White Nights

June 5 - 18, 2012
14 Days and 12 Nights
$4,499 pp. Double Occupancy























Visiting Scandinavia in June, when it is dark for a few hours a day is a once in a lifetime experience. The "White Nights" gives the visitor an opportunity to experience many extra hours of daylight. Imagine seeing the sun in the sky at midnight. The sun does not descend below the horizon enough for the sky to grow dark. In fact, the night becomes curiously indistinguishable from day, so much so that the authorities never need to turn the city's streetlights on in many cities. Many festivals take place during this time of year. The TE has secured limited space for our White Nights adventure. If you are interested, please send in your deposit immediately to reserve your place on this trip. The price of the trip includes R/T air from New York, four star or superior tourist class hotels, admissions all breakfasts, five dinners, tips for drivers and guides, and taxes included at the time of printing.

*** Originally, we had planned a St. Petersburg extension, but the extra air and land charges plus the high visa costs have made the three day extension not cost effective. As many of our travelers know, the Scandinavian countries are some of the most expensive places to visit. ***

DAY: 1 - June 5th
Overnight flight to Copenhagen. Dinner, movies, and drinks included on board.

DAY: 2 - June 6th
Arrival in Copenhagen, the capital of Denmark and the city of Hans Christian Andersen, who wove magical stories for children. The afternoon will be free to explore and get acquainted with this wonderful city.

DAY: 3 - June 7th
A local guide will show us the best sights in Copenhagen, including the Little Mermaid. In 1909, brewer Carl Jacobsen saw solo dancer, Ellen Price, dance in Fini Henriques' ballet "The Little Mermaid" at the Royal Theatre. He was so taken with her that he asked her if she would pose for a statue. She agreed in principle, but was not very interested in posing without any clothes on when she found out just how public the statue would be. Instead, sculptor Edvard Erichsen's wife stepped in and modeled for the body. On September 14, 1912, the Little Mermaid statue was first placed at a test location, and on August 23, 1913, at its current and permanent site. The statue's birthday is celebrated in various ways every year on August 23.

Throughout the year, the massive granite Christiansborg Palace, surrounded by canals on three sides, is where the queen officially receives guests. From 1441 until the fire of 1795, it was used as the royal residence. Even though the first two castles on the site were burned, Christiansborg remains an impressive neo-baroque and neoclassical compound.

In the evening, one can visit Tivoli, one of the most unique amusement attractions in the world. The story of Tivoli Gardens dates back to the year 1843. Founder, Georg Carstensen, grew up in a family that travelled a lot, as his father was a diplomat. Carstensen had seen the many amusement parks around Europe and wanted to make one in Copenhagen, and that was the beginning of Tivoli. Today Tivoli has more than four million visitors during three seasons: Summer, Halloween, and Christmas, and is known for both its beautiful garden and the diversity of its rides for children of all ages.

DAY: 4 - June 8th
An excursion to Helsingor is included today. Helsingor (Elsinore in English) is the home of the famous Kronborg Castle, the setting for Hamlet, and the resting place of Holger the Dane. No visit to Denmark is complete without a visit to Elsinore, but there is more to see and do than just visit Kronborg. There will be free time to explore this village after the visit to the castle. The late afternoon and evening will be free in Copenhagen.

DAY: 5 - June 9th
Full free day to explore Copenhagen before we take the overnight ship to Oslo, Norway. The TE will make suggestions. You might want to visit the Viking Ship Museum or spend time in the New Harbour area, which is actually the oldest area in Copenhagen. Overnight ferry ship to Oslo with outside view cabins. There are many activities on board and a smorgasbord buffet is included.

DAY: 6 - June 10th
Upon arrival, a local guide will introduce us to Oslo. Included is admission to the Vigeland Sculpture Park (Vigelandsparken), which is one of Norway's most visited attractions with more than one million visitors every year. The unique sculpture park is the life work of the sculptor Gustav Vigeland (1869-1943), with more than 200 sculptures in bronze, granite, and cast. A visit to the Munch Museum is also included. Free time to explore after the tour.

DAY: 7 - June 11th
Today we drive through some of the most beautiful parts of Norway en route to Bergen. Our first stop will be in Honefoss for a quick visit before we move on to Laerdal, where there will be time for lunch. The Laerdal valley is located in the county of Sogn og Fjordane, western Norway. It winds from the Laerdal fjord, one of the inner arms of the Sognefjord, to the mountain passes of Fillefjell and Hemsedalsfjellet, on the water divide between Western and Eastern Norway. Total length is approximately 60 km from fjord to mountain. The valley is deeply incised in the surrounding mountain plateau, which varies in altitude between 1100 and 1900 m asl. Norwegian red deer abound in the valley sides, reindeer in the mountains, and occasionally a brown bear may be seen. Laerdal has always been an important passage between eastern and western Norway, and presently highway E16 between Oslo and Laerdal runs through the valley. Laerdal is approximately halfway to Bergen (300 km from Oslo and 200 from Bergen). Voss will be our next stop. Voss is a village in the heart of Fjord Norway (Hordaland), and is known to be the adventure capital of Norway. Voss is also known as a winter destination with two ski centers and long skiing traditions. In Voss you are surrounded by rivers, mountains, fjords, and lakes. The evening will be free in Bergen.

DAY: 8 - June 12th
Morning sightseeing tour of beautiful Bergen. Ride on the Floybanen Funicular is included. The wonderful view down from the top of the funicular is amazing. Our tour will take us to see the important sights in Bergen like those in the outdoor museum or the stave church. Free afternoon to explore the city. Bergen is known for the Bryggen Hanseatic Wharf, the Fish Market, and surrounding mountains and fjords, such as the Hardangerfjord and Sognefjord. It is a great city to enjoy and explore.

DAY: 9 - June 13tb
Today we take a Fjord Cruise from Gudvangen to Flam. On the boat trip between Gudvangen and Flam, you sail between steep mountains, passing cascading waterfalls and small farms that cling to the mountainsides. Flam is the terminal for the beginning of a breathtaking railway journey. En route, you will pass Aurland, the administrative centre of the municipality with its 13th century stone church. You will also pass the small village of Undredal, which has one of the smallest churches in the world. Perched high upon the mountainside, you will see Stigen farm, so-called because it was necessary to walk up a steep path to get there. Evening free to explore Hamar.

DAY: 10 - June 14th
On our way to Stockholm, we stop in Karlstad. Founded in 1584, Karlstad is known as 'the city of sunshine', in part because of its favorable climate, and in part because the city prides itself on its lively and welcoming atmosphere. Capital of the historic province of Värmland, Karlstad has been the venue for a number of important events in Swedish history, including the negotiations for the peaceful dissolution of the union between Norway and Sweden in 1905. Karlstad is built on a collection of islands and islets in the delta of the Klarälven River, as it flows into Lake Vänern (the largest body of water in Sweden, and the third largest in Europe). The city is surrounded by pine forests and farmland, and there are no fewer than eleven nature reserves within the municipality's borders There will be free time for lunch before we head for Stockholm. Free evening in Stockholm.

DAY: 11 - June 15th
A morning tour of Stockholm is included today. There will be a visit to the Royal Palaces and the Drottningholm Palace. Included will be a one way cruise to Drottningholm. Situated in the heart of Stockholm, on the central island of Riddarholmen, the Royal Palace is the official residence of the monarchs of Sweden and the chief venue for official state events. With 608 rooms, it is among the largest surviving palaces in Europe. The present glorious baroque edifice is the work of Nicodemus Tessin the Younger, from a 1692 design. Some parts of the older medieval Castle of Three Crowns still survive. Attractions include the Banqueting Apartments, the Apartments of the Orders of Chivalry, the Hall of State, the Royal Treasury, Gustav III's Museum of Antiquities and the Royal Chapel. The changing of the guard at the palace is as much of a spectacle in Stockholm as it is in London. There will also be a walking tour of the old town included. For medieval atmosphere, tourist attractions and shopping, you simply cannot miss Old Town. The tiny, often cobble-stoned alleys are lined with several shops. Most of them are quite small, with old-fashioned interiors. For those yearning to mix in a bit of sightseeing, the Old Town is a major attraction in itself, and it houses the Royal Palace. When your feet begin to ache, sip a latte and enjoy a snack at one of the many cafés or have a meal at one of the several restaurants. Free evening in Stockholm.

DAY: 12 - June 16th
Full free day in Stockholm. Why not spend some more time in the Old Town, visit one of museums or just relax. In the evening we will take a ferry ship to Helsinki. There are many activities on board and various dining options for you to purchase. Seaside berths aboard ship.

DAY: 13 - June 17th
Guided tour of Helsinki with stops at the Rock Church and free time to visit the harbor. Helsinki is an attractive place for tourists due to plenty of unique historical and architectural monuments. Such Helsinki sights as Uspensky Cathedral, Old Church, Sibelius Monument and others help the guests to get closely acquainted with original Finnish culture. The Suomenlinna Sea Fortress and the Presidential Palace tell the history of the country. The Burgher's House and Sederholm House are the excellent examples of private buildings. The majority of Helsinki's sights are located within a walking distance of the city center.

DAY: 14 - June 18th
Departure for the airport for the return flight home.



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