Best of Scandinavia & Baltics - 20 days

Why you'll love this trip

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  Copenhagen - A locally-guided city tour opens the tour, with a free day following for an optional canal cruise, a visit to the Rundetaarn observatory, and a wander through the bohemian streets of Freetown Christiania

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  Odense - The birthplace of Hans Christian Andersen makes for a rewarding orientation stop on the drive north, its compact old town carrying its fairy-tale associations lightly before Aarhus takes over

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  Aarhus - Denmark's second city earns a brief stop for its compelling mix of Viking exhibitions, contemporary art, and an open-air museum reconstructing old town life before the overnight ferry to Norway

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  Bergen - Two days in Norway's fjord gateway take in the UNESCO-listed Bryggen Quay, an optional funicular ride to the top of Fløyen mountain, and a drink at the Magic Ice Bar, with optional visits to scenic fishing villages along the surrounding coastline

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  Nærøyfjord - An optional cruise departs from Gudvangen through sheer cliff walls to Flåm, with a Viking Village visit and a stop at the centuries-old Borgund Stave Church rounding out one of the tour's most dramatic days

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  Oslo - A locally-guided walking tour covers Akershus Castle and the Royal Palace, with a free afternoon for optional visits to the city's green spaces and waterfront museums

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  Stockholm - Two days in the Swedish capital open with a locally-guided tour of Gamla Stan, the Royal Palace, and the moored AF Chapman sailing ship, with an optional excursion to uncover Viking treasures and a 17th-century warship raised from the harbour floor after more than three centuries

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  Helsinki - A driving and walking tour of the Finnish capital covers Senate Square, Helsinki Cathedral, and the Kauppatori Market, with a free day following and an optional ferry crossing to Suomenlinna Fortress for a guided tour and picnic lunch on the island

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  Tallinn - A walking tour with a local guide through one of Europe's best-preserved medieval old towns takes in St Olav's Church and Tall Hermann Tower, with a medieval restaurant lunch setting the tone on arrival

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  Riga - An orientation walking tour of the Latvian capital passes the Brothers' Cemetery and the striking architecture of the old town, with free time the following morning for Art Nouveau facades and the vast Riga Central Market

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  Hill of Crosses - Around 100,000 crosses of every size cover this Lithuanian pilgrimage hill in an accumulation that has grown continuously since the 19th century, one of the most quietly powerful sites in the Baltic region

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  Trakai - A 14th-century brick castle rises directly from a lake island, its reflection in the surrounding water making it one of the most photographed landmarks in Lithuania

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  Vilnius - An orientation tour of the Lithuanian capital introduces a UNESCO-listed Baroque old town of cathedral squares and layered medieval streets, the self-proclaimed artists' republic of Užupis tucked just beyond its painted walls

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  Gdansk - Two days in this Baltic port city open with an orientation tour and included dinner, followed by a locally-guided walk through Dutch-influenced architecture and the waterfront, with the European Solidarity Centre on hand for those drawn to Poland's recent history

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  Malbork Castle - The largest castle in the world by land area, a UNESCO-listed Teutonic fortress of red brick that rises from the banks of the Nogat River in a way that makes most other castles look modest by comparison

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  Toruń - A UNESCO-listed medieval town with an unlikely claim to fame: an interactive gingerbread workshop in the city that has been making it since the Middle Ages

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  Warsaw - A locally-guided tour of the Polish capital, rebuilt stone by stone after wartime destruction, with optional evening excursions including a Chopin concert in the Royal Castle and a three-course Polish dinner in the Old Town

Is this trip right for you?

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  There are some long travelling days on this trip, but it’s all part of the adventure and a great way to get to know your fellow travellers.

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  This trip requires a moderate level of fitness as it involves some walking and swimming, allowing you to really get among nature. Please bring sturdy, comfortable walking shoes, a swimsuit and comfortable clothing.

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  Multiple activities on this trip are subject to weather and water conditions and on occasion, may be cancelled for safety or operational reasons. In the case of cancellation, we will endeavour to find a suitable replacement activity.