TOURS SPECIALISTS INC. of Florida

1232 Clays Trail

Oldsmar, FL 34677

phone: 800-223-7552 •  727-784-8588 •  fax: 727-784-7520

e-mail: toursspecialists@gmail.com • web: toursspecialists.com

CELEBRATING 49 YEARS IN BUSINESS

Most of our business is repeat business from Travel Agents

Registered with the State of Florida as a seller of Travel – reg # ST25793

SCANDINAVIAN HIGHLIGHTS 

2012 - LAND ONLY

 13 days  

Extensions  available

also available

Trips for travel agent and spouse / companions

Departs  July 2,9,16,23,30 August 6,13,2011

You will be traveling with regular passengers

Saturday

Passengers will arrange their own transfer to the hotel. Dinner

      Overnight Radisson SAS Scandinavia Hotel, Copenhagen

Sunday

The day starts with a 3-hour guided tour of the city. Famous sights include the Royal Amalienborg Palace, Christiansborg Palace (Danish Parliament Buildings), Gefion Fountain, Nyhavn, and of course the famous Little Mermaid.

Afternoon free for exploring this fairytale city. In the evening you will be taken to dinner at the Tivoli Gardens. B,D  

     Overnight Radisson SAS Scandinavia Hote, Copenhagen

Monday

Morning free in Copenhagen. Possibility to visit the Carlsberg Glyptothek or the popular pedestrian shopping street - Strøget.

Afternoon transfer by coach from hotel to DFDS Seaways terminal for your overnight cruise by ferry to Oslo, departing at 17.00 hrs.

Enjoy your first Scandinavian smörgåsbord dinner as you sail slowly up the Kattegat. B,D

     Overnight in 2-berth outside cabins with shower/WC

We recommend you to bring an overnight bag for this cruise, to avoid having to carry suitcases to and from your cabin.

Tuesday

A delicious buffet breakfast is being served as you cruise along the enchanting Oslo Fjord. Arrival in Oslo at 09.30 hrs, followed by 3-hour guided tour of the Norwegian capital. Visit the world-famous Viking Ships, the Polar exploration ship Fram, and the impressive Vigeland Sculpture Park.  

Afternoon free in Oslo. We can recommend a visit to the Munch Museum or a stroll along the Karl Johan shopping boulevard. B,D

     Overnight Thon Hotel Opera, Oslo

a modern first class hotel facing the new Opera House and located near Oslo Fjord and Harbour

Wednesday

After breakfast departure from Oslo, driving via Hønefoss along the charming Hallingdal Valley to the tourist resort town of Geilo.

Buffet lunch at Bardøla Mountain Hotel. After lunch cross the wild Hardanger Mountain Plateau to Fossli, stopping to view the thundering Vøringsfoss Waterfall with a vertical drop of 180 m.the highest in Norway. Descend the amazing Måbødal Canyon to the idyllic Hardanger Fjord. Short ferry crossing, followed by drive around the Ulvik Fjord, a branch of the Hardanger Fjord, to the picturesque village of Ulvik.  B,L,D

     Overnight Rica Brakanes Hotel, Ulvik

      ideally located on the banks of the fjord.

Thursday

After buffet breakfast, start of scenic tour along the beautiful Hardanger Fjord, famous for its many fruit orchards, via the towns of Øystese and Norheimsund, arriving in Bergen around midday.

Afternoon 2 hours tour of Bergen, including a visit to the popular Fish and Flower Market, the famous Bryggen Harbour with its gabled pack houses, and the old Hanseatic Quarter. You will also ride on the funicular to Mt. Fløyen, for the best views of the city and fjords way below. B,D

     Overnight Radisson SAS Hotel Norge, Bergen

centrally located on Ole Bull's Square, close to the pedestrian shopping streets and within walking distance of the old Bryggen harbour.

Friday

After breakfast buffet, depart Bergen and drive via Dale to Voss. Descend the Nærøy Valley, passing the amazing Stalheim Canyon, to Flåm.

Board the Flam Railway for an exhilarating ride to Myrdal. The descent from Myrdal to Flåm offers opportunities for photo shots of thundering waterfalls and mountain scenery. After short rest in Flåm, approximate 2 hours cruise by boat along the narrow Aurlands and Nærøy Fjords, both branches of the Sogn Fjord, the longest and deepest fjord in the world.

Enjoy the spectacular scenery of cascading waterfalls, sheer mountain cliffs, snow-clad peaks, and a variety of wildlife. Disembark in Gudvangen at the head of the Nærøy Fjord. 

Continue by coach across the Vika Mountains to Vangsnes, for the short ferry crossing to the beautiful resort of Balestrand. B,D

     Overnight Kvikne's Hotel, Balestrand

      historical hotel nestled on the shores of the Sognefjord.

Saturday

Day free in Balestrand, giving you the opportunity to enjoy the outstanding beauty and nature of the fjords. The day starts with a traditional Norwegian buffet breakfast in the hotel's elegant dining room.

You may want to spend the morning relaxing on the hotel terrace, breathing in the fresh mountain air and enjoying the spectacular views. We can also recommend a visit to the local aquarium and art gallery, or you may prefer to rent a bike or rowing boat from the hotel, or even go hiking up to the nearest mountains. A walking tour of the village of Balestrand, with its historic buildings and other noteworthy sites can also be arranged. B,D

     Overnight Kvikne's Hote, Balestrandl

Sunday

Balestrand / Fjaerland /

After breakfast departure from your hotel by ferry, for a one hour's cruise along the fjord to Fjærland.

Continue by coach along the scenic route, passing under the Jostedal Glacier, the largest in Europe, to the village of Skei. Descend to the beautiful Nord Fjord, making a detour at Olden to visit the world-famous Briksdal Glacier. The journey up to the glacier will be made in open cars to give you the best of views.

A typical Norwegian lunch will be served in sight of the glacier. During the afternoon the tour continues via Loen and Stryn, to the picturesque village of Hellesylt. Here you board the ferry for the one hour's cruise along the spectacular Geiranger Fjord, possibly the most impressive of all the Norwegian fjords. Pass some magnificent waterfalls, such as the "Bridal Veil" and "Seven Sisters". B,L,D

       Overnight Union Hotel, Geiranger

       overlooking the Geiranger Fjord.

Monday

From the top of the famous Serpentine Road, you have the opportunity to digest some amazing views of the fjord, before crossing the rugged Grotli Mountains to Lom, well known for its 14th century stave church. The tour continues via Lake Vågå, before descending the magnificent Gudbrandsdal Valley to the popular tourist town of Lillehammer.

Stop for lunch in Lillehammer. After lunch the journey continues alongside Lake Mjøsa, Norway's largest lake, back to Oslo and Holmenkollen, home of the world-famous ski jump, offering unforgettable views of the city and Oslo fjord way below. B,L,D

     Overnight Thorn Hotel, Oslo

Tuesday

Travel by coach towards the Swedish border, crossing into the attractive province of Vãrmland to arrive in the city of Karlstad on Lake Vänern, the largest in Sweden.

Lunch in Karlstad. After lunch the tour continues through a landscape of forests and sparkling lakes to reach the Swedish capital in the late afternoon. B,D

     Overnight Clarion Hotel Sign, Stockholm

      a newly built first class hotel centrally located

Wednesday

The day starts with a 4-hour guided tour of the city. Famous sights include the Royal Palace, Parliament Buildings, Cathedral, Royal Theatre, etc. You will also visit the enchanting Old Town "Gamla Stan" with its narrow cobbled streets and numerous antique shops. Highlight of the tour is a visit to City Hall with its famous Blue and Golden Halls, where the Nobel Prize banquet is held each year.

Afternoon free in Stockholm, with possibility to visit the amazing Wasa Museum or take one of the popular canal tours. B only

     Overnight Clarion Hotel Sign

Thursday

Transfer to Arlanda airport

INCLUSIVE FEATURES

11 nights first class hotels (or similar)
Scandinavian breakfast buffet daily
Daily 3-course dinner or buffet dinner (except on day 12 in Stockholm)
1 overnight cruise in 2-berth outside cabin, buffet dinner and breakfast on board
4 lunches
Entrance to Tivoli Gardens for dinner on day 2
First class motor coach transportation

Ride on the Fløybanen Funicular
Ride on the Flåm Railway, Flåm-Myrdal-Flåm
All ferry crossings
4-hours guided tour of Stockholm, including entrance to City Hall
Luggage assistance at all hotels (1 piece per person)
Tour escort throughout
Transfer airport/hotel on first and last day
Taxes and service fees