9 Days Southwest Europe (Green)

Upon arrival in Copenhagen, you will be transferred to hotel and free at leisure.

The tour starts with a sightseeing tour of Copenhagen, the capital of the Kingdom of Denmark. Reminiscent of childhood memory fairy tales, Hans Christian Andersen’s “The Little Mermaid” is the inspiration for the famous statue which was transported to the 2010 Shanghai World Expo and is a true symbol to the Danish people. Amalienborg, our next stop is considered one of the greatest works of the Danish Rococco. Constructed in the 1700’s, the architecture consists of four identical palaces connected by a square. If you are lucky you will see the ceremonial changing of the guards, an event that happens every afternoon. The Hans Christian Andersen boulevard leads to a statue of this notable Writer on the City Square. The Danish fairy tale writer known for pieces as “The Ugly Duckling” and “The Little Mermaid” had a known motto: “To travel is to live”. He spent 43 years traveling between home and abroad, gathering a lot of his inspiration for his fairy tales and stories from his time overseas. After lunch we continue driving towards Stockholm. (B)

After breakfast, we continue our way to the capital of Sweden, Stockholm. Made out of 14 islands on the Baltic Sea this city is crowned the most beautiful of all Nordic cities. After lunch, we embark on a city tour that includes the City Hall of Stockholm (Stadshuset), one of the most beautiful and well known buildings in the world with inside the most exclusive ballroom in Stockholm, venue for the yearly Nobel Banquet.
From the Blue Hall, guests are invited up a stairway to the Golden Hall (Gyllene salen) to dance. The walls of the Golden Hall are covered with more than 18 million glass and gold mosaic pieces, an artwork of artist Einar Forseth. The venue attracts close to 400,000 visitors a year. The tour continues with visits to the old Parliament building, Vasa warship and the Storkyrkan cathedral. (B)

After breakfast, the coach departs to Norway’s largest lake Mjøsa and Lillehammer. Famous for hosting the 1994 Winter Olympics. Lillehammer’s population comes just under twenty-three thousand inhabitants. The feeling of space contributes the calm and vast natural winter scenery. We arrive in the evening and have an overnight stay at Lillehammer or city nearby. (No sightseeing at Lillehammer) (B)

After breakfast, we travel to the European continent’s largest Glacier, Briksdal in Norway which covers 800 m2, at its deepest 400 meters below sea level and the highest point 2,000 meters above sea level. Surrounding the glacier is the Jostedalsbreen National Park, where we will embark on cable cars to admire the wildlife, clear streams, raging rivers and waterfalls. The ride will last for half hour, after which our group will enjoy 10 minutes leisure time to take pictures and closely see the Briksdal glacier. In the
afternoon we head south towards Gudvangen. (B)

After breakfast, the coach goes on to Gudvangen dock where the group joins the Sognefjord Cruise to explore Sognefjord, the world’s longest and deepest fjord, an unparalleled spectacle by Mother Nature. Spending two hours in the intoxicating scenery moment in the boat, the sightseeing ship has arrived in Flam. After lunch, we will be travelling on one of the most beautiful railway, Flamsbana. This exciting railway attracts visitors from all over the world, scenary includes beautiful fjords, waterfalls, and valleys. After the ride, then return to the hotel for dinner.(B)

After breakfast, we depart to the Norwegian capital of Oslo. Every year on the 10th of December this city ce prize award on the anniversary passing of Founder-Inventor Alfred Nobel. Unlike the other four prizes awarded in Stockholm, Sweden, the Nobel Peace Prize award ceremony is held in Oslo. We continue with a visit to the famous Vigeland Sculpture Park, located inside the Frogner park grounds. On display are over 212 bronzes and granite statues, the theme of the park is on the Human
Condition, illustrating relationships between men and women, adults and children. Not to be missed! (B)

After breakfast, the coach goes southbound for the Port of Gothenburg, a major port of Western Europe. On Götaplatsen is Swedish sculptor Carl Milles’ seven-metre-high statue of the sea god Poseidon, which caused quite a stir when it was unveiled in 1931. Residents complained that the statue’s legs were too long for its body, and that the statue’s penis was far too big. Also a must-visit destination is the fish market hall, Feskekôrka, (‘fish church’ in Swedish), an indoor fish and shellfish market where you can buy all kinds of seafood delicacies caught on the day. Try the freshest catch of the day. We conclude our city tour at the Gothenburg Cathedral (Domkyrkan Göteborg), the seat of the bishop of Gothenburg in the Church of Sweden. The tour continues southbound to finally arrive in the evening in Copenhagen. (B)

Free on Leisure until transfer to airport and fly back to hometown.  (B)