NordicTour 21DEC-2JAN(2+2)

About the destination: Oslo is vibrant and modern with eclectic architecture, edgy nightlife and world-class museums. Located between the Oslofjord and the forests, nature takes centre stage in the capital, where you can sail, ski and hike to your heart’s content just a short distance from the city centre. This is definitely a place for outdoor and wildlife lovers. As you float past luscious green islands and towering rocky outcrops, the city unfolds before your eyes - sprawling out from its compact centre around the quays to the forested flanks of the surrounding hills. Made all the more beautiful by its diversity, Oslo boasts a jumble of modern and ancient buildings that give the city an eclectic feel, with the steel-and-glass Munch Museum giving way to the old-fashioned charms of the City Museum and the craggy medieval walls of the Akershus Fortress, which glowers out over the fjord. Most visitors will find themselves struggling to choose between Oslo’s numerous museums, which offer something for almost every taste: a face-to-face with the haunting image of Edvard Munch’s The Scream at the National Gallery, a chance to stand in the shoes of an Olympic ski-jumper at the Holmenkollen Ski Museum, or a window into history and culture at the unforgettable Viking Ship, Polarship Fram or Folk Museums on Bygdøy. And Oslo is certainly the cosmopolitan heart of Norway, with a rapidly growing café and bar culture, top-notch restaurants, and nightlife options ranging from world-class opera and jazz to indie rock. The capital’s thriving restaurant scene has seen it rewarded with four Michelin stars. The Grünerløkka district is close to the Munch Museum and is teeming with bustling little pavement cafés and chic bars. A thriving, truly vibrant city, the cosmopolitan heart of Norway really does have something for everyone.

About the destination: Tromso is the administrative, commercial, and educational centre of northern Norway. It is the seventh largest city in Norway by population, and is home of the world's northernmost university, brewery and botanical garden. The town is located about 350 km north of the Arctic Circle so it has both midnight sun and polar night. Tromsø is reputed to be one of the best places in Europe from which to see the Northern Lights or Aurora Borealis. The beautiful cathedral, one of the largest wooden churches in Norway, is located in the centre of town in a small square with some interesting statues and sculptures. Wander down Storgatan to the marketplace, where mellow music plays, and the air redolent with coffee, fresh bread, and strawberries. The Tromso museum features ethnographic exhibits on the independent cultures of Lapland. The Polar Museum, next door, has exhibits on the story of the Arctic region with an emphasis on the lives of early hunters, trappers and explorers. Tromsdalen Kirke, popularly known as the “Arctic Cathedral”, is not in fact a cathedral at all, but the parish church of the Tromsøysund part of Tromso. It was built in 1965, mainly of concrete, and is designed to look like slabs of ice. The church is one of the most famous landmark in Tromsø. Tromso is a compact, friendly, and lively town with a picturesque setting on an island. The city has more than its share of restaurants, pubs, clubs and theatres to entertain locals and foreigners. Tromso is definitely the cultural capital of northern Norway.

About the destination: Lying just south of the Arctic Circle, Rovaniemi is the Finnish capital of Lapland. It is located at the confluence of Lapland's mighty rivers Kemijoki and Ounasjoki. Beautiful colours all year round, relatively warm summers, real snowy winters, Santa Claus, many sport resorts, great hotels and services, for all this and more Rovaniemi is an obligatory northern stop. Moreover, it is a good place to explore the Lapland region and to observe the Aurora Borealis or Northern Lights. The Lumberjack Candle Bridge, Jätkänkynttilä, has become a symbol of Rovaniemi. The bridge has a high pylon with bright yellow light on top and a massive bronze lumberjack statue. The Arktikum museum is a one-stop cultural centre for all things Arctic, it is dedicated to exhibits relating to Lapland's geology, climate, plants, animal life and cultures. Aside from the exhibits, the Arktikum's highlight is definitely its long glass corridor with its views on the river behind the building. Outside Arktikum there's a garden of arctic plants. Rovaniemi is, of course, Santa Claus hometown. At Santa Claus Village you can meet Santa Claus, send friends and relatives greetings from the Arctic Circle at the Santa Claus Post Office and visit the Christmas Exhibition, which explains some of the Christmas traditions from around the world. Rovaniemi is the best place to make a Christmas wishlist and to experience awe-inspiring wilderness, traditional Sámi culture, and enjoy a range of different activities surrounded by a wonderful natural landscape.

About the destination: Helsinki is situated on a little peninsula on the southern tip of Finland. Approach Helsinki from the sea and you’ll see neoclassical buildings of elegant lines and pastel colours, and a marketplace overflowing with strawberries and salmon. The city has grown with attention to harmony. In summer many residents abandon urban tranquillity for their country cottages, but in winter the capital comes alive with theatre, political institutes and over 20,000 university students. Architecture buffs will love Helsinki. The handsome neoclassical buildings surrounding Senate Square were designed almost singlehandedly by German architect Carl Ludwig Engel in the early 19th century, just after Helsinki replaced Turku as Finland’s capital. The crowning piece is the Lutheran Cathedral, which has recently been refurbished and looks better than ever, with the 12 apostles on the roof once again looking down at the world below. Elsewhere in the city, the bold, simple creations of the city’s great 20th century architects, notably Aalto and Saarinen, blend with the clean neoclassical lines. The stunning Jean Sibelius Monument, dedicated to Finland’s most famous composer, consists of hundreds of steel pipes sculpted by Elia Hiltunen. The monument is in Sibelius Park. The Kansallimuseo, National Museum, has wonderful displays of Finnish culture. The exhibits of the City Museum illustrates the history of the city. The islands surrounding Helsinki make excellent daytrips. The sandy beaches and smooth rocks of Pihlajasaari make it a popular summer spot for tanning Finns. Every summer there are many free outdoor concerts in one of the city’s numerous parks. Afternoons, all kinds of music resound on the leafy Esplanadi. Helsinki is a small city if you compare it to those gigantic cities around the world but the spirit is still quite cosmopolitan. Helsinki is a beautiful city, especially in the summer. The streets are clean and you can always find a peaceful spot, in case you need one. Some say that Helsinki is "the biggest village in the world" and it is a great place for tourism, history, museums, galleries, theatre, music, shopping, restaurants, clubs, etc. all environmentally friendly, free of pollution and traffic congestion.