Scandinavia & Russia Spotlights

Daily Itinerary

Day 1

Home City > Copenhagen
Depart from Home City by flight to Copenhagen, the capital of Denmark.

Day 2

Copenhagen
Copenhagen has repeatedly been recognized as one of the cities with the best quality of life. It is also considered one of the world’s most environmentally friendly cities. The water in the inner harbor is so clean that it can be swum in, and 36% of all citizens commute to work by bicycle. We arrival Copenhagen today and enjoy dinner at hotel. (D)
Hotel : Scandic Hotel or similar

Day 3

Copenhagen (City Tour) ~ Oslo
After breakfast in the hotel, we are going to visit a linear of scenes that following the life of H. C. Andersen, one the world’s most famous authors of fairy tales. We first stop by the statue of the Little Mermaid, Amalienborg Palace – the story’s idea of The Steadfast Tin Soldier, City Hall Square – scene of The Little Match Girl, etc. After lunch on your own accord, we proceed to one of the world’s most famous beer brewer – Carlsberg , and visit the tourist center. You may taste some freshly brewed beer and understand more about the brewery. Later we shall proceed to the pier and board the deluxe cruise ship head to Oslo, Norway. Take pleasure in the delicious buffet dinner and freely enjoy all the facilities and entertainments on board. (B/D)
Accommodation : DFDS Cruise

Day 4

Oslo － Viking Ship Museum － Kinsarvik
The Viking Ship Museum (Vikingskipshuset på Bygdøy) is located at Bygdøy in Oslo, Norway. It is part of the Museum of Cultural History of the University of Oslo. The main attractions at the Viking Ship Museum are the ships of Oseberg, Gokstad and Tune. Additionally, the Viking Age display includes sledges, beds, a horse cart, wood carving, tent components, buckets and other grave goods. Many fully or nearly fully intact Viking ships are on display. Its most famous ship is the completely whole Oseberg ship. Upon arrival we shall visit this museum, and then head towards the magnificent vacation hotspot – Kinsarvik. (B/D)
Hotel : Ulvik Hotel or similar

Day 5

Kinsarvik － Hardangerfjord Cruise － Bergen (City Tour) － Mt. Floyen － Voss
Proceed to the pier after breakfast, and board onto a cruise ship to visit the beautiful Hardangerfjord. With a length of 111 miles, Hardangerfjord is the third largest fjord in the world. Afterward we head towards Bergen, where is old quayside, Bryggen, is on UNESCO’s list of World Heritage Site. The city os an International center for aquaculture, shipping, offshore petroleum industry and subsea technology. After lunch we shall visit Mt. Floyen by cable car, and experience some amazingly beautiful scenic views of the fjord and the city. Head towards Viss after a brief visit of the fish market. (B/D)
Hotel : Fleischers Hotel or similar

Day 6

Voss － Flåmsbana Scenic Train － Flåm － Loen
Take a train ride after breakfast towards Myrdal, and then board onto the Flåm Line (Flåmsbana), a mountain scenic train head towards Flåm. Flåmsbana’s elevation different is 2831 ft, and is the steepest standard gauge railway in Europe. Enjoy the stunning scenic view along the ride. Upon arrival we shall head to Loen and visit Sognefjord resort area and the glacier. (B/L/D)
Hotel : Loen Fjord Hotel or similar

Day 7

Loen － Briksdal Glacier － Hellesyltfjord Cruise － Geiranger － Lillehammer
Ride on an environmental friendly electric vehical to head to Briksdal Glacier after breakfast. Later we shall drive along the beautiful Hellesylt, and board a cruise ship to admire the stunning view of the Geiranferfjord. The fjord is one of Norways’s most visited tourist sites and has been listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, jointly with Nærøyfjord, since 2005. (B/L/D)
Hotel : Rica Hotel or similar

Day 8

Lillehammer – Oslo (City Tour) > Stockholm
Return to Oslo after breakfast, and then move on to the Vigeland Sculpture Park (Frogner Park). The park is the largest park in the city that covers 320 hectares. One of the most amazing exhibits is the “Wheel of Life” – crafted in 1933-34, the wheel is more or less a wreath depicting four people and a baby floating in harmony. It is a symbol of eternity, and implies the overall theme of the park: man’s journey from the cradle to the grave. Later we go to the City Hall where Nobel Peace Prize Ceremony is held every year. After lunch we shall proceed to Stockholm by flight. (B/D)
In case flight is unavailable from Oslo to Stockholm, which the tour will precede by train instead, each passenger will be refunded US$100.
Hotel : Scandic Hotel or similar

Day 9

Stockholm (City Tour) ~ Helsinki
Stockholm is known for its beauty, its buildings and architecture, its abundant clean and open water, and its many parks. It is sometimes referred to as “Venice of the North”. After breakfast we shall visit the City Hall, where the Banquet of the Nobel Prize winners takes place every year on December 10. Then visit the Vasa Museum – the museum displays the only almost fully intact 17th century ship that has ever been salvaged, the 64-gun warship Vasa that sank on her maiden voyage in 1628. Enjoy lunch on your own accord, and then we are boarding another deluxe cruise ship embark to the capital of Finland – Helsinki. Enjoy the tasty buffet dinner on board, as well as the stunning view from the deck. (B/D)
Accommodation : Siljia Line Cruise or similar

Day 10

Helsinki (City Tour)
Disembark the cruise ship after breakfast, then we visit the city of Helsinki. First we shall go to “The Church of Rock” Temppeliaukio Church. The interior was excavated and built directly out of solid rock and is bathed in natural light which enters through the glazed dome. The church is used frequently as a concert venue due to its excellent acoustics. We shall also visit the Sibelius Monument before lunch. Free for your own leisure for the rest of the day. (B/L)
Hotel : Scandic Hotel or similar

Day 11

Helsinki ~ St. Petersburg (City Tour) － Hermitage Museum

For 11-day tour members, we will arrange departure transfer to airport on Day 11 for you at designated time and wish you a pleasant home ward flight. (B)

Head to St. Petersburg, Russia by a high speed train after breakfast. Upon arrival we shall visit the greatest and largest art museums in the world – The Hermitage. The museum consists of five historical buildings including The Winter Palace – the old residence of the Russian tsars. The museum contains over 3 million pieces of art dating from high antiquity to the present day. Among The Hermitage’s treasures are artworks by Leonardo Da Vinci, Raphael, Titian, Rembrandt, Rubens and a large collection of impressionists and post impressionists including Matisse and Picasso as well as many others. To view the collection in its entirety it would take almost 15 years, spending 8 hours a day in the museum and taking one minute to examine each exhibit! We shall also stop by the magnificent Church of the Savior Spilled Blood before dinner at a local restaurant. (B/D)
Hotel : Sokos Hotel or similar

Day 12

Peterhof － Peter & Paul Fortress － Russian Gala Dinner
After breakfast we shall take a hydroboat and head towards Peterhof, a seaside summer palace built by Peter the Great in the first half of the 18th Century. The site actually consists of several palaces standing alongside one another in an ensemble. You will also enjoy the spectacular palace gardens at Peterhof. (Hydroboat searvice may stop due to maintenance or seasonal reason) After lunch we visit The Peter and Paul Fortress– a symbol of St. Petersburg and also the oldest building in the city. While there, you will visit The Peter and Paul Cathedral, the burial place of the Russian tsars from Peter the Great onward. Tonight we shall enjoy a traditional Russian feast for dinner – caviar, vodka, champagne, etc., together with some folk dancing performance. (B/L/D)
Hotel : Sokos Hotel or similar

Day 13

St. Petersburg > Moscow － Zagorsk － Trinity Monastery of St. Sergius
Enjoy a breakfast box while on the way to the airport, then we fly towards Moscow. Upon arrival you will transfer 72km out of Moscow to Sergiev Possad (Zagorsk), a town built around one of the greatest Russian monasteries—the 15th Century St. Sergius Monastery. You will visit this beautiful monastery and center of Russian Orthodox spirituality. (Breakfast box/L/D)
Hotel : Renaissance Hotel or similar

Day 14

Kremlin Palace － Red Square － Victory Park － Metro － Circus
After breakfast you will enjoy an excursion to The Moscow Kremlin, the Kremlin cathedrals and The Red Square. The Kremlin is a fascinating structure that has served as an ancient tower, the city’s military fortification, a palace, an armory, the sovereign treasury and the workplace of the Russian President. The Kremlin has always been the spiritual centre of Russia. You will see several ancient cathedrals on its grounds, the most famous of which are The Assumption Cathedral, The Archangel’s Cathedral and The Annunciation Cathedral. The Red Square is just outside the Kremlin’s walls. While walking through The Red Square you will have a look at The Mausoleum of Lenin, the clock on The Savior (Spasskaya) Tower, The History Museum, The beautiful Cathedral of the Intercession (the Church of St Basil the Blessed), The Kazansky Cathedral and other outstanding pieces of Russian architecture. Afterward we shall also experience the famous Russian underground train. Enjoy dinner at a Chinese restaurant, and then watch the famous Russian circus show. (If circus show is cancelled due to unforeseen situation, Russian Tourist Association will make substitute arrangement) (B/D)
Hotel : Renaissance Hotel or similar

Day 15

Moscow > Home City
Enjoy breakfast in the hotel, and then we shall proceed to the airport for the homeward flight. (B)