Scandinavia Rail & Sail

Join us for a wonderful journey through the “happiest place on earth”! OK, maybe no Cinderella or Snow White, but plenty of castles, beautiful scenery, and some of the happiest, most contented people on the planet! We begin in Stockholm with a great central location for touring and exploring. When the meatballs are all gone we will whisk our way south on the famous X2000 tilting train to Copenhagen. Hello to the little mermaid and lovely canals and pastry, before an overnight cruise to Oslo. Viking ships and the Kon-Tiki come alive in our modern-day explorations. Later we board the famous “Bergen Line” rail from Oslo into the mountain and connect to the most famous Flam Railway through tunnels, trestles, and beautiful scenery to the Songefjord below. Continue by fjord cruise for our arrival into Bergen in the evening—what a beauty day it has been! The end of our rails and sails is in Bergen—picturesque fishing village and Hanseatic trading port from days gone by. Enjoy the city sights and seafood before onward journeys home!

Included in your fully escorted travels:   

· Round-trip flights to Europe from Seattle, SFO, LAX*

  *Other gateways by request

· 10 nights Superior Hotel & Ferry Cabin

· Welcome Dinner in Stockholm

· Stockholm Sightseeing tour with Vasa Ship Museum, Royal Palace, City Hall, old town,

  canal cruise        

· X2000 Rail Passage Stockholm to Copenhagen

· Copenhagen city sights tour by foot & coach

· Copenhagen sightseeing cruise

· DFDS Seaways ferry cruise overnight to Oslo

· Oslo city sights tour with Viking Ship Museum 

· Bergen Line Rail with Flam Railway

· Songefjord cruise from Flam to Bergen

· Walking tour of Bergen 

· Farewell Dinner in Bergen

· No “optional tours” for sale

· Time for personal discoveries

· Experienced USA Tour Manager and local guides

· Caring and professional travel arrangements 

Day 1 — Tuesday August 13 — Depart for Scandinavia! Make your way to your gateway airport. Check in for our included flight to Stockholm, Sweden! Our evening flight will give you the best chance for rest and transition to our new time zone. (in flight services)

Day 2 — Wednesday August 14 — Welcome to Stockholm! Arrive midday and transfer to our downtown hotel. Time to freshen up before welcome drinks and our welcome dinner together with new travel companions — Skol! (In flight service, welcome dinner)

Day 3 — Thursday August 15 — Explore Stockholm Swedish pancakes with lingonberry jam! Enjoy breakfast before we explore with a city tour of Stockholm, including the Gamla Stan old town, Royal Palace, and Vasa ship museum. (breakfast, lunch)

Day 4 – Friday August 16 — Stockholm Archipelago Well rested and ready? Let’s enjoy a sightseeing cruise today of Stockholm—it’s the best way to enjoy the Stockholm Archipelago as it is comprised of 30% waterways and 30% green spaces. For lunch we enjoy a short class in Swedish meatball making—a Rail and Sail exclusive! We assume meatball eating requires no instruction!? The afternoon is yours to enjoy the warmth and beauty of this inviting city. (breakfast, meatball lunch)

Day 5 — Saturday August 17 — Rail to Copenhagen, Denmark Today we board Sweden’s famous X2000 tilting train to Copenhagen. As the rail system in Sweden does not support high-speed rail as originally built, these special X2000 trains were engineered to tilt at high speed and safely navigate curves in the route. We cross the Strait of Malmo through the famous undersea tunnel before rolling into Copenhagen for two nights. (breakfast, snack lunch, dinner) 

Day 6 — Sunday August 18— Copenhagen City Sights Explore by foot with our local guide the sights of the city—after a great orientation, let’s hop on a canal cruise and enjoy the rest of this amazing water city from the sea! Enjoy lunch together before exploring one of the many museums or the famous Tivoli Gardens near our hotel. (breakfast, lunch)

Day 7– Monday August 19 — Copenhagen to Oslo Overnight Cruise  Enjoy a free morning in Copenhagen. In the afternoon, we embark onto ferry cruise to Oslo. Our large and comfortable ship is a great deal of fun with its many shops, duty free, games and amusements. In the evening gather for dinner—seafood, of course! Retire to the comfort of your en suite cabin for the night. (breakfast, seafood dinner onboard)

Day 8 — Tuesday August 20 — Welcome to Oslo! Be sure to rise early today to enjoy the beautiful cruise up the Oslofjord past fortresses and lighthouses to the city and port of Oslo. On arrival, we are joined by our local guide for a motorcoach city tour with included stops at the Vigeland Sculpture Park, Viking Ship Museum, and a swanky lunch! Settle in for the evening or hit the town as the Karl Johans Gate shopping promenade is just outside our front door. (breakfast, late lunch)

Day 8 — Wednesday August 21 — “Free day” - Be your own Viking! A completely free day to enjoy Oslo! Take off on your own to explore or join your tour manager for “group choice” of activities this day. Maybe a visit to the Grand Palace, or Kon-Tiki Museum? A picnic in Frogner Park surrounded by erotic statues? The choice is yours! (breakfast, dinner) 

Day 9 – Thursday August 22 — Oslo to Bergen Rail & Sail Nicknamed “Norway in a nutshell” as this famous combination of sights gives a slice of all the beauty of Norway! We start with a ride on the famous “Bergen Line” train departing Oslo. As we climb up valleys and cross streams into the mountains, the scenery becomes more dramatic. At the high point of our journey, we stop at Myrdal Station and board the Famous Flam Railway from our perch in the mountains down through tunnels, trestles, bridges and cascading waterfalls to the fjord below. After a break for lunch, we board our ship for an afternoon cruise to the charming city of Bergen for an evening arrival. Check in to our hotel after a long but very good day! (breakfast, picnic lunch)

Day 10 – Friday August 23 — Bergen, Norway Though it is the second largest city in Norway, Bergen feels like a beautiful small village on the water. This morning we visit the Unesco World Heritage waterfront with its Hanseatic roots reaching back to 1070. The Hanseatic League was a commercial and defensive collection of merchant guilds and market towns that operated cooperatively to protect their shared interest, trade routes, and commercial activities. After a great morning of exploring, enjoy a free afternoon. Fresh seafood at picnic tables at the harbor, and a ride up the funicular are often favorites. Gather in the evening to break Norwegian bread together and celebrate our trip! (breakfast, farewell dinner) 

Day 11 – Saturday August 24 — Farewell! A hearty breakfast and we’re off for a swift trip home or join our add-on to Finland! (breakfast, inflight)