visit to the Lampivaara Amethyst Mine, one of the most unexpected and enjoyable experiences of the tour. We hear the geology and folklore behind Finland's purple gemstone before heading to the digging site itself, where each guest has the chance to search for their own amethyst to take home as a memento. It is the kind of hands-on experience that tends to generate a good deal of enthusiasm and some very competitive digging.
Later in the afternoon, we stop at Happy Huskies for a one-hour kennel visit. Guests meet the dogs in their off-leash running area, learn about each animal's personality and get an honest picture of what life at an Arctic kennel actually looks like through the year. It is warm, personal and genuinely delightful.
We arrive in Inari in time for a hearty dinner at the hotel, a welcome end to a busy day on the road.
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
SNAPSHOT – WHAT'S INCLUDED:
- Scenic drive north through Finnish Lapland
- Lampivaara Amethyst Mine guided tour
- Dig for your own amethyst stone to take home
- Husky kennel visit at Happy Huskies
- Dinner at hotel in Inari
DAY 7
Inari, Finland
Inari is one of the most significant places in Sámi culture, and today we spend a full day getting to know it properly.
The morning begins at the Siida Museum, a thoughtfully designed centre dedicated to the heritage, traditions and relationship with nature that define Sámi life. Our guide brings real depth to the experience, offering context that goes well beyond what the displays alone can provide. Lunch follows at the museum restaurant, with an opportunity to try traditional dishes in a setting that reflects everything we have been exploring.
In the afternoon we visit a family-run reindeer farm, where local herders share their way of life, explain the central role reindeer play in Sámi culture and introduce us to the animals themselves. It is a warm, personal experience with none of the staged quality that can sometimes come with cultural encounters of this kind.
Back at the hotel by early evening, the sauna is at your disposal, a cherished Finnish ritual that is the perfect way to close a full day before dinner.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
SNAPSHOT – WHAT'S INCLUDED:
- Sámi Museum Siida with local guide
- Lunch at museum restaurant
- Visit family-run reindeer farm
- Evening sauna at hotel
- Overnight in Inari
DAY 8
Inari → Nordkapp, Norway
This morning we drive to Karasjok and visit the Sámi Park cultural centre with a local guide, gaining further insight into the traditions and living history of the indigenous Sámi people. From here, we cross the border into Norway and make our way north to Honningsvåg, our base for one of the great experiences of the tour.
Encounter Moment
Tonight we travel to Nordkapp, one of the northernmost points of continental Europe. We sit down to a three-course dinner at Nordkapphallen before stepping outside under the midnight sun to stand at the famous globe monument, champagne in hand. It's a striking moment, standing at the top of Europe under the midnight sun with a glass of champagne in hand. Rug up – it can be chilly even in summer.
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
SNAPSHOT – WHAT'S INCLUDED:
- Drive from Inari through Arctic Norway
- Sámi Park cultural centre, Karasjok (with local guide)
- Nordkapp (North Cape) visit
- Three-course dinner at Nordkapphallen
- Champagne at the midnight sun
- Overnight in Honningsvåg
DAY 9
Nordkapp → Tromsø, Norway
We leave Honningsvåg this morning and head south and west through some of the most dramatic Arctic scenery in Norway. The drive across the Finnmark plateau and down through the Troms region is an experience in itself: open tundra, coastal fjords, scattered fishing villages and the extraordinary quality of light that you only find at this latitude.
We arrive in Tromsø in the late afternoon, in time to board the Fjellheisen cable car, which rises steeply above the city to a viewpoint that takes in Tromsø, the surrounding islands and the Arctic Ocean stretching away to the horizon. It is a spectacular first impression of a city that reveals more of itself tomorrow.
Meals: Breakfast
SNAPSHOT – WHAT'S INCLUDED:
- Scenic drive through Arctic Norway
- Arrive Tromsø
- Fjellheisen cable car with panoramic views
- Overnight in Tromsø
DAY 10
Tromsø, Norway
Tromsø has earned its reputation as the gateway to the Arctic, and today we take the time to explore it properly.
We begin with the Arctic Cathedral, one of the most distinctive and striking pieces of architecture in Norway, its soaring triangular form reflected in the waters of the strait below. From there, we head to the Full Steam Museum for a cod tasting experience, where Tromsø's deep history as a fishing port and Arctic expedition hub comes to life through exhibits and a guided tasting of cod specialities. The tasting doubles as lunch and it is a genuinely enjoyable and flavour-filled way to spend a couple of hours.
The afternoon is free, giving you time to explore the city's galleries and waterfront, browse the harbour area or settle into one of the cafés that make Tromsø so pleasant in summer. In the evening, we finish the day with a visit to Magic Ice, a hand-carved ice bar experience that offers a frosty and memorable close.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
SNAPSHOT – WHAT'S INCLUDED:
- Arctic Cathedral visit
- Full Steam Museum with cod tasting (lunch included)
- Afternoon at leisure in Tromsø
- Magic Ice Bar experience
- Overnight in Tromsø
DAY 11
Tromsø → Oslo, Norway
This morning we fly from Tromsø to Oslo, Norway's capital, swapping the Arctic coast for a city of wide avenues, green parks and excellent museums. The contrast is immediate and enjoyable.
After landing, we head to Holmenkollen, Oslo's famous ski jump, which offers commanding views across the city and the Oslofjord below. The scale of the jump is impressive in any season, and the surrounding parklands are worth the visit on their own terms.
From here we visit the Kistefos Museum, a striking sculpture park and gallery set beside the Randselva river, where contemporary art sits alongside the site's industrial history. It's a quietly memorable stop before we continue into the city.
We check into our centrally located hotel in the afternoon, and the rest of the day is yours to begin discovering Oslo in your own way.
Meals: Breakfast
SNAPSHOT – WHAT'S INCLUDED:
- Flight from Tromsø to Oslo
- Holmenkollen ski jump visit
- Kistefos Museum visit
- Afternoon at leisure in Oslo
- Overnight in Oslo
DAY 12
Oslo, Norway
Oslo rewards time spent at street level, and this morning a local guide helps us find our footing in the city. We explore the key highlights, including Vigeland Park, an outdoor sculpture garden featuring over 200 bronze and granite works by Gustav Vigeland, completely free to wander.
Later, we visit the Fram Museum, dedicated to Norway's legendary polar expeditions. The museum centres on the Fram herself, the world's strongest wooden ship, which carried explorers including Nansen and Amundsen into the most inhospitable waters on earth. The scale of the vessel and the stories around her are quietly gripping.
The afternoon is free for your own exploration, whether that is a gallery visit, a walk along the Aker Brygge waterfront or a long lunch somewhere that catches your eye.
Meals: Breakfast
SNAPSHOT – WHAT'S INCLUDED:
- Guided city tour of Oslo
- Vigeland Sculpture Park
- Fram Museum (entrance included)
- Afternoon free in Oslo
DAY 13
Oslo → Geilo, Norway
Leaving Oslo behind, we head west into the Norwegian mountains. The drive climbs gradually through birch forests and river valleys before opening out into the high plateau country of Hardangervidda, one of the largest mountain plateaux in Europe, a vast, open landscape that feels genuinely remote even from the window of a coach.
Before arriving into Geilo, we stop at Torpo Stave Church, one of Norway's oldest stave churches, a small and atmospheric stop that's well worth the short detour.
We arrive in Geilo, a Norwegian mountain town that sits at around 800 metres above sea level. Better known as a winter ski destination, Geilo in summer offers something equally appealing: clean mountain air, open space and a welcome sense of stillness after the pace of the past few days.
Meals: Breakfast
SNAPSHOT – WHAT'S INCLUDED:
- Scenic drive through Norwegian mountain country
- Torpo Stave Church visit
- Arrive Geilo, high-altitude mountain town
- Overnight in Geilo
DAY 14
Geilo → Sognefjord, Norway
Today is one of the most experience-rich days of the entire tour, combining some of Norway's most celebrated attractions into a single, memorable day. Settle in and enjoy it.
We begin by boarding the train at Geilo station, riding through dramatic mountain scenery to Myrdal, where we transfer to the Flåm Railway, widely considered one of the most beautiful train journeys in the world. The line descends 866 metres through the Flåm Valley in just 20 kilometres, passing waterfalls, mountain farms and dense forest as it winds down to the fjord. The train makes a brief stop at Kjosfossen waterfall, where you can step out onto the platform and feel the spray on your face before continuing down.
We arrive in Flåm with time for a lunch break. From Flåm, we board a boat for a cruise along the Nærøyfjord, one of the narrowest and most dramatic branches of the Sognefjord and a UNESCO World Heritage site. The fjord walls rise hundreds of metres on either side as the boat makes its way through, and the scale of the scenery demands a moment of quiet appreciation.
Dinner and overnight are at a hotel perched above the Nærøy Valley, with views that are quite something on a clear evening.
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
SNAPSHOT – WHAT'S INCLUDED:
- Train from Geilo to Myrdal through mountain scenery
- Flåm Railway descent (one of the world's most scenic rail journeys)
- Kjosfossen waterfall stop
- Nærøyfjord UNESCO cruise (Flåm to Gudvangen)
- Dinner and overnight above the Nærøy Valley
DAY 15
Sognefjord, Norway
There is still more of the Sognefjord region to discover, and today we make the most of it.
The morning begins with a visit to the Stegastein viewpoint, where a cantilevered observation platform extends out over the Aurlandsfjord some 650 metres below. The view is quite spectacular and there is time to take it in properly before we continue.
We then head to Viking Valley in Gudvangen for a guided visit to the reconstructed Viking Village, a living history experience set within one of Norway's most dramatically beautiful landscapes. The tour covers the crafts, traditions and daily life of the Viking Age, with skilled reenactors bringing the era to life in ways that are engaging and genuinely interesting. Lunch is included here, served in the village setting.
In the afternoon, we visit the Borgund Stave Church, one of the best-preserved medieval wooden churches in the world. Built around 1180, its layered timber roof, dragon-head carvings and dark, resinous interior are unlike anything else on this journey. It is small, ancient and worth every minute.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
SNAPSHOT – WHAT'S INCLUDED:
- Stegastein viewpoint over the Aurlandsfjord
- Viking Valley guided village tour
- Lunch at Viking Valley
- Borgund Stave Church (entrance included)
- Overnight above the Nærøy Valley
DAY 16
Sognefjord → Bergen, Norway
We depart this morning and drive through green valley country to Bergen, Norway's second city and, for many visitors, its most memorable. The approach by road offers its own rewards, with the scenery shifting from fjord country to the familiar sight of Bergen's waterfront as we arrive.
On arrival, we join a two-hour guided tour that takes in Bryggen, the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Hanseatic wharf with its distinctive painted timber warehouses and cobblestone lanes. It is a neighbourhood that rewards closer inspection. Later, we ride the Fløibanen funicular up to the Fløyen viewpoint for a sweeping panorama over the city, harbour and surrounding hills.
Meals: Breakfast
SNAPSHOT – WHAT'S INCLUDED:
- Scenic drive Sognefjord to Bergen
- Two-hour guided tour of Bergen, including Bryggen Wharf
- Fløibanen funicular ride
- Overnight in Bergen
DAY 17
Bergen, Norway
Bergen is a city that asks to be explored slowly, and today it is entirely yours.
The lively fish market, the narrow back streets of Bryggen, the galleries and the neighbourhood cafés all reward time spent without a schedule. For those who want a guided excursion, Troldhaugen, the lakeside home and museum of composer Edvard Grieg, is within easy reach and well worth the trip. For those who'd like to get out on the water, a fjord cruise is also available today, a peaceful way to see Bergen's surrounds from a different angle.
Meals: Breakfast
SNAPSHOT – WHAT'S INCLUDED:
- Free day in Bergen
- Optional visit to Troldhaugen (Edvard Grieg Museum)
- Optional fjord cruise
- Overnight in Bergen
DAY 18
Bergen → Copenhagen, Denmark
This morning we fly from Bergen to Copenhagen, Denmark's elegant and energetic capital. The flight is short, the arrival easy, and by midday we are in an entirely different country.
After arriving at Copenhagen Airport, we make our way to Reffen, a lively outdoor food hall on the harbour, home to dozens of small vendors and a great first taste of how locals spend their afternoons. From there, we take a scenic drive back through parts of the city on our way to the hotel, arriving with the rest of the afternoon free.
Meals: Breakfast
SNAPSHOT – WHAT'S INCLUDED:
- Flight from Bergen to Copenhagen
- Visit to Reffen food hall
- Scenic drive through Copenhagen to hotel
- Afternoon at leisure in Copenhagen
- Overnight in Copenhagen
DAY 19
Copenhagen, Denmark
The morning is free to continue exploring Copenhagen however you'd like, and there is plenty left to discover. The city rewards time spent at street level, whether you are wandering the Royal Quarter, finding a café in one of the quieter neighbourhoods or taking a longer look at something that caught your eye yesterday.
This afternoon, a local guide joins us for a city tour covering the key sights, including Nyhavn, Amalienborg Palace and the Little Mermaid, followed by a short canal cruise from the colourful waterfront. It is one of the most pleasant ways to see Copenhagen's harbour and roofline.
This evening we gather for our farewell dinner at a beautiful restaurant inside Tivoli Gardens. Entry to the gardens is included, dinner is three courses, and drinks are included. It's a warm way to close our time together.
Encounter Moment
Our farewell dinner inside Tivoli Gardens, a fitting end to our time across Scandinavia.
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
SNAPSHOT – WHAT'S INCLUDED:
- Free morning in Copenhagen
- Guided city tour including Nyhavn and Amalienborg Palace
- Canal cruise from Nyhavn
- Farewell dinner inside Tivoli Gardens (entry, three courses and drinks included)
- Overnight in Copenhagen
DAY 20
Copenhagen, Denmark
Your Scandinavia Explorer tour concludes this morning. Post-stay accommodation is available in Copenhagen for those who would like to extend their time in the city before heading home.
Meals: Breakfast
SNAPSHOT – WHAT'S INCLUDED:
- Tour concludes in Copenhagen
- Post-stay accommodation available
Itineraries may be subject to change, due to circumstances outside of our control. If there is any itinerary change prior to departure of significance, we aim to inform you prior to travel. Itinerary changes while on tour will be informed by your tour leader/guide while on tour.
