Germany, Scandinavia and Russia

TODAY’S HIGHLIGHTS: Arrival. Transfer to the hotel.Welcome to Europe!!!. On arrival at the airport we shall be waiting to transfer you to the hotel. You can enjoy free time until your tour starts, information about the meeting place and start time can be found on the information boards in the hotel reception area.

TODAY’S HIGHLIGHTS: City tour of Berlin. We visit the Holocaust Me­morial and the Berlin Wall Museum. Ease your way into the local culture with a guided tour of Germany’s incredible capital, Berlin. We will visit the historic centre, Museum Island, the Reichstag, the Brandenburg Gate and the city’s magnificent parks. We continue our visit by stopping at the Holocaust Memorial and the Berlin Wall Museum. This visit can help us to understand the difficult situation the city experienced during the Twentieth Century. Leisure time to explore the city.

TODAY´S HIGHLIGT: Bavarian Republic of Germany.We will travel to DRESDEN, a city on the river Elba where we can admire its palace. We go on to Bavaria and our arrival in BAMBERG, a very beautiful city full of life; don’t miss little Venice! We continue to NUREMBERG, the second largest city in Bavaria, and a city of great history where we suggest a visit to the place where Hitler’s Coliseum stood.

TODAY´S HIGHLIGHT: Cruise on the Danube. Beautiful landscapes. Dachau concentration camp. BMW world.Today’s journey is one of great surprises. From Kelheim we board a boat to make a short cruise along the Danube Valley, in the area of the Danube Gorges. We come to KLOSTER WELTENBURG, a very beautiful Benedictine monastery founded in 1040, where we have time to visit before going on to LANDSHUT, one of Germany’s prettiest villages, and time for lunch. We continue to DACHAU where we will visit the museum of the Nazi concentration camp. In mid-afternoon, we reach MUNICH, where we visit the impressive BMW WELT (BMW world) complex, the very modern multifunctional exhibition facility of the prestigious German vehicle group BMW. We also see the park where the Olympia stadium stands in its architectural beauty and where the famous Olympic Games of 1972 were held. After this, free time in the historic centre to enjoy the typical beer houses.

TODAY´S HIGHLIGHTS: Neuschwanstein. Rothenburg Christmas Museum.Amidst alpine summits and very beautiful scenery, we travel to FUSSEN and the Neuschwanstein Castle. We get on a bus to Maria Bridge and admire the fantastic scenery from this little bridge between the hills. You can either return on foot or horse and cart (not included). After this, continuing with our romantic route, we travel to ROTHENBURG, a very pretty city surrounded by walls, where we enter the beautiful Christmas Museum (entrance included). Next FRANKFURT, Germany’s financial capital.

TODAY´S HIGHLIGHT: Cruise on the Rhine. Romantic route. Today we will see the valleys of the Rhine and Mosel, two rivers loaded with history and sprinkled with charming villages. We take a short cruise on the Rhine, between the villages of RUDESHEIM and ST. GOAR, undoubtedly the most picturesque section of the river. Then we will go on to the river Mosel, and will have time for lunch in COCHEM, a very picturesque village on the bank of the river. We also visit the incredible Burg Eltz, a medieval castle surrounded by forests in the mountains. In the late afternoon we will arrive in COLOGNE, time for a stroll in the busy area of the cathedral before going on to our hotel in DUSSELDORF.

TODAY´S HIGHLIGHT: Coal Mine Industrial Complex. A stroll in DUSSELDORF, a city on the banks of the Rhine and in the centre of Germany’s most industrial region. We continue to ZOLLVEREIN, which is one of the most important points on the “European route of industrial and heritage”, where we visit its Coal Mine Industrial Complex, declared World Heritage. We proceed north bound, stopping in HAMELIN, a city made famous due to the Pied Piper. After following in the footsteps of the mice, we continue to HANNOVER, where we have time to visit the centre of this thriving city. Note: On dates when there are trade fairs or congresses, the accommodation may be in a nearby town.

TODAY´S HIGHLIGHT: North of Germany and farming regions of Jutland.After a short time in Hannover we leave for HAMBURG, where we go around its lake and see its busy port full of life, time for lunch. After lunch we travel to FLENSBURG a pretty seaside village with its marina on the border with Denmark. Our route goes on to AARHUS, Denmark’s second largest city in the centre of Jutland.

TODAY´S HIGHLIGHTS: Norwegian coastline. We will travel to HIRTSHALS, where we will take a ferry crossing the North Sea to Norway. A three-hour voyage to KRISTIANSAND. We will continue along Norway’s southern coastline and enjoy its stunning landscapes. Next stop STAVANGER, a small picturesque town that has an active port by the fjord. Note: Ferry operation hours vary depending on the months. Sometimes it is normally reserved to have lunch on the boat.

TODAY´S HIGHLIGHTS: beautiful fjord and sea landscapes. Funicular trip to mount Floyen. Upon leaving the city, we will stop at the ‘Swords in Rock’ monument, where we will be reminded of the Vikings, before continuing the very beautiful scenic tour. We follow the route going through tunnels, bridges and travel some stretches by boat to go along the fjord coast of Norway. One of its undersea tunnels is the deepest one in the world. This stage gets more relaxed and spectacular with its two boat trips. We will arrive in BERGEN at lunch time. We take a funicular trip to Mount Fløyen which offers amazing views of the town and Bergen fjord. There will be some leisure time later to enjoy the capitol city of fjords.

TODAY´S HIGHLIGHTS: Spectacular scenery of mountains and fjords. Cruise. More fantastic landscapes today, images of Norway’s interior region fjords, glaciers, lakes and forests. We will travel to SOGNEFJORD, Norway’s largest fjord. Prior to arrival, we will stop at the beautiful TVINDEFOSSEN waterfall. We will take a magnificent cruise between the cities of GUDVANGEN and FLAM; enjoy stunning landscapes during this two-hour voyage. We continue our journey crossing magnificent snow-covered landscapes. We travel through Lærdal Tunnel, one of the longest in the world. Next, a visit to BORGUND’s 12th century wooden church (entrance included) which is considered Norway’s best-preserved medieval church. We arrive in OSLO with free time to check out its port, main streets, and the artworks at Frognerparken.

TODAY´S HIGHLIGHTS: impressive scenery with mountains, forests and lakes. We will spend some time in OSLO before departing for Sweden. Enjoy landscapes with forests and lakes. Next stop in OREBRO, a town next to a beautiful lake with a castle and charming historic center. Time for stroll and to take lunch. Continuing to STOCKHOLM, arriving in the evening.

TODAY´S HIGHLIGHTS: Stockholm sightseeing. Today we make a panoramic tour of this very beautiful capital city built on 13 islands joined together. We will see the Gamla Stand or the “City between the Bridges”, the old quarter of the city, full of life where there are many monumental buildings such as the Nobel Museum, alongside the main square of Stortorget, which pays tribute to the winners of the Nobel Prizes, the Cathedral and the Royal Palace. Whenever possible, we will enjoy a pretty view from the Fjällgatan viewpoint. Then leisure time. We recommend visiting the museums and parks. Optionally, we suggest a visit to the City Hall and to the Vasa museum-ship.

TODAY’S HIGHLIGHTS: Ferry to Finland. Enjoy a free day of leisure in Stockholm. In the evening we will board a modern ferry traveling overnight to Finland, where accommodation will be in double cabins with private bathrooms.

TODAY’S HIGHLIGHTS: Forests, lakes, pleasant landscapes. As we arrive to Finland, we recommend that you go to the ship’s deck for sunrise, enjoy mesmerizing landscapes from the sea as we sail along Aland Islands, hundreds of islands covered by forests. We disembark the ferry and have time to walk around TURKU, a city with a very strong Swedish influence. We continue our journey to the neighbouring city of NAANTALI, a very picturesque town with wooden houses next to the sea. We travel on until we arrive in HELSINKI, reaching at lunchtime. In the afternoon enjoy leisure time, you will be able to explore the city, with its old market, buildings with Russian influence and churches.

TODAY’S HIGHLIGHTS: Stage by the sea with beautiful landscapes on the way out of Helsinki. We enjoy a boat trip to Suomenlinna Islands, a group of islands where we can witness a great fortress that used to protect the sea entry to the city, it has been declared World Heritage. Take time to walk around, it is possible to cross the islands through small pedestrian bridges. Later we will board a ferry to Estonia. The ferry trip will be around 2 hours 30 minutes. During the departure from Helsinki you have great views of the surrounding islands. On to TALLINN!

TODAY’S HIGHLIGHTS: city tour of Tallinn. Tallinn, the capital of Estonia is a wonderful city with a well-conserved medieval centre. We will enjoy a comprehensive tour of the city, its walls, churches, squares, and its medieval streets filled with tourist attractions. An afternoon at leisure.

TODAY’S HIGHLIGHT: From Estonia to Russia. Today we leave Estonia and travel to Russia. We stop in NARVA with time to see the impressive fortress by the river, on the border between the two countries. Border procedures (which can sometimes take time), then we will take our included lunch once in Russia. We make our way to ST PETERSBURG, arriving and going to the hotel.

TODAY’S HIGHLIGHT: Panoramic visit of St. Petersburg. Catherine Palace. With a local guide we begin the panoramic visit of this beautiful city crossed by the Neva River and built on 40 islands. St Petersburg is the second most important city in Russia and capital of the Russian Empire. This imperial city reveals the history of the Russian tsars through its museums, palaces, and architectural wealth. The visit includes the Peter and Paul Fortress (entrance included), origin of the city. The city is surrounded by numerous palaces. We take an excursion, with a guide and tickets, to the CATHERINE PALACE which is located 25km from St Petersburg. It was the Tzars summer Rococo residence. Note: Depending on availability, Peterhof Palace may be visited instead of Catherine Palace. The Peterhof Palace, with very similar characteristics, was also a former residence of tsars.

TODAY’S HIGHLIGHT: Hermitage Museum. Today we have a visit to the Hermitage Museum, a fantastic art museum located in the building that was the Tsars’ Winter Palace (visit with guide and tickets). Enjoy a free afternoon at leisure.

TODAY’S HIGHLIGHT: Russian plain, woodlands and lakes. Novgorod. Dinner included. We continue our journey to NOVGOROD, an exciting city that was one of Russia’s most important political and cultural centres. We will visit its Kremlin (guide and entrance included), the former market district, the court of Yaroslav. Lunch included. Followed by a relaxing lunch. Then to VALDAY, a picturesque little city by a lake. We will visit the ancient monastery on an island in the lake before going on to TVER. Dinner included.

TODAY’S HIGHLIGHT: Along tiny roads to see the rural areas of Russia, passing many pretty villages on our way. Lunch included. We start the day with a stroll in TVER, a city on the banks of the Volga River that was the centre of a small state that was Moscow’s main rival. After this, we will see some of the cities of the GOLDEN RING. A brief stop in KLIN where we find the house of the brilliant composer Tchaikovsky. Then we carry on to SERGIEV POSAD, where we will see the Monastery of the Trinity, considered Russia’s most important spiritual centre. Lunch included. In the afternoon, we travel along small roads that pass through historical cities of the Golden Ring; ALEXANDROV, with its Kremlin dedicated to Ivan the Terrible. YURYEV POLSKIY, a small provincial city with its historical Kremlin. Our route continues to SUZDAL, where we will visit the wooden Architecture Museum, which illustrates the former peasant life with houses built of trunks, mills and the Church of the Transfiguration. During dinner (included) enjoy a folkloric group who will accompany us with the sound of balalaikas (not included if there are fewer than 15 participants in the group).

TODAY’S HIGHLIGHT: Sightseeing of Suzdal. Lunch included. In the morning we will see how the famous Matryoshka dolls are made and painted, and you will get an opportunity to learn how to paint them. Then we visit SUZDAL, which for many is the most beautiful of the cities of the Golden Ring, with its canals, flowers, domes on the horizon, which give the city a fairytale-like appearance. We visit the city with a local guide and enter the Kremlin and the cathedral (tickets included),. At the Monastery of St Eugen we will hear the bell concert. After this, we travel to VLADIMIR, lunch included. Then we continue to MOSCOW, where we will arrive in the late afternoon.

TODAY’S HIGHLIGHT: City tour of Moscow with entrances. We will start our day with an exciting visit to Russia’s huge capital city. This city unites past, present and future in a very unique way. We will visit the immense avenues, elegant shopping areas, the Red Square where Lenin’s Mausoleum is, Saint Basil’s Cathedral, the Cathedral of Christ the Saviour. We will also enter the Kremlin with a visit to two of its main cathedrals. We will try (not guaranteed) to coincide with the ceremonial military parade in Sobornaya Square. Enjoy the afternoon at leisure.

TODAY’S HIGHLIGHT: Viewpoint over Moscow. Great Patriotic War Museum. We will learn more about the history of Russia and its capital. We will pass by the university viewpoint, with its fantastic view over the city where newly married couples leave flowers (we could go to the viewpoint after Saturday’s visit instead of Sunday) and we will get to know (including entry) the Great Patriotic War Museum (World War II) that also shows us many aspects of the Soviet period. Free afternoon.

After breakfast, transfer to the airport and end of our services.