Nordic Summer
1 Jul –
17 Jul 2024
- 17 Days
- Stylish 4 star accommodation
- 29 Meals
- Group size: 10
Menu
Itinerary
We meet at O.R. Tambo International for our flight to Copenhagen. Travel to the Nordic countries is filled with small but important pleasures: there’s a minimal time difference with South Africa; most Scandinavian countries prefer cards over cash, making money matters much easier; and they all enjoy wonderfully late summer sunsets so you’ll have extra daylight hours to wander the beautiful city streets. Excellent public transport systems, cities focused on sustainability, and clean drinking water are other perks to keep in mind. The term “summer,” however, must be taken lightly. In Reykjavik, the average summer high is around 14 ̊C, so be sure to pack plenty of layers, a warm waterproof jacket and comfortable walking shoes.
We arrive in Copenhagen, Denmark’s capital. The city sits on the coastal islands of Zealand and Amager, and it’s connected to neighbouring Sweden by the astonishing Öresund Bridge. Today, we explore Copenhagen with a canal cruise and some free time in the city centre.
Copenhagen is a renowned design, fashion and food capital, but it has humble origins as a 10th-century Viking fishing village. Its strategic and sheltered location on the shores of the Öresund Strait established Copenhagen as a trading and transport hub. Since the 15th century, it’s flourished as a cultural and economic hub in Scandinavia. The historic city centre is a patchwork of soaring church spires, copper-roofed townhouses and cobbled squares intersected by glittering canals.
We take an hour-long canal cruise and see the city from a unique perspective, drifting past historical sights and the colourful old harbour of Nyhavn, Copenhagen’s former commercial port. The rest of the afternoon is spent at leisure. Discover the city on foot and shop in its many famous boutiques.
Awake in Copenhagen and enjoy breakfast at the hotel. This morning we see the sights of Copenhagen with a four-hour city tour, and in the evening, we visit the Tivoli Gardens for an enchanting dinner.
In summer, life spills into Copenhagen’s streets and parks as the locals make the most of the warmer weather. The city often tops lists as one of the happiest places on earth, thanks partly to Danish culture but also because it prizes sustainable living. In Copenhagen, more people own bikes than cars, and the canal water is so clean that it’s said you can swim in it.
We soak up the bright and buoyant atmosphere with a city tour that drives us through historic streets, over canals and past the key sights.
In the evening, we visit Tivoli Gardens. Dating back to 1843, Tivoli is a tasteful whirl of amusement rides, stately pavilions and landscaped gardens. In the summer, twinkling fairy lights are switched on at dusk, creating a romantic atmosphere. We dine in one of the park’s restaurants and bask in the Nordic summer’s best feature: a late sunset.
This morning is spent at leisure in Copenhagen. After breakfast at the hotel, head out to wander the city’s elegant streets. This afternoon we board a cruise ship and set sail for Oslo, the capital of Norway.
Copenhagen has much to offer visitors, and getting lost in its streets can be a rewarding experience. Time permitting, you may want to view the exhibits at the National Museum of Denmark, stroll the streets of the hippie commune Freetown Christiania, see the royal jewels at Rosenberg Castle or visit Ny Carlsberg Glyptotek, which houses an outstanding art collection.
At Copenhagen’s port, we board a DFDS Seaways Cruise. Our stylish floating hotel heads north, up the Öresund Strait. Beautiful North Sea views fill the horizon as we indulge in the ship’s many onboard luxuries. Enjoy dinner at one of the excellent restaurants, have a drink at the wine bar or enjoy live music in the ship’s pub. There’s a boutique stocked with Scandinavian goods and a cosy coffee shop. At the end of the night, retire to your comfortable cabin.
We feast on a buffet breakfast onboard the ship before docking in Oslo. A line-up of futuristic high-rises borders the Norwegian capital’s waterfront, hiding a beautiful historic core. We disembark and take a guided city tour. The rest of the day is spent discovering the city at leisure.
In Old Norse, Oslo means “meadow of the gods,” a nod to the city’s idyllic location. Surrounded by rolling mountains and clean, glassy water, Oslo is one of the world’s greenest cities with a low carbon footprint and many welcoming, bucolic parks.
Our tour starts with the sights along Karl Johans Gate, the city’s main street. We see the Royal Palace, the Parliament and the National Theatre. Making our way towards the water, we see the Akershus Fortress and the recently revamped Aker Brygge area.
A visit to Oslo’s City Hall shows us where the Nobel Peace Prize is awarded and gives us a glimpse of the building’s stunning interior. At the Fram Museum, we learn about the great Norwegian polar explorers and their intrepid expeditions. Our tour ends with a visit to Vigeland Park. Spread over 79 acres, the park contains over 200 sculptures by artist Gustav Vigeland. Vigeland’s work focuses on the cycle of human life, and a walk through the park is filled with beauty, contemplation and emotion.
The rest of the day is yours to spend as you wish, and with the sun setting as late as 10:30 pm in the summer, you’ll have plenty of time to uncover the city’s many treasures.
Start your day with breakfast at the hotel, but don’t linger too long because today, you have a free ticket to Oslo’s best sights. Armed with an Oslo Pass, you can deep dive into the city’s art, history and culture without reaching for your wallet. After an eventful day, we’ll gather for dinner at a local restaurant.
The Oslo Pass gives you free admission to 30 museums and sights, including Akershus Castle, the Edvard Munch collection and the National Museum. Getting around is easy – with the Oslo Pass, you get unlimited travel on Ruter’s public transport system in zones 1 and 2. Savvy travellers can use their passes to get discounts at select restaurants or on sightseeing tours. With the Oslo Pass, the city is your playground for the day. We recount the day’s adventures over a 3-course dinner at a restaurant tonight.
As we leave Oslo behind for Voss, a day of travelling lies before us. Weaving through soaring mountains and bottomless fjords, this journey by rail, sea and land is hailed as one of the most beautiful in the world.
An early start sees us walk to Oslo Central Station, where we catch the train to Myrdal. We swap the city for Norway’s incomparable countryside. Rivers cut through deep ravines, waterfalls gush over cliffs and snow-capped mountains top valleys filled with towering trees. Norway’s natural spaces are so jaw-droppingly beautiful that the Norwegians have a special word for enjoying time outdoors: ‘friluftsliv’.
At Myrdal, we change trains and continue to the village of Flåm. A true feat of engineering, this train charges through the snow during winter, cutting through even the densest white-out. Today, it winds along mountains cloaked in green, through tunnels spiralling in and out of solid rock and up impossibly steep inclines.
At Flåm, we board a boat, navigating along one of the wildest and most beautiful arms of the Sognefjord, the Nærøyfjord, to Gudvangen. Sheer mountains tower on either side of the slender channel, which is only 250 metres wide at its narrowest point. Huddles of white clapperboard houses sit on the banks, completing the utterly serene sight.
On arrival in Gudvangen, we travel via private coach to Voss. The village is known as Norway’s extreme sports capital. It’s surrounded by mountain peaks, deep valleys, flowing rivers and thundering waterfalls, making it the ideal setting for everything from skydiving to mountain biking. We experience Voss’s quieter side and check into our hotel for the night.
This morning we board the train in Voss and travel to Bergen. The route follows the tangle of fjords, lakes and rivers that cut through the landscape and gorgeous views of Fjordland flit past the train windows.
Surrounded by seven hills and seven fjords and with quaint wooden houses lining its waterfront, Bergen is irresistibly pretty. We take a panoramic city tour and immerse ourselves in Norwegian culture.
The first stop on our tour is Bryggen, Bergen’s historic harbour district. Trading in Bergen started as early as 1020, and by the 13th century, it was a bustling port town. It was one of the vital trading posts of the Hanseatic League, a medieval commercial and defensive network in Central and Northern Europe, which had its quarters in Bryggen. The wooden houses that line the wharf date from that era. They are protected as a UNESCO World Heritage Site and maintained using traditional building techniques.
We drive through the streets of Old Bergen and learn more of the town’s history before making our way to Troldhaugen, the former home of composer Edvard Grieg. Grieg’s music is instantly recognisable, with ‘Hall of the Mountain King’ and ‘Morning Mood’ being widely used throughout modern cinema. We join a lunchtime concert overlooking the peaceful fjord.
The afternoon is spent at leisure discovering the city. Do some shopping in Bryggen or take the Fløibanen Funicular to view Bergen from 320 metres above sea level.
After breakfast, we check out and go to the airport for our flight to Stockholm. On arrival, we set out on a city tour which shows us the stunning sights of Sweden’s capital.
Stockholm is spread across 14 islands, connected by bridges, ferries and an underground metro. It’s home to one of the best- preserved historical centres in Europe but also filled with a dynamic and modern energy. In Stockholm, past, present and future overlap and the city’s time-worn streets are lined with design-savvy shops and cafés.
Our tour takes us to Fjällgaten, a lookout point from where we can see the city’s many islands floating in the Baltic Sea. From there, we island-hop across Stockholm to see sights like the Royal Palace, the Royal Swedish Opera and Stockholm City Hall.
We take a walking tour of Gamla Stan, the heart of the city’s old town. Its razor-thin cobblestone streets are flanked by brightly coloured buildings and filled with a seemingly endless stream of tourists and locals.
This afternoon, we discover the city at our own pace. In the evening, we gather for a three-course dinner.
We breakfast at the hotel and make our way to the Vasa Museum on the island of Djurgården, a must-see sight in Stockholm. From Djurgården, we take a ferry to Gamla Stan and enjoy some leisure time. This evening we enjoy a farewell dinner.
The Vasa Museum houses the only almost fully intact 17th- century ship that has ever been salvaged. The Vasa was a 64- gun warship built on the orders of the King of Sweden in 1626. It was one of the most beautifully decorated and powerfully armed vessels of its time. We walk through the museum, marvelling at the enormous wooden ship and its remarkable backstory.
Later, we take a ferry from Djurgården to Gamla Stan. Use the rest of the day to soak up Stockholm’s atmosphere. The city is a joy to explore in Summer as the parks, waterfront walkways, and street cafes fill with people making the most of the extended daylight hours. This evening we gather for a farewell dinner.
This morning we bid farewell to Scandinavia and fly to Iceland. This small island sits between the North Atlantic and the Arctic Oceans. It’s a place that is defined by dramatic landscapes and a vast wilderness filled with contrasts. Emerald green hills tumble into black basalt beaches lined with navy blue sea. In places, the earth literally steams, bubbles and erupts, thanks to the tectonic activity that lies just beneath the surface. Depending on our arrival time, we pay an optional visit to Sky Lagoon en route to Reykjavik. This geothermal pool juts out over the ocean, with panoramic views stretching to the horizon. Sky Lagoon offers a range of wellness packages focused on the rejuvenating power of heat and cold. Soak in the warm mineral-rich waters of the lagoon, plunge into the glacier pool, sweat in the sauna and be invigorated by a cleansing sea salt scrub – this is the best introduction to Iceland’s geothermal bathing culture.
We continue to Reykjavik, a city that resembles a charming seaside town with its quaint rainbow-coloured buildings, and check into our hotel. This evening, we indulge in a dinner tasting menu at KOL Restaurant, where a fine-dining fusion of Nordic and international cuisine is served, with optional wine or beer. Summertime in Iceland means long hours of daylight, with no real darkness, even after the sun is set. As we make our way back home, we marvel at the ethereal twilight that bathes the city.
Today we set out on Iceland’s famous Golden Circle route that highlights some of the country’s natural wonders. Our first stop is Thingvellir National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site where the Vikings established the world’s first democratic parliament more than 1,000 years ago.
Thingvellir lies in a rift valley that marks the crest of the Mid- Atlantic Ridge and the boundary between the North American and Eurasian tectonic plates. Rolling mountains, grassy plains, flowing rivers and deep gorges create a storybook scene that we explore.
We continue to Haukadalur, where pools of water boil, steam and erupt. The Great Geysir, for which the area became known, has been dormant for years but at its peak, shot boiling water almost 70 metres into the air. Today, its little brother Strokkur, “the butter churn,” erupts every 4-8 minutes and reaches heights of about 30 metres.
After a delightful lunch at Hotel Geysir, we visit Gullfoss, the Golden Falls. Meltwater from Langjökull, Iceland’s second largest glacier, travels along the Hvítá River, crossing the plateaus until it plunges down a wide, stepped staircase into a deep crevice. It’s a majestic sight and one that’s accompanied by the roar of crashing water.
We make our way back to Reykjavik, making an optional visit to the Geothermal Bakery at Fontana Geothermal Baths. The bread is baked in a pot in the hot black sand, and it’s served fresh with Icelandic butter and smoked trout.
Dinner tonight is a gourmet affair at Fish Company Restaurant. Located in the historic Zimsen building, the restaurant serves modern cuisine with an Icelandic twist. Compliment your meal with the optional extra of wine or beer.
We enjoy breakfast at the hotel and embark on an exciting adventure to Thorsmork, the Valley of Thor, a nature reserve about 150 km from Reykjavik. Nestled between three sparkling glaciers, Eyjafjallajökull, Mýrdalsjökull, and Tindfjallajökull, Thorsmork is a majestic landscape of mountain ridges, forests and lava fields.
Getting to Thorsmork is as much part of the adventure as being there. From our starting point, we take 4×4 super jeeps, charging through the many glacial rivers and streams that carve the ink-black valley floor. Our 4×4 trek takes us into the reserve, where we drink up the surreal landscape.
After a relaxing over a BBQ buffet lunch at Thorsmork Volcano Huts, we make our way back to Reykjavik. This evening we deepen our exploration of the city’s culinary scene with a meal at Grill Market Restaurant. A focus on Icelandic cuisine and locally produced food is expressed through shared plates which are presented to the whole table. We enjoy the dinner tasting menu, which can be accompanied by optional wine or beer.
Today you have the option of spending the day at leisure in Reykjavik or taking an optional day trip to Lake Myvatn in North Iceland.
“Reykjavik” means “smoky bay” in Old Norse, a reference to the steam that rises from the hot springs in the region. It’s easy to imagine how unreal the landscape must have looked to early settlers, and the tales from this time, the Icelander’s Sagas, are deeply ingrained into the city’s culture.
Reykjavik proudly embraces its Nordic heritage, which it compliments with a lively cosmopolitan buzz. Spend the day wandering the city centre, where the two main streets, Skólavörðustígur and Laugavegur, are lined with shops, restaurants, cafes and bars. Pay a visit to Hallgrimskirkja, the iconic church at the heart of the city or go to the National Museum of Iceland to learn more about Iceland’s history – there’s much to discover.
Alternatively, rise early and board a flight to Akureyri in North Iceland. The flight is only 45 minutes long but takes you to an entirely different world. The city is at the base of Eyjafjörður Fjord, and it’s the starting point for a shared coach tour to the Lake Myvatn area, a natural masterpiece. We see waterfalls, pseudo-craters, lava formations, and placid lakes that tell the story of many millennia of volcanic activity. The result is breathtakingly beautiful scenery. We end our tour with a dip in the steaming ice-blue waters of the Myvatn Nature Baths. In the evening, we fly back to Reykjavik.
Our last full day in Iceland is spent enjoying the nation’s favourite pastime – soaking in the warm waters of a geothermal spa. The Blue Lagoon is Iceland’s most popular bathing spot, thanks to its milky blue water, a result of its high silica content. Reach your hand to the bottom of the pool, and you’ll find a thick layer of soft, white mud that you can lather over your skin. The geothermal seawater of the Blue Lagoon is drawn from deep within the earth, naturally enriched with a magical combination of silica, algae and minerals. People started bathing in the water in 1981, and it was soon found that it helped a number of skin conditions, including psoriasis. Our visit to the Blue Lagoon includes a silica mud mask, towel and a drink of choice, but there is the option to enjoy a more luxurious package, including two additional masks, a bathrobe and a reservation at the Lagoon’s LAVA Restaurant.
The afternoon is spent at leisure in Reykjavik. This evening we gather at Kopar Restaurant on the waterfront for a farewell dinner. We celebrate a journey that’s shown us wonderful Nordic cities and some of the world’s most epic landscapes. We return to the hotel in the lingering twilight.
This morning after breakfast, we check out of our hotel and travel to the airport. We check in for our flight to Johannesburg and begin our journey home.
We arrive at O.R. Tambo International Airport. Our Nordic tour has struck a beautiful balance between city and nature. We’ve seen some of the world’s most design-forward capitals and navigated the timeless landscapes of fjords, waterfalls and gushing rivers. Explorations of the region’s culture, history and cuisine have lit up our trip and memories of late summer sunsets, stunning cityscapes, and beautiful vistas will stay with us for years to come. Seagull Travel & Tours looks forward to welcoming you on another small group tour.
We meet at O.R. Tambo International for our flight to Copenhagen. Travel to the Nordic countries is filled with small but important pleasures: there’s a minimal time difference with South Africa; most Scandinavian countries prefer cards over cash, making money matters much easier; and they all enjoy wonderfully late summer sunsets so you’ll have extra daylight hours to wander the beautiful city streets. Excellent public transport systems, cities focused on sustainability, and clean drinking water are other perks to keep in mind. The term “summer,” however, must be taken lightly. In Reykjavik, the average summer high is around 14 ̊C, so be sure to pack plenty of layers, a warm waterproof jacket and comfortable walking shoes.
We arrive in Copenhagen, Denmark’s capital. The city sits on the coastal islands of Zealand and Amager, and it’s connected to neighbouring Sweden by the astonishing Öresund Bridge. Today, we explore Copenhagen with a canal cruise and some free time in the city centre.
Copenhagen is a renowned design, fashion and food capital, but it has humble origins as a 10th-century Viking fishing village. Its strategic and sheltered location on the shores of the Öresund Strait established Copenhagen as a trading and transport hub. Since the 15th century, it’s flourished as a cultural and economic hub in Scandinavia. The historic city centre is a patchwork of soaring church spires, copper-roofed townhouses and cobbled squares intersected by glittering canals.
We take an hour-long canal cruise and see the city from a unique perspective, drifting past historical sights and the colourful old harbour of Nyhavn, Copenhagen’s former commercial port. The rest of the afternoon is spent at leisure. Discover the city on foot and shop in its many famous boutiques.
Awake in Copenhagen and enjoy breakfast at the hotel. This morning we see the sights of Copenhagen with a four-hour city tour, and in the evening, we visit the Tivoli Gardens for an enchanting dinner.
In summer, life spills into Copenhagen’s streets and parks as the locals make the most of the warmer weather. The city often tops lists as one of the happiest places on earth, thanks partly to Danish culture but also because it prizes sustainable living. In Copenhagen, more people own bikes than cars, and the canal water is so clean that it’s said you can swim in it.
We soak up the bright and buoyant atmosphere with a city tour that drives us through historic streets, over canals and past the key sights.
In the evening, we visit Tivoli Gardens. Dating back to 1843, Tivoli is a tasteful whirl of amusement rides, stately pavilions and landscaped gardens. In the summer, twinkling fairy lights are switched on at dusk, creating a romantic atmosphere. We dine in one of the park’s restaurants and bask in the Nordic summer’s best feature: a late sunset.
This morning is spent at leisure in Copenhagen. After breakfast at the hotel, head out to wander the city’s elegant streets. This afternoon we board a cruise ship and set sail for Oslo, the capital of Norway.
Copenhagen has much to offer visitors, and getting lost in its streets can be a rewarding experience. Time permitting, you may want to view the exhibits at the National Museum of Denmark, stroll the streets of the hippie commune Freetown Christiania, see the royal jewels at Rosenberg Castle or visit Ny Carlsberg Glyptotek, which houses an outstanding art collection.
At Copenhagen’s port, we board a DFDS Seaways Cruise. Our stylish floating hotel heads north, up the Öresund Strait. Beautiful North Sea views fill the horizon as we indulge in the ship’s many onboard luxuries. Enjoy dinner at one of the excellent restaurants, have a drink at the wine bar or enjoy live music in the ship’s pub. There’s a boutique stocked with Scandinavian goods and a cosy coffee shop. At the end of the night, retire to your comfortable cabin.
We feast on a buffet breakfast onboard the ship before docking in Oslo. A line-up of futuristic high-rises borders the Norwegian capital’s waterfront, hiding a beautiful historic core. We disembark and take a guided city tour. The rest of the day is spent discovering the city at leisure.
In Old Norse, Oslo means “meadow of the gods,” a nod to the city’s idyllic location. Surrounded by rolling mountains and clean, glassy water, Oslo is one of the world’s greenest cities with a low carbon footprint and many welcoming, bucolic parks.
Our tour starts with the sights along Karl Johans Gate, the city’s main street. We see the Royal Palace, the Parliament and the National Theatre. Making our way towards the water, we see the Akershus Fortress and the recently revamped Aker Brygge area.
A visit to Oslo’s City Hall shows us where the Nobel Peace Prize is awarded and gives us a glimpse of the building’s stunning interior. At the Fram Museum, we learn about the great Norwegian polar explorers and their intrepid expeditions. Our tour ends with a visit to Vigeland Park. Spread over 79 acres, the park contains over 200 sculptures by artist Gustav Vigeland. Vigeland’s work focuses on the cycle of human life, and a walk through the park is filled with beauty, contemplation and emotion.
The rest of the day is yours to spend as you wish, and with the sun setting as late as 10:30 pm in the summer, you’ll have plenty of time to uncover the city’s many treasures.
Start your day with breakfast at the hotel, but don’t linger too long because today, you have a free ticket to Oslo’s best sights. Armed with an Oslo Pass, you can deep dive into the city’s art, history and culture without reaching for your wallet. After an eventful day, we’ll gather for dinner at a local restaurant.
The Oslo Pass gives you free admission to 30 museums and sights, including Akershus Castle, the Edvard Munch collection and the National Museum. Getting around is easy – with the Oslo Pass, you get unlimited travel on Ruter’s public transport system in zones 1 and 2. Savvy travellers can use their passes to get discounts at select restaurants or on sightseeing tours. With the Oslo Pass, the city is your playground for the day. We recount the day’s adventures over a 3-course dinner at a restaurant tonight.
As we leave Oslo behind for Voss, a day of travelling lies before us. Weaving through soaring mountains and bottomless fjords, this journey by rail, sea and land is hailed as one of the most beautiful in the world.
An early start sees us walk to Oslo Central Station, where we catch the train to Myrdal. We swap the city for Norway’s incomparable countryside. Rivers cut through deep ravines, waterfalls gush over cliffs and snow-capped mountains top valleys filled with towering trees. Norway’s natural spaces are so jaw-droppingly beautiful that the Norwegians have a special word for enjoying time outdoors: ‘friluftsliv’.
At Myrdal, we change trains and continue to the village of Flåm. A true feat of engineering, this train charges through the snow during winter, cutting through even the densest white-out. Today, it winds along mountains cloaked in green, through tunnels spiralling in and out of solid rock and up impossibly steep inclines.
At Flåm, we board a boat, navigating along one of the wildest and most beautiful arms of the Sognefjord, the Nærøyfjord, to Gudvangen. Sheer mountains tower on either side of the slender channel, which is only 250 metres wide at its narrowest point. Huddles of white clapperboard houses sit on the banks, completing the utterly serene sight.
On arrival in Gudvangen, we travel via private coach to Voss. The village is known as Norway’s extreme sports capital. It’s surrounded by mountain peaks, deep valleys, flowing rivers and thundering waterfalls, making it the ideal setting for everything from skydiving to mountain biking. We experience Voss’s quieter side and check into our hotel for the night.
This morning we board the train in Voss and travel to Bergen. The route follows the tangle of fjords, lakes and rivers that cut through the landscape and gorgeous views of Fjordland flit past the train windows.
Surrounded by seven hills and seven fjords and with quaint wooden houses lining its waterfront, Bergen is irresistibly pretty. We take a panoramic city tour and immerse ourselves in Norwegian culture.
The first stop on our tour is Bryggen, Bergen’s historic harbour district. Trading in Bergen started as early as 1020, and by the 13th century, it was a bustling port town. It was one of the vital trading posts of the Hanseatic League, a medieval commercial and defensive network in Central and Northern Europe, which had its quarters in Bryggen. The wooden houses that line the wharf date from that era. They are protected as a UNESCO World Heritage Site and maintained using traditional building techniques.
We drive through the streets of Old Bergen and learn more of the town’s history before making our way to Troldhaugen, the former home of composer Edvard Grieg. Grieg’s music is instantly recognisable, with ‘Hall of the Mountain King’ and ‘Morning Mood’ being widely used throughout modern cinema. We join a lunchtime concert overlooking the peaceful fjord.
The afternoon is spent at leisure discovering the city. Do some shopping in Bryggen or take the Fløibanen Funicular to view Bergen from 320 metres above sea level.
After breakfast, we check out and go to the airport for our flight to Stockholm. On arrival, we set out on a city tour which shows us the stunning sights of Sweden’s capital.
Stockholm is spread across 14 islands, connected by bridges, ferries and an underground metro. It’s home to one of the best- preserved historical centres in Europe but also filled with a dynamic and modern energy. In Stockholm, past, present and future overlap and the city’s time-worn streets are lined with design-savvy shops and cafés.
Our tour takes us to Fjällgaten, a lookout point from where we can see the city’s many islands floating in the Baltic Sea. From there, we island-hop across Stockholm to see sights like the Royal Palace, the Royal Swedish Opera and Stockholm City Hall.
We take a walking tour of Gamla Stan, the heart of the city’s old town. Its razor-thin cobblestone streets are flanked by brightly coloured buildings and filled with a seemingly endless stream of tourists and locals.
This afternoon, we discover the city at our own pace. In the evening, we gather for a three-course dinner.
We breakfast at the hotel and make our way to the Vasa Museum on the island of Djurgården, a must-see sight in Stockholm. From Djurgården, we take a ferry to Gamla Stan and enjoy some leisure time. This evening we enjoy a farewell dinner.
The Vasa Museum houses the only almost fully intact 17th- century ship that has ever been salvaged. The Vasa was a 64- gun warship built on the orders of the King of Sweden in 1626. It was one of the most beautifully decorated and powerfully armed vessels of its time. We walk through the museum, marvelling at the enormous wooden ship and its remarkable backstory.
Later, we take a ferry from Djurgården to Gamla Stan. Use the rest of the day to soak up Stockholm’s atmosphere. The city is a joy to explore in Summer as the parks, waterfront walkways, and street cafes fill with people making the most of the extended daylight hours. This evening we gather for a farewell dinner.
This morning we bid farewell to Scandinavia and fly to Iceland. This small island sits between the North Atlantic and the Arctic Oceans. It’s a place that is defined by dramatic landscapes and a vast wilderness filled with contrasts. Emerald green hills tumble into black basalt beaches lined with navy blue sea. In places, the earth literally steams, bubbles and erupts, thanks to the tectonic activity that lies just beneath the surface. Depending on our arrival time, we pay an optional visit to Sky Lagoon en route to Reykjavik. This geothermal pool juts out over the ocean, with panoramic views stretching to the horizon. Sky Lagoon offers a range of wellness packages focused on the rejuvenating power of heat and cold. Soak in the warm mineral-rich waters of the lagoon, plunge into the glacier pool, sweat in the sauna and be invigorated by a cleansing sea salt scrub – this is the best introduction to Iceland’s geothermal bathing culture.
We continue to Reykjavik, a city that resembles a charming seaside town with its quaint rainbow-coloured buildings, and check into our hotel. This evening, we indulge in a dinner tasting menu at KOL Restaurant, where a fine-dining fusion of Nordic and international cuisine is served, with optional wine or beer. Summertime in Iceland means long hours of daylight, with no real darkness, even after the sun is set. As we make our way back home, we marvel at the ethereal twilight that bathes the city.
Today we set out on Iceland’s famous Golden Circle route that highlights some of the country’s natural wonders. Our first stop is Thingvellir National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site where the Vikings established the world’s first democratic parliament more than 1,000 years ago.
Thingvellir lies in a rift valley that marks the crest of the Mid- Atlantic Ridge and the boundary between the North American and Eurasian tectonic plates. Rolling mountains, grassy plains, flowing rivers and deep gorges create a storybook scene that we explore.
We continue to Haukadalur, where pools of water boil, steam and erupt. The Great Geysir, for which the area became known, has been dormant for years but at its peak, shot boiling water almost 70 metres into the air. Today, its little brother Strokkur, “the butter churn,” erupts every 4-8 minutes and reaches heights of about 30 metres.
After a delightful lunch at Hotel Geysir, we visit Gullfoss, the Golden Falls. Meltwater from Langjökull, Iceland’s second largest glacier, travels along the Hvítá River, crossing the plateaus until it plunges down a wide, stepped staircase into a deep crevice. It’s a majestic sight and one that’s accompanied by the roar of crashing water.
We make our way back to Reykjavik, making an optional visit to the Geothermal Bakery at Fontana Geothermal Baths. The bread is baked in a pot in the hot black sand, and it’s served fresh with Icelandic butter and smoked trout.
Dinner tonight is a gourmet affair at Fish Company Restaurant. Located in the historic Zimsen building, the restaurant serves modern cuisine with an Icelandic twist. Compliment your meal with the optional extra of wine or beer.
We enjoy breakfast at the hotel and embark on an exciting adventure to Thorsmork, the Valley of Thor, a nature reserve about 150 km from Reykjavik. Nestled between three sparkling glaciers, Eyjafjallajökull, Mýrdalsjökull, and Tindfjallajökull, Thorsmork is a majestic landscape of mountain ridges, forests and lava fields.
Getting to Thorsmork is as much part of the adventure as being there. From our starting point, we take 4×4 super jeeps, charging through the many glacial rivers and streams that carve the ink-black valley floor. Our 4×4 trek takes us into the reserve, where we drink up the surreal landscape.
After a relaxing over a BBQ buffet lunch at Thorsmork Volcano Huts, we make our way back to Reykjavik. This evening we deepen our exploration of the city’s culinary scene with a meal at Grill Market Restaurant. A focus on Icelandic cuisine and locally produced food is expressed through shared plates which are presented to the whole table. We enjoy the dinner tasting menu, which can be accompanied by optional wine or beer.
Today you have the option of spending the day at leisure in Reykjavik or taking an optional day trip to Lake Myvatn in North Iceland.
“Reykjavik” means “smoky bay” in Old Norse, a reference to the steam that rises from the hot springs in the region. It’s easy to imagine how unreal the landscape must have looked to early settlers, and the tales from this time, the Icelander’s Sagas, are deeply ingrained into the city’s culture.
Reykjavik proudly embraces its Nordic heritage, which it compliments with a lively cosmopolitan buzz. Spend the day wandering the city centre, where the two main streets, Skólavörðustígur and Laugavegur, are lined with shops, restaurants, cafes and bars. Pay a visit to Hallgrimskirkja, the iconic church at the heart of the city or go to the National Museum of Iceland to learn more about Iceland’s history – there’s much to discover.
Alternatively, rise early and board a flight to Akureyri in North Iceland. The flight is only 45 minutes long but takes you to an entirely different world. The city is at the base of Eyjafjörður Fjord, and it’s the starting point for a shared coach tour to the Lake Myvatn area, a natural masterpiece. We see waterfalls, pseudo-craters, lava formations, and placid lakes that tell the story of many millennia of volcanic activity. The result is breathtakingly beautiful scenery. We end our tour with a dip in the steaming ice-blue waters of the Myvatn Nature Baths. In the evening, we fly back to Reykjavik.
Our last full day in Iceland is spent enjoying the nation’s favourite pastime – soaking in the warm waters of a geothermal spa. The Blue Lagoon is Iceland’s most popular bathing spot, thanks to its milky blue water, a result of its high silica content. Reach your hand to the bottom of the pool, and you’ll find a thick layer of soft, white mud that you can lather over your skin. The geothermal seawater of the Blue Lagoon is drawn from deep within the earth, naturally enriched with a magical combination of silica, algae and minerals. People started bathing in the water in 1981, and it was soon found that it helped a number of skin conditions, including psoriasis. Our visit to the Blue Lagoon includes a silica mud mask, towel and a drink of choice, but there is the option to enjoy a more luxurious package, including two additional masks, a bathrobe and a reservation at the Lagoon’s LAVA Restaurant.
The afternoon is spent at leisure in Reykjavik. This evening we gather at Kopar Restaurant on the waterfront for a farewell dinner. We celebrate a journey that’s shown us wonderful Nordic cities and some of the world’s most epic landscapes. We return to the hotel in the lingering twilight.
This morning after breakfast, we check out of our hotel and travel to the airport. We check in for our flight to Johannesburg and begin our journey home.
We arrive at O.R. Tambo International Airport. Our Nordic tour has struck a beautiful balance between city and nature. We’ve seen some of the world’s most design-forward capitals and navigated the timeless landscapes of fjords, waterfalls and gushing rivers. Explorations of the region’s culture, history and cuisine have lit up our trip and memories of late summer sunsets, stunning cityscapes, and beautiful vistas will stay with us for years to come. Seagull Travel & Tours looks forward to welcoming you on another small group tour.
There are few places on earth where you can move effortlessly from a thriving city to jaw-dropping nature in a matter of minutes. This is the unique appeal of the Nordic countries. Charming and refined yet wild and rugged, they offer cosmopolitan cool and epic natural landscapes in a single breath.
Join Seagull Travel and Tours for a journey that beautifully balances explorations of the Nordic capitals with adventures into the region’s untamed wilderness. Our trip starts in Copenhagen, where we crisscross the city’s many canals to see its iconic sights and enjoy a magical dinner in Tivoli Gardens in the lingering twilight. A luxurious overnight ferry takes us north, up the Öresund Strait, to Oslo. Tucked away at the tip of the Oslofjord, Norway’s capital is Europe’s fastest-growing city, and we explore its fascinating mix of old and new architecture.
Next, we set out on one of the most beautiful journeys in the world: we travel from Oslo to Bergen. We take a train that twists and turns through towering mountains and voyage along the serene waters of Norway’s Fjordland by boat. From Bergen, with its chocolate-box clapperboard houses, we fly to Stockholm. The Swedish capital effortlessly blends past and present, with historic palaces co-existing with trendy boutiques and cutting-edge restaurants.
Reykjavik, the stylish capital of Iceland, is our final destination and the starting point for expeditions to some of nature’s greatest wonders. We cross surging glacial rivers, watch geysers erupt and bathe in the blistering warmth of geothermal pools.
Our expertly planned small group tour uncovers the unique character of the Nordic capitals and dives into the area’s natural beauty. With each step of the journey carefully considered by our team of travel experts, you’re free to immerse yourself in the experience. Luxury accommodations, knowledgeable English- speaking guides and pre-arranged transfers make this a tour you don’t want to miss.
We care about our guests
Seagull Travel & Tours crafts small group tours that offer luxury, convenience, and spontaneous moments of joy.
Seagull travels around the world
Seagull curates and facilitates exceptional travel experiences to premium destinations worldwide.
We are here to help
The tour leader collects a set amount from each member of a tour. This kitty is then used to tip the local tour guide and city guides, bus drivers, any other assistants, and restaurant staff. We believe in tipping for good service as a token of appreciation, especially as many workers in tourism rely on tips to supplement their income.
Although we cannot apply on your behalf, we are more than willing to give guidance and assistance with completing forms. We do this for many clients on a near-daily basis. It does, however, remain the responsibility of the client to ensure that they get the correct visa on time.
Remember that we limit the number of guests on our tours. This means more time at stops and sites. We definitely do not do groups of 30 pax, where guests are rushed from one site to the other. There is enough time to explore on your own.
We always suggest USD/Euro 50 to USD/Euro 100 per person per day. As we mostly include two meals per day on our tours, this will be enough for lunch/dinner, some snacks, and memento shopping. Should you want to buy larger items, we suggest taking along your credit card. Remember to advise the bank that you will be travelling.
