Day 1: Arrival in Oslo
Arrival in Oslo, pick up your rent a car. The Norwegian capital is beautifully situated at the head of the Oslo Fjord and surrounded by forested ridges. Oslo offers many well know sights such as the Vigeland Sculpture Park, the Viking Ship Museum, the Munch Museum and Holmenkollen Ski Jump.
Accommodation at Quality Hotel 33, located outside the city centre. If you prefer a city centre hotel, please let us know.
Arrive in Oslo, and pick up your rental car. The Norwegian capital is beautifully situated at the head of the Oslo Fjord and surrounded by forested ridges. Oslo offers many well know sights such as the Vigeland Sculpture Park, the Viking Ship Museum, the Munch Museum and Holmenkollen Ski Jump.
Accommodation at Quality Hotel 33, located outside the city centre, or similar. If you prefer a city centre hotel, please let us know.
Day 2: Oslo - Geilo (305 km/190 miles)
Breakfast at the hotel. Drive from Oslo in a western direction along the Oslo Fjord, before turning north along Lake Tyrifjord. Continue from Hønefoss along Lake Krøderen and Bromma River to Gol. At Torpo we recommend a stop to visit the Torpo Stave Church. Continue to the mountain village of Geilo, located on the Hardangervidda Mountain Plateau, Norway’s largest national park.
Accommodation at Bardøla Hotel or similar
Day 3: Geilo – Hardangerfjord – Bergen (240 km/150 miles)
Breakfast at the hotel. Today, head across the Hardangervidda Mountain Plateau, with its snow-capped mountain peaks. We highly recommend the short detour to the spectacular Vøringsfossen Waterfall with a fall of 182 metres, before descending down the scenic Måbødalen Valley. In Eidfjord we suggest a visit to the Hardangervidda Nature Centre (entrance not included).
Cross the Eidfjord by the newly opened Hardanger suspension bridge (bridge toll not included), a bridge that is among the top ten longest in the world, with the main part spanning 1,310 metres. The journey continues along the scenic Hardanger Fjord, a region famous for its fruit orchards. Just past Norheimsund, we recommend a stop to visit Steindalsfossen Waterfall, where you can walk behind the waterfall. Continue to Bergen, known as the 'Gateway to the Fjords'.
Accommodation at Grand Hotel Terminus or similar
Day 4: Bergen
Breakfast at the hotel, with the day at your own disposal. Bergen is Norway’s second largest city and the world’s only city surrounded by 7 mountains and 7 fjords. Sights of interest are the Hanseatic Bryggen Harbour, Fløibanen Funicular, Troldhaugen, the Fish and Flower market, Bergen Aquarium and Gamle Bergen (Old Bergen Open Air Museum).
Accommodation at Grand Hotel Terminus or similar
Day 5: Bergen - Ørsta (350 km/218 miles)
Breakfast at the hotel. Depart Bergen heading north towards the Sognefjord, the world’s longest and deepest fjord. A 20 minute ferry crossing will bring you across the Sognefjord to Lavik. Continue past Førde before reaching the Nordfjord. There is then a short ferry crossing from Anda to Lote. Continue to Straumshamn, where we recommend the scenic road along the Voldafjord. An alternative is to continue from Straumshamn to Folkestad and take the ferry crossing to Volda (not included). Continue to Ørsta, beautifully located at the end of the 10 km long Ørstafjorden and surrounded by the Sunnmøre Alps. The mountains rise from the sea to a height of 1.500 – 1.600 metres.
Accommodation at Hotel Ivar Aasen or similar
Day 6: Ørsta / excursion to Ålesund (60 km/37 miles)
Breakfast at the hotel, with the day at leisure in Sæbø. The hire of bikes and motor boats is possible and the area offers great fishing and biking possibilities. As an alternative we recommend an excursion to Ålesund. The town was completely destroyed by a devastating town fire in 1904, and rebuilt again in the Art Nouveau style, making it a truly unique town in Europe. The town centre reveals a lively urban scene with pleasant restaurants and cafés, and the picturesque Brosundet canal with its fishing boats. Sights of interest are the Atlantic Sea-Park, one of the largest aquariums in Northern Europe, and the Sunnmøre Museum, an outdoor museum with an impressive boat collection and more than 50 old houses in beautiful surroundings (entrance not included). The beauty of the town can be appreciated from Mount Aksla, with a breathtaking view of the town and its mountains, islands and fjords. Return to Sæbø according to your own itinerary.
Accommodation at Hotel Ivar Aasen or similar
Day 7: Ørsta - Sæbø – Geirangerfjord – Troll Road – Dombås (225 km/140 miles)
Breakfast at the hotel. Morning departure from Sæbø by ferry crossing to Leknes. From Hellesyl,t the journey continues with a 1 hour cruise on the spectacular Geirangerfjord. The Geirangerfjord was added to the UNESCO world heritage list in 2005, and is truly a spectacular sight with its waterfalls and steep hills. In Geiranger we recommend a visit to the Norwegian Fjord Centre, where you can experience how people used to live alongside the fjord. Ascend the Eagle Road and enjoy panoramic views of Geiranger, before a short ferry crossing to Linge. Continue along the Troll Road, one of Norway’s best known tourist attractions. The road has 11 turns and the highest point is 858 meters above sea level. Dramatic, exciting and the ultimate nature experience - this is the best way to describe it. When reaching the bottom you will see the well known Troll Wall on the right hand side. This is the highest vertical mountain wall in Europe. Continue along the Romsdal Valley to Dombås.
Accommodation at Norlandia Dombas Hotel or similar
Day 8: Dombås – Lillehammer (180 km/112 miles)
Breakfast at the hotel. Drive from Dombås in a southern direction,through the Gudbrandsdalen Valley to Lillehammer, the host town of the 1994 Winter Olympics. In Lillehammer we recommend a visit at Maihaugen Open Air Museum, which tells the story of people in the Gudbrandsdalen Valley for the last 300 years, of life between the wars in the inland town of Lillehammer and of homes and domestic environments in the 20th century. Also recommended is a visit to the Olympic Museum and the Olympic Arena (Lysgårdsbakken).
Accommodation at Rica Hotel Victoria or similar
Day 9: Lillehammer – Oslo (190 km/118 miles)
Breakfast at the hotel. Departure from Lillehammer to Oslo. We recommend a stop in Hamar to visit the Vikingskipet, the ice skating rink from the Olympics in the shape of a turned over Viking Ship.
Accommodation at Quality Hotel 33, located outside the city centre, or similar
Day 10: Departure from Oslo
Breakfast at the hotel. Departure from Oslo to drop-off your rental car at the airport before your return flight.
Optional:
- Half-board supplement at the hotels in Geilo, Ørsta and Dombås (4 x 3-course dinner or buffet) - £ 150 pp.
Visas
For your holidays to Norway, Iceland, Sweden, Denmark, Finland, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Slovakia or Ukraine, you will not need a visa if you have a valid passport from any EU country, Australia, Canada, USA, Japan (there are more, so check with us to make sure). Please note that your passport should be valid for at least six months after the date of your return.
However, if you plan to travel to Russia, you will need a visa, which we can help organise for you.
Will I see the Northern Lights?
Please scroll down to see the specifics for the country you wish to visit:
Iceland:
The Northern Lights are in the Northern sky from September through April but are only visible when the sky is clear and free of clouds. Like many of natures wonders, it’s ephemeral – they may be visible, they may appear for a bit and then be gone. But it’s worth it to be patient. Because they’re a winter event, you need to be prepared to wait outside, while looking for them. It’s best to dress very warmly, in layers, with good footwear, gloves, hats and whatever else will make you comfortable while you await this truly amazing event. The Northern Lights can be pretty spectacular, and for the best photos we recommend using a tripod. Much of Iceland offers a very a good chance to see the Northern Lights when conditions are right. Remember – the Northern Lights are natural phenomena, not guaranteed, but appreciated all the more for their elusive qualities.
Norway:
Northern Norway is one of the world's best places to experience the Northern Lights (Aurora Borealis). In Northern Norway, Northern Lights occur in up to 90% of every clear night in the period from late September to late March. Most Northern Lights occur in the time span from 6pm to slightly after midnight, with an absolute peak at around 10-11pm.
In Norway, the area north of the Arctic Circle is prime aurora territory. The various destinations in the High North have a distinct personality, and are well worth exploring. Major places in Northern Norway are Tromsø, Kirkenes, Alta, Bodø, Lofoten and Vesterålen Islands and Svalbard.
Finland:
The best place to see the Northern Lights in Finland is in the Northern Lapland region, which is almost entirely located within the realm of the Arctic Circle. During the dark winter months here, when the sun rarely peaks its head over the horizon, you can expect to see the Finland Northern Lights with regularity, and other peak seasons include February through March and September through October. The most common colours of the Northern Lights are greenish-yellow and red.
The Finnish term for the Northern Lights, Revontulet, meaning fox fire, comes from an old tale where the fox was believed to swish its bushy tail on the snowy fell landscapes, throwing sparks into the air.
As mentioned, Lapland is the best place to see the Finland Aurora Borealis, with the Kilpisjarvi area offering the most abundant opportunities. The best time of the day to see the Finland Northern Lights is between 9 pm and 11:30 pm, though they are certainly not restricted to this time frame.
Sweden:
In Northern Sweden, the Northern Lights usually occur during the winter months through late March or early April, but they can be spotted as early as September in the Northernmost parts. Your best chance of catching a glimpse of the Northern Lights is on cold winter nights when the sky is clear and cloudless. You need to be away from city lights, which dilute the effects of these natural phenomena, so head out into the countryside. On clear nights, the Northern Lights can be visible from most locations in Swedish Lapland, occurring between 6 pm to and 2 am, with the strongest shows happening between 10 pm and 11 pm. For those willing to brave the cold on winter nights, here are some of the best locations in Swedish Lapland for viewing these phenomena:
Abisko National Park
Abisko National Park, a couple of kilometers north of Kiruna, is a prime location for viewing the Northen Lights. The scientifically proven “blue hole” — a patch of sky over the Torneträsk lake that usually remains clear despite overcast weather in surrounding areas — gives Abisko its own micro-climate, which is suitable for catching the lights.
Jukkasjärvi and the Torne Valley
Not only does the village of Jukkasjärvi (population roughly 541) boast the world’s first ice hotel (rebuilt ever year from Torne River ice), it’s also one of the best regions to view the Northern Lights. ICEHOTEL organizes guided tours for guests which takes the to the Esrange Space Center located 30 minutes from Kiruna. You can dine at a wilderness camp and get the chance to scan the Arctic winter sky for aurora borealis.
Other regions in Swedish Lapland
As mentioned earlier, if weather conditions are just right (clear, dark, cold, and cloudless), you might catch a glimpse of the Northern Lights from any location within subarctic and arctic Sweden — even close to larger towns such as Luleå, Jokkmokk, Arvidsjaur, and Gällivare.
Greenland:
The northern lights - or Aurora Borealis as it is officially known - actually occur all year round, but cannot be seen during the summer months in Greenland due to the midnight sun. The phenomenon is often seen around midnight and is best experienced on a dark, clear night in the period from September to the beginning of April. If you are travelling during this period, you can see the Northern Lights from anywhere in the country, whilst in South Greenland the northern lights can be seen from as early as the end of August.
Insurance
Travel insurance is required and also advisable. If you do not have a valid policy, please check our Insurance link on the bottom of our homepage or http://www.baltictravelcompany.com/insurance. We can offer quotes for all nationalities.
Our recommended partner is FS Ball who are authorised and regulated by the Financial Services Authority. If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to contact us.
Language
You will be able to communicate quite well with the locals, as most people in the service industry are quite adept at speaking English. If English doesn't work, then try Russian (if you can), or German. The further you go from the major cities, the less English you will hear. However, do not let the language barrier keep you from exploring the beauty of the country side. We can always arrange English speaking guides to accompany you wherever you wish to go.
The Estonian language is similar to Finnish and is unrelated to Latvian, Lithuanian or Russian. Latvian and Lithuanian are two of the oldest languages, with roots traceable to Sanskrit. This makes them quite challenging to learn, but attempting a few words will put a smile on the local faces. Russians use the Cyrillic alphabet, so reading street signs and tube maps will be a challenge in St Petersburg .
Car Rental
You can rent a car, as long as you have a valid EU or international driver's license. Most cars will have manual transmission.
Currency
You can get local currency from ATMs at the airport where you land or in the major cities. Be aware that your bank will charge you a service fee and exchange rate fee for the transaction, but this is likely to be less than exchanging money in the UK before you depart. Please note that in Russia exchange bureau's and banks will not except Scottish bank notes.
We suggest choosing the right credit card for spending abroad. Most credit cards will have an additional cost (about 3%) to the bank exchange rates. You can avoid it by obtaining a specialist overseas card that does not add this % and will give you good exchange rates that are better than money exchange bureau rates.
Credit cards charge you interest rates, but some debit cards (bank account cards) could have fees that could add up to £ 1.50 every time you spend.
We recommend checking with your bank what fees/interest rates will be applied to your card when using it abroad in order to make an educated decision on what card to use.
Most restaurants and shops will take credit/debit cards like Visa and Mastercard, however, many places will not accept AMEX.
Traveller's cheques are difficult to cash, so we recommend not to use them.
Airport or ferry terminals in most cases will have the worst money exchange rates, so if you must get it from the airport, pre-order money for pick-up to get a better rate.
The local currencies are (alphabetic order):
Denmark - Danish Kroner
Estonia - Euro
Finland - Euro
Greenland - Danish Kroner
Iceland - Icelandic Kroner
Latvia - Euro
Lithuania - Euro
Norway - Norwegian Kroner
Poland - Polish Zloty
Russia - Russian Ruble
Sweden - Swedish Kroner
Ukraine - Hryvnia
Restaurants
Dining opportunities are plenty, from ethnic to exotic. We would suggest you to try some national dishes and get a real taste of the region. Note that most traditional dishes contain meat and are fairly heavy, but very tasty.
Reservations in advance are recommended for up-market restaurants, especially for Friday and Saturday evenings.
Tipping - many of the up-market establishments will let you know how good their service is by including it on the bill. Rounding up the bill is usually sufficient, unless you feel your server deserves an extra bit of recognition.
Transportation
Railway mostly serves domestic routes and is used as an easy and quick way to get from the capital to major cities of the country. There are some international routes, like to Moscow and St. Petersburg, but time spent on the way will be quite long.
Buses are one of the most convenient ways to travel between the Baltic States. Eurolines will get you between Riga, Vilnius and Tallinn. One way tickets will cost £ 15 - £ 20 and approximate travel time is 5 hours between the cities. Ticket reservations in advance are recommended.
Taxis are the quickest and most convenient way of travelling round the city. You'll find them located close to the main hotels. Usually it's quite easy to catch a taxi on the street, however, it's much better and safer to order one by phone. Taxi costs in all of the Baltic countries and Poland are approximately the same and a ride in the centre of the city will cost you approx £ 5 - £ 7. Taxis in Finland and Russia are considerably more expensive. It is always a good idea to get your hotel to book a taxi for you and ask approximately how much the trip will cost before you get in.
We would not recommend you to take public transportation within the city, as it's usually crowded and it may cause you unnecessary anxiety about where to stop.
Mobile Phones
There are several mobile operators in each Baltic country, the Nordics ( Norway, Sweden, Denmark and Finland incl. Iceland and Greenland as well as Poland, Ukraine and Russia. If you have an international connection, there shouldn't be any problems with your incoming and outgoing calls.
In case your phone doesn't work, please check in the local mobilephone shops and you can buy Calling cards etc. or ask in your hotel, they should be able to advise you too.
Internet Access
Internet access is available at Internet Cafés, which mostly are located in the central part of the city. Most hotels have internet access.
Postal Services
Stamps are available in the post offices and in most newspaper kiosks. Approximate price for a stamp to European Union countries will vary but between appx. £ 0.30 to £ 0.70. You'll see post boxes on the streets or you can ask hotel representative to send your post card, they'll gladly help you.
Emergency Numbers
Emergency telephone number for the police, ambulance services or fire department in Norway, Iceland, Denmark, Sweden, Finland, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Russia, Ukraine and Poland - 112.
Greenland uses 911 and for mobile phones only 112.