Scandinavia & St Petersburg

Transcription

1 Scandinavia & St Petersburg Opera, Ballet, Concerts, Scandinavian Capitals, Norwegian Fiords, St Petersburg 27 JULY ~ 21 AUGUST 2016

2 Scandinavia & St Petersburg Opera, Ballet, Concerts, Scandinavian Capitals, Norwegian Fiords, St Petersburg 27 JULY ~ 21 AUGUST 2016 Imagine wandering the cobblestone lanes of Copenhagen, sitting in the private theatre of the Czars, watching Swan Lake in St Petersburg, getting up close and personal with a glacier in Norway, or experiencing a concert in Greig s house in Bergen, the very place where he composed the famous Peer Gynt Suite. Perhaps you would like to wander some of the greatest castles of Europe, become absorbed in the history of the Swedish Royal Family or the Czars, learn about Vikings, cruise the Fjords, or have a chance to explore some of the smaller villages off the usual tourist track around Scandinavia. Join us for dinner by the lake in Balestrand before we retire to our lake view rooms, enjoy a nightcap in the bar at one of our character-filled four or five star historic boutique hotels, ITINERARY HIGHLIGHTS: Extraordinary cultural experiences including recitation of Hamlet in its original setting, Swan Lake in Catherine the Great private theatre, historical opera experiences in Stockholm and Drottningholm Castle, Russian folklore concert, Greig piano recital in Greig s house, Munch Museum, ABBA museum and the famous Vigeland Sculpture Park, Sibelius House. City tours with local guides and all famous sights included in Copenhagen, Oslo, Bergen, Stockholm, Helsinki and St Petersburg. Numerous tours with special points of interest and flavour including entrances to Frederiksborg Castle, Hermitage Museum, Vasa Museum, Norsk Folkemuseum, Norwegian Glacier Museum and Drottningholm Castle, plus out of city excursions including Sigtuna, Porvoo, Balestrand, Fiords, lakes, Vøringsfossen Waterfall, and Järvenpää (Sibelius town). Character filled 4 and 5 star hotels throughout including the Grand Europe Hotel in St Petersburg and lake view rooms at the beautiful Kviknes Hotel, superbly located on the banks of the fjord and surrounded by mountains. or a final night gourmet meal with fine music and dining at the five star historic Hotel Europe in St Petersburg, where we will spend three luxurious nights in one of the finest hotels in the world. And watch opera in Stockholm, at its oldest theatre built before Mozart, with candles for lighting, a Russian Folklore concert in one of St Petersburg s many palaces or a concert in the famous Tivoli Gardens. After we have explored the gardens we embark on one of the greatest train journeys in the world from Oslo through mountains and fjords to Myrdal. Experience Operatunity s unique blend of stress-free travel delivered with care and love by Sue with a healthy dose of fun as we introduce you to one of the most diverse, picturesque, musically and historically rich regions of Europe. 2 For further information ring our office or visit our website

3 PLACES WE STAY Copenhagen Admiral Hotel is located by the harbour, close to Nyhavn, next to the Amalienborg Palace, and facing the Opera House. Hotel Continental Oslo is a fourth generation family hotel, over 100 years old, situated in the heart of Oslo and the perfect place to discover this lovely city from. The Kviknes Hotel, Balestrand lies on the shore of the Sognefjord and overlooks the Fjord and the mountains. First Hotel Marin is located in Bryggen, Bergen s old harbour area, and within easy walking distance to all attractions including the harbour side, historic buildings and famous fish market. First Hotel Reisen is located in Gamla Stan, Stockholm in the old district with a chance to wander this historic area by the harbour front, facing Skeppsholmen. Hotel Seurahoune is in Helsinki, Finland s largest city and one of the major cities in Northern Europe. It is a beautiful classic hotel situated in the heart of Helsinki, and has been operating as a hotel for over 170 years. Considered one of the most luxurious hotels in the world, Grand Hotel Europe is situated in the heart of St Petersburg within walking distance of the Winter Palace Square and Hermitage Museum. NORWAY FINLAND RUSSIA BALESTRAND Flam Myrdal BERGEN OSLO SWEDEN HELSINKI ST. PETERSBURG Hardangerfjord STOCKHOLM Fly St. Petersburg to Dubai DUBAI Fly Dubai to Auckland to Auckland DENMARK COPENHAGEN Fly Auckland to Dubai DUBAI Fly Dubai to Copenhagen from Auckland P: E: travel@operatunity.co.nz 3

4 DUBAI (1 night plus early check in) Sheraton Dubai Mall of the Emirates Hotel Highlights in Dubai include: Stopover in Dubai to rest with welcome dinner before beginning our wonderful trip, then a direct flight to Copenhagen. COPENHAGEN (3 nights) Copenhagen Admiral Hotel From the winding streets of the beautiful old town and grand royal palaces to the city s cutting-edge buildings and attractions, Copenhagen is the perfect blend of old world and new. Founded as a fishing village in the tenth century, Copenhagen has been the capital since the 15th century. Highlights in Copenhagen include: Special welcome dinner at Restaruant Zeleste. 4 hour guided tour of the city which includes the Amalienborg Palace, Christiansborg Palace, Hans Christian Andersen s statue, Gefion Fountain, the old harbour of Nyhavn and the famous Little Mermaid. The Tivoli Gardens and dinner at Paafuglen Restaurant (plus Concert in the Gardens in one of the three theatres situated here subject to availability). The Tivoli Gardens opened in 1843, and is the second oldest amusement park in the world. Copenhagen Opera Festival performance (subject to availability). Full day tour to the castles of North Zealand which includes: Rural villages, beautiful countryside, Frederiksborg Castle, the Museum of National History, the collection of which includes priceless paintings, silver and porcelain items, furniture and tapestries, Fredensborg Palace, built in 1722, the spring and Autumn residence of the Danish Queen. The imposing Kronborg Castle, which was the setting of Hamlet, including a private Hamlet recitation. Copenhagen - Oslo Ferry (1 night) A buffet dinner is included on board this evening and accommodation is in outside cabins. OSLO (2 nights) Hotel Continental Oslo, the capital of Norway, sits on the country s southern coast at the head of the Oslofjord, and is known for its citywide green spaces and museums. Highlights in Olso include: 6 hour sightseeing tour of Oslo including visits to the famous Vigeland Sculpture Park, Royal Castle, the Parliament building and Norsk Folkemuseum. A full day museum tour of Oslo including: a visit to the Munch Museum featuring a large collection of paintings of the famous Norwegian painter, Teatermuseet (Theatre museum) featuring highlights of Oslo s theatre history and Akershus Castle and the Royal Castle. Oslo - Myrdal - Flam Balestrand Train and Ferry Journey Today we depart by train for our journey to the Norwegian Fjords. This journey is considered one of the best in the world and it links with the amazing Flåm Railway. The descent from Myrdal to Flåm offers opportunities for photo shots of exciting waterfalls and mountain scenery, then we take the ferry across the Sognefjord from Flåm to Balestrand. 4 For further information ring our office or visit our website

5 BALESTRAND (2 nights) Kviknes Hotel Balestrand is a lush and beautiful west country village right in the world s most beautiful adventureland. From here, three branches of the fjord stretch inland between fjord and mountain. Thanks to its central location on the Sognefjord, Balestrand has been welcoming both Norwegian and foreign visitors since the late 1800s. Highlights in Balestrand include: Lake view rooms. A traditional Norwegian buffet breakfast in the hotel s elegant dining room. Full day in the fiords including cruise along the fjord to Fjærland for a visit to the Norwegian Glacier Museum plus drive along the Sognefjord and take the ferry from Hella to Dragsvik. BERGEN (2 nights) First Hotel Marin Bergen is the second largest city in Norway and is the most popular gateway to the fjords of West Norway and is renowned for its beautiful scenery. Highlights in Bergen include: Ferry to Vangsnes and drive across the Vika Mountains via Voss to the magnificent Hardangerfjord. The mighty Vøringsfossen Waterfall with a vertical drop of 180m, the highest in Norway. Scenic tour alongside the beautiful Hardangerfjord, famous for its many fruit orchards. Tour of Bergen including the famous Fish and Flower Market, the old Bryggen Harbour, the popular Hanseatic Quarter and the ancient Maria Church, the funicular to Mount Fløien with views of Bergen. Troldhaugen, the former home of the great composer Edvard Grieg, with concert in Greig s house plus entrance to the exhibition and a guided tour through Edvard Grieg s villa. STOCKHOLM (4 nights/5 days) This morning we fly to Stockholm. First Hotel Reisen Stockholm, the capital of Sweden, encompasses 14 islands of the vast Stockholm archipelago on the Baltic Sea. The cobblestone streets and ochre-colored buildings of medieval Gamla Stan, the old town, are home to a 13thcentury cathedral, the royal palace of Kungliga Slottet and its underground armory, cafes and restaurants. P: E: travel@operatunity.co.nz 5

6 Highlights in Stockholm include: A 4 hour city sightseeing tour of Stockholm with our local guide - the Royal Palace, the Parliament Buildings, the island of Djurgården and the Old Town. The Blue Hall, home of the Nobel Prize banquet. A 6 hour tour to Drottningholm Castle a World Heritage Site, by cruise. Evening opera performance in Drottningholm Castle in historic theatre, (subject to availability). Opera performance at Stockholm s oldest theatre built before Mozart, (subject to availability). Visit to Vasa museum -the impressive warship Vasa sank on her maiden voyage in 1628 but was salvaged 333 years later in She has since been restored and can now be seen with her complete rigging at the Vasa Museum. Visit to ABBA museum which includes memorabilia and costumes worn by the group. Ferry to Helsinki (1 night) HELSINKI (2 nights) Hotel Seurahuone Helsinki, the capital of Finland, is a vibrant seaside city of beautiful islands and great green parks. The city s rhythm is laid back yet at the same time refreshingly active in terms of both the number and quality of restaurants and arts events. Highlights in Helsinki include: 3 hour sightseeing tour of Helsinki - The Senate Square, Uspenski Cathedral, Parliament House, Finlandia Hall, University of Helsinki, New Opera House, Sibelius Park & Monument, Underground Temple. A full day tour out of Helsinki - the old wooden town of Porvoo, the second oldest town in Finland and Järvenpää where the composer Jean Sibelius composed five of his seven symphonies. Porvoo, the second oldest town in Finland, which was granted town status in the 14th century and is one of the treasures in the history of Finnish architecture. Around the turn of the 19th century Järvenpää attracted several artists. The composer Jean Sibelius lived in the villa Ainola two kilometres south the city centre from 1904 until his death in There he composed five of his seven symphonies. Today the house is a museum it was, by the way, named after Sibelius wife Aino. ST PETERSBURG (3 nights) Grand Hotel Europe Saint Petersburg was founded by Tsar Peter the Great on May 27, From 1713 to 1728 and from 1732 to 1918, Saint Petersburg was the Imperial capital of Russia. 6 For further information ring our office or visit our website

7 Highlights in St Petersburg include: The famous Allegro train from Helsinki to St Petersburg. All major attractions in St Petersburg - The Russian Museum, the Cathedral of our Saviour on Spilt Blood, the Palace Square, the Winter Palace, the Menshikov Palace, the Bronze Horseman, St Isaac s Cathedral and Square, Peter and Paul Fortress, resting place of the Czars. Russian Folklore show at Nikolaevsky Palace. Six hour visit to the Hermitage Museum including the treasure gallery and the Gold and Diamond treasure rooms. Swan Lake (dependent on availability) at Catherine the Great s Private Theatre in the Hermitage. Peterhof including the Grand Palace and lower parks with fountains. Farewell dinner with live music at the Grand Hotel Europe. A tour of the famous waterways of St Petersburg on a Neva Channel Cruise tour and visit Yusupov Palace, where Rasputin was murdered. DUBAI (2 nights) Sheraton Dubai Mall of the Emirates Hotel We have a direct flight from St Petersburg to Dubai and we will stopover here on the way home. P: E: travel@operatunity.co.nz 7

8 $ 16,945 per person twin share Single Room supplement add $3,781 Initial Deposit on booking $2,000 Second Deposit due 28 February 2016 $3,000 Final Balance due 18 April 2016 Deposits refundable (less costs incurred) prior to FINAL BALANCE DUE DATE. Itinerary details are subject to change, however any changes will be replaced with a comparable or better option. All our trips are specifically designed for our core market but this trip does contain travel challenges, either because of the region visited or the walking distances or uneven surfaces that arise at some sites. We do advise that you and your doctor evaluate your level of fitness before you consider booking this tour. THIS TRIP INCLUDES: Important Information For further information please ring our office or visit our website. All trips are subject to change but any changes will be of equal or greater value. All deposits are refundable up until final payment date minus any costs that the company has incurred. Please refer to our terms and conditions on our booking form. While we carefully plan our trips to be well paced, all travellers need to possess a certain level of fitness. Some trips are more arduous and carry an advisory note in the itinerary that a specific level of fitness is required. Operatunity Travel requires all travellers to obtain comprehensive travel insurance. Please be sure to ring our office if you require any information or clarification about insurance or any questions regarding travelling with Operatunity Travel. For your travel bookings call our Travel Department toll free on or travel@operatunity.co.nz 24 day tour to Scandinavia and St Petersburg, including all accommodation in character filled hotels: 3 nights Dubai plus early check in, 3 nights Copenhagen, 2 nights Oslo, 2 nights Balestrand, 2 nights Bergen, 4 nights Stockholm, 2 nights Helsinki, 3 nights St Petersburg, 2 nights overnight ferries. 6 music concerts including Greig s house, Bergen, Swan Lake, St Petersburg, Drottningholm Opera, Russian folklore and Copenhagen Opera Festival (subject to availability). City tours with local guides and all famous sights included in Copenhagen, Oslo, Bergen, Stockholm, Helsinki and St Petersburg. Numerous tours with special points of interest and flavour including entrances to Frederiksborg Castle, Hermitage Museum, Vasa Museum, ABBA museum, Norsk Folkemuseum, Norwegian Glacier Museum and Drottningholm Castle. Out of city excursions including Sigtuna, Porvoo, Balestrand and Järvenpää. All transport including return international airfares (Emirates), regional airfares, all trains, ferries as stated in itinerary. Meals: all breakfasts, 10 lunches and 12 dinners, many with music and local flavour. Escorted by Sue and Karl Perigo. Limited to 30 travellers The Year Ahead FEBRUARY 2016 MARCH < CRUISING THE WAITEMATA & WAIHEKE CENTRAL OTAGO IN AUTUMN & WARBIRDS OVER WANAKA > APRIL 2016 MAY 2016 JUNE 2016 JULY 2016 AUGUST 2016 SEPTEMBER 2016 OCTOBER 2016 NOVEMBER 2016 < MUSIC ON THE MURRAY FAIRYTALE EUROPE > HAWAIIAN ISLAND CRUISE > SAMOA MUSIC FESTIVAL > DISCOVER VICTORIA > EXPLORE NELSON/TASMAN & MARLBOROUGH > USA MUSIC TOUR > SYDNEY SHOWS & SIGHTS > GALAPAGOS ISLANDS & SOUTH AMERICA > SCANDINAVIA & ST PETERSBURG > TARANAKI GARDEN SPECTACULAR & CHATEAU > SOUTHERN LAKES & FIORDS > Toll Free: travel@operatunity.co.nz Bldg C, Unit 2, 4 Pacific Rise Mt Wellington, Auckland 1060 PO Box Sylvia Park, Auckland 1644 New Zealand