• Copenhagen sightseeing, including Rosenborg Castle and Christiansborg Palace
• Excursion to Elsinore
• Karen Blixen House and Museum
• Overnight ferry to Oslo
• Norway’s stunning Western Fjord District: Hardangerfjord, Sognefjord, Geirangerfjord
• Thrilling Flåm Railway excursion
• Picturesque Bergen
• Oslo touring, including the Museum of Cultural History and Kon-Tiki Museum
• Norway’s outstanding natural scenery

Day 1: Depart U.S. for Copenhagen, Denmark

Day 2: Arrive Copenhagen After arriving in the Danish capital today, this evening we meet our fellow travelers and Odysseys Unlimited Tour Director at a welcome dinner and briefing about the journey ahead at Copenhagen’s festive Tivoli Gardens. D

Day 3: Copenhagen A half-day tour introduces us to this most livable of cosmopolitan cities. We visit Christiansborg Palace, seat of the Danish Parliament; visit the popular Little Mermaid statue; and stroll along the narrow, historic streets of downtown to City Hall Square. The remainder of the day is free to explore independently. B

Day 4: Copenhagen We embark this morning on a full-day excursion, first to Elsinore (Helsinger in Danish), site of Kronborg Castle – the infamous setting of Shakespeare’s Hamlet – where our tour includes the Royal Chambers and Ballroom. Dramatically set on a spit of land between Denmark and Sweden, Kronborg (c. 1585), a UNESCO site, was widely renowned during the Renaissance.  We then pass by Fredensborg Palace, the grand spring and autumn residence of the Danish royal family.  This afternoon we visit the Karen Blixen House and Museum in coastal Rungsted. Save for her years in Africa, the writer known as Isak Dinesen (Out of Africa) spent most of her life here where she was born in 1885. The house boasts its original furniture and décor; the site itself comprises the house, a museum, bird sanctuary, and park. B,L

Day 5: Copenhagen/Oslo, Norway Today we set off for the cozy fishing village of Dragor, with its historic buildings and cobblestone streets, and where we visit Rosenborg Castle housing the dazzling crown jewels. Later we board the overnight DFDS ferry to Oslo, settling in our private outside cabins and enjoying dinner on board. B,D

Day 6: Oslo/Lillehammer/Gaala Upon disembarkation this morning, we board our coach for the journey north to ski country. We stop along the way in Lillehammer (site of the 1994 Winter Olympics) to visit the open-air museum at Maihaugen, among Norway’s most visited cultural attractions, with some 200 original historic buildings reconstructed on the site, farm implements, and everyday objects.  Through the structures and artifacts, Maihaugen recounts everyday life here from the Middle Ages to modern times. Mid-afternoon we depart for the village of Gaala and our ski lodge hotel. B,L,D

Day 7: Gaala/Geiranger A day of beautiful scenery is in store as we travel from Gaala to Geiranger, en route negotiating hairpin bends to the summit of Mount Dalsnibba (alt. 4,900 feet) for stunning views of Geirangerfjord and the mountains, lakes, and waterfalls beyond. We reach the popular village of Geiranger mid-afternoon and get our first up-close look at Norway’s most dramatic fjord. A UNESCO site, Geiranger measures 10 miles long and 960 feet deep, and is lined with forested rock walls towering more than 6,000 feet above sea level. Formed over a million years ago during the Ice Age when the ice cap burrowed deep into mountain riverbeds, Norway’s fjords are among the deepest and most striking in the world. B,D

Day 8: Geiranger Today’s excursion on Eagle Road to Herdalssetra promises abundant thrills as we ride along 11 hairpin turns through mountain passes, catching glimpses of the dramatic fjord along the way. We visit a local farm for lunch then return to Geiranger mid-afternoon. Before dinner at our hotel tonight, we enjoy a reception there to view a private vintage car collection. B,L,D

Day 9: Geiranger/Bergen We can expect scenic overload on our full-day journey to Bergen from Geiranger. A series of ferry rides takes us across Geirangerfjord, past tiny villages and tumbling waterfalls, and amid steep mountains plunging into the fjord’s placid waters. Then, we cross stunning Sognefjord, a 125-mile-long waterway (and UNESCO World Heritage site) that reaches halfway across Norway.  Upon arrival in Bergen this evening, we enjoy dinner together. B,D

Day 10: Bergen We see the highlights of this beautiful city (Norway’s second largest) on a morning tour that takes us through the old warehouse district of Bryggen. This UNESCO World Heritage Site boasts colorful houses packed tightly together, where Hanseatic merchants toiled in the 14^th and 15^th centuries. We also pass the city’s colorful fish and flower markets. Some of Bergen’s architecture dates to the 12^th century, and we pass some of the town’s most venerable buildings, including 13^th-century Hakonshallen fortress; the Maria Church – the city’s oldest building – dating to 1100; 16^th-century Bergenhus fortress; and Old City Hall. We also visit Troldhaugen, the country home of composer Edvard Grieg, which overlooks lovely Nordaas Lake. The afternoon is free to enjoy Bergen as we wish. B

Day 11: Bergen/Lofthus On today’s journey to Lofthus, we travel through the breathtaking scenery of Norway’s Western Fjord District. Along the way, we stop to see the 150-foot Steindal Waterfall then at a floating salmon farm in this premier fish farm region. Last, we visit Steinstoe, one of the country’s largest orchards, where we enjoy a tour led by the family of the owner then get to know them over cake and coffee. Mid-day we reach our hotel, with the remainder of the afternoon at leisure. Dinner tonight is at our hotel. B,D

Day 12: Lofthus/Flåm It’s a day of extreme beauty and diverse transportation as we travel by coach to Gudvangen, where we board a ferry for Flåm, traversing stunning Naeroyfjord, a UNESCO site. After free time in Flåm, we embark the storied Flåm Railway for a thrilling hour-long, 12-mile route ascending the 2,900-foot-deep Flåm Valley. A masterpiece of engineering along precipitous mountainsides, the railway took nearly 20 years to construct – and as we will see, it was worth the effort. We pass through 20 tunnels that spiral in and out of mountains, curve around 21 hairpin bends, pass the mighty Kjosfossen Waterfall, and cross the Flåm River three different times. Our exhilarating excursion ends in Myrdal, where we board another train for the brief trip to Voss. Here we meet our coach for the return journey to our hotel via the 4,600-foot Hardanger Bridge, one of the world’s longest suspension bridges. B,L,D

Day 13: Lofthus/Oslo En route to Oslo, we stop in Eidfjord to tour the Hardanger Nature Center showcasing the natural and cultural worlds of fjord country. Later we stop for photos at Voeringfoss Waterfall, considered Norway’s most beautiful, with a vertical drop of nearly 600 feet. Then we begin our route across the wild and barren Hardangervidda, Europe’s largest mountain plateau, which provides grazing lands for reindeer herds. We pass the resort town of Geilo, travel through the farm-dotted landscape of Hallingdal Valley, and proceed along Lake Kroederen, arriving in Oslo early evening. B

Day 14: Oslo This morning we visit the Museum of Cultural History, Norway’s largest collection of cultural artifacts, featuring fascinating Viking Age exhibitions, as well as Egyptian mummies and several ethnographic displays. We also tour the nearby Kon-Tiki Museum, with the original vessels and artifacts from Thor Heyerdahl’s 1947 voyage across the Pacific. This afternoon is free for independent exploration. B

Day 15: Oslo Our panoramic morning tour introduces Oslo’s highlights, including the Royal Palace, built in the early 19^th century; imposing Askershus Fortress and Castle, around which Oslo was planned; and Akerbrygge, the redeveloped harbor area. We visit Gustav Vigeland’s renowned bronze sculptures of human figures at Frogner Park; and the esteemed Munch Museum, dedicated to the life and work of Norwegian artist Edvard Munch. The museum contains at least one print of every painting that Munch created throughout his life, and more than half of his original creations. Then this afternoon is free to explore on our own; tonight we gather for a farewell dinner at our hotel. B,D

Day 16: Depart for U.S. We transfer to the airport this morning for our return flight to the U.S. B

B = Breakfast included L = Lunch included D = Dinner included

• Round-trip air transportation from listed cities
• 14 nights’ accommodations: 13 nights in Superior First Class, First Class, and unrated hotels; 1 night aboard DFDS ferry
• 27 meals: 14 breakfasts, 4 lunches, 9 dinners
• Extensive sightseeing as described, including all entrance fees
• Services of an Odysseys Unlimited Tour Director
• Ferry, rail, and private motorcoach transportation throughout your trip
• Luggage handling for one bag per person
• Gratuities for local guides, dining room servers, airport and hotel porters, and all drivers
• $100 frequent traveler credit towards your next Odysseys Unlimited tour ($200 after 3 tours; $300 after 10 tours)

2023 Tour Dates & Prices
including international airfare and all taxes, surcharges, and fees

Please call if your city is not listed or for land only prices. Prices are per person based on double occupancy and include airline taxes, surcharges, and fees of $499, which are subject to change until final payment is made.

Single travelers please add $1,395. Your $475 deposit is fully refundable up to 95 days prior to departure. All 2023 tour prices above (excluding airline taxes, surcharges, and fees) are guaranteed.

Accommodations: Day 6: *Ilsetra Hotel (Gaala), ⁺Dale-Gudbrands Gard Hotel (Hundorp); Days 7-8: ^Grande Fjord Hotel (Geiranger); Days 13-15: ^♦Sommerro House (Oslo)

Airline upgrades (subject to availability) on round-trip Trans-Atlantic flight: Business Class – $3,595 per person; Premium Economy – $1,595 per person

2024 Tour Dates & Prices
including international airfare and all taxes, surcharges, and fees

Please call if your city is not listed or for land only prices. Prices are per person based on double occupancy and include airline taxes, surcharges, and fees of $499, which are subject to change until final payment is made.

Single travelers please add $1,395. Your $475 deposit is fully refundable up to 95 days prior to departure. All tour prices above (excluding airline taxes, surcharges, and fees) are guaranteed.

Airline upgrades (subject to availability) on round-trip Trans-Atlantic flight: Business Class – $3,795 per person; Premium Economy – $1,595 per person

Stockholm – On Your Own

4 days/3 nights for $995 total price
Single Supplement: $345

Add an independent stay in the delightful Swedish capital to your Scandinavian sojourn.

Your Tour Price Includes

• Air transportation Oslo/Stockholm, inclusive of airline taxes and fees
• 3 nights’ accommodations at Scandic Continental (First Class)
• 3 meals: 3 breakfasts
• Transfer to airport

Note: June 15, August 17, and September 4, 2023 departures will stay at the At Six Hotel.

Please see the Accommodations tab for hotel information.

John Haywood
Penguin Historical Atlas of the Vikings
The history of the Vikings told through a series of innovative maps and excellent photographs. This book traces the routes of the ninth-century Viking merchants and explorers throughout Europe and onto the New World.

T.K Derry
A History of Scandinavia: Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Finland and Iceland
Scandinavia from prehistory to the present with chapters on the Viking and Lutheran kingdoms, medieval times, monarchies, the World Wars and modern period, emphasizing the common cultural, political and social backgrounds.

Eyewitness Guides
Eyewitness Guide Norway
This handsome, illustrated guide covers nature, culture, history and attractions.

Michelin Travel Publications
Norway Map
A handsome map of Norway at a scale of 1:1,000,000, with a place index and shaded relief.

Lone Mouritsen, Andrew Spooner
Pocket Rough Guide Copenhagen
With information on key sights and a full-color, pull-out map, this is the guide to take along.

Andreas Viestad
Kitchen of Light: The New Scandinavian Cooking
By a celebrated Norwegian food writer, this handsomely illustrated compendium pairs recipes with an engaging history of Scandinavian cuisine.

William Fitzhugh (Editor), Elisabeth Ward (Editor)
Vikings, The North Atlantic Saga
An extensively illustrated volume of Viking culture, history and exploration that focuses especially on voyages to North America. Published in conjunction with a Smithsonian exhibit, it features essays and 400 color photographs.

Gwyn Jones
A History of the Vikings
Jones integrates history and archaeology in this classic portrait of the Vikings.

Sverre Bagge
Cross and Scepter, The Rise of the Scandinavian Kingdoms from the Vikings to the Reformation
Bagge spends little time with myths in this scholarly history, but focuses on the development of northern European societies and their rise from the Dark Ages to the Reformation.

Magnus Magnusson (Translator), Paulsson Herman (Translator), Snorri Sturlusson, Hermann Palsson (Translator)
King Harald’s Saga
A classic biography of the last Viking warrior King Harald and an account of the 1066 conflict between Norway and England.

Michael Booth
The Almost Nearly Perfect People, Behind the Myth of the Scandinavian Utopia
Guardian journalist Michael Booth writes with laugh-out-loud humor and brutal candor about the Scandinavians, mixing history and his own experiences in Nordic regions in this searing cultural portrait.

Eric Dregni
In Cod We Trust: Living the Norwegian Dream
A Minnesotan of Norwegian extraction, Dregni writes entertainingly of Norwegian culture and the immigrant experience in this delightful account of a year living with his wife and infant son in Trondheim on a Fulbright scholarship.

Mary Wollstonecraft, William Godwin
Letters on Sweden, Norway, and Denmark
Groundbreaking feminist Wollstonecraft records her observations of a late 18th-century journey through Scandinavia in this small masterpiece, rich in detail of people and place.

Josef Paul Hodin
Edvard Munch
This is an illustrated biography of Norway’s best known artist, with excellent reproductions of his work and plenty of historical information.

Karen Fossum
Don’t Look Back
In her U.S. debut, Norwegian mystery author Karen Fossum weaves a tale of intrigue set in a small mountain town outside of Oslo.

Knut Hamsun, Sverre Lyngstad (Translator)
Mysteries
An odd character settles in a small Norwegian village and charms the locals. First published in 1890, this book is an insightful look at life in Norway and our favorite of Hamsun’s many novels.

Peter Asbjornsen
Norwegian Folk Tales
This rich collection of stories, interpreted by a leading scholar on ancient traditions and tales, will delight both adults and children.

Hermann Palssom, Paul Edwards
Orkneyinga Saga, The History of the Earls of Orkney
A fusion of myth and legend, circa A.D. 1200, by an unnamed Icelandic author. The medieval chronicle has its center of action among the Orkney Islands, describing their conquest by Norwegian kings during the Viking expansion of the ninth century.

Per Petterson
Out Stealing Horses
A deliberate and astonishing novel. Looking back on his early childhood in rural Norway, Trond Sander fixates on a fateful childhood summer. In 1948, after the death of a child, his father’s decision to abandon the family and the crippling guilt of his best friend, the course of Sander’s life would be altered forever.

Kevin Crossley-Holland
The Norse Myths
This classic collection includes 32 tales of Nordic gods, goddesses and heroes. With an overview of the Norse world, cosmology and gods.

Robert B. Haas
Through the Eyes of the Vikings, An Aerial Vision of Arctic Lands
In this captivating collection of oversized aerial photographs, Haas (Through the Eyes of the Gods) reveals the surprising diversity of color and life in the arctic landscape, including Norwegian fjords, Alaskan tundras and Swedish waterscapes.

Tony Soper, Dan Powell (Illustrator)
Wildlife of the North Atlantic, A Cruising Guide
This compact, illustrated guide covers the many petrels, ducks, gulls, terns and other seabirds, as well as the rich abundance of life existing under the waves, that populate the vast Atlantic region from the British Isles to Newfoundland.