EUROPEAN GEMS RIVER CRUISE & LOFOTEN ISLANDS 27 days / 26 nights 5 May 2017 Day 1. Arrive Budapest, Embark Ship Upon arrival into Budapest, be met and transferred to your premium river ship. After settling in, meet your Cruise Director and fellow passengers at a Captain’s Welcome Reception before a twilight cruise through the heart of Budapest. (D) Stay: 14 Nights: aboard your premium Travelmarvel river ship Day 2. Budapest See Budapest through the expert eyes of your local guide today as you explore the city. This evening, enjoy a Gala Dinner on board. (B,L,D) Day 3. Vienna Drive around Vienna’s Ringstrasse before joining a guided walking tour. Like a Local – pay a visit to Vienna’s famous Naschmarkt and sample some local delicacies. (B,L,D) Day 4. Vienna Enjoy the day at leisure to explore Vienna. (B,L,D) Day 5. Dürnstein, Melk Cruise to the quaint town of Dürnstein to explore before heading to Melk. Here, join a local guide for a tour through Melk Abbey. (B,L,D) Day 6. Linz, Passau Dock in the lovely town of Linz, then cruise on to Passau for a guided walk. A Taste of Bavaria – enjoy a traditional Bavarian experience on board. Sample local beer and snacks, accompanied by traditional folk music, song and dance. (B,L,D) 1
Day 7. Regensburg Cruise along the Danube to the enchanting medieval town of Regensburg. Enjoy a guided tour, followed by some leisure time. (B,L,D) Day 8. Nuremberg Glide over the Main‐Danube Canal to Nuremberg, the site of Hitler’s infamous rallies. Learn about the city during a World War II tour. (B,L,D) Day 9. Bamberg World Heritage‐listed Bamberg beckons this morning. Disembark for a locally guided tour through the beautiful city centre. (B,L,D) Day 10. Würzburg Verdant hills and rich vineyards sit on the fringe of Würzburg, where you’ll have some time to take in the beautiful architecture. (B,L,D) Day 11. Wertheim Arrive at the evocative town of Wertheim, on the confluence of the Tauber and Main rivers. Like a Local – discover German hospitality as you are welcomed into the homes of Wertheim locals for coffee and cake. (B,L,D) Day 12. Rüdesheim, Rhine Gorge Dock in Rüdesheim this morning where the Winzerexpress mini‐train will take you through town to Siegfried’s Mechanical Musical Instrument Museum. Back on board, cruise through the awe‐inspiring Rhine Gorge. (B,L,D) Day 13. Cologne, Augustusburg Castle Like a Local – pay a visit to World Heritage‐listed Augustusburg Castle and Falkenlust hunting lodge. Later this afternoon, return to Cologne and enjoy some time to drift through this enchanting city at leisure. (B,L,D) Day 14. Amsterdam On arrival in Amsterdam, board a glass‐top boat and glide past the city’s waterside facades. This evening, enjoy a Captain’s Farewell Dinner. (B,L,D) 2
Day 15. Disembark Ship, Amsterdam After breakfast disembark your River Ship and be transferred to your centrally located hotel. Clustered by historic houses and studded with low bridges, Amsterdam’s network of 17th‐century canals lends the city its nickname, ‘Venice of the North’. Perhaps take a walk along the canals as you enjoy a day at leisure. (B) Stay: Amsterdam, Movenpick Hotel Day 16. Amsterdam, Oslo Today take an included flight to Oslo, be met at the airport and transferred to your hotel. Take time to settle in or perhaps step out to familiarise yourself with the city. (B,L) Stay: Two Nights: Oslo, Thon Hotel Opera Day 17. Oslo Discover the main sights of Oslo during a guided walking tour. Head to the roof of the new Opera House – an impressive example of modern architecture built of marble, granite and glass – to admire the view over the city. Pay a visit to the 13th‐century Akershus Castle and from here, take a short walk to Kvadraturen – a charming street in the heart of the city lined with a number of buildings from the 17th and 18th centuries. With some free time at hand this afternoon, perhaps further explore the city at your own pace. (B) Day 18. Oslo, Dovre Railway, Trondheim Leave Oslo and journey north by rail along the Dovre Railway. This wonderfully picturesque daytime journey takes you through the majestic landscapes of the Gudbrandsdal valley. Follow a course through alpine farmland dotted with traditional log homes, along the shores of Lake Mjosa – Norway’s largest lake – and past the gorgeous town of Lillehammer. Continue traversing the contrasting landscapes of the Dovrefjell mountains, including the river Rauma as it winds around the hillsides below jagged peaks. The journey concludes at Trondheim, one of Norway’s oldest cities, where you’ve some time to examine your surrounds before dinner. (B,D) Stay: Two Nights: Trondheim, Radisson Blu Royal Garden Hotel Day 19. Trondheim The historic beauty of Trondheim is revealed on a morning walking tour. Among a wealth of attractions, see the Stiftsgården (royal residence), once the official seat of the Norwegian kings. Wander past Nidaros Cathedral and admire the pretty wooden houses in the Bakklandet district. After the tour you are free to explore Trondheim at your own pace. Perhaps you’d like to head back to Nidaros Cathedral and inspect the interior, primarily used for the consecration of the King of Norway. Or, you could visit the Ringve Museum. (B) 3
Day 20. Trondheim, Nordland Railway, Bodø Embark on a spectacular rail journey north along the Nordland Railway. The 729‐kilometre route takes you past distant mountains and lakes, deep forests and rocky coastline, with views across to small islands and out over the open sea. Cross the Arctic Circle shortly before reaching the town of Lonsdal, which marks the highest point of the railway at 512 metres above sea level. The train reaches Fauske before turning due west for the final short section of the journey to Bodø, widely regarded as ‘the city with the world’s most beautiful coastline’. (B,D) Stay: Bodø, Clarion Collection Hotel Grand Bodø or Thon Hotel Nordlys Day 21. Bodø, Lofoten Islands, Svolvær After a leisurely morning in Bodø, this afternoon you’ll board the Hurtigruten ship and travel from Bodø to Svolvær, the tiny capital of the Lofoten Islands. Described as Europe’s most dramatic and spectacular islands, the Lofoten Islands are tethered to mainland Norway by a series of bridges and tunnels. Here exist countless small fishing communities, their picturesque houses built on timber piles with seawater under the floorboards and imposing cliffs towering above. (B) Stay: Two Nights: Svolvær, Thon Hotel Lofoten Day 22. Svolvær, Lofoten Islands, Trollfjord Board the Hurtigruten ship and discover the beauty of the Lofoten Islands, weaving your way amidst the stunning isles. This region of Norway is home to an abundance of sea life and bird species, with clouds of puffins filling the air, seals at play amidst the waves and whales breaching out at sea. Here, keep an eye out for the majestic sea eagle as they swoop and dive for their prey. Following a light lunch of local fish soup, sail into Trollfjord. With steep, narrow sides, this stunning fjord is two kilometres in length and only 100 metres wide at its mouth. Return to your hotel in Svolvær. (B,L) Day 23. Svolvær, Bøstad, Embark Ship Today’s excursion takes you to Bøstad via a lovely scenic drive along the winding coastal roads and bridges that link the Lofoten Islands. Enjoy some time to browse the Lofotr Viking Museum, which depicts island life over a period of one thousand years with its variety of recreated buildings. Later, visit an organic cheese maker for a tasting of the produce. On your return journey to Svolvaer, stop at Unstad Beach. Enjoy dinner at your hotel before joining the Hurtigruten ship for the next stage of your adventure from the Arctic Ocean to the Barents Sea, through the ‘Land of the Midnight Sun’. (B,D) Stay: Three Nights: a Hurtigruten Ship
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Day 24. Tromsø Dock in Tromsø, Norway’s largest city, which stands on its own forest‐covered island. You can explore on your own or take one of the ship’s optional excursions, such as whale watching or kayaking. Tonight, weather permitting, you may be able to see the Midnight Sun. Every ‘night’ when skies are clear, the sun stays above the horizon for 24 hours, casting intense extended daylight that is a real delight to see. (B,L,D) Day 25. Honningsvåg, North Cape Arrive in Honningsvåg, Europe’s northernmost town considered the gateway to the North Cape. You are free to discover the town, with its brightly coloured houses and picturesque bay, or perhaps head to the cape and visit its brilliant visitor centre on an optional excursion. (B,L,D) Day 26. Kirkenes, Disembark Ship, Pasvik Valley Reach Kirkenes this morning where you’ll disembark the ship for the final time. During the day, enjoy an excursion to Pasvik Valley National Park. Admire magnificent Langfjord before arriving at Bioforsk Botanical Gardens. Here, many perennial plants from as far away as China and Alaska are set out in colourful displays. There are also exhibitions on the local wildlife, including brown bears and elk. Later you’ll enjoy an atmospheric lunch in a Viking longhouse, before touring a husky kennel. Back in Kirkenes tonight, enjoy a Farewell Dinner at your hotel. (B,L,D) Stay: Kirkenes, Thon Hotel Day 27. Depart Kirkenes After breakfast this morning, transfer to the airport for your onward flight. (B) Meals: B – Breakfast, L – Lunch, D – Dinner Tour code: EUTCRNLR27
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