Scenic Scandinavia and its Fjords
14 Day Scandinavian Tour of Denmark, Norway | Operated by Trafalgar
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14 Days
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3 Countries
Denmark, Norway, Sweden -
14 Cities
Copenhagen, Odense, Randers, Kristiansand, Stavanger, Bergen, Voss Municipality, Flam, Sognefjord, Geiranger, Lom, Lillehammer, Oslo, Stockholm -
21 Meals
8 Dinners, 13 Breakfasts -
Pace: Active
Faster paces with mix of 1–2-night stays in each location. Typically features 4+ miles of walking on some days and may involve steep hills and uneven surfaces, such as cobblestones.
Trip Itinerary
Embrace the enchanting Danish capital that inspired Hans Christian Andersen to share tales of mermaids, queens and ugly ducklings with the world. Spend the day discovering the quintessential hygge found throughout its charming streets before enjoying an orientation drive at 17:00 followed by a light supper with your Travel Director and travel companions.
Join a Local Specialist today for a fascinating sightseeing tour of the iconic sights of Copenhagen. The Amalienborg Palace Quarter takes center stage as you admire its 18th century façades and equine statue of King Frederik V at its center. We'll see the 17th century Stock Exchange, Christiansborg Palace and the Neoclassical Cathedral before paying tribute to the tragic Little Mermaid who was willing to give up her life in the sea to become human. Enjoy time to explore on your own, strolling through the city's streets, or embrace your inner child in Europe's oldest amusement park, the Tivoli Gardens.
Start the day with a MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience in Amager Fælled, a small neighborhood of Copenhagen. With a local guide, visit this nature reserve threatened by urbanisation and support a local organization working to protect this area. Leave Copenhagen bound for the Danish island of Funen and the city of Odense, birthplace of Hans Christian Andersen. This afternoon our journey continues across the pastoral landscapes of the Jutland Peninsula to Randers, with its cozy half-timbered merchant houses and narrow medieval streets. Tonight, we stay at one of Trafalgar’s Stays With Stories – Hotel Randers, one of the most established hotels in the area, stylishly decorated with original artwork.
Set sail from Hirtshals to the port of Kristiansand in Norway. Drive north past fjords, lakes and forests to the port city of Stavanger, one of Norway's oldest settlements – its heritage still evident in the beautifully preserved wooden buildings that date back to the 18th century.
Norway's spellbinding natural landscapes provide an inspiring backdrop for our island hop from Stavanger. Arriving in Bergen this afternoon, we delve into the city's Hanseatic heritage, enjoying an orientation tour past the 13th-century Haakon's Hall, the bustling fish market and colorful Bryggen Quarter. This evening, we Connect With Locals over dinner at a special Be My Guest experience, visiting the Øvre-Eide farm, worked for five generations by the same family.
Enjoy a full free day in the cultural center of Bergen or perhaps have lunch in the fish market.
We drive east to the popular ski resort of Voss, where we'll board a train ascending over 2800 feet (860 m) above sea level. Dive Into Culture on one of the world's most exciting train journeys, through the Flåm Valley past the Kjosfossen Falls and legendary forest spirit who dances there to lure men into the mountains. Later, arrive in Sognefjord, the 'King of the Fjords', where we will stay overnight at the Sognefjord Hotel located on a peninsula stretching into the deep waters of the fjord. Step straight from your hotel into the great outdoors and soak up the breathtaking views.
Norway's incredible glacier countryside surrounds us as we skirt the immense Nordfjord on the way to Geiranger – its deep blue waters surrounded by majestic snow-capped peaks and lush green landscapes, which we will have an opportunity to explore. Tonight, we stay on the shores of the fjord at one of Trafalgar's most spectacularly located hotels.
Spend a full day admiring this spectacular natural wonder. Cascading waterfalls tumble down sheer cliffs into the glacial waters below, which you can explore by kayak or boat, soaking up the crisp, clean mountain air. Consider an Optional Experience to the Trollstigen and see Norway's most famous mountain road, traveling past steep mountain slopes, tumbling cascades and fertile valleys. After a day in intoxicating natural surrounds, we dine in our hotel this evening.
A scenic drive from Geiranger past high peaks brings us to Lom, the gateway to the Jotunheimen Mountains. Here we will Dive Into Culture and visit a 12th-century wooden stave church, adorned with Runic inscriptions, paintings and carved dragon figures that are said to protect it against evil. We continue through the Gudbrands Valley, the inspiration for Ibsen's 'Peer Gynt', before arriving in Lillehammer, the proud host of the 1994 Winter Olympics. This evening before dinner, consider a walk along Storgata or visit the open-air museum at Maihaugen.
See the unusual Olympic ice arena beside the lake at Hamar as we travel to Norway's cultural capital, Oslo. Join a Local Specialist who will share the city's iconic sights, including views of the medieval fortress of Akershus, the Opera and 19th-century Royal Palace. We visit the fascinating Vigeland Sculpture Park, before spending the rest of the day at leisure. Enjoy a leisurely coffee in the Akker Bryge District or explore the nation's rich seafaring heritage.
We cross the border into Sweden today and continue via Karlstad on Lake Vänern, the largest lake in the European Union. Passing Örebro, we arrive in the island-ringed capital of Stockholm for a two-night stay. Tonight perhaps consider an Optional Experience to the beautiful and atmospheric Old Town - Gamla Stan.
We meet our Local Specialist this morning for a sightseeing tour of the waterside City Hall and see the medieval Storkyrkan, Riddarholm Church and the Royal Palace at the heart of Stockholm's quaint Old Town. The rest of the day is free to explore as you wish. Join your fellow travelers and Travel Director for a Farewell Dinner this evening to toast to an unforgettable Scandinavian adventure.
Our epic journey has come to an end. Bid Stockholm and your newfound friends a fond farewell.
Price Includes
What's Included- - An expert Travel Director and professional Driver
- - Cherry-picked hotels, all tried and trusted
- - All porterage and restaurant gratuities
- - All hotel tips, charges and local taxes
- - Breakfast daily and up to half of your evening meals
- - Must-see sightseeing and surprise extras
- - Audio headsets for flexible sightseeing
- - Luxury air-conditioned coach with Wi-Fi in most countries or alternative transportation (such as rail journeys)
- - Train journey on the famous Flåm Railway
- - Ferry from Denmark to Norway
- - Ferry across the Boknafjord
- - Ferry across the Sognefjord
- - Optional Experiences and free time
- - On occasion, hotels of similar standard and location may be utilized.
- - 8 Dinners (D)
- - 13 Breakfasts (B)
- With your Local Specialist, view Christiansborg Palace and the cathedral where the Crown Prince of Denmark married Princess Mary. You'll also see Rosenborg Castle, Amalienborg Palace, the Renaissance Stock Exchange and the unusual Rundertaarn, which is the oldest functioning Observatory in Europe.
- Admire the fairytale charm of historic Odense, birthplace of Hans Christian Andersen.
- Admire the raw Norwegian landscape as your travels continue from the port of Kristiansand to Stavanger, one of the country's oldest settlements.
- Explore this Wooden City led by your Travel Director and hear about the seafaring traditions of this beautiful harborside town.
- Fjords, lakes and forests create a picturesque setting for your travels to Geiranger.
- Travel through the legendary Gudbrandsdalen and admire the dramatic geography of the valley.
- With your Local Specialist, see Akershus Castle, Oslo Harbor and the Royal Palace.
- With your Local Specialist, visit the Stockholm City Hall and enjoy a panoramic tour of the city with your fellow traveling companions.
- Join an exclusive experience at Amager Faelled, a small neighborhood in Copenhagen, led by a community member. Take a stroll through the small nature reserve threatened by urban development, hear stories of life in the neighborhood and enjoy unparalleled views over the city. This experience advances United Nations Global Goal 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities. The organization is actively working to protect access to green spaces in an area threatened by urbanisation and new building sites. The construction plans on this nature reserve are threatening the breeding sites of over nine vulnerable bird species.
- Hotel Randers is one of the oldest hotels in the area, with its original artwork and VIP-rich guestbook.
- Enjoy a Be My Guest dinner with the fifth-generation Øvre-Eide family on their livestock farm in Norway, which has been a working farm since the 1500s.
- Take a ride on one of the most exciting train journeys in the world, past mountains and waterfalls through the scenic Norwegian countryside to Flåm.
- In Lom you'll have an opportunity to visit Lomskyrkja, one of the biggest and most beautiful stave churches in Norway, dating back to the 12th century.
Optional Experiences
Optional Experiences are subject to change. Your Travel Director will supply you with a final list of Optional Experiences available on your trip. Optional Experiences cannot be booked online; they can be purchased during your trip through your Travel Director.
Green Hills and Hygge (Available on Day 2)First, a visit to the top of Copenhagen’s modern mountain, with the best views over the Baltic city. As Danes enjoy their summer skiing, we will learn about the vision behind this amazing project: the building, architecture and sustainability of the hill and its power plant inside. Then, to the fairy-tale village of Dragør, with its thatched cottages and pretty working harbor. You’ll wander past tiny houses, learn a little of the history and enjoy a taste of traditional Danish specialties.
Adult Price: €75 Wonderful Copenhagen (Available on Day 2)Denmark is probably the closest you'll get to living in a fairy-tale land, and today our Local Specialist will guide us from 'once upon a time' to 'happily ever after'. We visit the crown jewels guarded in Rosenborg Castle, walk through the Latin quarter to see the Round Tower and Copenhagen Cathedral where King Frederik and Queen Mary were married, embracing Copenhagen and the best introduction to romantic Denmark.
Adult Price: €63 North Zealand Riviera and Castle Tour (Available on Day 2)Enjoy the quaint scenery of the Danish Riviera’s conservation heritage route, as you pass through ancient fishing villages and modern marinas. Gain an introduction to coastal life in Scandinavia before continuing to the magnificent Frederiksborg Castle, a palatial residence built by the royal family in the 17th century.
Adult Price: €63 Discover the Vikings (Available on Day 5)Just outside Stavanger lies the Hafrsfjord, home to a big Viking settlement. On its original site, houses from the iron age has been rebuilt where we will have a guided visit. From here we head to the Stavanger Archaeological museum to uncover the amazing history of the most famous Scandinavian people.
Adult Price: €53 An Evening in Paradis (Available on Day 6)Leave Bergen for a short drive to Paradis, a paradise for the people who live there as it's one of the most desirable suburbs of the city. Enjoy a walk around the English-style garden of the historic Gamlehaugen Castle, home to the Royal family when they are in Bergen. Then we drive to a popular Paradis restaurant for a delicious dinner featuring selected Norwegian specialties.
Grieg And Bergen Insights (Available on Day 6)
We’ll head out along the fjord to visit the home of famous composer Edvard Grieg, where you’ll enjoy a guided tour of the villa - the inspiration for many of his masterworks. You will also see stunning views of the city of Bergen on a trip up the hillside by funicular railway.
Adult Price: €56 Resistance and Peaceful Traditions (Available on Day 6)Come with us as we explore the lost village of Telavåg, destroyed when the German army discovered the villagers’ support of the resistance in World War II. You’ll visit the museum before we journey to a traditional Norwegian fishing village for coffee and local pancakes.
Adult Price: €53 Fjords and Mountains (Available on Day 7)Enjoy a relaxing cruise along the UNESCO-listed Nærøyfjord with its towering mountains and fabulous scenery. This stunning fjord landscape with waterfalls, snow capped mountains and tiny villages has inspired painters for hundreds of years.
Adult Price: €76 Fjordland Farm Cultural Experience (Available on Day 8)Visit a traditional working farm set amid the glorious scenery of the Sognefjord, surrounded by craggy mountains with views across the longest and deepest fjord in Norway. Get to know a typical Scandinavian family, and something about their day-to-day lives. Learn a little of both the history, which dates back to Viking times and present-day traditions. We'll also sample the local homemade delicacies.
Adult Price: €54 Dalsnibba and the Majestic Geirangerfjord (Available on Day 8)You’ll enjoy views of the fjord from the famous hairpin bends along the Dalsnibba Pass, before we sail down Norway's most famous fjord. UNESCO listed, the Geirangerfjord is home to tiny farms, the Bridal Veil and Seven Sisters waterfalls, which you’ll discover as we explore.
Adult Price: €75 Trollstigen Explored (Available on Day 9)Join us on one of Norway's most spectacuilar drives - the path of the Trolls. A masterpiece of Norwegian engineering, Trollstigen is rugged mountain scenery at its finest.
Adult Price: €61 Treasures Of Lillehammer (Available on Day 10)Explore Lillehammer's heritage on a guided visit to the charming open-air museum of Maihaugen, located on the hills above the Olympic Town. Step back in time to experience what life was like in Norway centuries ago, and understand how the unique Nordic lifestyle has shaped Norwegian culture through the ages. You’ll also visit the extraordinary Olympic ski jumping arena, and take in the wonderful panoramic views down over the town and Lake Mjøsa. When available, a ride in the chairlift to the top of the ski jump will be included.
Adult Price: €48 Norwegian Maritime Explorers (Available on Day 11)Norwegians have been exploring the world's oceans for generations. The 19th-century polar exploration ship Fram sailed to the Antarctic and then to the Arctic more than a hundred years ago. At the pole, Amundsen raised the new Norwegian flag.
Join us at the Fram ship as we learn about its icy journeys. This spirit of adventure is followed by another, as we visit the world renowned Kon-Tiki raft that crossed the Pacific with Thor Heyerdahl.
Discover beauty and history combined during a walk in the fairy tale Gamla Stan, where little has changed since the 16th and 17th centuries. Then enjoy delicious Swedish cuisine in a popular local restaurant, with a drink included.
Adult Price: €73 Stockholm and the Sea (Available on Day 13)Discover the delights of Stockholm from the water as we cross the city’s stunning harbor before sailing through the tranquil Royal Canal on a tour led by our Local Specialist. Afterwards, a real life encounter with the past on a visit to the 17th century Swedish royal warship Vasa. Magnificently restored after spending three centuries on the sea floor, she now occupies a state of the art, purpose-built home designed to preserve her well into the future. A unique and unmissable experience.
Adult Price: €79 The Cool Capital (Available on Day 13)Discover the best views over beautiful Stockholm as we stroll through the old working class heritage area on Sodermalm. Later, we visit the world's first Ice Bar and take a drink in glasses made of pure river ice.
Adult Price: €54