23 DAY Reindeer and Russians EERSOM-8

Transcription

1 23 DAY Reindeer and Russians EERSOM-8 This tour visits: Norway, Finland, Estonia, Russia Welcome aboard the Reindeer and Russians trip, where classic European capitals meet stunning natural landscapes and all experiences come with a side of wow. With a lineup including the Arctic Circle (aka the Land of the Midnight Sun), magnificent Moscow and vibrant St Petersburg, you ll be hard pressed to find a trip that ticks off as many bucket list hotspots. Are you ready for this? BYO fondness for group selfies and a really great time. The Bucket List More Inclusions Geiranger Fjord cruise Metro & Kremlin tours in Moscow Russian guide with the trip for 8 days through Russia Entrance to the Hermitage Museum in St Petersburg Polar plunge & wood fired sauna in Skibotn Cross the Arctic Circle 22 breakfasts, 12 lunches, 15 dinners 2 nights in hostels, 9 nights in hotels & 11 nights in cabins Modern air conditioned coach with free Wi-Fi Guided tours of all major cities Awesome Trip Leader + Driver + Topdeck Chef Trip Itinerary

2 Day 1 - Oslo, Norway Meet the group and prepare for an incredible adventure. Hit our campsite for dinner in the land of the midnight sun. Day 2 - Oslo Check out Gustav Vigeland's bizarre and eccentric creations on a stroll through his sculpture park this morning. Then, we've got a comprehensive driving tour and an optional visit to the seafaring themed Viking Ship Museum, Kon-Tiki Museum and Fram Polar Ship. Take the rest of the day off to soak up the funky '60s vibe of the rich capital. -Driving tour of Oslo Optional activities: -Visit the Viking Ship museum -Visit the Kon-Tiki Museum -Visit the Fram Polar Ship Day 3 - Oslo to Andalsnes On to Lillehammer, home of the 1994 Winter Olympics. Do a run down the bobsled track (optional) before we move on to Åndalsnes for a full day on the Geiranger Fjord. To call the scenery epic would be an understatement (Google Images for proof). -Visit the Ringebu Stave Church Optional Activities: -Lillehammer Bobsled track Day 4 - Andalsnes Take a window seat and squeeze through the fjords, long recognised as some of the world s greatest natural wonders. Gawk at the sheer scale of these breathtaking beauties and wind your way around some of Europe s most scenic roads. -Troll s Pass crossing -Geiranger Fjord cruise

3 Day 5 - Andalsnes to Steinkjer Chase the sun to Trondheim, the religious capital of Norway. Then, repent your sins: next stop is Hell. Yes, really (only this one is usually frozen over). Temperatures can dip down to -25 C. After snapping up some photographic proof, we're off to Steinkjer for the night. -Visit Trondheim & Hell Day 6 - Steinkjer to Bjerka Today we take a coastal drive to Bjerka, an inland village surrounded by mountains. Look forward to some peace and quiet, plus more greenery than you can poke a pine tree at. Day 7 - Bjerka to Tysfjord On to Tysfjord for the night to experience the narrowest point in Norway. Plus, there s a chance to check out Svartisen the second largest glacier in Norway (weather dependent). Did you know? Polar ice baths and wood-fired saunas build character. Fact. -Visit the Arctic Circle Optional activity: -Visit Svartisen Glacier Day 8 - Tysfjord to Skibotn Visit the site of a historic power struggle between the British Royal Army and invading Nazis in Narvik en route to Skibotn where the Polar Plunge awaits! Lifelong bragging rights are awarded to those who dare to take a dip in the icy waters of the river. Afterwards, defrost those limbs in a wood-fired sauna.

4 -Polar Plunge -Wood fired sauna Day 9 - Skibotn to Olderfjord Onwards and upwards. Today we head north for the last time and drop our bags in Olderfjord. This evening you'll have the option to witness nature's sight for sore eyes, aka the Midnight Sun, atop the towering cliffs of Nordkapp (Europe's most accessible northern point). Optional activities: -Visit the Alta Museum -Midnight sun Nordkapp experience Day 10 - Olderfjord Fuel up with a late breakfast. Then: make the most of a free day with a hike through the rugged countryside. You ll go to bed counting reindeer and dreaming of fjords. Day 11 - Olderfjord to Rovaniemi, Finland Sing jingle bells as we make our way to Rovaniemi, the home of Santa Claus. Get pumped like it s Christmas Eve as we step into a real-life festive greetings card (think: snow, tinsel, fairy lights and fir trees) and pay a visit to St Nick himself. We hope you ve been good this year... -Visit Santa s Village Day 12 - Rovaniemi to Jyvaskyla Next up: Jyväskylä, a city set in the heart of the Finnish Lakeland. This place has a ton of hiking and biking trails, so there s no excuse not to

5 soak up as much of the outdoors as possible. Day 13 - Jyvaskyla to Helsinki A short trip south to the quirky Finnish capital, Helsinki. Kick back and let us show you the highlights of this harbourside city. Picture art nouveau buildings and cooler-than-cool cafés. -Driving tour of Helsinki Day 14 - Helsinki to Tallinn, Estonia More fairy tale magic as we hop across to Tallinn with its old city walls and medieval buildings. A walking tour will show you the highlights before we hand you over to the city. -Tallinn walking tour Day 15 - Tallinn What next? Well, whatever tickles your fancy. See the Alexander Nevsky Cathedral or check out the KGB museum for a history lesson on the antics of the former security agency for the Soviet Union. Pro tip: Old Town is where you'll get the best kind of Estonian #throwback vibes. Day 16 - Tallinn to St. Petersburg, Russia Cross the border to Russia for a tour of the country s former capital. Later, tuck into some blini and caviar (yes, caviar) and wash it all down with a shot of vodka, if you wish. When in Rome...

6 Day 17 - St. Petersburg Russia is a land of 11 time zones and an epic history. Luckily, we have a local guide to give us the lowdown. Anything called the Church of the Saviour on Spilled Blood has got to be worth a look, right? Check it out for yourself on today's driving tour. You definitely won't be bored in St Petersburg with so many sights to see! -Driving tour of St Petersburg with a local guide Day 18 - St. Petersburg Get ready for a dose of art and culture: we re off on a guided tour of the Hermitage Museum. This beauty spans six palatial buildings, including the epic Winter Palace. Ah-maze! You won t want to miss this. Next: (window) shopping, eating and grooving your way down Nevsky Prospect, the capital's main street. -Hermitage Museum tour Day 19 - St. Petersburg to Novgorod Through the Russian countryside to the World Heritage-listed city Novgorod. Try: Medovukha, the Russian version of mead. -Walking tour of Novgorod with a local guide Day 20 - Novgorod to Moscow Roll into sparkling Moscow today a place that buzzes with life come rain, hail or shine. Be prepared for an incredible few days. As you move through the city, spot the tangible reminders of Russia s involvement in modern history. Day 21 - Moscow March past the greats on today's tour, including the Moscow University, Red Square and St Basil's Cathedral (aka the capital's technicolor sandcastle). Explore the Kremlin with our local guide before setting off to roam the streets. Tonight: get fancy with an optional evening at the Russian ballet. Binoculars at the ready and don t go easy on the champagne clinking.

7 -Driving tour of Moscow with a local guide -Visit the Kremlin Optional activities: -Visit the Russian ballet Day 22 - Moscow Down we go for a guided tour of the not-so-mundane Moscow Metro. If you re picturing London s Piccadilly or Central Line, think again. Not even close! The Moscow Metro is on another level. We re talking chandelier lined stations, each one more decadent than the last. Next up: pay a visit to Lenin's tomb, then keep the history lesson going with an optional guided Kremlin Armory tour. -Metro underground art tour -Visit to Lenin s tomb Optional activity: -Guided Armoury tour Day 23 - Moscow Today, it s time to say goodbye. Check out and swap numbers. Is it ever too soon to start planning the next adventure? We think not. Accommodation Hostel Plus trips host our most eclectic types of accommodation. While modern hostels make up the majority of your overnighters you could also stay in hotels (free upgrade - yeah!) or bungalows. The 'More Inclusions' section details what type of accommodation will be used for overnight stops on your trip. The number of people to a room on Hostel Plus trips will vary. For hostels you will have multi-share rooms and usually share with between 3 and 5 others (although in some circumstances you will share with more than 5) while in hotels there will be twin or triple-shares (and the odd quad-room). Bungalows can be up to 4 people to a room. Please note: When staying on a Hostel Plus trip, multi-share accommodation is single-sex.

8 Optional Activities On all trips we have arranged extra activities that we think will enhance your travel experience, but you have a choice as to whether or not you will participate. These are not included in the cost of your trip. They are usually organised on a group participation basis and should be taken into consideration when budgeting your spending money. None of the Optional Activities on your trip are operated by Topdeck, nor do they form part of your contract with Topdeck for your trip. Topdeck arranges the activity as an agent of the local supplier. Should you participate in any Optional Activities your contract will be with the local supplier and their conditions will apply. Please note: while we make every effort to keep these prices as accurate and up-to-date as possible, they are subject to change and in rare circumstances the actual price may vary slightly to what is published here. Russia - Moscow Ballet from 70 Guided tour of the Armoury 22 Norway Bobsleigh - NOK 195 Viking Museum - NOK 80 (students 50) Kontiki Museum NOK 100 (students 40) Fram Polar Ship NOK 100 (students 40) Svartisen Glacier NOK 120 Meals Your included meals are detailed in the 'More Inclusions' section of this document. Breakfasts are included every day (except on the first morning). Included meals will be a combination of those prepared by Topdeck On-Site Chefs, local restaurants and places in which we stay. If you have any dietary requirements we will make every effort to cater to your specific needs as long as you advise your travel agent or Customer Service Consultant when you book, or make note of this in the Topdeck app when you check in (refer below). However, please be aware that although we will do everything in our power to arrange it, we cannot guarantee that every restaurant we use will be able to cater to all dietary needs, particularly in Eastern Europe. We also cannot cater for tastes or dislikes, as most of our included evening meals feature a set menu. No Tip Necessary

9 Your Topdeck crew never expect tips themselves and will not ask for any; that s not what friends do! We also know how much tipping can cost you. So go ahead, spoil yourself with the money you will save by travelling with Topdeck (just don t forget Mum s souvenir). Topdeck Travel App Our travel app has landed! With a range of awesome features including a Currency Converter, Budget Tracker, Check-In tool and Social Timeline you can plan your trip like a pro. Think of it like your very own Topdeck Trip Leader, always on call with the latest info, weather, maps and city guides to give you the trip of a lifetime, all in the palm of your hand. Please note: The Topdeck Travel App should only be downloaded once you have booked onto your trip. You will not be able to log in unless you have a Topdeck Booking Reference Number. Get it for iphone Get it for Android Passenger safety One of the best parts of travelling is experiencing the nightlife and entertainment each city has to offer. However, amidst the fun and excitement, it s important to be aware of your surroundings and personal safety as well. Before you hit the road with us, it s important to be aware of the following: When you re on a night out, remember to avoid walking alone, particularly through deserted areas like beaches and back streets. Always stick together, take a taxi where possible, and keep a note of your accommodation details so you can find your way back to your fellow Topdeckers if you become separated. In some countries, alcoholic measures can be considerably larger than what you may be used to. Try to keep track of what you re drinking, and if you see one of your trip mates looking a little worse for wear, take them back to your accommodation. Be cautious when accepting drinks from strangers and never leave your drink unattended. It s also important to be aware that what you might consider harmless flirting may be interpreted differently in some countries. Be yourself and have fun, but don t be naïve, and be mindful of the signals you are sending out so that you don t find yourself in an uncomfortable situation.