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Valkommen! Welcome to Sweden. When you arrive in Stockholm, you’ll be picked up from the airport and transferred to your accommodation. Often referred to as the 'Venice of the North' and arguably Scandinavia's most beautiful city, Stockholm is packed full of amazing architecture, parks and clear waters. Your adventure will begin with a welcome meeting at 6 pm tonight. If you arrive early, maybe stroll along the narrow cobblestone streets lined with colourful merchant houses and soak up the atmosphere. Maybe grab a cinnamon roll in Stockholm’s oldest cafe – Sundbergs Konditori on Jarntorget Square, which dates back to 1785. Tonight, you’ll have a welcome dinner with your trip leader and group to toast to a new adventure.

This morning after breakfast, you’ll head out on a walking tour of Gamla Stan (the Old Town of Stockholm) to get your bearings. Your tour ends by the port, where you’ll board a ferry to the island of Fjaderholmarna. Get to know the sweeter side of this island’s history on a guided walking tour paired with a tasting of six chocolate pralines, each inspired by a moment from Fjaderholmarna’s history. After, stop for fika (coffee and pastry) before some free time to explore the island at your own pace before taking the boat ride back to the city. The rest of your afternoon and evening are free – maybe make a stop for fika (coffee and pastry), take a self-guided Millennium walking tour to see key locations from Stieg Larsson’s best-selling crime trilogy or visit the ABBA Museum. You can also take a trip to Drottningholm Palace – the residence of the Swedish royal family. Tonight, maybe head to Stockholm's Sodermalm district – the inner-city island with the best nightlife.

Leave Stockholm this morning after breakfast and head for the small, medieval town of Vadstena on the shores of Lake Vattern. Have lunch with your group, then take a guided tour of Vadstena Castle – Sweden’s most well-preserved example of a Renaissance royal palace. Built in the 16th century, the palace was turned into a granary and later a cloth factory in the 19th century. It now houses the National Archives and hosts performances by the International Vadstena Academy Foundation singing school in the summer. After your visit, continue to Granna and check into your Feature Stay accommodation – Gyllene Uttern. This boutique hotel offers sweeping views of Lake Vattern and Visingso Island, plus a sauna where you can take in panoramic views of your surroundings while you unwind. Spend the rest of the afternoon relaxing, then have dinner at the hotel with your group this evening.

This morning, take a short ferry to Visingso Island, where you’ll take a horse-drawn carriage tour to learn about centuries-old local traditions. You’ll stop at the medieval Kumlaby Church to climb the tower from which, on a clear day, you can see views across four provinces! Return to the mainland and have a picnic lunch, then go on an apple safari at the Rudenstam apple orchards – this farm is famous for its award-winning must (a non-alcoholic drink made from pressed apples). After, return to the hotel, where the rest of your day is free. Maybe head to the sauna or simply take in the beautiful nature surrounding you.

Leave Granna behind this morning and travel to Oslo, admiring the scenery of endless forests and lakes along the way (grab a window seat if you can!). On the way, you’ll stop in one of the local towns for lunch and say your farewells to Sweden. Arrive in Oslo in the late afternoon, take some time to unwind and check into the hotel. The evening is free for you to explore on your own. Maybe head to a rooftop bar for night-time city views or head to Gamla – Oslo’s oldest performance venue – to catch a jazz or rock gig.

This morning after breakfast, explore the major attractions of the vibrant Norwegian capital including Oslo Opera House, which quickly became the city's icon after its reconstruction in 2008, and Karl Johan’s Gate, the city's emblematic two-lane central street. Admire the Royal Palace from a distance and look at frescoes depicting Scandinavian history on the walls of red-brick Oslo City Hall. Later this afternoon, you’ll head outside the city to meet with a local chef with more than a decade of kitchen experience for a relaxed forest walk. Your local guide will share insights into Norwegian culture, traditions and Norway’s mountain gastronomy. Along the way, you’ll learn how nature and food are deeply connected to everyday local life. As you walk through tranquil forest, you’ll stop do a tasting of traditional cold plates like lamb, cured mountain trout, horse, venison and other local delicacies. Weather permitting, you’ll pause for a photo op at a scenic lookout. You’ll then settle into a cosy camp where the chef will prepare some wild Scandinavian meats. Warm up with comforting, hot drinks and have a go at making your own Norwegian romme waffle over the campfire, topped with traditional favourites like sweet brown cheese (brunost).

Today is a travel day, but it’s one of the most impressive you’ll experience! Start with an incredibly scenic train journey from Oslo, seeing Norwegian nature at its most magnificent. Stopping in Myrdal, you’ll travel to the head of Aurlandsfjord on one of the world’s steepest stretches of train line, cutting through deep ravines, rivers, waterfalls, mountains and farms. On the way, you’ll have a short stop in Flam to pick up snacks and drinks for lunch and then set sail through the breathtaking Naeroyfjord on board an electric boat. Disembark in Gudvangen, then take a private transfer through the equally striking Naeroydalen to Bergen.

Spend the day exploring Bergen’s rich history, culture and culinary traditions through a series of engaging local experiences. Begin with a guided walking tour discovering the stories behind Norway’s second-largest city as you explore both its historic and modern districts. Stroll through City Park, admire the colourfulold wooden buildings and wander Bergen’s charming streets and alleyways. Visit the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Bryggen Whar and learn about the Hanseatic merchants whose trading empire helped shape the city and the wider region for centuries. Later, step back in time more than a thousand years into the world of the Vikings during an immersive, theatrical experience. Board an authentic Viking ship and journey into Norse history as your guide, dressed in traditional clothing shares stories of daily life, mythology, seafaring traditions and pagan beliefs. Continue to Mt Floven by cable car, where a Viking camp awaits. Here, gathered around an open fire with a pot of moose and reindeer stew simmering nearby, Viking-era culinary traditions and culture will be brought to life by your Viking hosts. After descending back to the city by cable car, join your fellow travellers for dinner.

Today is a free day for you to keep exploring Bergen at your own pace. You might like to visit the Bergenhus Fortress, which dates back to the Middle Ages, or the 13th-century Rosenkrantz Tower. If you’re looking for something more active, you could take on the popular hike from Mt Ulriken to Mt Floyen – take the cable car up to Mt Ulriken and begin your hike from there. You’ll have a second welcome meeting at 6 pm to meet your new trip leader and the travellers who will be joining you for the next leg of your adventure. After the meeting, head out for a welcome dinner with your group.

Board a ferry this morning to Smorhamn port, located in Kalvag – a historic fishing village set on the island of Froya. During this scenic journey, take in dramatic views of the coast and fjords. When you arrive, you’ll check into your Feature Stay hotel – Knutholmen. With warm, charmingly decorated rooms and a floating sauna overlooking the bay, these sea houses will be a relaxing base for you to retreat to over the next two days of exploring Kalvag. This afternoon, you’ll go on a cultural tour of the Coastal Heritage Association, led by a local family. The association aims to preserve Kalvag’s fishing history and its traditional boathouses. Learn about daily village life and local history, plus try your hand at a traditional rope-making technique using glass floats. You’ll also taste some local herring and go on a short ride around the harbour in restored wooden boats. After, you’ll have some free time – maybe unwind at the floating sauna at your Feature Stay.

Set sail today for a boat trip to Vaeroya Island, located west of Knutholmen. As you sail, you’ll do some fishing and set up crab pots, led by a local guide who will share stories about life on Norway’s coast. Arrive on Vaeroya, where you’ll go on a guided tour of the island, then join your group for a seafood lunch of boiled crab and soup. If weather permits, you’ll have lunch on the pier, otherwise you’ll eat inside the boathouse. After, sail back to Kalvag and return to your hotel. This afternoon, take a hike to Flona with your leader. This hike takes you to one of Kalvag’s most scenic viewpoints. Starting at Knutholmen, you’ll wind through the village before continuing along the trail up to Flona. From the top, you’ll see sweeping views over Floro – Norway’s westernmost town – Kvanhovden lighthouse and the surrounding islands. This is an easy hike that’s suitable for all ages.