Scandinavian Delights Tour - Saturday, May 25th - Thursday, June 6th 
Day 1- Saturday, May 25th- Departure from U.S.A

Meals Included: Dinner (On Board flight)- Depart from the city of your choice. We will meet in either Chicago or Reykjavik depending on your flight choices.

Day 2- Sunday, May 26th- Meals Included: Breakfast and Dinner. (Breakfast on Flight) - Arrival in Copenhagen at Kastrup Airport -  - After arrival we will enjoy a get-acquainted tour of Copenhagen before arriving at our hotel. All hotels on the tour are rated four stars(see tour conditions) - Free time before and after dinner. - Meals Included: Dinner at Tivoli Gardens(entrance fee included). After Dinner ends we return to hotel. OR: Free time to explore Tivoli and return to hotel on your own.

Day 3 - Monday, May 27th - Copenhagen- Malmö- Lund - Växjö - Meals Included: Breakfast and Dinner

 

Enjoy breakfast at your hotel. After breakfast we will depart for Malmö, Sweden located in the province of Skåne. In Malmo we will have free time to explore Stortorget and Lille Torget or other places of interest. Then we will depart for Lund to have a guided tour of Lund Cathedral.

 

After our time in the Cathedral we will have free time to explore the this university city with its half-timbered buildings, reminding us that this city and province once belonged to Denmark. We depart Lund for our next stop Växjö known as the capital of the province of Småland. We will arrive at Utvandranas Hus Museum in Växjö  for a guided tour.

 

After our guided tour we will go to our hotel The Clarion Collection Hotel Cardinal An outstanding buffet dinner will be served to us at our hotel. More free time after dinner to explore and relax.

Day 4 - Tuesday, May 28th - Växjö- Kosta-Boda - Eksjö - Meals Included: Breakfast and Dinner

We will enjoy breakfast at our hotel and then depart for Kosta Boda Glassworks in the Crystal Kingdom. At Kosta Boda we will watch a remarkable demonstration of  the art of glass blowing. Then we will leave for Målerås Glassworks, where we will have free time for lunch and shopping.

 

Lunch on your own here. After our lunch and excursions we will depart for Eksjö Gamla Stan (Old Town). A guide from the Museum will meet you at the museum to give you a fantastic tour and answer any questions you might have.

 

After our time in the museum we will have free time for shopping and museum visit. After our time in Old Town we will go to Jönköping for dinner and overnight at Clarion Collection Hotel Victoria where we will enjoy dinner.

 

Free time to do whatever you like after dinner. Jönköping is situated at the southern end of Sweden's second-largest lake - Lake Vättern. 

Day 5 - Wednesday, May 29th - Eksjö - Gränna - Rökstenen -  Mantorp - Bergs Slussar - Stockholm - Meals Included: Breakfast and Dinner

 

We will have breakfast at our hotel and then we will depart for Gränna, located on the shores of the eastern side of Lake Vättern. 

 

At Gränna we will visit Franssons polkagris fabrik (in town) and free time to look around downtown as well. We cross into the province of Östergötland and will be time to drive to Rökstenen where we will see the old Viking Rune Stone. 

 

After Rokstenen we will drive on to Mantorps Glasbruk for another Glassblowing demonstration and shopping for crystal mini-birds and glass blocks with Swedish designs etched in.

 

Finally we will go to IKEA and eat lunch on your own. After lunch and IKEA we will depart for Bergs Slussar which is the largest lock system on the Göta Canal and most famous in Sweden! See the many small boats navigate the Canal locks. And then we will travel  to Stockholm and our hotel- Clarion Collection Hotel Tapto.

 

Another great buffet dinner at our hotel. You will enjoy these Clarion Collection Hotels, they are very well rated all built as individual hotels and very nice. Again, free time for play. Tunnelbana (the subway) is nearby at Stadion (Site of the 1912 summer olympics - Jim Thorpe days)

Day 6 - Thursday, May 30th  - Stockholm - Meals Included: Breakfast and Dinner

 

Breakfast at hotel. After breakfast we will depart for Stadshuset (Stockholm City Hall) for full tour of the city hall and of Stockholm, "The Venice of the North". Then an amazing museum- the Wasa Ship Museum (on the city tour). The Wasa Ship sank on its maiden voyage in the 17th Century and was raised in 1961. 

 

The city tour ends at the Royal Palace in Gamla Stan to watch the changing of the Guard. Free time this afternoon. Bus will be available to take those interested to Skansen "Sweden in a Nutshell" Open-Air Museum. There is an amusement park across the street for the younger crowd or even the young at heart. Dinner and overnight at Hotel the Clarion Collection Hotel Tapto.

Day 7 - Friday, May 31st - Stockholm - Uppsala - Avesta - Sundborn - Rättvik - Meals Included: Breakfast and Dinner - Breakfast at hotel. then we will depart for Uppsala to the north in the province of Uppland.

 

We arrive in the old city of Uppsala at the 13th century Uppsala Cathedral and enjoy a tour. After the Uppsala Cathedral visit we will continue on to the province of Dalarna to Avesta to see worlds largest Dala Horse! It's pretty neat. Free time for lunch and to visit the displays or shops.

 

When we leave Avesta we will head for Sundborn and arrive at the home of the artist Carl Larsson and his wife- Carl Larssongården for a tour. Next up, Sundborn church to view the Larsson family grave sites and the altar painting by Carl Larsson. Leave for Rättvik in later afternoon for hotel check-in - Hotel to be determined. Dinner at hotel - Free time after dinner

Day 8 - Saturday, June 1st - Rättvik - Nusnäs - Mora - Karlstad - Meals Included: Breakfast and Dinner - 

Breakfast and then depart for Nils Olsson Hemslöjd to see the Dala Horses made by hand at Nusnäs.

 

We will arrive at Nusnäs where we will watch a demonstration and shop. We will also visit Grannas Olsson dala horse workshop across the street. Leave for Mora to Zorngården home of world famous painter Anders Zorn and enjoy a guided tour. After tour ends free time for lunch, shopping or visiting the Zorn Art museum(on your own).

 

Depart for Karlstad and along the way enter the Province of Värmland. Make a stop at Ekshärad to look at the famous "Iron Crosses" in  the church graveyard. Break time. Depart Ekshärad for Munkfors (Sister City of Lindsborg, Kansas) and then we will arrive at Munkfors for picture taking by Välkommen Lindsborg sign and a visit to the Iron Works area.

 

When we leave Munkfors we will drive the short distance to Karlstad the capital of Värmland. Arrive at hotel in Karlstad- Clarion Collection Hotel Bilan for overnight. Another buffet dinner at hotel.

Day 9 - Sunday, June 2nd - Karlstad - Oslo - Meals Included: Breakfast and Dinner

Breakfast and then we will leave Sweden and the province of Värmland for Oslo to enjoy a guided tour. On the tour we will see the Kon-Tiki Museum, the Vikingskipshuset and the Vigeland Museum and Park. After the guided tour free time until dinner and overnight at the Clarion Collection Hotel Bastion. Dinner at hotel and free time after dinner.

Day 10 - Monday, June 3rd - Oslo- Gol - Vøringsfossen - Drive along Hardangerfjord - Bergen - Meals included: Breakfast and dinner. 

After breakfast depart Oslo and ride through the Hallingdal(valley) and over the Hardanger Plateau (Hardangervidda).

 

We will stop at waterfalls etc and places of interest along the way including the Gol Stave Church Stop for lunch on your own along the way. At Vöringsfossen we will see one of Norway's tallest Waterfalls. Impressive. We will spend around half an hour here and enjoy what Norwegian Nature is trying to tell us. We will continue on to Brimsnes/Bruravik Bridge and then the road along the  
Hardangerfjord to Norheimsund then over the Kvamskogen Plateau to  Bergen. Arrive in Bergen at hotel for check in. Our hotel for three nights- the Grand Hotel Terminus - Dinner at hotel.

Day 11 - Tuesday, June 4th - Bergen - “Norway In A Nutshell” trip -  Bergen - Meals Included: Breakfast and Dinner  - After breakfast we depart on the famous Norway In A Nutshell tour for the entire day.

 

We will leave luggage at hotel today as we will come back at the end of the day. At Voss one of the greatest recreational towns of Norway we will see the Knute Rockne Memorial. We depart Voss for Stalheim and enjoy the view.

 

Driving down the Stalheim Canyon we travel the short distance to Gudvangen Kai to board a Fjord tour boat which departs for Flåm Kai. Fjord cruise next on Naerøysfjord(narrowest in Europe) and Aurlands Fjord both arms of the mighty Sogn Fjord.  Time to look around for 40 minutes and shop at souvenir shop. Possible visit on your own to the Flaam Railway museum.

 

Flaam Railway departs for Myrdal and ascends 2900 feet in 12 miles. Regional train from Oslo to Bergen departs Myrdal for Bergen and arrives in Bergen early evening. Hotel located right next to train station. Overnight again at: Grand Hotel Terminus.

Day 12  - Wednesday, June 5th - Bergen Tour - Free time - Meals Included: Breakfast and Dinner

Breakfast at hotel. Bus will pick up group at hotel for guided tour of Bergen.Three hour tour of Bergen including Grieg’s home. 

 

Free time to shop in the Bryggen(Warehouse District) or ride the famous mountain railway the Funicular. Perhaps take another short cruise on the water around Bergen on your own. Overnight again at Grand Hotel Terminus.  Dinner at local restaurant for farewell dinner.

Day 13 - Thursday, June 6th -  - Departure to USA - Bus takes tour participants to Flesland Airport. Tour ends after check-in where security checkpoint begins. Meals Included: Breakfast and (Lunch- in flight)