Few places on earth are as fascinating as those you will visit on this extraordinary vacation. Begin in Rovaniemi, the capital of Finnish Lapland, where you will experience the enchanting beauty of the land of reindeer and the midnight sun. Highlights include an Arctic Circle crossing and visits to Santa’s workshop, the Gold Museum, Finland’s main national park, and the open-air Sámi Museum. On to Norway, where fjords and pristine landscapes are the order of the day. Drive to the North Cape, take a spectacular coastal cruise from Honningsvåg to Hammerfest, then back on land through forests and past lakes, waterfalls, and archetypal wooden churches. Visit Narvik with its war museum, Mo, and Trondheim with its beautiful fjord. Arrive in Sweden to marvel at the grand mountain scenery and rural countryside. Visit Lake Siljan with its shoreside villages, and the university town of Uppsala. Continue to Stockholm for guided sightseeing of the beautiful Swedish capital with its canals, lakes, palaces, and parks. An overnight ferry returns you to Finland for a guided tour of Helsinki and the finale of your grand vacation.

Day 1 ROVANIEMI, FINLAND
Check into your hotel. The rest of the day is free for you to start exploring Rovaniemi. Tonight, meet your Tour Director and fellow travelers.

Day 2 ROVANIEMI
A whole day to enjoy the capital of Finnish Lapland. For hundreds of years it was famous for exporting furs and salmon to the world’s rich and powerful. Unfortunately, the town was totally destroyed during World War II. The new town, which you’ll visit during this morning's orientation drive, was designed by Alvar Aalto in the shape of reindeer antlers. Sights include Lappia Hall, the Town Hall, the new modern church with its intriguing frescoes, and the Arctic Center. Afternoon at leisure or join an optional excursion to find out more about Lapland. (Breakfast)

Day 3 ROVANIEMI–TANKAVAARA–SAARISELKÄ
As you cross the Arctic Circle (66°31’N), you are in incomparable, unspoiled Lapland, land of reindeer and the midnight sun. Stop at the Santa Claus Workshop with a chance to meet Father Christmas himself. North to Sodankylä, where you see the charming Vanha Kirkko, Lapland’s oldest wooden church dating back to the 17th century. At Tankavaara, visit the Gold Museum and try panning for gold if you wish. Overnight in Saariselkä, on the edge of the virgin wilderness and part of Finland’s major national park. It is the largest winter sport center in Finland and a paradise for hikers and mountain bike lovers in summer. (Breakfast, Dinner)

Day 4 SAARISELKÄ–HONNINGSVÅG, NORWAY
Via Ivalo you cross into Norway for a visit to the fascinating Sápmi Park. Further into Norway and across the beautiful Porsangen Fjord to Honningsvåg on the island of Magerøya, home to 4,000 people and 5,000 reindeer. Tonight, one of the highlights of this tour is the included drive to the North Cape, Europe’s last northern outpost, on a sheer cliff rising 1,000 feet from the Atlantic Ocean. From May 11 to July 31, if the sky is clear, you’ll see the midnight sun rolling just above the horizon! (Breakfast, Dinner)

Day 5 HONNINGSVÅG–COASTAL CRUISE–HAMMERFEST–ALTA
One of the highlights of this tour is today’s fjord cruise from Honningsvåg to Hammerfest. You will enjoy some of Norway’s most beautiful coastal and mountain scenery as you cruise southwards. Disembark at Hammerfest and drive to Alta, situated at the mouth of the world’s richest salmon river, for an overnight. (Breakfast, Dinner)

Day 6 ALTA–MÅLSELVFOSSEN–NARVIK
Continue your unforgettable journey south along the stunning shoreline of Norway. The road meanders along Kvaenangenfjord and Lyngenfjord. You are now in the Troms Province, still way beyond the Arctic Circle but with a climate mild enough to allow very successful farming. Stop for pictures at the thundering Målselvfossen Waterfall. Hear about fierce World War II battles as you approach Narvik, rebuilt after near total destruction. (Breakfast)

Day 7 NARVIK–MO
Visit Narvik’s War Museum and relive how Norwegian troops, with the help of their allies, showed the world that the Nazi war machine was not invulnerable. Enter Nordland; not far from Mo you cross the Arctic Circle again and are back in a world where the sun rises and sets every day of the year. Overnight in the little town of Mo I Rana. (Breakfast)

Day 8 MO–MOSJÖEN–TRONDHEIM
On the agenda today: the ancient octagonal church of Mosjöen; the spectacular Laksforsen Waterfall; the forests and rivers of Namdalen Valley; and vistas of Trondheimsfjord, the World War II hideout of the German battleship Tirpitz. (Breakfast, Dinner)

Day 9 TRONDHEIM–ROROS
Spend this morning getting to know something about Norway’s third-largest city, also known as the “Gateway to the North.” The main sight in town is the Nidarosdomen, the most famous cathedral in Norway. In the afternoon, travel southeast through some fine alpine scenery to Roros, not far from the Swedish border, for an overnight. (Breakfast, Dinner)

Day 10 ROROS–LAKE FEMUND–MORA AREA, SWEDEN
Grand mountain scenery and beautiful Lake Femund are part of today’s journey south on the way to Falun. In the heart of the Dalarna region, the most typical and unspoiled countryside in Sweden. (B,D)

Day 11 MORA AREA–UPPSALA–STOCKHOLM
Continue your scenic drive through typical Dalarnian villages. A short stop in the university city of Uppsala, then just a few more miles before reaching Sweden’s capital, Stockholm, for an overnight. (Breakfast)

Day 12 STOCKHOLM–OVERNIGHT BALTIC SEA CROSSING TO HELSINKI, FINLAND
Stockholm is perhaps the most beautiful of the Scandinavian capitals. The effect of its crystalline waters flowing through the city’s intersecting canals gives a luminous appearance to palaces, castles, and parks. Sightseeing includes the City Hall and other landmarks. The afternoon is free for your own exploration. In the evening, embark on the Silja Line ferry to Helsinki. On board you can enjoy music, dancing, and shopping. (Breakfast)

Day 13 HELSINKI
After breakfast on board, disembark for your city sightseeing tour with a Local Guide. Highlights will include the City Hall and Parliament House, the Presidential Palace, the monumental railway station, and the great Lutheran Cathedral. An afternoon of leisure or for some individual exploring. (Breakfast)

Day 14 HELSINKI
Your vacation ends with breakfast this morning. (Breakfast)

INCLUDED FEATURES
Visits to Rovaniemi, Sodankylä, Tankavaara, Karasjok, North Cape, Narvik, Mo, Trondheim, Mora, Uppsala

Note:

* Security cruise regulations require clients’ family and first name, D.O.B., gender, and nationality at time of booking.

SCENIC HIGHLIGHTS
Arctic Circle crossing, Lapland and Santa Claus Workshop, Lake Siljan

INSIDE VISITS
Inside visits and special features are shown in the description, including admission charges when applicable.

GUIDES
Local Guides for city sightseeing in Stockholm and Helsinki. Services of a professional Tour Director while touring

STANDARD INCLUDED FEATURES
Learn more about transportation, hotels, and other standard included features offered.

MEALS
Buffet breakfasts; 6 dinners

HOTELS - (F) First-Class (ST) Superior Tourist-Class (T) Tourist Class
Rovaniemi Scandic (F), Saariselkä Holiday Club (F), Honningsvåg Rica Nordkapp (F) or Rica Bryggen (F), Alta Rica Alta (F), Narvik Quality Grand Royal (F), Mo Fjordgården (ST), Trondheim Quality St. Augustin (ST), Roros Roros (F), Mora Area First Hotel Grand (F) at Falun, Stockholm Quality Nacka (ST), Helsinki Sokos Alexanteri (F)

TRANSPORTATION
Touring by private first-class air-conditioned motorcoach. Coastal cruise; overnight ferry from Stockholm to Helsinki will be in shared (same gender) four-berth cabins with private facilities; supplement for two-berth cabins, see Dates & Prices Optional Excursions Important Note: the following list of optional excursions are examples only for this vacation as they are the excursions that are being offered for this cruise in the current travel year. These optional excursions might or might not be offered next year, as well as new optional excursions might be offered. Information about what optional excursions will be offered for your cruise will be available later this year into next year. If no example excursions are listed, please check back a later.

Here's a list of optional excursions you can enjoy during your vacation. Whether it's a special dinner, a local show or a special behind-the-scenes glimpse into an historical site, optional excursions are a wonderful way to enrich your vacation even further. Plus, they give you flexibility. We include the must-see sites and experiences, and we also understand that people take interest in different activities and may want to craft a more personal vacation by hand-picking optional excursions that appeal to them.

Availability is subject to sufficient participation, weather conditions, seasonal suitability, days of operation, group interests, and general feasibility for your vacation. The approximate value listed gives you a good, general idea of what you can expect to pay but may vary once you are on your vacation. Some information provided might be in a foreign currency.

CITY: Alta

Museum & Rock Carvings
Don't miss the opportunity for a guided tour of the museum and rock art park which is the largest area of rock carvings in northern Europe made by prehistoric hunters.
Approximate value: EUR €25 per person

CITY: Rovaniemi

Panoramic Dinner
Enjoy a 3 course Lapp-style dinner in a popular panoramic restaurant overlooking the town. The ideal place to see the Midnight Sun.
Approximate value: Please check back later per person

Sami Experience
A river cruise in wooden riverboats will take you to a reindeer farm, where you will be shown around by Lapp ladies followed by a fun Arctic Circle ceremony. Finish off the excursion in a big log house with coffee or tea and traditional Lapp pastry, and learn something about the Sami culture.
Approximate value: EUR €53 per person

CITY: Stockholm

The Old Town & Dinner
A local guide will accompany you on foot to see the best parts of the old city in the evening. At the end of the walking tour you will have a tasty dinner in one of the oldest restaurants in Stockholm, which hides in a 14th century cellar.
Approximate value: EUR €50 per person

Vasa Museum
On August 10, 1628, the pride of the Swedish fleet, "The Warship Vasa" sank in the Stockholm harbor on her maiden voyage. After 333 years she was rediscovered in 1956 and raised in 1961. The Vasa is one of the world's oldest identified and fully preserved ships and one of the leading sights in the world. You will have a tour of the Museum with local expert, see a film about the salvaging of the Vasa and have time to explore on your own.
Approximate value: EUR €20 per person

CITY: Trondheim

City Sightseeing
Learn something about Norway's third largest city as the tour takes you to see some of its oldest monuments - the 1778 Royal Residence and the 1861 City Bridge. Passing wooden houses and small lanes you go uphill for a view over the entire city. Finally to the Nidaros Cathedral, the most famous in Norway, where you will have time for an inside visit.
Approximate value: EUR €25 per person

PRICES
From approx $2,119 US per person double occupancy