By: Ana Pitiranggon, Employee Development Team Specialist
Scandinavia has been on my bucket list ever since I became an avid fan of the TV series, “Vikings”. With its breathtaking views in between and beyond the deep of fjords, and seeing such extreme natural beauty and learning about the heritage of the Vikings, this Scenic Scandinavia And Its Fjords with Trafalgar was truly a dream come true; my husband and I were lucky to experience it.
The tour starts off from Copenhagen. My husband and I decided to arrive a day early to rest up. We spent 2 nights in the enchanting Danish capital, home to Hans Christian Andersen’s Little Mermaid.
To begin the tour, we were joined by a local specialist for a sightseeing walking tour of the iconic sights and attractions of Copenhagen. We ended the evening with a lovely canal cruise to view Copenhagen’s stunning city views.
The next day on our Scenic Scandinavia And Its Fjords with Trafalgar, we stopped by Odense, the city where Hans Christian Anderson was born. During our ride, we would frequently stop for a quick break. At one of the stops, we had the most delicious Scandinavian waffle topped with cream cheese and jam. It was so “yummylicious” as how Catherine, our tour director, had described it.
Continuing on, we arrived in the city of Bergen where we stayed for two nights.
On our first day in town, we enjoyed a nice walking tour to explore the rich heritage of the city. Bryggen and Fish Market are among the main attractions here in Bergen.
My husband and I opted for optional excursions on both days, allowing us to visit the home of the famous composer, Grieg, and venture out to explore the lost village of Televag, which was destroyed during the war.
After departing Bergen, we experienced one of the world’s most exciting train journeys that took us through the Flam Valley past the Kjosfossen and legendary forest spirit who dances in front of the waterfall to lure men into the mountains.
Later, we arrived in Songnefjord, the King of the Fjords, and enjoyed a relaxing cruise along the UNESCO-listed Naeroy Fjord.
The next day on our Scenic Scandinavia And Its Fjords with Trafalgar, we visited a traditional working farm to get a glimpse of the typical Scandinavian family and learn about their culture.
Departing Leikanger, we followed the spectacular Songnefjord to Geirangerfjord. We enjoyed a full day in Geiranger and marveled at its nature and landscape, from cascading waterfalls to its beautiful mountains. On another optional excursion, we drove through the famous Dalsnibba Pass and witnessed great views of the fjord and landscape, and then sailed down UNESCO-listed and Norway’s most famous fjord, the Geiranger.
Leaving Geiranger, we were pleasured with a beautiful, scenic drive to the Jotunheimen Mountains, home to a 12th century Stave church.
We continued on through the Gudbrandsdalen Valley, taking in its gorgeous sights, only to arrive in Lillehammer, the host of the 1994 Winter Olympics. Opting for additional excursions, my husband and I visited the Maihaugen museum to learn more about famous folklore tales of the town, and then took an unforgettable ride on a chairlift to the top of a ski-slope for an unbelievable view of the city, Jotunheimen Mountains, and the Gudbrandsdalen Valley.
Alas, our trip brought us to Oslo, the culture capital of Norway, and the home of Viking heritage! We were met by a wonderful local guide who spoiled us with all of the city’s most iconic sights, including the medieval fortress of Akershus, the Opera and 19th century Royal Palace. Without a discussion, my husband and I immediately elected for the optional excursion to Fram Polar Ship Museum and Viking Ship Museum to witness some of the most well preserved Viking ships from around the world. Finally, our Viking dreams have come true! Oslo gifted us with its ancient history and beautiful culture, and our favorite TV show, “Vikings,” has finally become a reality.
With a heavy, but full heart, we crossed the Swedish border into the town of Stockholm, our last destination of the tour. Our day started with a sightseeing tour with a local guide who taught us the rich history of the city. To get the full experience, we decided to participate in all of the available optional excursions. We took a stroll through Stockholm’s old town, Gamla Stan, where little has changed since the 16th and 17th centuries.
Dinner was at a popular local restaurant. The next day, we ventured up to the viewing platform of the Kaknas Tower, Sweden’s tallest building, for a panoramic view of the city. We then capped off our trip with a lovely trip on an antique steamboat through the archipelago, past country cottages and homes, to the royal warship, “Vasa,” a 17th century ship that sank just after sailing.
Now that Scenic Scandinavia And Its Fjords with Trafalgar has come to an end, my husband and I were lost in thought as to just how lucky we are to have been able to experience the trip of a lifetime. Everything was planned and executed perfectly and professionally by Trafalgar and the local guides. We loved every single local guide who gave us a part of their homes. Trafalgar has done an outstanding job at choosing its personnel to represent the company and provide top-notch service to their clients, us. And to all my fellow travel-mates, we will miss all of you. What started out as a group of strangers soon became a group of friends with the same goal in mind: to explore this beautiful planet we all call “home.”
If you have a passion for traveling, or for Scandinavian culture, Scenic Scandinavia And Its Fjords with Trafalgar is for you. Beware, it is a lot of traveling within the tour, but all of the transfers were made very simple and everything was on schedule. Traveling with a professional company such as Trafalgar makes everything stress and hassle-free. I guarantee you, this trip will change your life and you will be exposed to parts of the world only seeing would make you believe were real. Thank you Trafalgar.
Ana Pitiranggon
Employee Development Team Specialist
E-mail: ana@affordabletours.com
Toll Free: 1-800-935-2620 Ext: 116
Direct: 281-269-2616