NRMA CHRISTMAS IN SCANDINAVIA 16 Dec 2011 Day 1 DEPART SYDNEY Meet the tour escort and fellow travellers and fly to Copenhagen. Day 2 ARRIVE COPENHAGEN (D) Arrival in Copenhagen. Meet & greet at the airport by your local English speaking guide who will transfer you to your hotel. Private coach transfer to your hotel for check-in. The afternoon is at leisure. In the evening, we will enjoy the magic of world-famous Tivoli Gardens (entrance included) and its enchanting Christmas market, with traditional stalls and decorations. Dinner will also be in one of Tivoli s atmospheric restaurants. First Hotel Vesterbro or similar ( 02 nights) Day 3 COPENHAGEN (B,D) Breakfast at our hotel. At 09:00 you will depart by private coach with a local Englishspeaking guide for a 3-hour city sightseeing tour. This tour will be the perfect introduction to "Wonderful Copenhagen". We start with a drive towards the City Hall Square where the famous pedestrian street "Stroget" begins. We pass the Tivoli Gardens, and onwards past the New Carlsberg Glyptotheque and the National Museum. Next it is the Old Stock Exchange and the Naval Church. We drive past the Kings New Square, the home of the Royal Danish, then through the old canal area, Nyhavn, with its picturesque houses and vessels. We continue on to see the impressive Gefion Fountain and then make a photo stop at the Royal residence, Amalienborg Palace. Finally we stop by the landmark of Copenhagen, the statue of the Little Mermaid, known from Hans Christian Andersen's fairy tale. During the tour we shall also appreciate the Christiansborg Palace, housing the Danish Parliament and the Rosenborg Castle which houses the Crown Jewels. From old to new fairytales, the tour would not be complete without a visit to Vor Frue church, where Mary Donaldson became Crown Princess Mary of Denmark. The tour will end at the hotel. The afternoon is at leisure to further explore this fairytale capital and possibly do some Christmas shopping on Stroget, the longest pedestrian mall in the world. Dinner will be served at a local restaurant (Restaurant Sankt Gertruds Kloster or similar) return transfers included to/from the restaurant.
Day 4 COPENHAGEN STOCKHOLM (B,L,D) Breakfast at our hotel. Depart by coach (08:00) to Stockholm, first crossing the short stretch of water by Hamlet s Kronborg castle (STOP NOT INCLUDED) in Helsingør, we will continue eastwards across the heart of Sweden, passing through forests and lake areas typical of this sparsely populated Kingdom. A lunch stop is made en-route in Gränna, one of the most beautiful cities in Sweden. The steep cross-streets and the magnificent gardens makes it a very picturesque town. Lunch will be included in a local restaurant in Gränna. After lunch the journey continues and by early evening we will have reached Sweden s east coast and it s jewel, Stockholm. Check-in to hotel and dinner will be enjoyed at our hotel. First Hotel Amaranten or similar ( 02 nights) Day 5 STOCKHOLM (B) Breakfast at our hotel. Meet our local English-speaking guide and depart by private coach for a 3-hour city sightseeing tour. The city of Stockholm, built on 14 islands, connected by 57 bridges, embraces the unique character of the 13th century Old Town and modern high-tech architecture. The capital is a big city with a small town personality. Its handy size and short walking distances makes it easy to cover a lot in a short time. Stockholm is proudly called Beauty on Water and a sightseeing tour including a walk in the Old Town and inside visits to the City Hall, where the Nobel festivities take place, and the Cathedral makes a memorable morning tour. Discover a city of contrasts. Go back 750 years in time and feel the medieval atmosphere of the Old Town "Gamla Stan" as you wander through the narrow streets. The seven hundred year old cathedral of Stockholm, Seat of the archbishop, will be viewed during your stroll in the Old Town, where you will also get a chance to see Stortorget; where the Stockholm Blood Bath took place. Also at this special time of year you will be able to enjoy the typical outdoor Christmas Market in the old town. Later an inside visit is paid to the best known of the city's symbols, the City Hall, where the Nobel Banquet takes place in the Blue and Golden Halls. The tour ends at the hotel. The afternoon is free at leisure to amble the streets and shorelines of Stockholm. Day 6 STOCKHOLM TALLINN (overnight ferry) (B,D) After breakfast at our hotel your morning is at leisure. Afternoon transfer to the pier by private coach and departure on the Tallink overnight ferry, sailing along the Baltic Sea, bound for Tallinn. Buffet dinner will be served on board. Outside cabin onboard the Tallink ferry
Day 7 TALLINN - HELSINKI (B,L) Breakfast buffet on board before arrival to Tallinn, the capital of Estonia. Meet with our local guide for a city sightseeing tour starting with a short tour on the coach, through the city centre and around the ancient city walls, ending up at Toompea Hill for a walking tour. The walking tour of the UNESCO World Heritage listed Old town, one of the best-preserved medieval town centres in Europe, includes the Toompea Hill with the Toompea Castle, Alexander Nevsky Cathedral and the Dome Church. We will make a stop at the Viewer Square (panorama platform), onwards along Lühike Street to the Lower Town. We will walk further through this historic part of Tallinn to the Old Town Hall Square, with views of the Old Town Hall, the Old Town Pharmacy house and the Church of Holy Ghost. We continue our walk along Pühavaimu Street to the Latin quarter of Tallinn Old Town where you will find open markets, studios and shops of artisans who daily practice their craft. Lunch is then served at a local restaurant before enjoying some free time for further browsing of the Christmas markets around the old town. The coach will remain at disposal until the transfer to our fast ferry, which will speed us across the Baltic sea to Helsinki. Private coach transfer from the pier in Helsinki to our hotel for check-in and overnight. Radisson Blu Plaza Hotel or similar Day 8 HELSINKI IVALO - SAARISELKA (B,D) Breakfast at hotel. Private coach transfer from your hotel to the Helsinki Vantaa airport in good time for your morning flight to Lapland. A short transfer (approx. 30 minutes) from Ivalo airport takes us to our accommodation, set in a small village in the forests, surrounded by the snowy fells for which Finnish Lapland is known. The afternoon is at leisure before dinner is served at your hotel. Santa s Tunturi Hotel Superior rooms Day 9 SAARISELKA (B,D) Breakfast at our hotel. Today you will enjoy a snowmobile safari to the Fells (duration 2 hours). During this brisk safari you will drive around the area of Saariselka and see all the beautiful fell scenery. You will also enjoy a coffee break by the open fire in the nature. The driving distances is a approx. 20 kilometres. The rest of the day is at leisure to enjoy the traditional Finnish Christmas activities on offer (not included and may not be possible if participating in Snowmobile Safari to the Fells!) during your stay at the Tunturi Hotel such as: 9.00am Decoration of Christmas tree in hotel lobby. 9.00 am - 5 pm Ice skating and for children mini snow mobiles & quads on snow course. Driving 30 min or 1h including helmets and petrol. Skate rental is also possible per hour, or per day.
10.00-11.30 am Sleigh-rides up to the top of Kaunispää Fell for Christmas Peace declaration (sledges are pulled by snowmobiles). Non-stop departures. Place will be informed later on. 11.55 am Declaration of Christmas Peace on the top of Kaunispää Fell (declaration will be in Finnish and English). You can walk, take a snowmobile sledge transfer, taxi or ski bus to the top of the fell. Bob-sleigh rides back down can also be arranged! 12.00-4.00 pm Christmas porridge and mull at Restaurant Pirtti in Tunturi Hotel. This evening the hotel will be full of Christmas cheer and festivities, with a large Finnish Christmas Eve buffet and entertainment for all, including a special visitor. Santa s Tunturi Hotel Superior rooms Day 10 SAARISELKA (B,D) Breakfast at our hotel. The day is at leisure to enjoy activities such as Ice skating, and for children mini snow mobiles & quads on snow course. You may also like to join one of the optional safaris to a Husky Farm: OPTIONAL EXCURSION: Husky Farm After a short transfer, the barking of enthusiastic dogs will welcome you to the safari at the departure point. Before departing on your journey, you will be given instructions on how to control the sleds, which you will ride in pairs. Guests may swap places at the halfway point. The head musher will talk about the life and training of these Arctic animals and you will also have the chance to take some great photos. The departure point may change according to weather conditions. Coffee will be served by a campfire en-route. DURATION: 2 hours This evening there is a special International Christmas Buffet dinner just to make sure you are in the Christmas spirit. Santa s Tunturi Hotel Superior rooms
Day 11 SAARISELKA KAKSLAUTTANEN (Snow or Glass Igloo or Log Cabin) (B,D) Breakfast at our hotel. After breakfast we are transferred (approx. 11.00) in our private coach to the Hotel Kakslauttanen and Igloo Village located only a short drive away in amongst the local forests. Early Afternoon you will experience a reindeer safari (approx. 12.00) which will help ease away all stress as you peacefully travel through the forest, pulled by your very own reindeer. The safari includes a break with coffee or tea. Afternoon check-in to your Snow Igloo or Glass Igloo (limited numbers) or possibly a log cabin for your very special stay at the Hotel Kakslauttanen. Dinner is served in the hotel restaurant, in the main building. Later some of you you will enjoy the unique experience of sleeping under the stars in either your Snow igloo (sleeping in a thermal sleeping bag in approximately 5 degrees Celsius) or you very own Glass Igloo (where you may get the opportunity to see the amazing Aurora Borealis (Northern Lights) from your bed ). For the less adventurous there are Log Cabins for the night. Hotel Kakslauttanen (Snow or Glass Igloo or Log Cabin) Day 12 KAKSLAUTTANEN - ROVANIEMI (B,L) Breakfast in the main building. After breakfast, we will board our private coach for our journey to Rovaniemi the Capital of Lapland and official home to Father Christmas. We will stop and visit Santa s Village where we may even meet the man himself, should his busy seasonal schedule allow. Christmas is all around as we enjoy lunch at the Village. Later in the afternoon we board the private coach again and reach Rovaniemi a short time later, for check-in to our hotel. Santa s Hotel Santa Claus Day 13 ROVANIEMI - HELSINKI (B,D) Breakfast at the hotel. Early morning transfer to Rovaniemi Airport in time for your morning flight to Helsinki. On arrival in Helsinki, meet & greet by your local English speaking guide for a combined transfer and city sightseeing of the capital of Finland, also known as The Daughter of the Baltic Sea. The tour includes the Senate Square, the University and Lutheran Cathedral all displaying neo-classical architecture of the 1840 s, the colourful Market Square by the sea in the South Harbour, Kaivopuisto Park and diplomatic residences, the imposing statue of Marshall Mannerheim, the Parliament Building, Finlandia Hall, the Orthodox Russian Church Uspenski and the Sibelius Monument. A visit is also made to Temppeliaukio Church called the Rock Church as it is carved into solid rock. In the evening you will enjoy a leisurely stroll to the Kappeli Restaurant for a special (3 course) farewell dinner at the popular terraces and restaurant, overlooking the market square and the Esplanadi park, in the centre of Helsinki Radisson Blu Plaza
Day 14 DEPART HELSINKI (B) Breakfast at our hotel. The day is at leisure until your private coach transfer to the airport, in good time for your departure flight back to Australia. NOTE: Late check-out at 18.00 is confirmed at Radisson Blu Plaza hotel. Day 15 HELSINKI HONG KONG In flight Day 16 ARRIVE SYDNEY Arrive in Sydney.