Scandinavia & Baltics Explorer - 21 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 rest stop on the drive north, its compact old town carrying its fairy-tale associations lightly

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

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  Bergen - Two days in Norway's fjord gateway take in an orientation tour of the UNESCO-listed Bryggen Quay, an optional funicular ride to the top of Fløyen mountain, and a drink at the Magic Ice Bar, with the city's seven surrounding mountains visible from almost every street

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  Nærøyfjord - An optional cruise departs from Gudvangen past sheer cliff walls to Flåm, with a stop at the centuries-old Borgund Stave Church and a thundering visit to Tvindefossen waterfall along the way

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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 Vigeland Park and the Fram and Kon Tiki museums on the waterfront

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  Karlstad and Örebro - Two Swedish stops on the drive to Stockholm, the first on the shores of Lake Vänern and the second home to a striking medieval castle and well-preserved city centre

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  Stockholm - Two days in the Swedish capital open with a locally-guided tour of Gamla Stan's terracotta streets, with optional visits to a Viking treasure room and a 17th-century warship raised from the harbour floor after more than three centuries

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

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  Tallinn - Two days in one of Europe's best-preserved medieval cities span a walking tour with a local guide past St Olav's Church and Tall Hermann Tower, a medieval restaurant lunch, and a free day with an optional visit to the Estonian Open Air Museum

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  Riga - An orientation walking tour of the Latvian capital takes in the Riga Dome Cathedral and the House of the Black Heads, with a free day following for Art Nouveau architecture on Albert Street 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 - Two days in the Lithuanian capital open with an orientation tour of Baroque churches and the cathedral square, with a free day following for optional exploration of Užupis, the self-proclaimed artists' republic hidden behind the old town's painted walls

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  Kaunas - An orientation tour of Lithuania's second city takes in the reconstructed Kaunas Castle and the pink-hued Cathedral-Basilica of St Peter and St Paul before the road continues to the port at Klaipėda

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  Malmö - The final city stop before Copenhagen rewards an orientation tour past Malmöhus Castle and the grand Stortorget square, crossed via the iconic Øresund Bridge that connects Sweden to Denmark

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.