August 2010
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Mon 30:
Australia to Bangkok - We depart Australia today on our flight to Bangkok. After spending a couple of hours at Bangkok Airport, we board our overnight flight through to Copenhagen.
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Tue 31:
Bangkok to Oslo (B) - This morning we arrive in Copenhagen Airport and board a Scandinavian Airlines flight to Oslo. On arrival in Oslo, we transfer to our hotel.
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September 2010
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Wed 01:
Oslo to Bergen (B) - On our magnificent rail trip to Bergen we view Norway’s wide expanses of forest, secluded lakes, waterfalls and fertile valleys with well-kept farmsteads. At Myrdal we will take a side-trip on the spectacular Flam railway which covers some of Norway's wildest and most magnificent scenery. During the ride we can see rivers that cut through deep ravines and tumble over waterfalls, snow-capped mountains and farms built on sheer slopes.
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Thu 02:
Bergen (B) - This morning we will visit Fantoft Stave Church, originally built in 1150 and then reconstructed after a fire in 1992. Later we continue to the home of Norway’s most famous composer Edvard Grieg. We will also stop at one of Bergen’s best panoramic viewpoints. This afternoon we can relax in this picturesque town.
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Fri 03:
Bergen to Norwegian Coastal Voyage (B / D) - Today we have some time in Bergen before transferring to the ferry terminal and boarding one of the Hurtigruten Ferries. An evening supper/buffet is served on board our ship the MS Polarlys. Our onboard accommodations include outside cabins with private facilities for the entire 7 day journey to Kirkenes.
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Sat 04 through Wed 08:
Norwegian Coastal Voyage (B / L / D) - For more than a hundred years, the Hurtigruten ships have been a vital link for Norway’s coastal communities. During the journey between Bergen and Kirkenes we dock at a variety of towns, ports and fishing villages including; Trondheim, Brodo, Tromso and Hammerfest. The ship will spend between two and six hours at each port, thereby providing an opportunity to briefly explore the town before re-boarding. While underway, the ship will take you through remarkable passages, between towering mountains and around isolated islands. Although we are travelling on a working ferry, we will find the ship is a destination itself; polished brass and wood accents highlight the Norwegian art found throughout the many public lounges. Designed for the scenery she sails through, the MS Polarlys boasts unparalleled views from almost every quarter.
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Thu 09:
Kirkenes to Oslo (B) - Leaving the ferry in Kirkenes, which is situated only 10 minutes from the Russian border, we transfer to the Airport for our flights to Oslo
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Fri 10:
Oslo (B) - Today we take a guided tour of the city including; Vigeland Sculpture Park, Kon-Tiki Museum, Holmenkollen Ski Arena, Viking Ship Museum, Amundsen and Nansen’s Polarship Fram Museum.
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Sat 11:
Oslo (B) – After yesterday’s introduction, today we are free to further explore the attractions of Oslo that are of interest to us.
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Sun 12:
Oslo to Stockholm: In the morning we transfer to the airport for our flights to Stockholm. The capital city of Sweden is bulit on Islands connected by bridges and is known as the 'Venice of the North'.
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Mon 13:
Stockholm (B) - Our day starts with a two hour ‘Under the Bridges of Stockholm’ tour. We will cruise on the city’s waterways and sail under 15 bridges, through two locks and around idyllic islands of the city. The tour covers many of Stockholm’s well known sights, leaving us this afternoon to explore the ones we find most interesting.
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Tue 14:
Stockholm to Viking Line (B / D) - This morning we have some time to relax in Stockholm. In the afternoon we will transfer to the Viking Line Terminal for our overnight sailing to Helsinki. On board our Viking Line vessel we will have inside cabins with private facilities. In the many public spaces aboard the ship we will find lounges, restaurants and plenty of entertainment (including live music on most sailings).
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Wed 15:
Helsinki (B) – In the mid-morning we arrive in Helsinki and transfer to our hotel. The rest of the day we are at our leisure exploring the Finnish capital.
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Thu 16:
Helsinki (B) - Today our city tour covers the most interesting areas of Helsinki including; the historical centre, the Presidential Palace, City Hall, the Parliament building, Finlandia Hall and the Opera House.
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Fri 17:
Helsinki to St Petersburg (B) – For those of us not travelling to Russia, there will be a transfer to the Helsinki Airport for our flights back to Australia or onto our next destinations. For those of us that are continuing, we will board the Finnish Train Sibelius for the rail journey to St Petersburg.
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Sat 18:
St Petersburg (B) - We will start our day with a guided city tour visiting Palace Square, Alexander’s Column, the Senate Square, Bronze Horseman and buildings of Senate and Synod. In the afternoon we will take a 4 hour private tour of the Hermitage where the largest museum collection in the world is spread throughout four buildings; the most well known of these is the Winter Palace, the former Royal residence. The Hermitage houses a tremendous collection of Western European art, including such masters as Leonardo da Vinci and Raphael.
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Sun 19:
St Petersburg (B) – Today we have a privately guided tour to the Town of Pushkin – Palace of Catherine the Great. The estate was developed into one of the most magnificent and richest residences in Europe by the most famous architects and craftsmen of the time. The palace contains exquisite decorative objects, furniture, paintings, porcelain, amber, bronze and sculptures.
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Mon 20:
St Petersburg to Moscow (B) – This morning we will tour to nearby Peterhof the most famous of the Imperial summer residences. Our tour through the palace will show us the opulent mirrored rooms decorated with paintings and gilded wooden carvings. After the tour we will return to St Petersburg and transfer to the train station for our journey to Moscow.
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Tue 21:
Moscow (B) - During this morning’s panoramic city tour we will view many ancient churches and cathedrals; beautiful theatres and palaces; modern business complexes and hotels; as well as other buildings. We will stop in the historic centre of the city, which includes the Red Square, Sofiiskaya Embankment, and the panoramas of the Kremlin walls.
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Wed 22:
Moscow (B) – Today we have a private guided tour of the Kremlin Territory. We will walk through the Kremlin grounds and visit the Armoury Chamber with its famous collection of Faberge eggs, jewels and royal thrones.
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Thu 23:
Moscow to Copenhagen (B) - After breakfast we transfer to the airport for our flight to Copenhagen. The afternoon is free to explore the capital of Denmark with its church steeples, palace towers and copper-roofed old houses.
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Fri 24:
Copenhagen (B) - We start the day with a guided tour of Copenhagen’s major attractions including; the Tivoli Gardens, Little Mermaid, the canal district and the colourful harbour. We will also visit Amalienborg Palace, the winter residence of the Royal Family, where there may be an opportunity to see the Changing of the Guard.
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Sat 25:
Copenhagen to Bangkok - The day is free to further explore Copenhagen. In the evening we transfer to the airport for our flight back to Bangkok and then onto Australia
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Sun 26:
Bangkok to Australia - We arrive into Bangkok mid afternoon and have the usage of Transit Airport Accommodation until we board our late evening flight with Thai Airways back to Australia
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Mon 27:
Arrival back into Australia
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