See the lands of Denmark, Norway, Sweden and Finland during this exciting tour. Visit the city of Hans Christian Andersen, follow the footsteps of Hamlet, enjoy the scenery of the Norwegian fjords, cruise to Finland and admire medieval architecture.

Detailed Itinerary

Day 1 - Copenhagen

Your Scandinavian journey begins with a transatlantic flight to Copenhagen.

Day 2 - Copenhagen

Land in the Danish capital, where your Go Ahead representative greets you upon arrival and accompanies you to your hotel. You’ll meet the rest of your tour group at an included dinner this evening.
Included meals: breakfast (in flight), dinner

Day 3 - Copenhagen

A professional local guide introduces you to the  landmarks and monuments of Copenhagen, a bustling maritime city. Recall the fairy tales of Hans Christian Andersen as you stop to admire the harborside Little Mermaid statue. Pass Christiansborg Palace (seat of the Danish Parliament), Rosenborg Castle, the old stock exchange and the Royal Theatre (home of the famous Royal Danish Ballet). In front of Amalienborg Palace, look for brightly costumed Royal Guards. In the Nyhavn district, once a sailors’ haunt, view the beautifully preserved wharfside stores and merchants’ houses.
Included meals: breakfast

Day 4 - Copenhagen

Enjoy another free day in Copenhagen, or join an optional excursion to Elsinore, where you can explore the Great Hall and secret passages of Kronborg Castle, the legendary home of Shakespeare’s ill-fated Prince Hamlet. 
Included meals: breakfast

$115 USD

Elsinore Delve into the Danish countryside for a visit to Elsinore, one of Denmark's oldest towns and setting for Shakespeare's tragedy Hamlet. Walk along the battlements where the ghost of Hamlet’s father appears and see the banquet hall where Hamlet and Laertes engage in the final tragic duel. While there, learn the legend of the Danish ghost who slumbers in the castle’s cellar.

Day 5 - Cruise to Norway

Spend the day becoming better acquainted with Copenhagen at your own pace. You might choose to visit the Liberty Museum, devoted to the World War II Danish resistance movement, or stroll along the Strøget, Copenhagen’s inviting pedestrian area. Alternatively, opt for an excursion to Roskilde, Denmark’s first capital, and the picturesque seaside town of Dragør. This evening, board an overnight cruise ship to sail through the night to Norway. On board, enjoy an included dinner.
Included meals: breakfast, dinner

$125 USD

Roskilde & Dragor Leaving Copenhagen, head west to the ancient town of Roskilde, formerly the capital of Denmark. Visit the impressive Viking Museum before continuing on to the prosperous shipping town of Dragør.

Day 6 - Oslo

Disembark this morning in Oslo, where you will spend the next two nights. On your included city tour this morning, admire the splendid palace and grand avenue of the Norwegian capital. Stop to inspect the innovative sculptures of Gustav Vigeland at Frogner Park and visit the museum island of Bygdøy. Recall Norway’s Viking tradition as you see the once-feared longships at the Viking Museum. Then learn about the trans-Pacific experimental journey of anthropologist Thor Heyerdahl at the Kon Tiki Museum. Dinner is included tonight in Oslo.
Included meals: breakfast, dinner
Included entrances: Kon Tiki Museum, Viking Museum

Day 7 - Oslo

Explore Oslo at your own pace today, perhaps with a visit to the National Gallery or the Norwegian Folk Museum. The more adventuresome might wish to take a short train ride out of town to the Holmenkollen ski jump. You could also join an optional excursion to the west coast to view the magnificent Norwegian fjords.
Included meals: breakfast

$239 USD

Norwegian Fjords Explore Norway’s beautiful fjords. In Flåm, board a cruise that takes you to Gudvangen. Lunch is included during your cruise, which takes you by some of Scandinavia’s most stunning scenery.

Day 8 - Stockholm

Depart for a scenic day’s drive en route to Stockholm. After crossing the border, spend most of the day absorbing the Swedish countryside, passing crystal-clear lakes and idyllic rural villages. Reach Stockholm by early evening.
Dinner is included tonight.
Included meals: breakfast, dinner

Day 9 - Stockholm

This morning, an included tour introduces you to Sweden’s sophisticated capital. Visit Stockholm’s architecturally unique Town Hall, site of the annual Nobel Prize festivities. On the city island of Djurgården, tour the museum housing the Vasa warship, which sank on its maiden voyage in 1628. Named for King Gustav Vasa, this 16th-century ship was raised in 1961 from Stockholm harbor along with 12,000 other fascinating objects. Visit the Old Town (Gamla Stan) and stroll down its winding, medieval streets.
Included meals: breakfast
Included entrances: Town Hall, Vasa Museum

Day 10 - Stockholm

With a free day in Stockholm, you might choose to visit one of the colorful open markets or stroll along the elegant waterfront street of Strandvägen to the Nordiska Museum, highlighting Swedish history and culture. Alternatively, join an optional Historic Sweden excursion, featuring Uppsala, often considered Sweden’s birthplace, and Sigtuna.
Included meals: breakfast

$129 USD

Historic Sweden Considered the birthplace of Sweden, Uppsala hosts a 400-year castle, the tombs of the first Swedish kings, a coronation hall and an 800-year-old Gothic cathedral. Your guided tour brings you up-close with these landmarks.

Day 11 - Cruise to Finland

Savor all the delights of Stockholm with another day at your leisure or join an optional excursion to the royal retreat of Drottningholm. This evening, embark on your overnight voyage to Finland. An abundant Scandinavian smorgasbord buffet is included aboard ship.
Included meals: breakfast, dinner

$129 USD

Drottningholm Still the residence of Swedish royalty, the Palace of Drottingholm is set on Lovon Island in the tranquil waters of Lake Malaren and its elegance rivals that of Versailles.

Day 12 - Helsinki

Your two-night stay in Helsinki begins with an included city tour. Pass through Senate Square, see the vibrant modern Olympic Stadium and stop to view Temppeliaukio Church, carved into a rocky hillside. In Sibelius Park, recall Finland’s most famous composer as you admire a monument to his life’s work. This afternoon, choose to walk around the downtown area on your own and visit the traditional outdoor fish and fruit markets or visit the National Museum with its famous ethnographic exhibits tracing Finnish culture over 3,000 years. Dinner is included this evening.
Included meals: breakfast, dinner

Day 13 - Helsinki

Enjoy a leisurely day in Helsinki. You might wish to visit the Helsinki Zoo, home to snow leopards and reindeer. Another option is a fascinating full-day excursion across the Gulf of Finland to Tallinn, capital of the independent Republic of Estonia. This beautiful 12th-century town boasts some of the finest medieval architecture in Europe.
Included meals: breakfast

$159 USD

Tallinn Sightseeing Enjoy a cruise across the gulf to Estonia, the northernmost of the Baltic countries. After arriving in Tallinn, visit the Raekojaplats, or town square, the town church, the national museum and the many shops selling fine handicrafts. Please note: This excursion requires advance reservations and must be booked prior to your final payment deadline.

Day 14 - Helsinki

Board your flight home; or continue on to St. Petersburg for our tour extension.
Included meals: breakfast (In case of early departures, breakfast may not be included.)

Protect your investment with affordable travel protection

Basic Trip Cancellation/Interruption Coverage
Protect yourself in the event you need to cancel your trip or leave your tour unexpectedly due to an emergency. Or choose one of the comprehensive packages below, and receive a discounted rate!

TravelSafe Plus — For one low price, you’ll receive:

• Trip cancellation & interruption protection
• Medical & accident protection
• Baggage & property protection

TravelSafe Gold with Flight Cancellation Protection
Take advantage of the best possible deal for your investment dollar. For $60 USD more, you’ll get all of the above plus additional coverage (up to $1,000 USD) if the flight to your tour is cancelled due to reasons beyond your control.

Purchase your travel protection package early and receive an added benefit!
Purchase one of the above TravelSafe packages within 14 days of reserving your tour, and you’ll automatically receive AnyTime Travel Protection at no additional charge. This means you can cancel for any reason up to 72 hours prior to the departure of your initial flight and still protect your investment. You will be provided with a credit voucher towards your next Go Ahead tour.

What’s unique about these protection plans?

• Most primary travel protection companies don’t cover international travel.
• Under the AnyTime Travel Protection Plan, you can cancel for any reason and your investment is protected in the form of a credit voucher.
• Efekta travel protection covers lost or stolen cash while on tour.
• Efekta travel protection covers the cost towards replacement of valuable documents—such as passports, airline tickets and visas while on tour.
• In the event that your roommate cancels for a reason covered under the policy, you will be reimbursed for the single supplement fee, should you still choose to travel.
• The following policies are also available to be purchased separately:
  • Medical & Accident: $70 USD
  • Baggage & Property: $60 USD

Extended Protection Plan
The Extended Protection Plan allows you to purchase extended coverage for any travel you do before or after meeting up with your Go Ahead Tours tour group (with flights arranged by Go Ahead Tours).

For more detailed descriptions of the benefits available under Efekta Insurance International LTD's Travel Protection Plans please call 1-800-597-0350 or download a PDF copy of the Efekta Travel Protection booklet here.

Passport & Visa

Passport Information:
This tour includes the following countries: Denmark, Norway, Sweden, Finland, Estonia (on optional excursion) and Russia (on extension). In order to enter the countries on this itinerary, U.S. and Canadian citizens need a valid passport. The expiration date must extend at least six months beyond the date of your return home.

If you are not a U.S. or Canadian citizen, you must contact each country’s consulate for your specific entry requirements.

Visa Information:
If you are continuing on the extension to St. Petersburg, you will also need a Russian visa. We recommend that you obtain an individual visa through our recommended provider, Zierer Visa Service. They can be reached by either calling 1-866-788-1100 or visiting www.zvs.com/tourkits. (If you get to a page requiring a log in, please use code 73041 to access Go Ahead's visa kits).

If you opt to apply for your visa directly with the Russian consulate and require additional assistance and/or documentation from Go Ahead, a special arrangements fee of $95 per person may be charged.

If you are not a U.S. or Canadian citizen, you must contact the relevant embassies as soon as possible for your specific entry requirements.

Health

There are no major health risks at your destinations. It is always advisable to check with your doctor or health-care provider for the latest updates and overseas travel requirements.

Transportation / Walking on tour

Round-trip flights arrive in Copenhagen and depart from Helsinki. Included transportation on “Scandinavian Heritage” is by a combination of overnight ferry and private motorcoach. In your free time, you may wish to explore the cities by public transportation and on foot.

Copenhagen’s flat landscape lends itself to walking, but the transportation system is also superb. A network of 10 S-train serves all the main attractions, connecting in Central Station. There is also a bus network called HT. Tickets are based on zones and are available in singles or in packages.

Oslo is easily accessible on foot. You may also take a combination of buses, subways, streetcars and ferries to break up periods of walking.

Stockholm is a model of efficiency. An extensive network of subway, train and bus lines are all run by the SL, which sells Tourist Cards for a designated period of time, valid on all transport. There is also the Stockholm Card, valid for all transport and entrance to most of the city’s main attractions. A similar system exists in Helsinki, on the HKL Transportation network.

Clothing & Packing Tips

Light, loose-fitting clothing that provides comfort when exploring the sights is essential for your tour. A sun hat, sunglasses and a sturdy pair of walking shoes or sneakers are recommended for sightseeing. It’s always a good idea to be prepared for any eventuality—a lightweight sports jacket and emergency rainwear are advised. If you plan to visit an especially elegant restaurant or attend the opera or theater, you will probably feel more comfortable with something more formal to wear. Also, remember that it is preferable not to visit churches or other religious sites with bare legs and shoulders (and entrance may be denied on this basis).

Be sure to visit www.travelsmith.com, official outfitters for Go Ahead Tours. Please enter JY9220 in the field for Catalog Key Code when creating your account!

Currency

The Danish krone, Norwegian krone, Swedish krona and euro (in Finland), as well as the Russian ruble (on extension), are the currencies you will be using on your tour. Better rates of exchange are usually available in your destination countries rather than in the United States, although it is worth ordering some currency from your local bank to use when you first arrive. We strongly advise that you take a combination of bank/debit cards and credit cards. We suggest that you inform your bank and credit card company of your travel plans, so that they won’t confuse your international purchases for fraudulent charges. Please note: With the conversion to the euro, it has been increasingly difficult to exchange traveler’s checks outside of Europe’s major cities— both at banks and shops—and they often attract higher fees.

Be sure to visit www.travelsmith.com, official outfitters for Go Ahead Tours. Please enter JY9220 in the field for Catalog Key Code when creating your account!

Tipping

At the conclusion of your tour, it is customary tooffer your Go Ahead Tour Director and driver a gratuity.We recommend tipping in your tour country’s currency, the equivalent of $3USD/CAD per personper day for your driver and $6USD/CAD to $9USD/CAD per person per day for your Tour Director. Ifapplicable, we also recommend the equivalent of $2USD/CAD per local guide. Tips can only be paidin cash. Please keep current local currency exchange rates in mind when tipping.