17 Day Winter Wonderland

Including Return Emirates Airfares

Oslo Kirkenes North Cape Tromso Flam

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Departure Dates

2018 16 November 30 November *** 13 December ****

2019 26 January ** 11 February * 16 February 2 March 10 March

Peak Season Surcharges per person * $300 ** $500 *** $1000 Day 1 **** $2000 Australia

Get ready to see the best Scandinavia has to offer! Board your international flight for Oslo, Norway.

Day 2 Oslo

Welcome to Norway! On arrival in Oslo please make your own way to your hotel. The airport train to the city centre is our recommend method (own expense).

Hotel: 3★ Thon Hotel Munch or similar Meals: Breakfast

Day 3 Oslo

Enjoy a free day at leisure to explore the Norwegian Capital and relax after your international journey. Day 3 (cont.) Oslo was named European Green Capital 2019 for its dedication to conserving natural areas and reducing pollution. The compact city centre is easy and safe to explore on foot or by bike, and the efficient public transport system makes the entire city accessible without a car. Oslo has more than 40 museums, and beautiful outdoor attractions such as the Akershus Fortress and Vigeland Sculpture Park. In the evening, enjoy the nightlife and the restaurants

Hotel: 3★ Thon Hotel Munch or similar Meals: Breakfast

Day 4 Oslo

Today, enjoy a city tour of Oslo and learn about the city’s history and culture from a knowledgeable local guide. Admire the main attractions in the city center and Day 5 spectacular views from Holmenkollen ski Oslo Kirkenes jump, and experience a fascinating insight into the art of the most prolific Norwegian At the appropriate time today, make your sculptor, Gustav Vigeland, as you walk own way back to the airport to board your through the unique Sculpture Park with flight to Norway’s far northern town of more than 200 statues and sculptures in Kirkenes, high above the arctic circle. bronze and granite. Located north east in Northern Norway about 400 km north of the Arctic Circle, Kirkenes is known as the capital of the Hotel: 3★ Thon Hotel Munch or similar Meals: Breakfast Barents Region and the gateway to the east and only 15 km from the Russian border. On arrival, make your own way to your central hotel. Our recommendation is “Ships are my arrows, the sea by the airport express bus to the city centre (own expense). my bow, the world my target.” Robert Thier Hotel: 3★ Thon Hotel Kirkenes or similar Meals: Breakfast Day 6 Day 6 (cont.) Kirkenes Snowhotel Wilderness Gamme Cabin Hotel: Boutique Gamme Cabin Meals: Breakfast, dinner One of the most amazing days of your life awaits! Today you will be collected from * Winter activities are climate affected your hotel to undertake a King Crab Safari. (too cold/too warm/dangrous condition). A totally unforgettable experience awaits The King Crab safari will take place by you on the frozen fjords of Kirkenes. This is boat if the frozen ice is too thin to your chance to learn how to catch, cook, support the weight of the snowmobiles. and most importantly EAT this mysterious The husky sledding may take place in creature. In this ultimate King crab fishing different locations or by husky pulled experience, you will be taken by cart if the snow is to thin/thick. Activities snowmobile sledge* out on the fjord ice. can also be cancelled if the weather Here you will take part in the entire conditions are too dangerous to be experience of catching the giant, and exposed to the elements. seeing how it is prepared.

Finally the journey continues to a beautiful rustic restaurant by the fjord, where you will feast on the giant crab, served the Norwegian way. After, you will be transferred to the Snow Hotel where you’ll be spending the night in a wooden Gamme Cabin. These modern log cabins have beautifully designed large windows, perfect for catching a glimpse of the Northern Lights!

Tonight, head out on a Husky Dog safari* to hunt the northern lights! The Snowhotel has more than 180 huskies ready to take you for an experience you will never forget! There will be 2 people per sledge as you head out into the wilderness to spot the Northern Lights. After, return to the warmth of your Gamme Cabin. Day 7 Snowhotel Wilderness Gamme Cabin Embark on cruise Berlevåg

Today at the appropriate time you will be transferred from your hotel to the port to board your small ship Norwegian coastal voyage down the coast of Norway. As the ship starts its voyage south enjoy views of the surrounding Arctic landscape on deck or from the panorama lounge. Heading south, we cruise along the Varanger peninsula to Båtsfjord, before reaching Berlevåg in the evening. The latter town is home to one of Norway’s most famous male choirs, consisting mainly of local fishermen.

Ship: MS Nordlys, MS Polarlys, MS Nordkapp, MS Trollfjord or MS Spitsbergen Meals: Breakfast, dinner “Every hundred feet the world changes.” Roberto Bolaño Day 8 Mehamn Honningsvag Hammerfest Oksfjord Tromsø

In the middle of the night, we dock at Mehamn, where it is possible to join an unforgettable snowmobile trip through one of Europe’s most extreme and exciting natural areas. Experience snow-clad valleys, fresh winter air and perhaps the mesmerizing Northern Lights in the clear, starry sky. At Honningsvåg, you can join an excursion that features breakfast at North Cape and the discovery of hidden parts of Finnmark along the way. We continue south to Øksfjord. In winter, our crew teaches you how to tie maritime knots on deck. After crossing open water, we make a brief stop at the old trading post of Skjervøy. We then dock at Tromsø, just in time to enjoy a magical midnight concert at the Arctic Cathedral. Alternatively, a walk around the town provides you the chance to enjoy a local brew at one of the city´s many friendly pubs.

Ship: MS Nordlys, MS Polarlys, MS Nordkapp, MS Trollfjord or MS Spitsbergen Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner

Day 9 Tromsø Harstad Risøyhamn Lofoten Islands Trollfjord Svolvær Stamsund

We arrive at Harstad this morning, where you have the opportunity to participate in one of the classic Hurtigruten excursion programmes: A taste of Vesterålen. Experience history, beautiful scenery and a selection of breathtaking sites that include a visit to Trondenes Church, one of Norway’s premier cultural heritage sites from the late Middle Ages. Those who choose to stay on board can admire views of this old church as we sail towards the Risøyrenna, a shallow 7m-deep channel made especially for Hurtigruten in the 1920s to provide an ‘inside route’ between Harstad and Sortland. The sand banks along the Risøyrenna are visible through the clear, green water. The island groups of Lofoten and Vesterålen offer some of the most stunning scenery you will see during the entire coastal voyage. The Lofoten region is renowned for its natural beauty with steep mountains, wild nature and small, picturesque fishing villages. The daylight sailing route through the Lofoten Islands is a highlight for many of our guests. We then cruise Trollfjord, only 2 km long and 100 m wide, surrounded by majestic mountains. Day 9 (cont.) If the weather and time permit – the captain makes a detour into the fjord. Steep cliffs hug the ship´s sides and the dramatic landscape conjures fairy tale images of an imaginary land of trolls. Later, from Svolvær, we continue on to Stamsund, where we see the majestic peaks of the huge Lofoten wall. We leave Lofoten during the evening and set course for the mainland.

Ship: MS Nordlys, MS Polarlys, MS Nordkapp, MS Trollfjord or MS Spitsbergen Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner

Day 10 Bodø Seven Sisters Mountains Nesna Rørvik

Crossing the Arctic Circle at 66°33’N is an important ‘rite of passage’. Today we celebrate the event out on deck with a `taste´ of Arctic tradition – a spoonful of cod liver oil. As we sail along the Helgeland coast, you pass hundreds of islets, fertile farmland and steep granite walls rich in local lore. Another highlight is sailing past the Seven Sisters mountain range. All seven mountains are between 900 and 1,100 m high, and it is easy to understand how these ‘ladies’ influenced ancient myths. Next we make a short stop at Nesna, an idyllic old trading post before moving on to Sandnessjøen.

Ship: MS Nordlys, MS Polarlys, MS Nordkapp, MS Trollfjord or MS Spitsbergen Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner

Day 11 Trondheim Trondheimsfjord Kristiansund Ålesund

Today provides an opportunity to explore the city of Trondheim. Back on board, the ship heads out into the majestic Trondheimsfjord, which is 170 km long and up to 25 km wide. Like all other Norwegian fjords, it is deep, plunging to 577 m. As we sail along the coast, you realise the importance of fish to Norwegian coastal communities. Kristiansund’s location has steadily provided the town with a wealth of opportunities in the fishing, shipbuilding and oil industries. Day 11 (cont.) Kristiansund is today regarded as Norway’s ‘dried cod capital’ because of its long-time export of salted dry fish. Another interesting excursion is to the Bergtatt marble mine, which includes entering a mountain and sailing across an illuminated subterranean lake, before enjoying a meal in the mine´s ‘Grand Hall’. In winter, you can enjoy beautiful scenery under the stars as you mingle with sledge dogs and experience the thrill of ice fishing. Together with a sledge team of Alaskan huskies, you take a memorable ride into the winter forest, stopping along the way to ice fish on a lake. Those choosing to stay on board at Kristiansund will experience the ship´s crossing the open sea on our way to Molde, known as Norway's ‘City of Roses’. Along the way you see see the steep, grey, pointed peaks of the Romsdal Alps.

Ship: MS Nordlys, MS Polarlys, MS Nordkapp, MS Trollfjord or MS Spitsbergen Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner

Day 12 Torvik Maloy Sognefjord Bergen Disembark cruise Bergen

During the night, the ship calls at Ålesund, Torvik, Måløy, as the world’s most beautiful voyage draws to a close. Before we dock in Bergen, there are some nautical miles of fascinating scenery ahead of us, including the picturesque Nordfjord below the enormous Jostedal Glacier. Here the fjord widens to the east and forges 90 km inland to Loen and Olden. A few nautical miles south of Florø, we navigate the mouth of the mighty Sognefjord, and enjoy superb views of this magnificent island-studded coastline en route. Finally, you disembark in Bergen, taking with you memories of a unique journey filled with unforgettable experiences and meetings with local people, wildlife and stunning nature. On arrival in Bergen, you will be transferred to your hotel.

Hotel: 3★ Grand Hotel Terminus or similar Meals: Breakfast Day 13 Day 14 Bergen Bergen Voss Gudvangen Flåm

Enjoy a free day at leisure to explore the A magical day in the Norwegian fjords quaint city of Bergen. awaits you on the quintessential 'Norway in a Nutshell’ journey. Make your own way Hotel: 3★ Grand Hotel Terminus or similar to the station to board the train to Voss Meals: Breakfast where you'll transfer to a coach to make the scenic journey to Gudvangen. After arriving in Gudvangen, board a ferry where you'll enjoy a cruise to Flam through narrow fjords. On arrival in Flam, make the short walk to your picturesque hotel. “A ship in harbor is safe, but Hotel: 4★ Fretheim Hotell or similar that is not what ships are Meals: Breakfast, Dinner built for.” John A. Shedd

Day 15 Flåm Myrdal Oslo

Today after breakfast, the magical scenery continues as you board a train and travel on Norway’s world famous train journeys, the Flam Railway to Mydral. The Flåm Railway has been named one of the most beautiful train journeys in the world and is one of the leading tourist attractions in Norway. The train runs from the end of Aurlandsfjord, a tributary of the Sognefjord, up to the high mountains at Myrdal Station. The journey displays the very best aspects of Western Norway's stunning scenery. After arriving in Myrdal, board a train back to Oslo. On arrival in Olso make your own way to your central hotel.

Hotel: 3★ Thon Hotel Munch or similar Meals: Breakfast Day 16 Oslo Australia

Unfortunately, all good things must come to an end, but we hope you have enjoyed your winter adventure to Scandinavia. At the appropriate time, make your own way to the airport to board your homeward flight.

Meals: Breakfast

Day 17 Australia

Arrive home in Australia today.

Please note: Some flights my arrive home 1 day later.

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