Nordic fjords & Baltic wonders

Breakfast at the hotel. Today, embark on a walking tour of Vilnius where you will become acquainted with the Old Town and immerse yourself in the history of centuries past. Walk along Vilnius’ winding streets and visit the most exciting architectural and historic monuments, including the Vilnius Cathedral, a nearby Gediminas Castle, the 16th century St. Anne’s Church, the Vilnius University, the Town Hall, the Jewish Quarter and the iconic Dawn Gate.

You will also be visiting the bohemian and artistic district, Užupis, self-proclaimed as being the ‘Republic of the Old Town’ as it has its own anthem, constitution, president, bishop and its own guardian known as The Bronze Angel of Užupis. Today its thriving creative community hosts regular fashion festivals, concerts, exhibitions, and poetry evenings. From here, enjoy leisurely time to grab some lunch.

Upon completing the walking tour, enjoy the rest of the day at your leisure. Alternatively, take part in our optional excursion to the Palace of the Grand Dukes of Lithuania*. Overnight stay in Vilnius.

*Optional Excursion to the Palace of the Grand Dukes of Lithuania: Situated in the Cathedral square right in the heart of Vilnius, get to know more about the history of Vilnius as you explore its many halls and rooms reflecting the gothic, renaissance and baroque styles of the times. 

All optional excursions for this trip require a minimum of 5 participants in order for it to operate. If there are not enough participants, the optional excursion will be canceled and you will be refunded for it when you return from your trip.

Breakfast at the hotel. Enjoy the entire day at your leisure; take this time to further explore the second largest city of the Baltic states. Why not get to know the Bernardine Garden or visit the array of fascinating museums scattered throughout the city, like the National Museum of Lithuania or the Amber Museum?

Alternatively, we recommend you take part in our optional excursion to Trakai, the former capital of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania*. Overnight stay in Vilnius. 

*Optional Excursion to Trakai: Make your way to the Trakai Castle, situated on an island in the middle of Lake Galve. The castle today houses a fascinating museum with artifacts dating back to the times of the Grand Duke Vytautas. Enjoy a panoramic boat ride around the castle and later, explore the quaint and charming town of Trakai at your leisure.

Please note: The boat trip is only available from May to September and it is subject to weather conditions. 

Breakfast at the hotel. Today, transfer to Riga, the capital of Latvia. En route, stop by the famous Hill of Crosses, a uniquely historic place in the world considered to be the best place to get acquainted with cross-making, a branch of Lithuanian folk art, inscribed on the UNESCO Non-material and Verbal Heritage Masterpiece List.

Today, more than 100 000 crosses have been put up to plead for grace or to express gratitude since ancient times. Later, enjoy some free time for lunch (not included). After crossing the border of Latvia, you will visit the Rundale Palace, an 18th century Baroque monument designed by the Italian-Russian architect Rastrelli also known for designing the Winter Palace in St. Petersburg.

Sights to behold include, the Golden Hall, the White Hall and private quarters of the Duke of Courland Johan Ernst Biron. Arrive at your hotel for check-in and overnight stay in Riga.

Breakfast at the hotel. Today, embark on a walking tour of the Old Town of Riga where you’ll get to explore the city’s medieval and art nouveau architecture. Stops you will be visiting include: Riga's Castle, the Swedish Gate, the Monument of Liberty, the Art Nouveau district, Riga Dome Cathedral and  Riga’s Central Market to discover one of Europe’s largest markets and food bazaars.

In the market, you will sample some delicious Latvian produce, such as homemade cheeses and smoked chicken, while learning about the rich history of the city's largest marketplace. Enjoy free time for lunch (not included) and then the rest of the day is at your leisure; the perfect way to explore the city at your own pace. We recommend you take part in our optional excursion to Jurmala*. Overnight stay in Riga. 

*Optional excursion to Jurmala: Visit the largest seaside and spa resort in the Baltic States. The town is known for its mineral waters, said to have healing properties, pine forests, sand dunes and unique architecture mixing classicism, Art Nouveau and National Romantic.

Breakfast at the hotel. Transfer to Tallinn, the capital of Estonia. En route, stop by the Gauja National Park in Sigulda, often referred to as the Latvian Switzerland. This national park is home to the Gauja River Valley known for its stunning landscape thanks to its 500 archaeological monuments and charming architecture dating back to the 11th century.

Visit the 13th century Turaida Castle, today housing a small History Museum, and relax walking in the adjacent Sculpture Park, featuring works of iconic Latvian sculptors. Later, stop by the Gutman Cave, the widest and highest cave in the Baltic countries.

Your final stop will be in the Estonian summer resort of Parnu before arriving at Tallinn where you will check-in to your hotel and enjoy the rest of the day at your leisure. Overnight stay in Tallinn.

Breakfast at the hotel. Today, take part in a walking tour of medieval Tallinn, where you will gaze in awe at the 14th and 15th century-style maze, walls and towers, soaring church spires and winding streets. Visit the city’s main attractions, including: Toompea Palace and Castle, Town Hall Square, the Russian Orthodox Alexander Nevsky Cathedral, Tallinn Dome Church and the Great Guild Hall, among others.

Continue your journey visiting the Balti Jaama market, an excellent opportunity to acquaint yourself with the products of the region. From here, make your way to the Kalamaja district, a very trendy area of the city, known for its colorful wooden houses, bohemian charm, industrial heritage and once the city’s main fishing port during the Middle Ages. The rest of the afternoon is yours to spend as you see fit. Alternatively, we recommend you take part in our optional visit to Kadriorg Park*. Overnight stay in Tallinn.

*Optional Visit to Kadriorg Park: Visit this 70 hectare park’s main attractions including the Kumu Art Museum, known as the largest exhibition place in Estonia. Here you will find 18th century to present day Estonian art.

Breakfast at the hotel*. At the indicated time, self-transfer** to the airport for your flight to Oslo. 

Arrive in Oslo, the capital and largest city of Norway known for its great museums, stunning natural landscapes and cutting-edge coffee culture! Use your Flytoget train ticket to enter the Flytoget terminal at the airport and take the train to the city centre.*** From there, head to your hotel for check-in and enjoy the rest of the day at your leisure. Overnight stay in Oslo.

Note: The meet and greet information will be provided to travelers upon arrival at the hotel.

*Depending on your flight schedule and the hotel breakfast service, you may not be able to enjoy the included breakfast in Tallin.

**Optional private transfer available in the next step of the booking process.

***Please Note: The included transfer is only from Oslo Gardermoen (OSL) airport via Flytoget train to the city center. At the hotel you will be greeted by the tour guide. You will receive the voucher for the Flytoget train before departure.

Breakfast at the hotel. Today, embark on a guided tour of Oslo, accompanied by a local guide and our tour leader, where you will stop by the city’s most emblematic sites, including Frogner Park and its Vigeland sculpture complex, City Hall, the Royal Palace and the modern Opera House.

Later in the afternoon, drive through approximately 6h lush valleys en route to Geilo, known for its stunning ski resort during the winter, mountain trails and being the gateway to 2 national parks, before stopping to admire the exterior of the 13th century Reinli wooden church*. You will then make your way to the hotel for check-in. Dinner and overnight stay in Geilo.

Note: The menu is fixed in Geilo and consists of fish. If you have dietary preferences or allergies, please notify us in advance.

*If you travel between September and November, you'll visit the beautiful Torpo Church-an interesting wooden structure that houses a fine example of Gothic art-instead of Reinli Church, which is inaccessible due to roadworks.

As the completion date of the roadwork is still unknown, it may extend beyond November.

Total distance travelled: 335 km, approx. 6 h.

Breakfast at the hotel. Depart towards the Fjord Sognefjord–, one of Bergen’s most impressive natural wonders, to gaze at the incredible scenery that surrounds it. En route, stop by the village of Flåm, located at the foot of the impressively narrow fjord. 

Here, you will be taking a tour on Norway’s famed Flåm Railway train ride for you to familiarize yourself with the beauty of this region. You will then have free time at leisure before sailing on the Nӕrøyfjord and the Aurlandsfjord in the afternoon. Finally, arrive in Bergen after a 3h journey, check-in to your hotel and overnight stay in Bergen.

Note: Due to availability and customer comfort, the order of the two excursions may vary depending on the day. Some days, the train tour will be conducted first, while on other days, the cruise will be conducted first.

Total distance travelled: 320 km, approx. 6 and a half hours.

Breakfast at the hotel. Today, we take a tour of Bergen with a local guide and our tour leader, passing through the Nordnes district, Holberg Port, the New Church, the Institute of Marine Research, or the Witch's Stone to learn about its fascinating history.

We then explore the other side of the peninsula, visiting the Grieg Concert Hall and the Music Pavilion. On our way to Bryggen, we see the picturesque white wooden houses in the Sandviken district, the fortress, St. Mary’s Church, the Bryggen Museum, and conclude at the Hanseatic Wharf.

Please note that visits or the order of activities may vary due to factors beyond our control (traffic, area improvements, etc.).

In the afternoon, we travel along Norway’s southwest coast on an unforgettable journey by land and sea, immersing ourselves in Nordic landscapes and cutting-edge infrastructure. We then head to Halhjem and board a ferry to Sandvikvåg, crossing several islands.

On our way to the hotel, we visit Føyno, where we traverse the famous Bømla Submarine Tunnel. We continue to Årsvågen to board another ferry to Mortavika and make a stop to see the "Sverd i fjell" monument, commemorating the Battle of Hafrsfjord. Arrival at the hotel and overnight stay in Stavanger.

Total distance travelled: 220 km, approx. 5 and a half hours.

Breakfast at the hotel. Take part in a fascinating guided tour, led by our tour leader, of the historic center of Stavanger where you will acquaint yourself with the city’s top tourist attractions including a stunning panoramic view of the harbor and the ‘Gamle Stavenger’ from the Valbergtårnet viewpoint. Optionally, you can choose to take part in a cruise along the Lysefjord* before your next transfer.

After the tour, you will transfer to Åseral, journey around 3h, known as a renowned ski destination and home to gorgeous natural scenery. Arrive at your hotel for check-in, enjoy dinner and overnight stay in Åseral.

*Optional Cruise Along the Lysefjord: Contemplate the majestic Pulpit Rock on a cruise along the Lysefjord, one of the most impressive fjords in the south of the country, located in a stunning natural setting.

Note: The menu is fixed in Åseral and consists of fish. If you have dietary preferences or allergies, please notify us in advance.

Important: The walking tour scheduled for day 5 may take place on day 4, depending on the arrival circumstances of the travelers.

Total distance travelled: 230 km, approx. 4 hours.

Breakfast at the hotel. Today, we travel east by bus to visit the famous Telemark Canal, a historic waterway in Norway and one of the most iconic in Europe, connecting Skien with Dalen through impressive locks and natural landscapes. Upon arriving in Ulefoss, we take a walking tour of the area, where you can opt to experience this remarkable site from a different perspective with our highly recommended cruise along the Telemark Canal*. If not, you can enjoy views of the area from the bus as we continue to Skien.

After lunch, we visit the exterior of Heddal Stave Church, one of the most impressive wooden churches in the country. We then return to Oslo for accommodation.

*Telemark Canal Cruise: Admire the beautiful natural surroundings of the canal by cruising from Ulefoss to Skien, a 150 km journey where you can enjoy a delicious slice of cake along with coffee or tea.

Important: the visit to the Telemark region is only offered from May 20 to October 4, while the Telemark canal is open for passage. On other dates, you will go straight from Aseral to Oslo where you will have extra time to enjoy this great city independently instead of this activity. If this visit is made, the total journey will be about 7 hours 30 minutes.

Total distance travelled: 320 km, approx. 7 hours.

Breakfast* at the hotel. Sadly, it’s time to finish this extraordinary adventure. At the indicated time, transfer** to Oslo airport for a flight back to the UK/Ireland. End of trip.

*Depending on the return flight schedule and the hotel breakfast service, you may not be able to enjoy the included breakfast on the last day.

**Please note: The included transfer is only from the city center to Oslo Gardermoen (OSL) airport via Flytoget train.

The transfers to the airport included in this program are for daytime flights departing after 8 a.m. via the Flytoget train. If your flight departs before 8 a.m., the transfer will be via the Flybuss bus service. The bus journey takes approximately 1 hour and 15 minutes and will drop you off next to the train station where the Flytoget arrives. There is an outdoor bridge connecting both stations for easy access.