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The Best Guided Viking Tours in the Scandinavian Region

Anna Gorin/Getty Images

If you're a fan of history and want to visit the Scandinavian countries of Sweden, Norway, or Iceland, you can learn about the first seafarers of this northern European region and  experience Viking history on a guided Viking Tour.

During the late 8th through 11th centuries, these seafaring conquerors raided and traded with countries across Europe and into the Mediterranean Sea, North Africa, Central Asia, and the Middle East. Bolstered by advanced navigational and sailing skills aboard long ships, the Vikings were able to travel the globe well before Christopher Columbus "discovered" America; in fact, Vikings were the first non-native people to step foot on the United States' east coast.

If you are planning a trip to Scandinavia and want to get a taste of what life was like for these sailing adventurers during the height of the Viking Age, there's no better way to do it than take a guided tour to some of the area's most historically significant sites.

Stockholm, Sweden: The Viking History Day Tour

This full-day guided tour is an interesting, authentic Viking tour and very popular with visitors. If you want to learn about the Vikings, their Scandinavian home, and their way of life, this guided tour will introduce you to the basics of Viking culture, both past and present.

The tour takes you to Stockholm's best spots for Viking history, like the ruins of the 400 A.D. Viking settlement at Granby, the old Viking Parliament, Vira Bruk, and Sigtuna, which is home to two large ruins and a huge grave field dating back to the Germanic Era.

This fully guided eight-hour tour departs daily year-round with free pickup from your hotel in  Stockholm , making it an easy addition to your vacation itinerary.

Oslo, Norway: The Oslo Experience Cruise & Tour

If you're in Norway and have an afternoon to spare, learn about the Vikings' historical spots in Oslo , the capital of Norway, on the Oslo Experience Cruise Tour.

This five-hour guided tour focuses on the Vikings' influence on the city and is part bus tour, part boat tour. Among other stops, it leads you to exhibited Viking ships in Oslo and the Kon-Tiki Raft. Also, on the program is the memorable Norwegian Folk Museum and Vigeland Park...the world's largest sculpture park made by a single artist.

This guided tour is seasonal and departs from Oslo City Hall at 1 p.m. daily between late May and late August.

Reykjavik, Iceland: The Viking Horse & Gullfoss

The Icelandic horse is a breed the Vikings brought to Iceland, and these unique animals haven't changed much over the centuries since being introduced to the region. This year-round guided tour is great fun for big and small Vikings among us and a perfect day-tour for families visiting Iceland.

First, the tour takes guests riding on these Viking horses, and after a nice lunch break, the nine-hour tour heads to the Gullfoss waterfall, the National Park of Iceland, the unique Geysir hot springs, the village of Hveragerdi, and Pingvellir, the oldest functioning parliament in the world.

It departs daily from Reykjavik  at 10 a.m. with free hotel pickup.

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9 of the best Viking tours in Scandinavia

The Vikings came from Norway, Denmark and Sweden more than thousand years ago and left a rich cultural heritage across Scandinavia.

The era of the Vikings lasted from around 800–1050, during which time these sea-faring people travelled widely throughout northern Europe, trading, fighting, plundering and colonising as far afield as France, Ireland, Iceland and even Greenland . 

But it is in their home nations that the historical legacy is so strong, with Norway, Sweden and Denmark having loads of Viking remains that you can still see today.

What kinds of things can you see?

Throughout Scandinavia, you can visit museums displaying beautifully preserved Viking long boats, explore ancient Viking settlements and burial grounds, and marvel at Viking standing stones, runes and archeological finds.

The largest Viking longhouse ever discovered is at Borg on Vestvågøy in Norway’s Lofoten islands; the world’s best-known rune stones are at Jelling in Denmark; and the world’s largest haul of Viking silver has been recently excavated at Täby in Sweden.

And honestly, these treasures are just the tip of the iceberg!

Visiting Viking sites for yourself

Some of Scandinavia’s Viking sites are easy to access, while others are more remote and harder to get to.

You can visit museum sites that are highly organised with plenty of information and guides dressed in Viking gear – and maybe even Viking reenactments! 

These places really let you learn all the history and really get to grips with the Viking culture and lifestyle.  

Other sites are quiet, remote places where you can wander around on your own and drink in the atmosphere of a wild Viking camp.

Either way, taking a tour of Viking sites with an expert guide can really enhance your knowledge and experience of Viking culture.

For more on the Viking way of life and culture, see our guides on the Viking diet and Viking games .

Guided tours you can join

So, if you fancy seeing some of Scandinavian’s famous sites on a guided tour, there are plenty of different options available.

You can go on museum tours, archeological site visits , reenactment experiences, Viking feasts, boat tours, short day trips and multi-day tours with a guide, coach and accommodation included.

And the tours cover a wide geographical range from Norway, Sweden, Denmark, and even Iceland.

So, whether you’re up for a fun interactive Viking feast experience or want to learn all about the culture, history lifestyle of the Vikings from an expert guide, there’s a tour for you.

Short tours and day trips

Here are some of some of our favourite Viking tours in Scandinavia. These are all relatively short tours that last anywhere from a couple of hours to a full day (we’ve listed multi-day tours below ).

Visit Viking sites from Stockholm

We love this tour from Stockholm that packs in a whole raft of impressive Viking sites in just one day.

Amongst other sites, you’ll visit a burial mound of Viking kings at Gamma Uppsala, the ruins of a church dedicated to Viking warrior Saint Olaf in Sigtuna, one of Sweden’s oldest towns, and explore Viking rune stones at Arkils Tingstad.

It’s led by an experienced guide with expert Viking knowledge and we think it’s a great introduction to Viking sites and culture.

Snowshoe in the fjords with a Viking dinner

Combine fantastic views of Norway’s fjords with a snowshoe hike, followed by a fun Viking dinner in front of the fire in a cosy Viking-style pub.  

We think this a unique opportunity to combine snowshoeing in the fjords with sampling a Viking-style feast of smoked reindeer and fish soup, accompanied by different Ægir beers.

Explore the Viking ship Museum in Roskilde

Combine history and culture on this day-trip from Copenhagen , which takes in the Roskilde Viking Ship Museum. Here you can admire renovated 11th-century Viking ships and learn all about Viking boat-building and sea-faring traditions.

Not only that, but the tour includes a visit to Roskilde Cathedral, burial site of 39 Danish kings and queens, plus Kronborg castle, the original Elsinore in Shakespeare’s Hamlet .

Visit the Viking islands from Alesund

This guided tour from Alesund in Norway’s fjordland takes in three islands which were settled by Vikings and explains all about the Viking heritage and history here.

You’ll visit three islands, including Giske, birthplace of the Viking Rollon (a descendent of the British royal family) and Godoy, home of a legendary Viking lighthouse.

Take a boat trip to the Birka Viking Village

Visit the Unesco-listed Birka Viking village on an island in Sweden’s Lake Mälaren. This huge archaeological site was once a thriving Viking settlement that dated from the 8th century and remains are still being excavated here today. 

The former settlement has been recreated so that visitors can experience Viking life – and there are regular talks, themed guided tours, and reconstructions of Viking feasts and ceremonies. 

The boat trip from Stockholm and entrance to the Viking village is included in the Stockholm Pass (May to October only).

Multi-day tours and vacations

If a short tour is not enough, why not base your holiday around visiting Viking sites, and even cover more than one Scandinavian country on your tour? Here are some of our favourite multi-day Viking-themed tours.

Visit Viking sites in four countries

This 15-day trip takes in significant Viking sites in Norway, Sweden, Denmark and even Germany, including Denmark’s Jelling stones, Norway’s stave churches and rock art at Tanum in Sweden.

What we really like about this tour is that it’s led by a senior lecturer in medieval archeology from the University of York and it includes private tours of some of the sights including the Hedared Stave Church and the Tanum rock art.

Cruise round the Viking sites

Combine Viking exploration with a cruise on this 12-day trip from Edinburgh, UK round some of Scandinavia’s most fascinating Viking sites, including the beautiful Unesco World Heritage city of Visby, whose well-preserved buildings date from Viking times. 

We like that this cruise also stops in at the Scotland’s remote Orkney islands, where Vikings from Norway settled in the 8th century.

Explore Norway’s Viking history

And if you just want to stay in Norway, we love this week-long jaunt around some of the country’s top Viking sites.

It includes a guided walking tour of the former Viking city of Bjørgvin, a trip to Gulating, home of a Viking court of law and parliament, and a walking tour on the island of Svanøy, birthplace of Viking, Erik Blodøks. 

But what we like best is the trip to the UNESCO-listed Urnes Stave Church, beautifully crafted in wood by the Vikings in the 12th-century.

Have a Viking adventure in Iceland

Iceland too was settled by the Vikings and there are plenty of Viking sites that you see on this three-day guided tour that also includes a trip into an ice cave and a hike along a glacial canyon.

Our favourite part of the tour is the cultural site Þingvellir, where the Eurasian and American tectonic plates meet and where the Vikings set up the Althing, the world’s first parliament.

You can walk along the walk through the gorge where the contintents collide and look inside Þingvellir Viking church.

See also :  Were there ever black Vikings? The ultimate guide to Viking swords Famous Vikings you should know about DId Vikings have dreadlocks?

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Grand European Tour

15 Days | 12 Guided Tours | 4 Countries

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Arrive in Amsterdam, then transfer to your ship.* After boarding, the afternoon is yours to relax or explore the city on your own. If your arrival schedule permits, you may wish to visit the Rijksmuseum, or the Van Gogh Museum next door.

This morning we sail to Kinderdijk, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, for a tour of this ingenious network of windmills and other flood management devices. Learn why the windmills were built and see how they work, and enter a working windmill for a tour of its mechanisms and living quarters. Return on board for lunch and an enjoyable afternoon of Dutch diversions: sample handcrafted Dutch cheeses and  jenever , a distilled juniper liquor, and take in a culturally enriching presentation on the Dutch Golden Age. We cruise through the night.

You have a morning tour of Cologne, including a visit to the Dom, Germany’s largest cathedral and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. After your tour, spend the rest of the day and evening exploring Cologne on your own: There are Roman ruins, interesting neighborhoods and wonderful museums like the Fragrance Museum and the Chocolate Museum. As always, your Program Director can help you plan your free time. Or, join an optional excursion on which you ascend to the Dom’s roof, enjoying up-close views of the cathedral’s architecture and bird’s-eye vistas of Cologne. Lunch and dinner are served on board; we depart at midnight. 

Cruise past hilltop castles along the Rhine, stopping in Koblenz to visit Marksburg Castle, the only Rhine fortress never destroyed. After your tour, continue cruising this stunning stretch of the Rhine, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Be sure to keep an eye out for the Lorelei Rock, which marks the river’s narrowest point and is named after the legendary Rhine maiden who lured sailors to their demise. Lunch and dinner are served on board your ship.

The morning is spent sailing along the beautiful Main River as it winds its way through the Spessart region, home of the actual Snow White. During our sail, be sure to take advantage of the opportunity to learn about the region’s glassblowing traditions during a live demonstration. After lunch, we stop in Miltenberg, known for its half-timbered houses and Germany’s oldest inn. Join our walking tour that concludes with free time for you to explore. We sail through the night. 

After breakfast, tour Würzburg’s Bishops’ Residenz, one of Germany’s largest and most ornate baroque palaces and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Or, instead, join an optional full-day journey along Germany’s picturesque “Romantic Road” to Rothenburg, with its turreted city wall and impressive Gothic and baroque architecture. Upon returning to Würzburg, enjoy a tour of the Bishops’ Residenz before rejoining your ship for dinner. 

Sail through the morning; after lunch we visit Bamberg, with its medieval city center, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Your walking tour includes a visit to the magnificent 11th-century cathedral, reworked in late Romanesque style in the 13th century, and the picturesque city hall built on a tiny island in the middle of a river. Take some free time to enjoy Bamberg and perhaps try some of the town’s distinctive smoke-flavored beer before returning on board.

After breakfast, disembark in Nuremberg and visit the ruins of Zeppelin Field, the Nazi parade grounds of the 1930s; then see the Palace of Justice, site of the infamous Nuremberg Trials. Alternately, you may take an optional World War II tour that includes the illuminating Documentation Center Museum. After lunch, spend free time exploring Nuremberg’s Old Town. Or, join an optional tour to discover the secret network of underground bunkers where priceless art was hidden in wartime. We depart just before dinner. 

Arrive in Regensburg midday. After lunch, tour this wonderfully preserved medieval city, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, including structures dating back to Roman times. Discover many 13th- and 14th-century patrician houses and see the splendid St. Peter’s Cathedral. During free time, visit the Alte Würstküche (Old Sausage Kitchen), Germany’s oldest restaurant. Alternately, you may choose to disembark this morning and drive with your guide to Munich for an optional full-day tour of this cultural and historic city, rejoining your ship in time to enjoy dinner on board before our evening departure. 

Arrive this morning in Passau, at the confluence of the Inn, Ilz and Danube Rivers. Your guided walk along the town’s narrow streets takes you through Old Town and past traditional patrician houses. Admire the New Bishop’s Residence and visit the impressive baroque St. Stephen’s Cathedral with its ornate interior. Inside, you are treated to a special concert played on the 17,000-pipe organ, considered Europe’s largest church organ.† Enjoy lunch on board your ship, and return to the city for further exploration on your own before departing. Alternately, set out this morning with your guide to enjoy a full-day optional tour of picturesque Salzburg, the birthplace of Mozart and setting of  The Sound of Music . We cruise through the night. 

After breakfast, visit the abbey at Melk, a 900-year-old Benedictine monastery featuring Austria’s finest Italian baroque architecture. Rejoin your ship; cruise through the spectacular Wachau Valley this afternoon. Before dinner, you have time to explore the time-honored town of Krems and see the Steiner Tor, the last remaining city gate, or take an optional excursion to a local winery to sample some local vintages from this famous wine-producing region.

Today we tour the Austrian capital of Vienna. Ride along the Ringstrasse, which replaced the city walls in the mid-19th century. See some of the city’s baroque architecture, including the world-famous Opera House, St. Stephen’s Cathedral and Hofburg Palace. Return to your ship for lunch. The rest of the day is yours to further explore. As always, your Program Director can help you plan your free time. Alternately, you may choose to join an optional excursion to see the famed Lipizzaner Stallions; or, express your creativity and create a lasting keepsake at an optional art workshop inspired by the work of Gustav Klimt. After dinner, relax or enjoy an optional classical concert.

Enjoy a day at leisure in Vienna. Perhaps see an unrivaled collection of Old Masters at the Museum of Fine Arts, or visit the Albertina. Maybe ride the Riesenrad, the world’s oldest Ferris wheel. Alternately, you may join an optional tour to Schönbrunn Palace, the “Versailles of Vienna,” or enjoy a Viennese waltz lesson as well as visiting the palace during a full-day optional excursion. A cup of coffee or tea and a slice of exquisite Sachertorte are a must for any afternoon in Vienna. Later, rejoin your ship and sail for Budapest.

The Danube River divides Hungary’s capital city into the once separate towns of Buda and Pest. Explore both sides, starting with Pest’s National Opera House and historic Heroes’ Square. In Buda, walk along Castle Hill to Fishermen’s Bastion and Matthias Church. Enjoy lunch on board your ship, with the rest of the day to explore on your own. Alternately, choose one of our optional excursions designed to allow you to delve deeper into the history, culture and cuisine of this fascinating city. Return to your ship for a traditional Hungarian dinner.

After breakfast, disembark and proceed to the airport for your return flight.* Or, extend your journey with 3 nights in Prague, Czech Republic, where you tour Old Town landmarks and Prague Castle. 

Air Pricing

Prices are per person for featured departures.

Airfare offers valid on all N. American gateways except Alaska, Hawaii, San Juan and Mexico City.

Boston, Chicago, Dallas/Ft. Worth, Los Angeles, New York, San Francisco, Washington D.C. Many additional gateways available, air fares may vary; call for details.

Offer AT23:

Offer valid on bookings made from Apr 13 to Apr 30, 2023. Cruise from $3,199 per person based on select Nov 2023 departures of Grand European Tour in category F; subject to availability, other categories may be higher. Call for details. Prices are in US dollars and for US residents only. Air does not have to be purchased to get cruise/tour offer. All fares reflect cruise taxes, port taxes and fees. Apr 30, 2023; pay in full at time of booking. Offer expires Apr 30, 2023.

FREE international airfare based on Jul-Nov 2023 departures of Grand European Tour. Call for details. Air prices are per person based on cruise or cruise tour check-in date and include transfers. Air seats are limited; airfares are subject to change until full payment of air is received. Airfares vary on other gateways and departures. Air offers not valid on Alaska, Hawaii, San Juan and Mexico City; call for details. Ask for Offer AT23. Offer expires Apr 30, 2023.

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8 Reasons To Take a Viking Homelands Cruise

8 reasons to do a ‘viking homelands’ cruise.

I t’s easy to think of Vikings for what they’re known for as opposed to where they sailed. Yes, they did raid communities, but they also participated in trade. Their fine shipbuilding skills are also familiar. They ventured along The Baltic Sea, aligned by present-day countries including Denmark, Finland, Estonia, Germany, Russia, and Poland. 

However, presently this Viking legacy is being retraced by a Viking of a different kind, a cruise ship company. Viking’s “Viking Homelands Cruise” goes along the Baltic Sea, stopping at eight ports within Scandinavia, the Russian Federation, and Northern Europe. As a result, you get to explore cultures, histories, and cuisines. 

Viking Jupiter , a Viking ship launched in February 2019, carries out the 15-daylong “Viking Homelands” itinerary. It all starts with casting off in Stockholm and disembarking in Bergen. You can book your Viking Ocean Cruise here.

Here are eight reasons for taking this particular Viking cruise.

It’s Got Nordic Features

With 465 staterooms that can host 930 guests, the nine-deck level Viking Jupiter has modern Scandinavian design elements. Interior touches have inspiration from the time of the Vikings, with reproduced Bayeux Tapestry stairwell furnishings and Viking-related artifacts on display.

On Deck 1, The Viking Living Room is where passengers can unwind. In other words, you can order a drink and light snack at a clinker-built bar inspired by ancient longships. On Deck 7, after the main pool, The Wintergarden is a model of Yggdrasil. It’s an Old Norse folkloric tale meaning “tree of life.” It’s reflected in a canopy forest setting perfect for a daily afternoon tea service that takes place here.

Also on Deck 7, Mamsen’s is a casual gourmet deli for Norwegian cuisine, with smoked salmon, open-faced sandwiches, and a heart-shaped waffle. The recipe originates from Viking founder Torstein Hagen’s mother, who, to him, is Mamsen. The deli is named for her; plates replicate her dishware pattern. The adjacent Explorers’ Lounge is a cocktail setting. It’s for sitting near a faux fireplace and curling up on couches with fur-lined throws. 

The Viking Homelands Cruise Dining Is Global

Dining onboard Viking Homelands cruise reflects intercontinental flavors. Along with Deck 7’s Mamsen’s, The Pool Grill prepares hamburgers and other casual meals; World Café serves up a global range of cuisine with breakfast and dinner buffet-style servings, and Aquavit Terrace has alfresco dining.

On Deck 2, The Restaurant ties to a port destination’s gastronomy with native dishes and locally-sourced ingredients. In-room dining is available 24 hours (I got the mac and cheese at midnight and it came.).

On Deck 1, Manfredi’s Italian Restaurant is all about quintessential Italian cuisine. Appetizers, anti-pastas, and entrees including pasta, meats, and vegetarian choices are amazing. There’s even a fish of the day and an incredible breadbasket. 

Its neighboring The Chefs Table precisely curates food and wine pairings tied to a destination. An “Asian Panorama” menu reflected the continent’s diverse gastronomy; dishes ranged from a king crab amuse bouche, to Peking Duck. Dessert can be anything from a trio of yuzu Crème Brulee to a green tea cheesecake to a chocolate banana spring roll. In addition, another dinner was about traditional Mexican dishes. This includes a prickly pear (nopal) granita, a short rib with a mole sauce, and a trifecta of chocolate desserts.

 “The Kitchen Table” is an onboard cooking school. The ship’s Executive Chef takes guests to local markets to pick ingredients that they will use in helping to prepare an evening meal.

The Spa Is Nordic Too

The Nordic experience on Viking Jupiter also encompasses holistic wellness. On Deck 1, alongside a fitness center and hair salon, LivNordic Spa & Fitness everything to pamper you. It has cold and hot plunge pools and facials, massages and body treatments incorporating Scandinavian ingredients or techniques. 

A Nordic Bathing Ritual lets you partake in this traditional Scandinavian hot and cold method for improving circulation. The ritual begins with passengers being given and practicing using a dry skin brush. Afterward, they get a good sweat inside a steam room and then cool off in a snow grotto.

In between switches, a birch tree branch slightly flicks your back. After that, a choice of a scalp or foot massage plus a sample set of beauty products to end the ritual. You can also use the spa’s plunge pools, sauna, and snow grotto on your own.  

A Variety of Excursions on the Viking Homelands Cruise

What I liked most about the “Viking Homelands” cruise was the shore excursion programming. For each day that Viking Jupiter was at port, there were a variety of escorted tours for seeing specific attractions or getting an overview of the city. 

There are included city tours on foot and/or bus or boat. In other words, they ensure cultural exposure. Priced excursions encompass top-rated attractions, immersive activities or popular interests. You could see the Vasa Museum in Stockholm ; feed reindeer in Finland’s Nuuksio National Park; or get a humorous glance at life under Russian rule in Tallinn . 

We could also explore cities on our own, with drop-offs and pickups via a complimentary Viking shuttle from the ports to a central location. They depart every half hour. 

No Issue with Russian Visa

“Viking Homelands” includes two days in St. Petersburg. Along with seeing this Russian city, this Viking cruise enables passengers to be exempt from pre-requiring a Russian visa. A no-visa entry enables cruise ship passengers to stay in the city for no longer than 72 hours; however, they have to sleep on the ship and be accompanied by a guide while on tours.

When disembarking in St. Petersburg, Viking passengers present their passports and stateroom keycards to officers at a control terminal; they glance carefully at you and then stamp your passport and then you head off on your tour. 

Back to port, go through a security screening and check-in again with officers before re-boarding the ship. You pass through a corridor of souvenir stands, where you can easily pick up a Matryoshka doll or other items; along with Rubles, vendors take U.S. Dollars and Euros. St. Petersburg excursions extend to a ride on the Metro system; tickets to a folkloric performance or ballet; and tours of The Hermitage, Catherine Palace, Peterhof Palace, and Faberge Museum.

Look to the Skies

It might be possible to see the Northern Lights while sailing on Viking Jupiter, usually during fall and winter months, but get closer to the sky below deck in the Planetarium (it’s the second Viking ship to have one; so does Viking Orion).

On the upper level of The Explorers’ Lounge, The Explorers’ Dome presents three daily shows  “Hidden Universe,” “Explore” and “Experience the Aurora”. Advance reservations are a requirement; book your seat through the Viking Voyager app, along with your port excursions. 

Get Some Knowledge 

In emphasizing the definition of “destination driven-learning,” the Viking Resident Historian program has on-board experts lecturing on subjects relating to ports of call or other explorative topics. On my “Viking Homelands” cruise, the ship had an astronomer, a cultural expert and a historian discussing everything from Imperial Russia to the meaning of the cosmos. Port talks cover aspects of each port (with pre-recorded ones on TV in the staterooms) and TED Talks present a certain topic of the day. 

On-Board Entertainment That’s Entertaining

Looking for something to do on Viking Jupiter is easy to find. Help yourself a book relating to inspiration or exploration among the library in the Viking Living Room or among bookcases throughout the ship. Day or night programming may feature competitions like travel trivia and name that tune or card games. Live music is all around. There are performances by their resident pianist in The Living Room and a guitarist at The Explorers’ Lounge. In the later hours, Patricia, Ar-Ar, and the Viking Band play top hits of the past decades at the jazz club, Torshavn.

The newsletter lists the following day’s schedule and found in the staterooms every evening. Learn more about Viking Jupiter and “Viking Homelands” here and find great savings on Viking Ocean Cruises here .

For More About the Vikings:

If you would like to learn more about Vikings check out these articles:

• Viking Origins
• Shows about Vikings
• Shetland Viking Festival
• Iona Vikings

8 Reasons To Go On Viking Cruises is a work by Michele Herrmann . She writes about travel, arts/entertainment, culture, history, food and drink and other fun stuff for various publications and companies. Her adventures have taken her as far as Fiji, to date. Viking Cruise invited her on a press trip on the Viking Homelands Cruise. All her opinions are her own.

8 Reasons to Go on Viking Cruises – Pin for Later

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Our carefully curated Grand Journeys combine multiple Viking itineraries to offer you in-depth exploration of one region, from Scandinavia and the Baltic to Southeast Asia and North America. Traverse the world’s lakes and oceans with us and learn from world-class guest lecturers, savor regional cuisine and experience some of the most iconic cultural performing art forms around the globe. On just one unforgettable journey, you can:

• Uncover America’s colonial past during visits to Yorktown, Williamsburg and Jamestown
• Take in the iconic sights of the “Big Apple” as you tour exhilarating, culture-rich New York City
• Taste some of Scotland’s finest whiskies at a local distillery
• Stroll the colorful Bryggen wharf in Bergen, an ancient city with deep Viking roots
• Witness the untouched natural beauty of the Svalbard archipelago
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• Explore the cutting-edge ecological research being conducted in our Science Lab
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Ozempic maker Novo Nordisk gets more weight loss drug competition as a rival releases promising data

Viking therapeutics' weight loss pill helped users lose an average of 5% of their body weight in 28 days.

Viking Therapeutics stock jumped 25% to $87 per share on Tuesday after the pharmaceutical company released promising clinical trial results for its experimental weight loss pill. It’s the latest development in the race among several pharmaceutical companies to introduce new weight loss drug alternatives to the current market leaders Wegovy, Zepbound, and Ozempic.

A small clinical study found that patients taking a daily 40mg dose of Viking’s weight loss pill lost an average of up to 5.3% of their body weight in just 28 days , the company said Tuesday. Viking said it will launch a phase 2 trial of the drug later this year.

David K. Song, an investment partner at Tema ETFs, noted that Novo Nordisk’s next-gen weight loss pill, amycretin , resulted at an average weight loss of 4% during roughly the same period.

“I think this read-out meets market expectations for a competitive profile,” Song said in a statement.

In February, Viking released the results of its phase-two clinical trial of an injection of the same drug. The company said that users achieved an average 14% weight loss from baseline numbers, plus 13% compared with a placebo after 13 weeks of treatment. At the time, Viking said it planned to meet with the Food and Drug Administration to discuss the next steps for the drug’s development.

Investors jumped on the news at the time, sending Viking Therapeutics stock soaring by almost double in late February.

Where the weight loss drug war stands

After the launch of the diabetes medication Ozempic in 2017, the demand for weight loss drugs has skyrocketed in recent years.

Fervent demand for Novo Nordisk’s Wegovy and Ozempic over the last year had the company racing to keep up in supply . The rush of sales at the Denmark-based company even buoyed the nation’s GDP in 2023.

Several pharmaceutical companies are now chasing the hype, working to introduce new drugs to get in on the demand. In addition to Viking Therapeutics, Regeneron, Amgen, and Zealand Pharma are all developing weight loss drugs .

Unsatisfied with its own success, Novo Nordisk is also developing an even more powerful weight loss drug .

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Viking Therapeutics skyrockets 25% on positive results for experimental weight loss drug

• Viking Therapeutics' shares surged as much as 25% on Tuesday. 
• The surge came after the it announced positive results of a study for an experimental weight loss drug. 
• The company said the data was promising enough to launch a phase 2 trial later this year.

Viking Therapeutics shares rocketed as much as 25% higher on Tuesday after the drugmaker announced positive results from a small study for an experimental weight loss drug. 

Shares just to $88.45 each in Tuesday afternoon trading, paring that gain to $83.43 as the market headed into the close. 

The California drug maker's upbeat release on its GLP-1 tablet VK2735, a daily oral alternative to its promising obesity-fighting injection, showed promising results in a February mid-stage trial , the company said, and the latest results fueled confidence for a phase 2 trial rollout later this year.

"These Phase 1 results highlight VK2735's promising early weight loss and tolerability profile when dosed as an oral tablet," Viking's CEO Brian Lian said in a statement. 

"We believe that an oral agent with good tolerability could represent an attractive potential treatment option for patients with obesity. We look forward to exploring longer treatment windows and potentially higher doses in an upcoming Phase 2 trial."

The data also suggest that longer treatment and possibly higher doses could lead to more weight loss, and stomach-related side effects of the drug have been minimized.

Eyeing to become a major player in the weight loss medicine market, Viking has been vying with giants like Novo Nordisk and Eli Lilly . Analysts have predicted the GLP-1 drugs will be eventually taken by a significant portion of the US population, and Bank of America said this month that Eli Lilly could see $60 billion in sales by 2030 as a result of its weight loss drug. 

Goldman Sachs predicts a potential 1% boost to GDP by 2028 if 60 million Americans use GLP-1 drugs, counteracting health issues that hinder workforce participation, raising worker productivity, and lower health care expenses. 

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