Denmark, Copenhagen
Denmark is the smallest and most southerly of the Scandinavian countries. It is made up of the Jutland Peninsula and over 400 islands, the largest of which is Zealand, where Copenhagen is found. The country is a fascinating mix of pastoral farmland and lively cities and is rich in mediaeval churches, Renaissance castles and fishing villages. The country's historic and cultural heritage ranges from the Viking Raiders who settled large swathes of England, to colourful mediaeval Kings and Queens. The Danish Royal House remains the oldest in Europe and now has an Australian born Crown Princess. The island of Zealand is a contrast of rural pasture, sandy beaches with imposing castles and the country's lively capital, Copenhagen, with its treasure trove of museums, castles and churches.

Accommodation
We stay in central Copenhagen in a comfortable city hotel in en-suited share twin and single rooms. Continental breakfasts and a welcome dinner are provided during our 2 night stay.

What We Will Experience
We learn about the role of Copenhagen in Danish history as we explore the icons of the city.

Included are lectures and field trips to:

• Explore Copenhagen on a led walk to view the Amalienborg Palace, the citadel, Parliament, Nyhaven (new harbour), the Resistance Museum and, of course, Hans Christian Andersen's Little Mermaid

En route to Stockholm, we cross the impressive Oresundsbridge to Malmo and travel through the Swedish countryside.

Sweden, Stockholm
Sweden is the largest of the Scandinavian countries and has historically dominated its smaller neighbours. It too, is a country of lakes and forests, stretching from the Baltic to the Arctic Circle. Its greater contact with the outside world has created an open and outgoing people, whilst its social policies have brought about one of the highest standards of living in the world. Sweden, like its other Scandinavian neighbours is still a monarchy. Stockholm, undoubtedly one of the world's most striking capital cities, reflects this royal heritage in its palaces and architecture.

Accommodation
We stay in central Stockholm in a comfortable city hotel in en-suited share twin and single rooms. Continental breakfasts and 2 dinners are provided during our 3 night stay.

What We Will Experience
We learn of the history and culture of Stockholm from its Viking origins through to the growth of its Royal Houses and dominating role in the European Reformation. We experience the Old Town of Stockholm together with its ornate City Hall and striking palaces.

Included are lectures and fieldtrips

• Learn about Swedish history and culture
• Discover the city of Stockholm and inspect the imposing City Hall where the Nobel Prize Awards Ceremony is held
• Explore the old town of Stockholm on a led walk
• Learn about the maritime heritage of Sweden on a visit to the acclaimed Vasa Museum
• Experience the life of Swedish royalty as we inspect the royal residence and parks of Drottningholm.

En route to Norway we traverse the lakelands and forests of Sweden pausing to view the 16th century Gripsholm Castle and passing Karlstad in Varmland before arriving in the Norwegian capital, Oslo.

Norway, Oslo
A ruggedly beautiful land of high mountains, deep Fjords and icy blue glaciers, Norway stretches for over 2,000 kilometres from its southern beaches to the Tundra wastelands of the 'Land of the Midnight Sun'. Winters are cold and relentless, but summers benefit from long hours of sunshine when the sun hardly sets for weeks on end. The heritage of Norway includes unspoilt fishing villages, rich historic sites, Viking ships and mediaeval stave churches. Oslo is the oldest of the Scandinavian capitals, but despite being Norway's largest city and containing many fine palaces and monuments, has a comfortable, small-town feel.

Accommodation
We stay in a comfortable hotel in the city centre in en-suited share twin, double and single rooms. Continental breakfasts and 1 dinner are provided during our 2 night stay.

What We Will Experience
We learn about the history and culture of Norway as we explore the Viking Ship Museum, where some of the best examples of Viking ships ever found, are exhibited. We also inspect the interesting Norwegian Folk Museum, a fine ethnographic museum that has collected over 140 quintessential Norwegian buildings from all over the country. We also experience the history and heritage of Oslo as depicted in its icons and monuments and the Vigeland Sculpture Park.

Included are lecture and field trips to:

• Introduce the history and heritage of Oslo
• View the Royal Palace, City Hall, Mediaeval Akershus Fortress, Parliament House and the Cathedral
• The Viking Ship Museum
• The Norwegian Folk Museum
• The Vigeland Sculpture Park.

En route to the Hardangerfjord, we experience "Norway in a Nutshell". First we take one of the world's most spectacular rail journeys from Oslo past forests, lakes and waterfalls over a desolate plateau with a background of snow and glaciers to arrive in Myrdal where we join the Flam Valley railway. The train journey to Flam is a constantly changing panorama of snow peaked mountains, thundering waterfalls and green pastures, From here a boat trip along the Naeroyfjord takes us past tiny farmsteads clinging to steep mountainsides to Gudvangen from where our bus takes us through the spectacular Stahlheim Gorge to Voss and on to our hotel in Oysterse.

Norway, Oysterse on the Hardangerfjord
The village of Oysterse on the outstandingly beautiful Hardangerfjord allows us time to explore the extraordinary scenery of the Western fjords

Accommodation
We stay in a comfortable fjordside hotel in the pleasant village of Oysterse. The hotel overlooks the fjord and offers all rooms with private facilities, TV and telephone. It also boasts an indoor pool, sauna, bar and attractive restaurant. Our accommodation is in en-suited share twin and single rooms. Continental breakfasts and dinners are provided during our 3 night stay.

What We Will Experience
We learn about the culture and customs of this region as we cruise the Hardangerfjord, visit a hydroelectric power station and visit a local farm

Included are lectures and field trips to:

• Mini-cruise on the narrow and scenic Fykesund arm of the Hardangerfjord to the village of Botnen.
• Eidfjord with a guided visit to the fascinating Sima hydroelectric power station (700 metres inside the mountain and one of the largest in Europe) and to the mountain farm at Kjeasen, perched on a mountain ledge 600 metres above the Simafjord.

Our program ends in Bergen where a guided tour of the city explores its old Hanseatic Wharf, Rozenkrantz Tower and fish market as well as Troldhaugen, the birthplace of Norway's national composer, Edvard Grieg. There is a two night stay in Bergen in a comfortable hotel before our return flight home.

Alternatively, on arrival back to Bergen and after the guided city tour, we join our 11-night Norwegian Coastal cruise from Bergen back to Bergen.

You may extend your stay in Europe. If you are interested in an extension, please contact your Educational Travel Adviser

Itineraries may change. If flight schedules, site availability, and other inclusions have to be amended prior to departure. Odyssey Travel will notify registrants if, and as soon as, such changes occur. Please note that Hurtigruten ships are working vessels operating a regular service to a set schedule, carrying vehicles, cargo and foot passengers by day and night (some noise may be noticed during docking or loading). Some stops are short and/or are during the night. It may occasionally be necessary to omit or curtail visits due to weather/local conditions.