Discover the immense beauty of Scandinavia - a fantastic tour for body and soul! Itinerary Scandinavia 9-day Tour Spring 2017 Draft, version 170110 Scandinavia Tour overview map Experience the North of Europe, join our nice combination of routes by both car, train and ship, seeing spectacular nature and landscapes as well as several beautiful, clean and interesting cities! This tour gives you a great overview of both Norway and Sweden in a rather short time - while still keeping a relaxing pace. You will visit some of Scandinavia s cities and their museums, nice architecture, restaurants and shops. You will also see and enjoy several UNESCO World Heritage Sites on the way. Page 1 (8)
Aerial view of Old Town, Stockholm Vasa Museum, Stockholm Drottningholm Palace, Stockholm Day 1 - Arrival Stockholm and Europe! Arrival to Stockholm after a loong flight from South East Asia. Usually around lunchtime. Due to travelling through the different time zones you will win some hours in the calendar. Maybe even arriving on the same date as your departure from Jakarta! Stockholm, the capital of Sweden, encompasses 14 islands of the vast Stockholm archipelago on the Baltic Sea coast. The cobblestone streets and ochre-coloured buildings of medieval Gamla Stan, the old town, are home to a 13th-century cathedral, the royal palace Kungliga Slottet and its underground armory, as well as many cafés and restaurants. Ferries and sightseeing boats shuttle passengers between islands, beneath more than 50 bridges. Transfer to your hotel Stockholm in city centre. We will try to welcome you at the airport and organise your transfer to the hotel. Check-in. Short guided walk in your hotel neighbourhood. Getting to know the area. Tobbe will hand over your tickets for public transport. Free time. Tip: Don t go to bed too early on this 1st day! Waiting until ca 8 p.m. will likely help to get over your jet lag and set your inner clock right! Downtown Stockholm has its own charm, where you can shop, stop for coffee, meet people and feel the ambience of the city. Dinner in Stockholm centre (not included). Day 2 - Exploring Stockholm! Breakfast in your hotel. Guided walking tour of Stockholm s Old Town (if not done on the day before). Minibus tour around the city and some of its sights (included in your tour). After the tour, drop-off at the Vasa Museum. This is Scandinavia s most visited attraction, a warship which sank on its maiden voyage in 1628 - and it s very well preserved! If you wish, we can extend the minibus tour to the Stockholm countryside, Drottningholm Castle and/or a nearby nice and picturesque town: Dalarö, Sigtuna or Waxholm. Dinner in Stockholm centre (not included). Day 3 - Stockholm surroundings minibus tour Breakfast in your hotel. This is your free day in Stockholm, your last full day here. We will give you more information about what you can see and do. Pack and prepare for next day s departure. Welcome dinner at a nice restaurant in Stockholm. (Included in your tour *). Prepare and pack for next day s departure. Check transfer to the airport with the hotel. (Included in your tour). Overnight in your hotel. *) Including no or few alcoholic beverages. Old Town Square, Stockholm Page 2 (8)
Dalarö, outside Stockholm Bergen centre and old harbour Day 4 - going to Bergen! Breakfast at your hotel, check-out. Taxi transfer from hotel to Stockholm Arlanda airport (arranged by the hotel, taxi not included). Flight to Bergen, ca 1:20 hrs direct flight, departure around noon time. (If no direct flight available it will be ca 3 hrs). Transfer to Bergen city centre and your hotel. Check in to your nice hotel in a central location. Bergen is Norway s second largest city, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and is a major port situated at the West Coast and the Atlantic Ocean. The city offers world class experiences and culture. Being the gateway to the Fjords of Norway, the Bergen region has the ideal combination of nature, culture and interesting urban attractions all the year round. We suggest that you stroll around the centre and old harbour of Bergen. It s an attractive city with lots of things to discover. Don t miss the fish market at the inner harbour, and the Bryggen area from Medieval Hanseatic League trade. Distances are quite short, so the sights above are easy to reach on foot from your hotel. It s probably a good idea to save some of the sights for the next day. Dinner at a good restaurant, we would recommend fish or seafood. (Not included in your tour). Dinner in Bergen centre (not included). Fløyen funicular, Bergen The Fish market, Bergen Day 5 - Enjoy Bergen! Breakfast at your hotel. The up to 700 years old Bryggen district consists of the old wharf and its surrounding commercial buildings (a former center of the Hanseatic League merchants), and features vibrantly coloured wooden houses. We recommend a tour up with the funicular railway up to the hill and viewpoint of Fløyen, high above Bergen centre. (Tickets are included in your tour, for a specific day). Great views over the city, its harbours and islands - and possibilities for a coffee or lunch break! Other things to see are Old Bergen (NO.: Gamle Bergen ) with old wooden houses, all with similar architecture, or Troldhaugen, home of the famous composer Edward Grieg. Or why not go on a short shopping round? There are many shops selling the classical Norwegian handicraft items, like trolls, spoons, wooden items, beautifully knit wool sweaters, or smoked or dried fish! (You can even buy fresh fish and cook it in Flåm on the following day). There are also shopping malls, one of them is close to the train station. Dinner in Bergen city centre. (Not included in your tour). Prepare and pack for your departure. By boat on the Sognefjord Page 3 (8)
Flåm Marina & Apartments, Flåm (example accommodation) RIB tour, Flåm area Naerøyfjord, Flåm area Day 6 - By express boat to Norway s Fjord Country! Breakfast at your hotel and check-out. Short walk to Bergen harbour and your Express Boat. The ship usually leaves at 08:00. Your 5½ hr express boat voyage from Bergen to Flåm will take a scenic route along the coast, then into the Sognefjord, Norway s longest with 210 kms length! Dramatic scenery, especially at the end of your journey. Arrival to Flåm in early afternoon. Please note: The voyage mostly goes in protected waters, so there is no big risk for seasickness. Optional: Instead of going by boat, you can take the train. Transfer to Bergen Station, ca 15 mins walk from your hotel. Alternatively, take a taxi (your hotel can help to order it, price not included in your tour). Now, you have a 4-5 hour comfortable train journey ahead, the Oslo Express train taking you away from the comparatively flat (for Norway!) landscape at the coast and up the high plateau of Hardangervidda. Here you will change trains at Myrdal station, a small village and railway junction at ca 860 m.a.s.l. Flåmsbana - rated as one of the most beautiful train journeys in the world. The Flåm Railway is the result of some very admirable railway engineering efforts almost one hundred years ago. The train partly runs in spirally-formed tunnels inside the mountain, and the ride offers spectacular views of the Norwegian mountain landscape. The train also stops at a waterfall, and then continues down the valley to Flåm, situated at the Fjord. The small village with the grand surroundings Flåm is at the inner part of the Sognefjord, surrounded by steep mountains, rivers, waterfalls and narrow valleys, and during the spring and summer months there are large cruise ships slowly passing through the narrow fjord with their course set for the tiny Flåm Harbour. Check-in to your apartment (or hotel, to be confirmed), in a central and very beautiful location. Walk around to discover Flåm village, perhaps watching the small but lively harbour. Dinner at Fretheim Hotel. Or alternatively, if you prefer a more rustic Viking-style dinner with beer (if you wish), in Aegir Brewery & Pub. (Not included in your tour). There are also other dinner options. Overnight at Flåm Marina & Apartments or Fretheim Hotel (to be confirmed), with a great view over the Aurlandsfjord! Day 7 - Enjoying Flåm! Breakfast in your apartment (or at hotel). From ca 09:00: A minibus tour (included in your tour) will take you for a 2-3 hour ride around the beautiful neighbourhood of Flåm: Mountains, villages, lakes, serpentine roads, great views and tunnels. Afternoon: RIB tour on the Naerøyfjord, ca 2-2½ hours. Dinner in Flåm (not included). Overnight in your apartment (or hotel). Prepare for next day s departure. Flåm mountain railway Page 4 (8)
Day 8 - Train to Oslo Breakfast at your hotel (or apartment) in Flåm. Check-out. After a short walk to the train station, your train will depart and take you to The capital of Norway, sits on the country s Southern coast at the head of the Oslofjord, and is known for its wide green spaces and museums and its lively and pleasant city center. On-your-own discovery of Oslo city center. Dining at a good restaurant. Overnight in Oslo, at a good hotel in central location. Aker Brygge, Oslo Viking Ship Museum, Oslo Day 9 - Discovering Oslo highlights! Arrival to Oslo in the afternoon or evening. The capital of Norway sits on the country s Southern coast at the head of the Oslofjord, and is known for its lively and pleasant city centre, clean open spaces and its museums. Many of these are on the Bygdøy peninsula, including the Norwegian Maritime Museum, the Viking Ships (ships from the 10th century), and the Norsk Folkemuseum, with artifacts from Sami and Viking cultures. Strolling around the city. We would suggest one of the above city attractions, if not too tired after your long flight. Dinner (not included in your tour) and overnight in Oslo. Prepare for next day s flight. Day 10 - Flight back to Jakarta! Breakfast and check-out, but leave your luggage at the hotel. (Your return flight is often in the afternoon). Visit one more of the city attractions (Vigeland s sculpture Park, Troll Museum, Viking Ship, Fram or Ra II). Or just enjoy a stroll around the lively and nice streets of Oslo. Transfer to Oslo airport Gardermoen by taxi, arranged by the hotel. (Not included in your tour). Flight back to Jakarta, probably via one of the airline hubs in the Middle East or Turkey (depending on your airline). Main pedestrian street, Oslo Day 11 - Arrival to Jakarta You will probably have a (nightly) stopover in your hub. Arrival to Jakarta is usually in the afternoon. Torbjorn Halvarsson Djupdalsvagen 67 SE-16771 BROMMA Phone: +46 768 593 995 VAT Nbr.: SE559052695901 Email: torbjorn.halvarsson@gmail.com Page 5 (8)
Replace! Flåm old village Aurland and the fjord Old Town, Stockholm Stockholm city centre Boats at rest at Stockholm Old Town pier Old steamer, Stockholm Helicopter, Norway (optional!) Stockholm pier, with the Royal Dramatic Theatre Huvudskär island, Stockholm archipelago Stockholm waterfront Page 6 (8)
Please note Mountain and lake scenery, Norway This itinerary is a draft and the details may change when we get closer to your tour, depending on your choices. The order of places, sights and the timing can change, depending on opening hours, schedules of flights and availbility of specific activities. Hotels are subject to availability, especially in the smaller villages in Norway s fjord country. During spring (May) in Scandinavia, temperatures are usually between 10-20 degrees C. On higher altitudes, temperatures can go down as low as to 5 degrees. Remaining snow can affect mountain roads. Some of them can therefore be closed until middle or end of May. Some Google images and maps have been used when preparing this document. Things to manage before your trip Valid passport (valid at least 6 months into the future from the time of travel) Insurance (travel, accident & health) A valid visa for Norway is needed. You need to allow sufficient time for this process. This visa is of Schengen type, which means it s also valid for Sweden (and other Schengen countries ). Stockholm, City on the Water Flåm views Vasa Museum, Stockholm Geiranger RIB tour View at fjord, Norway
Sweden - Norway Tour: 9 days (8 full days + 2 half-days) & 8 nights All-inclusive package, including most things you will need during the week (except most meals) On-your-own travel concept. No personal guide during most of the tour => makes you see, experience and enjoy more! Included in the package Accommodation in good hotels in good locations, with breakfast (exception: Flåm Apartment Hotel) One dinner in an old traditional hotel in Norway s fjord country All flights, trains, boat & taxi transport along the tour within Sweden and Norway. (exception: transfers which cannot be organised in advance in a safe way) Minibus and RIB tour in Flåm 2 city tours in Stockholm, by foot and by minibus, with guide Welcome dinner on 2nd day in Stockholm Tickets and entrance fees to some attractions in Bergen and Stockholm Local taxes Communication and information via email and conference calls (in English) where we also together adapt the tour to the client s wishes General information Confirmation of arrangements to be sent to you in advance, to support your visa applications A more detailed itinerary and general travel information for Scandinavia will be given later, also including maps, timetables and other useful info NOT included (for all tours listed in this document) Flights from Indonesia to Europe and return Additional food & beverages, on top of hotel breakfast and one dinner (in Stockholm) Additional personal expenses (hotel telephone, laundry, mini bar etc.) Additional activities and tours, not specified in your itinerary document Insurance Tips to drivers, hotel staff etc. Visa application. Needs to be done by the traveller him/herself Price indication Please contact us for a price indication! The price depends on various options chosen for your tour. Please note: Invoices are to be paid in SEK (Swedish Kronor). We reserve the right to adjust invoices accordingly, if the exchange rates for NOK/SEK, USD/SEK or USD/NOK are changing more than the usual fluctuation. Exact dates for travel are not yet known. The above price indication assumes that hotel rooms and flight seats are available on the chosen dates and to the costs assumed. An exact price quote can be given after your travel dates are known, options chosen and hotel & transport costs have been confirmed. Page 8 (8)