COPENHAGEN  Welcome drink; guided sightseeing; the Little Mermaid; visit the Royal Reception Rooms in Christiansborg Palace; Tivoli Gardens
ODENSE  Visit Hans Christian Andersen’s home
ARHUS  Visit Den Gamle By
DENMARK-SWEDEN  Boat cruise over the Kattegat
GOTHENBURG  Orientation
STOCKHOLM  Guided sightseeing; visit the City Hall
GRIPSHOLM  Guided visit of the castle
LILLEHAMMER  Guided visit of the Maihaugen Open-Air Museum (from mid-May onwards)
BORGUND  Picture stop at the stave church
SOGNEFJORD  Boat cruise
BERGEN  Orientation
TORPO  Visit a stave church
OSLO  Guided sightseeing; visit Frogner Park and the City Hall

REYKJAVIK  Orientation, welcome dinner in Reykjavik, and included excursions (tour ZSE only)

Day 1 (Sun.) Board your overnight transatlantic flight.

Day 2 Arrival in Copenhagen, Denmark. (Mon.) Time to rest or to start exploring Denmark’s capital. At 6 p.m. meet your traveling companions for a welcome drink hosted by your Tour Director.

Day 3 Copenhagen. (Tue.) Sightseeing with a Local Guide features the Church of Our Savior and the Stock Exchange on the way to Christiansborg Palace where you visit the elegant ROYAL RECEPTION ROOMS. Drive past the National Museum and the Royal Theater, stop for pictures of Amalienborg Palace and at the LITTLE MERMAID statue. Tonight visit TIVOLI GARDENS, the city’s colorful amusement park. (FB)

Day 4 Copenhagen-Arhus. (Wed.) Morning drive over one of the world’s largest suspension bridges constructed off-shore to the fairy-tale island of Funen. Visit HANS CHRISTIAN ANDERSEN’S HOME at Odense, then cross the Little Belt waterway to Jutland. Arrive in Arhus and visit DEN GAMLE BY, a fascinating collection of completely furnished old Danish town houses. Time to shop in the pedestrian area near the hotel. (FB,D)

Day 5 Arhus-Gothenburg, Sweden. (Thu.) At Frederikshavn board a FERRY for the three-hour crossing of the strategic Kattegat to Gothenburg, Sweden’s second-largest city. See its landmarks on an orientation drive, and later mingle with the locals at Liseberg Amusement Park. (FB,D)

Day 6 Gothenburg-Stockholm. (Fri.) Drive through the area often referred to as the breadbasket of the country, miles of fertile farmland strewn with tidy farms, followed by industrial towns like Huskvarna, and Norköping, a major Baltic sea port. Afternoon arrival in Stockholm. (FB)

Day 7 Stockholm. (Sat.) Sightseeing with a Local Guide features the Royal Palace, Riddarholm Church, and the blue and gold chambers in the CITY HALL, where the annual Nobel Prize banquet is held. In the afternoon an optional excursion to the fascinating Wasa Ship Museum can be arranged. (FB)

Day 8 Stockholm-Karlstad. (Sun.) Still on the shores of Lake Mälar, visit King Gustav Vasa’s GRIPSHOLM CASTLE, before continuing west through the scenic Lake District. On the way, glimpses of the ancient garrison town of Örebro; and Bofors, site of Alfred Nobel’s ammunition factory. Overnight in pretty Karlstad on Lake Vänern. (FB,D)

Day 9 Karlstad-Lillehammer, Norway. (Mon.) Drive through Värmland, the area so beautifully described in Selma Lagerlöf’s Saga of Gösta Berling, to the Norwegian border. Then follow the Glomma River from Kongsvinger to strategic Elverum, rebuilt after total destruction during World War II. On via Lake Mjøsa to Lillehammer. Enjoy a guided visit of the fascinating MAIHAUGEN OPEN AIR MUSEUM (from mid-May onwards). (FB,D)

Day 10 Lillehammer-Flam. (Tue.) Majestic mountains, dark pine forests, sparkling lakes and silvery trout streams all the way on your leisurely journey through Valdres and the Fillefjell area. Before arriving in Flam stop for pictures at Borgund’s stave church, famous for its beautiful exterior. (FB,D)

Day 11 Flam-Bergen. (Wed.) Today a real treat: embark at Flam for a leisurely CRUISE on the spectacular Sognefjord. Land at Gudvangen and motor through narrow Nærøydal Canyon up to Stalheim for a dazzling panoramic view. On the way back down to sea level, take pictures of the Tvindefoss waterfall. Early afternoon arrival in picturesque Bergen. On your orientation tour you will hear about its 11th-century origins and its association with the Hanseatic League. (FB)

Day 12 Bergen-Geilo. (Thu.) Bergen is the most characteristic of all Scandinavian towns. Visit the colorful fish market, stroll through the narrow lanes of ancient Bryggen, or ride the funicular up to Mount Fløyen. Drive along the beautiful Hardangerfjord, then cross by FERRY, before climbing up to Vøringfoss, Norway’s most celebrated and mightiest waterfall. Continue across the Hardangervidda mountain plateau to the ski resort of Geilo. (FB,D)

Day 13 Geilo-Torpo-Oslo. (Fri.) In Torpo admire a STAVE CHURCH, symbol of Norwegian heritage. Continue along the scenic road between the Steinsfjord and the ice blue Tyrifjord and arrive in Oslo. (FB)

Day 14 Oslo. (Sat.) Sightseeing with a Local Guide features the National Theater, Parliament, and the Royal Palace. Highlight visits: FROGNER PARK with Gustav Vigeland’s famous stark sculptures and the ornate CITY HALL. The afternoon is free, with a chance to join an optional excursion to the relics of a glorious seafaring past. Tonight a farewell dinner to celebrate the success of your vacation. (FB,D)

Day 15 (Sun.) Your homebound flight arrives the same day. (FB)

Day 15 Oslo-Reykjavik, Iceland. (Sun.) Transfer to Oslo airport for your flight to Reykjavik. Enjoy an orientation of the city with your Globus Host, and a welcome dinner at your hotel. (FB,D)

Day 16 Reykjavik. Full-day excursion. (Mon.) Start with the geothermal town of Hveragerdi; continue to Volcanic Crater Kerid, the bishopric of Skalholt, Geysir, which gave its name to all hot springs, and to Gullfoss, the spectacular Golden Waterfalls. Then drive through the enchanting National Park at Thingvellir. (FB)

Day 17 At Leisure in Reykjavik. (Tue.) Your Globus Host will have suggestions how to spend the day. (FB)

Day 18 Reykjavik-Blue Lagoon-Keflavik-Homebound flight. (Wed.) Visit the Presidential site of Bessastadir, the lava town of Hafnarfjördur, the famous Blue Lagoon, and The Rift, a dramatic exhibition of geology. Homebound flight in the afternoon. (FB)

COPENHAGEN First Vesterbro (F), ARHUS Radisson SAS Scandinavia (SF), GOTHENBURG Scandic Europa (F), STOCKHOLM First Amaranten (F), KARLSTAD Clarion Collection Bilan (F), LILLEHAMMER Radisson SAS (SF), FLAM Fretheim (F), BERGEN Thon Hotel Rosenkrantz (F), GEILO Dr. Holms (F), OSLO Radisson SAS Scandinavia (SF),

REYKJAVIK Grand Hotel Reykjavik (F)