|
NORTHERN HIGHLIGHTS & THE ARCIC
CIRCLE - 2010
15 days incl. air, or 14 days from
Rovaniemi to Helsinki (CO-6900)
Return
to Italy Vacations & Tours
Return to
France, Spain, Portugal and Morocco Vacations & Tours
Vacation Overview
Few places on earth are as fascinating as those you visit
on this extraordinary Arctic Circle vacation. Begin in Rovaniemi, the
capital of Finnish Lapland. Here you experience the enchanting beauty of
the land of reindeer and the midnight sun. Highlights include an Arctic
Circle crossing, as well as visits to Santa’s workshop, the Gold Museum,
Finland’s main national park, and Lapland’s oldest wooden church dating
back to the 17th century. On to Norway, where fjords and pristine
landscapes are the order of the day. Drive to the North Cape, Europe’s
last northern outpost on a sheer cliff rising 1,000 feet from the
Atlantic Ocean. Take a spectacular coastal cruise from Honningsvag 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. Visit the most famous cathedral in
Norway in Trondheim, Norway’s third-largest city. Arrive in Sweden where
you enjoy grand mountain scenery and rural countryside, Lake Silian with
its shoreside villages, and the university town of Uppsala. Continue to
Stockholm for a guided sightseeing tour of the beautiful Swedish capital
with its canals, lakes, palaces, castles, and parks. An overnight ferry
returns you to Helsinki, Finland’s capital. The vacation ends with a
guided tour of Helsinki, including City Hall, the Parliament House, and
the Lutheran Cathedral. If you want to experience the Arctic Circle and
the beauty of Scandinavia, this vacation is for you!
Itinerary
Day 1 Mon.
BOARD YOUR OVERNIGHT TRANSATLANTIC FLIGHT
Day 2 Tue.
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 3 Wed.
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 this morning, 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. (B)
Day 4 Thu.
ROVANIEMI-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. (B,D)
Day 5 Fri.
SAARISELKÄ-HONNINGSVAG, NORWAY
Enjoy the serene landscapes of 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 Honningsvag on the island of
Mageroya, 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! (B,D)
Day 6 Sat.
HONNINGSVAG-COASTAL CRUISE-HAMMERFEST-ALTA
One of the highlights of
this tour is today’s fjord cruise from Honningsvag 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. (B,D)
Day 7 Sun.
ALTA-NARVIK
Continue your unforgettable
journey south along the stunning shoreline of Norway. The road meanders
along Kvaenangenfjord and Lyngenfjhord. 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 Malselvfossen Waterfall. Hear about fierce World War II
battles as you approach Narvik, rebuilt after near total destruction. (B)
Day 8 Mon.
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. (B)
Day 9 Tue.
MO-TRONDHEIM
On the agenda today: the
ancient octagonal church of Mosjöen; the spectacular Laksforsen
Waterfall; the forests and rivers of Namsdalen Valley; and vistas of
Trondheimsfjord, the World War II hideout of the German battleship Tirpitz. (B,D)
Day 10 Wed.
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. (B,D)
Day 11 Thu.
ROROS-LAKE FEMUND-MORA AREA, SWEDEN
Sweden
Grand mountain scenery
and beautiful Lake Femund are part of today’s journey south on the way to
Mora. In the heart of the Dalarna region, the most typical and unspoiled
countryside in Sweden. (B,D)
Day 12 Fri.
MORA-UPPSALA-STOCKHOLM
Continue your scenic
drive skirting Lake Silian and its typical Dalarnian shoreside 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. (B)
Day 13 Sat.
STOCKHOLM-BALTIC SEA CROSSING-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. (B)
Day 14 Sun.
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. (B)
Day 15 Mon.
YOUR HOMEBOUND FLIGHT ARRIVES THE SAME DAY
(B)
Note:
Security cruise regulations require clients’ family and first
name, D.O.B., gender, and nationality at time of booking.
AIRPORT
TRANSFERS
Airport transfers may be included when you make your
international flights arrangements.
Dates
and Prices
|
Departure
Details
|
Departure
Date
|
Tour
Start Date
|
Return
Date
|
Land/Cruise
Price Only
|
Status
|
|
Popular
Departure
|
5/31/2010
|
6/1/2010
|
6/14/2010
|
$2,195.00
|
Available
|
|
6/7/2010
|
6/8/2010
|
6/21/2010
|
$2,279.00
|
Available
|
|
6/14/2010
|
6/15/2010
|
6/28/2010
|
$2,279.00
|
Available
|
|
6/21/2010
|
6/22/2010
|
7/5/2010
|
$2,279.00
|
Available
|
|
Popular
Departure
|
6/28/2010
|
6/29/2010
|
7/12/2010
|
$2,279.00
|
Available
|
|
7/5/2010
|
7/6/2010
|
7/19/2010
|
$2,279.00
|
Available
|
|
7/12/2010
|
7/13/2010
|
7/26/2010
|
$2,279.00
|
Available
|
|
7/19/2010
|
7/20/2010
|
8/2/2010
|
$2,279.00
|
Available
|
|
7/26/2010
|
7/27/2010
|
8/9/2010
|
$2,279.00
|
Available
|
|
Popular
Departure
|
8/2/2010
|
8/3/2010
|
8/16/2010
|
$2,279.00
|
Available
|
|
8/9/2010
|
8/10/2010
|
8/23/2010
|
$2,165.00
|
Not Available
|
|
8/16/2010
|
8/17/2010
|
8/30/2010
|
$2,165.00
|
Available
|
Popular Departure - due
to itinerary and time of year, this departure historically sells out
quickly. Early booking is encouraged.
|
