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Walking Key
Light = Two to four miles of mostly level walking.
Moderate = Four to six miles and/or up and down hills and/or some stairs.
Strenuous = Six to ten miles, lots of stairs, uneven terrain.
Best of Scandinavia in 14 Days
$3,795 + air • 24-28 people • Begins in Stockholm and ends in Bergen
Scandinavia is Western Europe's most prosperous, most literate, most highly taxed, sparsely populated, pristine and progressive corner. A visit here connects you with immigrant roots, modern European values, and the great outdoors like none other.
You'll marvel at how distinct and livable Stockholm, Copenhagen, Oslo and Bergen are. And your guide will reveal the quieter Nordic nooks, too. You'll enjoy a thatch-happy Danish island tour, catch your breath high atop the icy Jotunheim (home of the giants), and dodge the spray of bridal-veil waterfalls as your boat winds its way along the pristine beauty of the North Sea coast.
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Your day-by-day itinerary
Day 0: Depart USA
Remember, you'll arrive in Europe the day after you depart the USA.
Day 1: Welcome to Sweden
We'll meet at our Stockholm hotel around 5 p.m. for a Välkommen till Skandinavia get-together and dinner, followed by a short orientation walk. Sleep in Stockholm (2 nights). No bus. Walking: light.
Day 2: Stockholm's Old City and the Vasa
We have all day in Scandinavia's powerhouse city, beginning with a walking tour through the cobbled streets of Gamla Stan (Old City). Next, we'll marvel at the well-preserved Vasa warship, which sank on her maiden voyage nearly 400 years ago. You'll have the afternoon free to explore more of this cosmopolitan city. No bus. Walking: strenuous.
Day 3: Modern Stockholm and Cozy Kalmar
This morning we'll visit Stockholm's impressive City Hall, home of the Nobel Prize banquet. Then we drive through beautiful birch forests to quaint, colorful Kalmar, where we'll eat dinner together. Sleep in Kalmar (1 night). Bus: 6 hrs. Walking: light.
Day 4: Kalmar Castle and Copenhagen
We'll explore Sweden's medieval masterpiece this morning: stunning Kalmar Castle. Then we'll drive across the awe-inspiring bridge connecting Sweden and Denmark, on our way to Copenhagen. We'll get to know this city with a walk through the lively pedestrian center, then enjoy dinner together. Sleep in Copenhagen (2 nights). Bus: 5 hrs. Walking: moderate.
Day 5: The Art of Wandering in Copenhagen
After a morning walking tour you'll have the rest of your day and evening free to catch a canal cruise and greet the Little Mermaid statue, enjoy Europe's best people-watching on the Strøget, or visit the fanciful Tivoli Gardens. No bus. Walking: moderate to strenuous (your choice).
Day 6: Viking Ships and Ærø Island Charms
This morning we'll stop in Roskilde to prowl through the evocative Viking Ship museum and tour Denmark's famous cathedral. Then a scenic ferry ride takes us to the island of Ærø and the old windjammer port of Ærøskøbing. Tonight we'll enjoy a traditional Danish feast, followed by an optional visit to one of Ærø's rustic pubs. Sleep on Ærø (2 nights). Bus: 5 hrs. Walking: light.
Day 7: All Day to Explore Ærø Island
We'll begin the day with a bus tour around the island. The rest of the day is free to relax and savor this epitome of small-town Denmark or get Ærø-dynamic and pedal a rented bike past thatched cottages, tidy farms, and windswept bluffs. Bus: 3 hrs. Walking: light to strenuous (your choice).
Day 8: Overnight Ferry to Oslo
Today we'll hop on an overnight ferry for Oslo. On board you can choose to dine at a buffet fit for a Viking or grab something smaller at the ship's café. After dinner, you can dance the night away in the nightclub, linger in the tax-free shop or enjoy the scenery as we cruise to Norway in style. Sleep on ferry (1 night). Bus: 3 hrs. Walking: light.
Day 9: Historic and Artistic Oslo
We'll greet the sun as we glide up the Oslofjord into Norway's capital. Once ashore, we'll take a walk through the heart of town and learn about Norway's history and politics, including an inspiring visit to the WWII Resistance Museum. After lunch, we'll drive to Frogner Park, home of Gustav Vigeland's amazingly lifelike sculptures. Sleep in Oslo (2 nights). Bus: 2 hrs. Walking: moderate.
Day 10: Norway's Seafaring Past
Today we'll cruise across the harbor to Bygdøy peninsula, home of Scandinavia's best-preserved Viking ships and those of explorer Thor Heyerdahl (Kon-Tiki and Ra II). After marveling at Norway's seafaring history, you'll have the rest of the afternoon and evening free in this vibrant city. Bus: 1 hr. Walking: moderate.
Day 11: Lillehammer and Giant's Country
Driving northwest from Oslo, we'll visit Lillehammer's Maihaugen Open-Air Folk Museum, including its 12th century stave church. This evening we'll settle into a mountain hotel, located in the heart of "Giant's Country." Sleep in Elvesæter (1 night). Bus: 5 hrs. Walking: moderate.
Day 12: Fjord Country and Bergen
Make sure your camera is charged-up: today is scenery day! We'll take a 2 ½ scenic fjord cruise and then turn left at the troll on our way to ruddy-cheeked Bergen. Sleep in Bergen (2 nights). Bus: 6 hrs. Walking: light.
Day 13: All day in Charming Bergen
A local guide will walk us through the enchanting old wharf area, where wooden warehouses lean together and recall their glory days. You'll have the afternoon free to explore more of Bergen or buy one of those hand-knit sweaters you've been eyeing. This evening we'll gather for a hearty "last supper." No bus. Walking: strenuous.
Day 14: Tour over after breakfast
Those returning home can catch a flight to Copenhagen, which connects with direct flights to the US. Skål!
Itinerary specifics subject to change.
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Recommended reading and viewing list for this tour
Favorite tour memories from a recent alum:
"The very best stop was Aeroskobing, and for that matter all of Aero Island. I loved the colors, the quiet, the winding roads, and the tea and lecture by Suzanne. I could have just stayed in that idyllic spot for weeks, with my camera and paints and a journal to write down the poetry inspired by that place."
— Susan in Seattle, WA
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