18 Day Scandinavia Uncovered

Welcome to Helsinki! Touch down in Helsinki, the capital of Finland. After passing through arrivals, please make your own way to the hotel for check in. 

The remainder of the day is at your leisure to discover Helsinki’s charms on your own. Choose to explore this walkable city by foot and admire the Art Nouveau architecture, or you may also choose to take a short ferry to the UNESCO World Heritage Site-listed Suomenlinna Fortress.

Transportation: Train connection between Helsinki city centre and Helsinki Airport is carried out by local commuter trains which run every 10 minutes on peak hours. Travel time from the Airport Train Station to Helsinki Central Station is about 30 minutes. Single ticket fare from Helsinki Airport to city centre is € 4.10 from the ticket machines located at the station.

After breakfast this morning at your hotel, enjoy the Discover Helsinki Panorama Sightseeing excursion -  a popular sightseeing tour showing you the most important sights of Helsinki, giving you an excellent take of Helsinki's past and present. You will see some of the most interesting sites in Helsinki, including the historical centre, City Hall, The Parliament buildings, Finlandia Hall and the Opera House. Stop at the Temppeliaukio Church also called Rock Church (entry fee not included, to be paid on spot) or at the Sibelius Monument (if the Temppeliaukio Church is closed). The tour ends near Esplanade Park, a perfect central position to discover further sites of the city on foot.

Remainder of your day at leisure.

Make your way to the station to jump on a full day train journey to Rovaniemi, the ‘official’ home of Santa Claus. Upon arrival, make your own way to your centrally located hotel upon arrival in the early evening.

Discover this beautiful northern city at your own pace. Rovaniemi boasts sparkling clear days in spring, near-constant sunlight in summer and blazing colours in autumn.

The day is at leisure to discover the capital of Finnish Lapland. Rovaniemi was once a powerful salmon and fur exporter, however, was completely destroyed during World War II. The city has since been rebuilt, and now boasts some impressive modern sights like the Arktikum Museum. Perhaps participate in one of many optional nature activities. For those that still believe in Santa Claus, then why not make a visit to Santa’s Village, which can be easily accessed from the city centre by public transport or a short taxi journey.

This morning you travel further north into Lapland by coach from Rovaniemi to Levi, a small skiing village in the heart of Finnish Lapland.  There are 12,000 reindeer in the Kittilä municipality, which is double the number of its population. All reindeer in Finland are protected by the Sami people. There are many reindeer in the forests as well as in the farms near Levi. In summer the reindeer wander freely in the forests, but you can spot them on the fells, along the roads in Levi itself or cooling down in the shades by the petrol stations and hotel yards! 

Today, your journey goes west, travelling across Finnish Lapland before crossing the border into mighty Norway. Your coach journey will take you  from Levi to the small township of Kilpisjärvi, where you change coaches. You will enjoy a breathtaking drive through the Lyngen Alps, before ending the day's journey in Tromsø, the gateway to the Arctic.

After breakfast, you will enjoy an unforgettable Polar Fjord Cruise. Picking up in Tromsø city centre, this six hour cruise explores the incredible nature around Tromsø. Cruising through the neighbouring fjords, there will be a chance to see the local wildlife including sea eagles and maybe even dolphins. Your journey will cruise around in a charming, classic wooden boat, the Fjord Queen or the lovely Polar Queen. You can enjoy delicious Arctic fish, snacks, fruit, and hot drinks. This is a perfect opportunity to experience the arctic sea.  You can either settle inside in the warm main cabin of the ship, or brave the wilderness on deck as you admire the view.

Your journey now heads South, travelling by local bus from Tromsø to Narvik, a popular city with those who enjoy mountaineering and skiing. The city’s flagship ski resort, Narvikfjellet, is famed for its extreme alpine landscapes. Narvik was also a strategically-important city during World War II, due to its nearby location to an abundance of natural resources.  

The rest of the day is at your leisure.Why not visit the War Museum, or perhaps take the Narvik Fjellheisen (Cable Car) that will take you to up to 656 metres above sea level and offers incredible views.

Today board a local coach and continue your journey southbound along the coast of Norway. Change coaches in Storfjord, before reaching Bodø, a vibrant city on the edge of the Norwegian Sea, encapsulating magnificent nature.  Here you may like to visit the Norwegian Aviation Museum, the largest such museum in Scandinavia, or perhaps just enjoy the relaxing atmosphere of this picturesque Arctic city.

This morning is at leisure until you embark on your tour to the famous Saltstraumen, the world’s strongest maelstrom (aka whirlpool). Before you arrive at this natural wonder, your tour will take you on a sightseeing tour through the city of Bodø to learn about the local history and sites. Upon arrival at the maelstrom, you can go to the waterfront and have a close look at this fascinating natural phenomenon and watch the major natural forces at play where every six hours, almost 400 million cubic metres of water passes through a narrow 150 metre wide passage with phenomenal speed. You will also experience a typical northern Norwegian activity – the bus driver will beat a dried cod on the rocks for you to taste a local delicacy. Afterwards,  you can walk around on natural paths in silence, and try to observe the majestic sea eagle which is living in this area.

After breakfast, enjoy a morning at leisure to explore Bodø before making  your own way to the railway station to catch your lunch time train to Trondheim, also known as The Nordland Railway - Norway’s longest rail journey taking you through fertile farmland, massive forests and alongside arctic rivers.  Upon arrival in Trondheim, make your own way to your hotel.

Today is free time to explore the historical city of Trondehim. Founded in 997 and served as Norway’s capital until 1217. Today, it is the third-largest city in Norway with an excellent collection of museums, heritage sites and outdoor pursuits. An absolute highlight is the gothic Nidaros Cathedral, built in the beginning of 1070 to memorialise the burial place of Olav II of Norway, the king who was killed in battle in 1030. Compact in size, Trondheim is easily explored on foot.

Another rail journey awaits, this time from Trondheim to Oslo, the Norwegian Capital.  On arrival, make your own way to your hotel for check-in and then free evening. With loads of restaurants, bars and activity, a summer night in Oslo is easily enjoyed.

Today, you will enjoy a morning panoramic sightseeing tour of Oslo. Learn about the city’s history and culture from knowledgeable guides, admire the main attractions in the city centre and spectacular views from Holmenkollen ski jump, and experience a fascinating insight into the art of the most prolific Norwegian sculptor, Gustav Vigeland, as you walk through the unique Sculpture Park comprising more than 200 sculptures in bronze and granite.

Afternoon is at leisure to further explore Oslo, and why not visit one of the many museums including the Munch Museum, or just relax in one of the many restaurants or cafés.

From one magnificent capital to another, today you leave beautiful Norway to catch a train to the vibrant and colourful Swedish Capital, Stockholm. Called ‘Beauty on water’ by the locals, Stockholm has an enormous array of sights, and we highly recommend visiting the City Hall building, the famous Vasa Museum, and if you are interested, the Abba Museum!  A walk in the historical old town, Gamla Stan,  is also a must alongside experiencing the local cuisine in one of the many restaurants and cafés.

Today you will enjoy the Under the Bridges tour of Stockholm. Known as the ‘beauty on the water’, there is no better way to experience the sights of Stockholm than cruising its stunning waterways that pierce through this vibrant city. You will travel under twelve bridges and even pass through the lock that connects the Baltic Sea to Lake Mälaren. You will also see the inner city, Gamla Stan, Södermalm, Lilla and Stora Essingen, the new area Hammarby Sjöstad, and the green parks of Djurgården.

The remainder of your day at leisure.

One final magnificent rail journey on your Scandinavian adventure, as you take the train from Stockholm to the Danish capital, Copenhagen. Located on the coastal islands of Zealand and Amager, Copenhagen is one of Scandinavia’s most dynamic cities, and features an incredible historic centre, colourful heritage architecture, vibrant streetscapes and pleasant waterfront promenades.

After disembarkation, make your own way to your hotel for check-in.  

In the afternoon make your way to Nyhavn, the world famous harbour of Copenhagen to  enjoy your Copenhagen Canal Tour. The classic tour takes you around Copenhagen’s harbour and its idyllic canals. You will hear about the beautiful churches, castles and heritage listed houses scattered throughout the city.

In the evening, you will enjoy entrance tickets to the famous Tivoli Gardens, where you might like to dine or at least take in the atmosphere of the world’s oldest amusement park and its stunning gardens.

Your Scandinavia Uncovered tour ends after breakfast. We hope you have thoroughly enjoyed your inspiring Scandinavian experience. At the appropriate time please make your own way to the airport for your onward journey.

The easiest way to get to Copenhagen Airport is the train from Copenhagen Central Station, which departs every 10 minutes during the day, and every 20 minutes in the evening. The journey takes approximately 20 minutes and costs 36DKK (AUD $7).