scandinavian tour sykkel

Scandinavia, 29. August - 1. September 2024

#tosc - the only worldtour stage race in scandinavia, latest news, greetings from outgoing managing director, new managing director of ladies tour of norway, record high international tv figures for this year's tour of scandinavia, summary of a successful tour of scandinavia 2023.

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Welcome to the cycling paradise Sognefjorden!

Experience Western Norway's majestic and unique fjord landscape by bike!

Choose your next adventure here

Bergen – Sognefjorden “King of the fjords”

Guided cycling

Cycling and hiking

Combine the best – by bike and on foot.

Cycling Week

All-inclusive bike adventure along the Sognefjord.

Walking the mountains by the Sognefjord.

Among the small idyllic villages and the roaring waterfalls, we have picked the best of accommodation and attractions. Together it gives you the best active holiday!

Stay in unique hotels, enjoy fantastic local food and discover the hidden gems of Sognefjorden.

Member of Visit Sognefjord

We had a great time with Fjord Cycling. Due to weather, we had to adjust our planned routes, but Merete was fantastic in accommodating us along the way. The hotels were excellent. Would highly recommend.

Ann & Perry

Outstanding bikes and accessories like helmets and bags etc. But above all professional, personal, and friendly service! They know the region very well and gave us good advice for a beautiful cycling-trip.

Jolanda & Ton

It was a monstrous and exclusive trip with both exceptionally beautiful landscapes, excellent culinary specialties, good nature and cultural experiences and really good and timely guidance from the local tour guide.

Anne, Mathilde, Jakob & Bjarne Eiby

Thank you for making this a trip we will remember for a lifetime. We are grateful for all the efforts to make the trip memorable. What a wonderful adventure!

Sarah & Kathleen

We had an absolutely amazing trip to Norway. Fjord Cycling planned a custom biking and hiking adventure for us. We couldn’t have been happier with the route she put together. We have been on many, many European bike tours, guided and self guided, and I would rate Fjord Cycling as one of the top providers.

Brenda & Matt

This was fun, we had changing weather, and it was great nature experiences. Our bike ride in Sogn is not behind what we have experienced on a bike around Europe. Norway is just as good, and just as exciting!

Helen Haug & Torgeir Seim.

We had a fabulous time on our 6-day self-guided bike tour of Sognefjord. They were both friendly and helpful, thorough in arranging the details of our holiday and very knowledgeable about the area. It was one of our best cycling holidays ever and we would highly recommend Fjord Cycling to anyone considering a cycling holiday in Norway.

Mary & Dave

Truly a wonderful experience bike riding with Fjord cycling. Our trip had so many personal and exceptional touches that Merete added to the trip (Wine tasting, picnics and campfires are only a few examples). She truly cares for her guests.

Berntson guided group

Thank you for an absolutely excellent cycling adventure. It was truly memorable.

Dennis & Andy

Cycling holiday

Cycling with children.

When you go on a bike ride with children, there is one thing that is more important than anything else – ride magic

Bicycle tours in Norway

There are many trails for fantastic bike rides in Norway, but the most rewarding ride can be found along the king of the fjords – Sognefjorden

Cycling trip in Western Norway

Experience some of the best Western Norway has to offer, from the bike seat.

• National Cycle Routes
• Atlantic Coast Route
• Norse All-Road Series (M)
• Norse Gravel Series (M)
• Norse Loops Series (M)
• Scandi Loops Series (M)
• Scenic Routes (M)
• Base/Day Rides

By Location

• East Norway
• West Norway
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• Across Norway
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Routes to dream of

The very best cycling routes norway has to offer, all roads lead to nature.

We have broken down the routes in Norway into eight series. The National Cycle Routes are the official 9 long-distance routes established by the Norwegian Public Road Administration. The Atlantic Coast Route is part of the national routes but deserves its own series due to its length, popularity and natural attractions.

Cycle Norway is the architect of the Norse All-Road,   Gravel and Loop series. Here you will find many exciting shorter and longer routes that go beyond the typical known areas in Norway. 

We understand some cyclists don’t just cycle Norway and may want to combine Denmark, Sweden, or Finland into the mix. Our  Scandi loops series will provide inspiration and guidance for multi country routes.

Important Info:

• How we grade the difficulty of a routes
• Opening and Closure of Roads
• How to download and use the route GPX files

The Norwegian Scenic routes are famous historic roads. Most are covered already in other series, but felt they deserved a closer examination due to their status. And lastly, we have the Base, or better known as Day Rides from popular coastal cities and towns. You may be amazed at the short adventures to be had just beyond the city borders.

Please note, you will naturally find some routes overlap others due to the limited roads in mountainous regions. However, we believe the more alternative options you have available the better the decisions you can make. Happy route hunting!

Latest routes

Fjord Norway

Jotunheimen Gravel Explorer

Arctic Post Road

The Wilderness Route

Finnmark Route

The Pilgrim Route

Bikepacking / bike touring, the type of person:.

Our eight route series have primarily been put together to cater to the international cycling community. When we refer to ‘cyclist’ we are mainly alluding to people who own a bike and enjoy cycling as a recreational activity throughout the year or for some part of it. There is a big difference between a commuter on a bike who cycles 5-10km to work and a recreational cyclist who rides 60-100km on a Saturday morning for the joy of it. 

We expect you to have experience cycling on the open road and are self-sufficient in looking after yourself with adequate clothing, safety, and maintenance gear. Norway, in general, is not a beginner environment for bike touring/bikepacking. You should have some level of fitness that can deal with the challenges of a mountainous country.

You will find  VisitNorway  caters better to beginners and families with young children. Nevertheless, we hope novice cyclists will also find this website helpful to a degree. The more experienced you become the more this site will benefit you. 

The Type of Cycling

Let’s start by saying this site is not for MTB or Downhill Biking . You will find excellent sites regarding these sports all over Google. The one we recommend is  Trailguide .

Cycle Norway promotes Road and Gravel cycling that offers single-day, multi-day, and extended travels spanning weeks or months. We encourage and promote  bike touring & bikepacking, cycling for pleasure, adventure, or freedom rather than sport, commuting, or exercise.

The Type of Bike 

Using a Road, Gravel, Mountain, or Touring bike will allow you to enjoy many of the routes on this site. What is right for you depends on your route and experience. The less experineced should use a bike with comfort and wider tires. Road bikes should only be considered for shorter paved only routes (less than a week). If you plan to cycle 2000km up to Nordkapp sitting on a road bike all day every day can be uncomfortable with it’s lower racing geometry.  

A good alternative that won’t slow you down too much is an All-Road bike which has a little more design for comfort. On paved roads, It will feel like a road bike but can handle hard-packed gravel roads when required. If you plan several gravel sections and require further comfort then a Gravel bike is perfect for Norway. The geometry allows you to be in a more upright position but you can drop down when going at speed or fighting headwind. The versatility of these bikes has made them extremely popular over recent years and has been my bike of choice for bikepacking in Norway. 

If you are less concerned with speed and more interested in comfort a mountain bike (MTB) is a good option that has built-in fork suspension and a comfortable wide tire setup. These bikes pretty much allow you to go anywhere. But on the paved roads, they will be considerably slower than the other bikes.  Lastly, a well-built touring bike is certainly a great all-round option for long-distance cycling. These bikes are comfortable, built to last, offer wide tire clearance, easier to maintain and service, and come with pannier and rack mounts to allow for a practical touring setup. 

Remember, when considering a bike for touring always consider what can be fitted onto it and how easy it is to fit. Premium Road and Gravel bikes will probably not come with many eyelids/mounts making it difficult to attach racks, cages, and bags in certain places. 

The Type of Tire

If I’m sticking mainly to paved roads I use between a 28-32mm slick tire to give me a balance between speed and comfort. If there are gravel sections that aren’t too rough I will use a 32-35mm with some tread/grip. If I’m doing a main gravel route with uneven and unknown terrain I will use a 40mm gravel tire. Some people prefer a bit more control and comfort and use 50mm tires. 

Many touring tires like the Schwalbe Marathon Plus tire come with a 5mm thick puncture guard that makes them more or less puncture free. Tires like this add extra weight to your bike but offer piece of mind on the road. Whether you go tube or tubeless is too big of a question here. Ask in our member’s forum for advice on this. 

Routes architects

Planning, researching, and riding routes is a long and difficult process. Cycle Norway prides itself on having some of the most experienced and knowledgeable adventure cyclists in the country. Together this team has cycled hundreds of thousands of kilometers in Norway and experienced every type of weather and road condition.

We can never guarantee that every route will be 100% accurate as small mistakes can happen and things can change without prior notice. However, quality control is an essential part of our company and if you notice any mistakes please contact us at [email protected] . We really appreciate your contribution to the website and our community. 

Karen Ekman

Northern & eastern norway, hans flensted jensen, eastern & western norway, bjørn gjevik, eirik svensen, western & southern norway, eirik kvisli, southern & eastern norway, eastern norway, matthew tolley, eastern & western norway​, the norse god odin, whole of norway, route stewards wanted.

Have you cycled or are planning on cycling one of our routes? Perhaps you have a route of your own and would like it featured on Cycle Norway? Fill in the form and we’ll get in touch with how you can help.

If the form is not working please email us: [email protected]

Organisations that support our work

Cycle Norway is dedicated to making Norway, safer and more enjoyable to experience by bike and to inspire and inform a growing audience of the opportunities available. 

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© Copyright 2023 CYCLENORWAY.com / all designs, text, photos (unless stated), & articles are property of CYCLENORWAY.com

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Want to go for a ride?

Whether you’re seeking coastal charm, countryside serenity, or urban exploration, we’ve got the perfect path for you, tailored to all fitness levels and abilities.

Make it an experience the time of your life the best holiday

Go for a guided tour.

Join our guided cycling tours for an unforgettable adventure through the breathtaking landscapes of Norway. Our experienced guides will lead the way as you explore the stunning scenery of our region.

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Scandinavia Tours

On our Scandinavia tours you can visit two or more of the Scandinavian and Nordic countries in one trip. Scandinavia consists of Norway, Sweden and Denmark, while the Nordic countries also include Finland and Iceland.

Our most popular Scandinavia tours combine the Scandinavian capitals with the Norwegian fjords. Also recommended is combining one of the Scandinavia tours with a short break to Iceland. See also our tours to Norway , Sweden , Iceland & Finland . Or perhaps you are looking for a winter tour ?

Explore our Scandinavia Tours

How this works

1. find your dream tour.

Choose from our selection of tours — or discuss the options with our travel specialists.

2. Request your booking

Complete the online process — add extra nights and experiences and combine tours. 

3. Prepare for your journey

Book your flights, receive your travel documents and get ready for an experience of a lifetime.

Tour of Scandinavia 2023 stages

• Tour of Scandinavia 2023 route

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Hafjell Bike Park

Hafjell Alpinsenter, Øyer, Øyer

[email protected]

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If you want to try downhill, Hafjell Bike Park is the leading destination for lift- accessed cycling in Norway.

Trail network

Hafjell Bike Park is Norway’s biggest bikepark with 19 well-built trails, providing a total of 25km of pure fun. We have an extensive trail network for beginners and professionals with trail marking from green to black, just like alpine skiing. Once you have taken the gondola and chairlift up, the trip down again awaits with an elevation drop of 700 meters.

Lunch with a view

In addition to downhill cycling, our area has fantastic opportunities for all other types of cycling, and our summer gondola takes you up to a beautiful park area with a pump track and restaurant on Mosetertoppen. Here you can enjoy first-class lunch with fantastic views at Skavlen restaurant. Here you will also find a playground and a climbing park for children where they can challenge their balance in various obstacles. Safety equipment is not required in this climbing park.

Our pump track which was completed in the summer of 2020 can give you and your family a fun day. The pumptrack is a 2500 square meters asphalt-built round track with bumps, tight turns and jump combinations. You can find the pump track on the top of the gondola and it is suitable for everyone who can cycle a regular bicycle.

Last updated: 03/26/2024

Source: Visit Lillehammer

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Flåm Railway, Flåm Zipline and Cycling

Flåm has a wide variety of activities and experiences on offer. So many that it can be difficult to choose sometimes. That is why we have put together the perfect half-day program for you who want an action filled adventure in Flåm. The package is a proper kinder egg, combining the Flåm Railway, Flåm Zipline, and bicycling through the Flåm Valley.

Book now! From NOK 1685,-

The perfect half-day excursion from Flåm

This popular tour package is perfect for a group of friends, couples, and families with older children who can cycle 18 kilometres on varied surfaces.

The adventure begins with one of the world’s steepest and most beautiful train journeys. The Flåm Railway takes you from Flåm to Vatnahalsen station, 820 meters above sea level. From the station, you follow the signs to Flåm Zipline where you can enjoy the spectacular views of the Flåm Valley before you set off on the adrenaline-filled zipline-flight down to Kårdal. Did you know that Flåm Zipline is Scandinavia’s longest with a span of 1.381 metres?

On the ground at Kårdal, you bikes awaits. From here you cycle the last stretch of the Navvies' road, Rallarvegen, back to Flåm. During the approx. 18 kilometres down to Flåm, you get close to the nature and scenery in the lush valley. On return to Flåm you deliver the bikes at the designated place, and you are left with the memories of a wonderful day in beautiful nature!

Book package incl. accommodation

Best time to go

Period: From 27.04 to 12.10 2024

This offer is valid for online booking only

• Flåm Railway to Vatnahalsen 
• Scandinavia’s longest zipline 
• Bicycle hire, Kårdal - Flåm (Rallarvegen)

Note: It’s important to choose a Zipline departure that matches the arrival of the Flåm Railway at Vatnahalsen as Zipline tickets are valid for 1,5 hour

Duration: 3-4 hours

FLÅM ZIPLINE BIKE DROP

Bikes: Must be returned at Flåm quay by Pier 6, behind the red building next to eMobility by 21:00 at the latest.pdf

Flåm Railway - Facts

• Length of the Flåm Railway 20.20 km
• Difference in elevation 863.5 m
• Highest station 865.5 metres above sea level
• Lowest station 2.0 metres above sea level
• Steepest slope 55‰ – 1:18
• Section > 28% 16 km – -79.3%
• Min. curve radius 130 m
• Gauge 1435 mm
• Voltage 15,000 V – 16 2/3 Hz
• Max. speed, kph 40 kph
• Journey time 60 minutes
• Water tunnels 4

Flåm Zipline - Practical info

• Minimum weight 25 kg.
• Maximum weight 140 kg.
• Being under the influence of alcohol is not permitted.
• Health: If you are pregnant, have problems with your back, neck, heart or lungs, epilepsy or other diseases that may lead to attacks, you should decide for yourself whether taking the zipline is a good idea.
• In bad weather, the zipline may be closed for safety reasons.
• Bikes and large luggage can be sent down in the lift at no additional cost.

Flåm Zipline - Facts

Scandinavia’s longest zipline:  1381 metres

Top speed:  Around 100 kph

Height difference:  305 metres

Kårdal summer farm

The adrenaline will still be pumping when you ‘land’ at Kårdal summer farm at the end of the zipline. Use the time here to share the experience with others and lower your heart rate with some delicious cheese, snacks, a light meal and drinks while you take in your fantastic surroundings.

The goats at the farm come from Sogn Jord- og Hagebruksskule and Dalsbotten, a farm about 10 km further on in the valley. 

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• Road closure
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• Viking Jersey
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2024 Arctic Race of Norway rescheduled

Hyundai returns to arctic race of norway, braving the challenge of the far north, discover the 2024 route, 2023 best-of, 2023 rankings.

S. WILLIAMS

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V. VAN HEMELEN

K. VERMAERKE

ISRAEL - PREMIER TECH

All news about the Arctic Race of Norway

Due to a dense summer cycling season and a desire to harmonise the calendar, the Arctic Race of Norway has been rescheduled for 4 to 7 August 2024. This change of a few days places the world's most northern race after the road race of the Paris Olympic Games.

The request to change the dates was submitted to and approved by the International Cycling Union.

After eight years as partners, Arctic Race of Norway and Hyundai parted ways in 2023. Now Europe's third largest electric car brand is back in place, and they are looking forward to continuing the partnership.

-The collaboration with the Arctic Race of Norway has been very fruitful for Hyundai. We have had growth in Norway for all the eight years we have...

Bodø, the nerve centre of Nordland, will double as the hub of the 2024 Arctic Race of Norway. This edition, held entirely above the Arctic Circle, will serve up a gruelling challenge for the toughest of the tough. A 157 km trek from Bodø to Rognan will get the show on the road. After skirting Lake Soløyvatnet twice, the peloton will venture onto...

Inside Arctic Race of Norway

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APRIL SALE:   Book now and get   up to 60% off!

Coach / Bus Tours in Nordic / Scandinavia 2024/2025

Take in the picturesque landscapes and remarkable sights on a guided Coach / Bus adventure of Nordic / Scandinavia. There are 68 vacation packages to choose from, that range in length from 3 days up to 28 days. The most popular month for these tours is August.

68 Coach / Bus trips around Nordic / Scandinavia with 1,296 reviews

• In-depth Cultural
• Coach / Bus

Highlights of Scandinavia (12 Days)

An excellent tour with an excellent tour guide - Lasse.

Scenic Scandinavia and its Fjords (14 Days)

We could not have possibly seen all the sights that we did had we planned the tour ourselves. The organization of the itinerary, the efficiency of getting from one location to another, the coordination of the travel, luggage management, and entry to sights was superb. The scenery was breathtaking. Although we took many pictures, they do not do justice of seeing the areas in person. We traveled by coach from city to city and some days required extensive traveling. However, due to the skill of our professional driver and the expertise of our tour guide, the trips did not seem so long or taxing. In particular, our tour guide planned for multiple rest stops along the way and in some cases this involved a local treat that presented opportunities for unique snapshots. In almost all cases, the stops involved opportunities for food and refreshments. All breaks were welcomed. Despite the stops, we were always on time at our destinations or even early in some cases. At each city where we stayed overnight, there was always some scenic pleasure or local flavor to experience. Our tour director was exceptionally knowledgeable of the local areas and customs and always provided us with very helpful information to allow us to navigate around the area without difficulty. In addition, the tour director kept us lively and energized by sharing stories and history of the areas through which we were passing. She was quite skilled at keeping our group together and providing us with a rewarding experience. The only issues we had were with the weather (heat wave in the area with no air conditioning at most of the hotels) which we understand is not under Trafalgar's control. The hotels were OK for the most part, but we would have preferred an American style hotel. We also understand that the meals had to be buffet style, but we did not like the need to have to jostle and nudge to get our meals, especially when competing with other tour groups at the buffet line. With the heat, having to work for the meals was quite taxing and detracted from the experience somewhat. We also understand that the pace of the itinerary was necessary to cover the ground that we did, but a more leisurely pace would have been appreciated. Getting up early every morning and traveling all day and then trying to sleep in hot hotels with no air conditioning was a challenge on some days. But, despite some of these issues, overall, we thoroughly enjoyed the trip and glad we had the experience we did.

• €100 deposit on some dates Some departure dates offer you the chance to book this tour with a lower deposit.

Focus on Scandinavia

There has been some renewed interest in Scandanavia as a touring destination, mainly among Australians and Americans (very few Brits) who have visited central Europe before and who now want to add something of the north to another tour or to their personal itineraries. Our party comprised 46 friendly travellers which was probably over the top for the pace of the tour and the management of the guests by the tour director, no matter how competent. Bus transportation was of good quality with safe, knowledgeable drivers which was a good thing as this tour clocks up over 2700km plus the odd ferry trip and a cruise on the Sogne Fjord. Check airport transfers are included. Our tour director Jane was well briefed and imparted all the essential information with good humour and in a clear manner. Guests should be prepared for longish days with only one or two hotel stopovers longer than the one night duration. For the cost of the holiday, the general standard of the hotels is sound to good. Much has been written about the location of some of the hotels being sometimes well away from the city centre but given there are several opportunities on optional tours (expensive) and included sightseeing to visit the central areas, this should not represent a problem. Denmark, Sweden and particularly Norway are expensive places to visit so be prepared to enjoy your included meals and maybe prepare your picnics for lunchtime stops. The breakfasts are almost entirely very good with lots of choice. Some , but not all, of the evening buffets are less appetising but one or two are excellent. Norway in particular is spectacularly scenic whilst Denmark, other than Copenhagen, is less eye catching. Tour guides are well prepared, speak excellent English and the use of whisper boxes is ideal. Previous reviewers are right in that this is a well presented and easily accessible tour, ideal for the first time visitor to Scandanavia who wishes to make a mental note of where they would like to visit or discover more on some future occasion.

Spectacular Scandinavia & its Fjords (Classic, 15 Days)

The tour was great as we covered a broad range of sites in Denmark, Sweden and Norway!

• Christmas & New Year

Scandinavian Escape

Great trip, great group and superb guide

• 10% deposit on some dates Some departure dates offer you the chance to book this tour with a lower deposit.

• Sightseeing

Great Scandinavia ( 9 days )

Copenhagen to Helsinki

Inga and Lukaz did a fantastic job. I thoroughly enjoyed myself and thought it was one of the best vacations I’ve ever had.

The beautiful Norway and Nordic Capitals

Iceland Express

The tour was great! Our tour guide Jonas went above and beyond to make us feel welcomed, safe, and comfortable. I would recommend this tour to anyone who wants to have a quick glimpse of key spots in Iceland in a short time. We were also very lucky to get a wonderful group of fellow travelers. People matter!

Spectacular Scandinavia & its Fjords (Small Groups, 15 Days)

Scenic Norway

A very good and enjoyable tour led by an excellent guide (Peter) whose quiet informative and often humorous style was a key plus for our holiday. Also excellent was the driver Maciek and his coach - a very smooth journey up and down fjords, mountains and through all those tunnels. Hotels were a bit variable as below: OSLO - Thon Europa. Good location but small room and food was average. Staff helpful. RAULAND - hotel seemed a bit 'out of season' and the decor was a bit jaded. The pool complex was shut due to an electrical fault. Food average - not much choice at breakfast. BERGEN - Scandic Orner - smart business hotel but rooms very small. breakfast buffet excellent STALHEIM - best location for scenic views. Hotel seems a bit dated and decor a bit tired but has great atmosphere. Food OK Loen - Alexandra - best hotel by a mile. Wonderful pool complex. Food choice good and high quality. Lillehammer Scandic - big, busy resort hotel. Rooms were cramped but food choice and quality was good. Oslo - Scandic Victoria - Great location but a disappointing hotel. Rooms again small and food choice and quality poor. When I asked for some cream or ice cream to accompany my dessert (a piece of dry cake) I was told there wasn't any - really? Thankfully the weather behaved itself after a damp day or so in Bergen. I think the itinerary worked well and the mix of boat trip, train ride and fjord drives gave us a wonderful taster of Scenic Norway.

• Northern Lights

Nordic Adventure (20 Days)

• Hiking & Trekking

7 Day - Complete Iceland

Had the time of my life!! What a beautiful country, like visiting another planet. I couldn't have chosen a better company to go with, they made it very easy and our tour guide was a local, very informative and helpful.

6 Day Around Iceland Summer Minibus Tour

Jonthor was a fantastic guide and driver. He planned full days full of interesting stops (hard not to in beautiful Iceland!). There were enough options in activities on offer and lunch/dinner plans to keep everyone satisfied and on budget. Highly recommended.

8 Days Guided Iceland Circle

Iceland is an incredible country to visit and the time we spent there was priceless. We had a technical problem: due to the weather the flight to Reykjavík was cancelled and postponed to the following day. We announced the travel agency and they provided a taxi in order th catch the tour. Instead to have a transportation from the company we had to pay an additional 300euros regardless was not our fault for the delay. Maybe you should consider such situation in your program. Another observation is about the guide. He was totally disinterested on our existence, totally unprepared to be a guide with knowledge, also a little bit impolite and rude.

Nordic / Scandinavia Coach / Bus Tour Reviews

My trip was well organized. The Tour Leader Amanda and the Driver Raffie were both excellent. The cities, sites, people, and events experienced were a joy.

Excllent tour, excellent tour director and driver.

Great itinerary , guide, driver, local guides

Travel Styles

• 10 Best Coach & Bus Companies (with Reviews)

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El Travel Elect Pvt. Ltd

Russia & Scandinavia 13N / 14D Tour

13 Nights / 14 Days

https://www.tourtravelworld.com/packages/russia-scandinavia-13n-14d-tour-56031.html INR 0 Offered by : El Travel Elect Pvt. Ltd https://www.tourtravelworld.com/packages/russia-scandinavia-13n-14d-tour-56031.html 5 / 5 - 3 Reviews

Day wise Itinerary

Day 1 : Fly to Moscow

Welcome to Moscow - the capital and the largest city of Russia. On arrival, you will be met by your tour Manager / Local Representative outside the custom area who will welcome you and take you to your hotel for check -in (Check-in time is after 3.00 pm). Overnight at the hotel in Moscow.

Day 2 : Visit to the Kremlin Guided City Tour of Moscow Enjoy a Famous Russian Circus in Moscow

After a continental breakfast, we first take you to visit the Kremlin, the very heart of Russia. Our visit to the Kremlin include Patriarch’s Palace, Terem Palace and Cathedral Square, which houses many churches with exquisite golden domes. Later, on a city tour of Moscow, we visit the world famous Red Square. Next, see Leo Tolstoy Street, Triumphal Arch, White House, Arbat Square, Boulevard Ring, Tverskaya Street and Manezh Square. Later, visit the Metro station of Moscow often called ‘the people’s palaces’, for their elegant designs, lavish and profuse use of marble, mosaics, sculptures and chandeliers. As a grand finale of your Moscow experience, enjoy a performance at the famous Russian Circus. Overnight at the hotel in Moscow.

Day 3 : High - Speed Train to St. Petersburg Guided City Tour of St. Petersburg Visit to St. Isaac’s Cathe

After a continental breakfast, we check out and proceed to the train station for our High Speed train to St. Petersburg. On arrival proceed to a restaurant for a breakfast. Later, we take you on a guided city tour of St. Petersburg, known as ‘Northern Venice’. We drive along the ‘Great Perspective’ famous today as Nevsky Prospect, lined with marble palaces of Russian royalty and aristocracy. Visit Issac’s Cathedral - the main church of the Russian Empire. Later, visit to The Peter and Paul Fortress - the original citadel of St. Petersburg, Russia, founded by Peter the Great in 1703 and built to Domenico Trezzini’s designs from 1706-1740. Later, we proceed to the hotel for your check-in. Overnight at the hotel in St. Petersburg.

Day 4 : Visit Catherine Palace & Park at Pushkin Visit to Hermitage Museum Visit to a Russian Folklore show

After a continental breakfast, we proceed to Catherine Palace. See the spacious airy ballroom, the "Grand Hall" or the "Hall of Lights", with a spectacular painted ceiling, and comprises numerous distinctively decorated smaller rooms, including the reproduced Amber Room. As we enter the palace, we can sense the spirit of the times of Empresses Elizabeth and Catherine II and admire unique works of fine and applied art. St. Petersburg Next, we proceed to visit the Hermitage Museum. The gigantic collection of nearly three million objects of the Heritage Museum, ranked as one of the world’s major museums. Tonight, we discover traditional Russian dance and music during an elegant reception at the Russian Folklore show. Overnight at the hotel in St. Petersburg.

Day 5 : Fly to Helsinki

Begin your ‘All of Scandinavia’ Tour. Welcome to Helsinki - the capital Finland. On arrival, you will be met by your Tour Manager / Local Representative outside the customs area, who will welcome you and take you to your hotel (Check-in time is after 3.00 pm). Overnight at the hotel in Helsinki.

Day 6 : Guided City Tour of Helsinki Visit to Helsinki Cathedral and Uspensky Cathedral Overnight Ferry

After a buffet breakfast, we check out of the hotel and proceed on a guided city tour of Helsinki. See the important and interesting parts of Helsinki - Presidential Palace, Lutheran Church, Senate Square, Opera House and Sibelius Park. Later, we visit to Helsinki Cathedral & Uspenski cathedral. Helsinki cathedral is an Evangelic Lutheran church, and for many it is the symbol of Helsinki and The Uspenski Cathedral is a Russian Orthodox cathedral on the Katajanokka peninsula in Helsinki. It is the largest Orthodox church in western Europe. Later, we board the Overnight Ferry to Stockholm. Overnight on board the Ferry (Sea View Cabin).

Day 7 : Arrive into Stockholm Guided City Tour of Stockholm Visit to the Vasa Museum and Royal Palace

After a buffet breakfast, we disembark our Ferry and proceed on a guided city tour of Stockholm. Welcome to Stockholm - the Capital and largest city of capital of Sweden. Built on 14 Islands, you are never far from the water in Stockholm. See the City Hall, Opera House and Alfred Nobel’s House. Next, we proceed to visit the famous Vasa Museum - Sweden’s most visited museum enshrining the warship Vasa, sunk inside Stockholm harbour while on her maiden voyage in 1628. The ship was built to the order of the great Vasa king, Gustavus Adolphus, and was the most powerful war galleon. Later, we visit Royal Palace home of the Swedish royal family. The Palace houses several of the greatest and most interesting sights in Stockholm - the Royal Apartments, the Hall of State and much more. Overnight at the hotel in Stockholm.

Day 8 : Visit Skansen Open Air Museum with Zoo Visit to The Stockholm City Hall

After a buffet breakfast, we proceed to Skansen Open Air Museum. At Skansen you can learn about traditional crafts and traditions. This is the place to visit historic Sweden in miniature. 150 farms and dwellings from different parts of the country were disassembled and transported here. You’ll find charming town districts with glass blowing, pottery, a tinsmith’s workshop and a bakery, a goldcolored manor house, the Skogaholm manor house, the beautiful eighteenth-century Seglora wooden church and the The museum shop is a must for fans of traditional handicrafts. There is also a terrarium, a monkey house and a children’s zoo. It is primarily the Scandinavian animal world that is represented here, with Swedish native breeds and Nordic wild animals such as bears, wolves, seals and moose. Later, visit to the Stockholm City Hall - one of Sweden’s most famous buildings. It houses officesfor 200 people including the Municipal Council, and is also famous for its grand ceremonial halls and unique art pieces. The Stockholm City Hall is the venue of the Nobel Prize banquet held on 10 December each year. Overnight at the hotel in Stockholm.

Day 9 : Flight to Bergen Guided City Tour of Bergen Experience the Fløibanen Funicular Ride in Bergen

After a buffet breakfast, we check-out of the hotel and drive to the airport for your flight to Bergen. Bergen is located in the county of Hordaland on the southwestern coast of Norway. Its city center is situated among a group of mountains known as "De Syv Fjell" and it is the second largest city in Norway. On arrival, we begin our guided panoramic city tour of Bergen, including a visit to the popular Fish and Flower Market, the famous Bryggen Harbour with its gabled houses, and the old Hanseatic Quarter. Later, we proceed to The Floibanen Funicular in Bergen which is one of the most popular attractions in all of Norway. The funicular ride up to the top of Floyen mountain (320 meters above sea level) takes 5-6 minutes. The ride itself is spectacular and the views of Bergen only improve the closer you get to the top. Once at the top of the funicular, you can choose from a vast number of hikes over the mountain. There is also a café and restaurant with breathtaking views. Overnight at the hotel in Bergen.

Day 10 : Onto Gudvangen Cruise on Sogenefjord to Flam Enjoy Scenic Flamsbana train Ride Flam - Myrdal - Flam

After a buffet breakfast, we check-out of the hotel and drive to Gudvangen to take a leisurely Cruise on one of the Norway’s most famous and splendid Fjords, the Sognefjord to Flam. Upon arrival, soak in the spectacular natural beauty, peace and harmony. We, then transfer you to the Flam railway station to board Scenic Flamsbana train to enjoy the most beautiful train journey in the world Flam - Myrdal - Flam. This train ride will give you the breathtaking experience of Norway. See the magnificent Kjosfossen Waterfall. On arrival, join your coach and drive to Oslo - located at the end of a 100 kilometre long fjord and surrounded by green hills and a vast forest area. It is the capital and largest city of Norway. Overnight at the hotel in Oslo.

Day 11 : Guided City Tour of Oslo Visit Vigeland Park and Viking Museum

After a buffet breakfast, we proceed on a guided city tour of Oslo. See Parliament Square, National Galleries, Karl Johan shopping street, Royal Palace and Akershus Castle, The Norwegian Defence Museum, City Hall and visit Vigeland Park. Later, we visit the Viking Ship Museum. It displays the Viking Age Oseberg ship, Gokstad ship and Tune ship. Overnight at the hotel in Oslo.

Day 12 : Orientation Tour of Malmo Drive to Copenhagen across the Famous Öresund Bridge

After a buffet breakfast, we check-out of the hotel and drive to Copenhagen. En-route we bypass the cities of Gothenburg and Malmo in Sweden. On reaching Sweden’s third largest city Malmo, we proceed on Orientation tour of Malmo city. See Sankt Petri church, Malmo Opera & Music theater, Gustav Adolf square and City hall. Later we drive on the Öresund bridge. The 16 km bridge and tunnel links, Malmö with Denmark’s capital, Copenhagen the capital and largest city of Denmark. It is situated on the Islands of Zealand and Amager. On arrival we check into the hotel. Overnight at the hotel in Copenhagen.

Day 13 : Guided City Tour of Copenhagen Visit to Carlsberg Brewery Visit to Tivoli Garden

After a buffet breakfast, we proceed for a guided city tour of Copenhagen which reveals impressive sights such as the Renaissance Stock Exchange, Christians borg Palace, Amalien borg Palace and Danish Parliament. Also see the ‘Little Mermaid’ the national symbol of Denmark, the statue inspired by Hans Christian Andersen’s sad fairytale. Next, we visit the famous Carlsberg Brewery, The 10.000 m²Visitors Center is located within the buildings of the original brewery founded in 1847. One of the Nordic region’s oldest breweries with an impressive and compelling history. Experience our authentic Carlsberg brewery - and learn the fascinating history of Carlsberg and its world famous beer. Later, we proceed to visit Tivoli Garden, the famous amusement park and pleasure garden. Overnight at the hotel in Copenhagen.

Day 14 : Return Home with Wonderful Memories

After a buffet breakfast, we check out and drive to the airport for your flight back home. Its time to say goodbye to all the new friends you have made. We hope you take back many happy memories of your holiday. We would like you to spare a few minutes of your time to write and tell us how you enjoyed your holiday and any suggestions you may have for the future.

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• Regent Seven Seas Cruises

Best of Moscow by high speed train

By shuguley , February 15, 2014 in Regent Seven Seas Cruises

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Sure would appreciate someone who has taken "Best of Moscow by high speed train" from St. Petersburg could please share their impressions of this shore excursion. From the description this sounds like a very long day.

Wondering how the 4 hour train trip was in terms of accommodations, etc. Also what time did you leave the ship and what time at night did you return? Were both legs of the trip on the high speed rail (I read that slower trains also travel the same tracks)?

My wife and I are considering this excursion. We thought that if we are making all the effort to go to Russia then how could we pass up going to Moscow, walking in Red Square, seeing St. Basil, etc.

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If you are considering this on the 2015 June Baltic cruise on Voyager; my suggestion is don't. There is so much to do in St. Petersburg and although a train is one of my favorite ways to travel the time would be far better spent in St. P.

Thanks for the advice. Yes, this would be on the Voyager during the 2015 season but not yet sure exactly which cruise.

We did the Moscow excursion "on a different luxury line", but from your brief description it sounds very much like the same trip, so I will operate on that assumption. It is a VERY long day! We left the ship at 5:30 AM and returned at 12:30 AM. The highspeed train trip is comfortable, and while they call it "Business Class" it does not compare well to the equivalent class on say Rail Europe. When we did it in 2011, we did have highspeed both ways, and the trip back seemed much longer as the adrenaline and excitement had worn off!:D

Moscow itself is not that terribly different from any other big city in the world, but this Cold War kid never thought he would ever stand in Red Square, never mind walk the grounds of The Kremlin, or tour The Kremlin Palace, or see (but not visit) Lenin's Tomb, or visit The Armoury. But he did, and he loved every minute of it! Yes, it is a long day, and you barely scratch a scratch on the surface, but it is worth it. There is a tremendous amount to see in St. Petersburg, but every Baltic cruise goes to St. Petersburg, so you can go back if you choose to. Not every cruiseline offers you the chance to see Moscow.

I have not personally done this tour, but our last time in St Petersburg, the private guide that we hired for a day was leading the regent tour to Moscow on the high speed train the next day. He said it was way better than the previous alternative, which was flying to Moscow and back. He said that you actually got to Moscow faster because you didn't have to deal with airline checkin etc. it did seem like a very long day to me, and there is so much to see and do in st. Petersburg that I didn't consider doing it.

countflorida

We toured to Moscow from St. Petersburg via the hi-speed SAPSAN train last September, from a Baltic cruise on the Oceania Marina. You need to have a two-night, three day port call in St. Petersburg to take this tour because the tour typically leaves the ship around 5:00 - 5:30 AM and doesn't return until after midnight the next day. We didn't take the ship's tour; we made private arrangements with TravelAllRussia for three days of touring, the first and third days in St. Petersburg and the second day the tour to Moscow by train. Our cost for the private tour for three days was about the same as what the ship charged for the excursion to Moscow alone. There are a number of private tour agencies that operate in St. Petersburg and offer the Moscow train tours; we would strongly recommend them over the ship's tours.

All three days had private guides with car and driver. The second day, the driver picked us up at the ship and took us to the train, but we were alone on the train, and met in Moscow by the guide on the station platform. After our tour and dinner, we were brought back to the train and after the return train trip met by the driver and taken back to the ship. Because you are alone on the train you must have your own Russian visas.

If this is your first visit to St. Petersburg, I would agree there is much more to see there. We found Moscow somewhat a disappointment, particularly Red Square. The Kremlin and the cathedral in Red Square were also worth seeing. But the best thing we saw was the Moscow subway! I worked for the Washington Metro system back in the 1980s as it grew from 40 to 80 miles and although I was in the computer area, I learned a lot about the challenges of running a subway system. We used the Moscow system to get across the city from where we had dinner to the train station, and I was amazed at the cleanliness', speed of operation, the short headways maintained, and the courtesy of everyone involved. A very impressive experience!

We had been to St. Petersburg before, and so had the time to take a day and go to Moscow. Also, I really like trains, and the SAPSAN is a German train set running on Russian rails. Seats are like first class domestic air, spacious but not too plush or comfortable, but with enough room. Not too much recline, and almost 8 hours on the train in two shots is a lot for an old man. They come through and sell drinks, candy, etc. but the sellers don't speak English and no one around us helped, so we had just poor coffee once coming, and brought stuff with us for the trip back. Not too much to see from the train either, particularly on the return when it is night the whole way.

If you decide to go, take a private tour and avoid the overly expensive ship's tour. I'm glad we did it, but wouldn't bother to repeat the tour; we've seen Moscow.

Thanks so much to all of you for the thorough and thought insight. Yhe information you have provided is most helpful.

countflorida: Your detailed post is very helpful. We are not quite ready for a Baltic cruise but should do so within a year. Time enough to do our pre travel research, bookings and visa gathering.:) Thank you!

Emperor Norton

Sure would appreciate someone who has taken "Best of Moscow by high speed train" from St. Petersburg could please share their impressions of this shore excursion. From the description this sounds like a very long day.   Wondering how the 4 hour train trip was in terms of accommodations, etc. Also what time did you leave the ship and what time at night did you return? Were both legs of the trip on the high speed rail (I read that slower trains also travel the same tracks)?   My wife and I are considering this excursion. We thought that if we are making all the effort to go to Russia then how could we pass up going to Moscow, walking in Red Square, seeing St. Basil, etc.

I did this on Seabourn. IMO DONT. Take Aeroflop (er Aeroflot). The train has non folding seats where you are literally knee to knee with your fellow passenger (facing each other). Further they don't believe in air conditioning. It's also the worlds slowed bullet train. I think I would have found more enjoyment wandering around the St. Petersburg and Moscow airports.

Countflorida,

This is a little off topic,, however we had planned a river cruise in Russia but decided we would rather stay on land and have booked about two weeks with Travel-All-Russia using the private guide and driver. I'm curious as to how you found them as a tour company.

The guides they provided were fine. We had a different guide each of the days in St. Petersburg, but both were flexible, pleasant, knowledgeable and spoke English very well, as did the guide in Moscow, incidentally. She was a bit aloof, distant, not too friendly, but otherwise fine. In fact, she was the one who suggested taking the Metro, which unexpectedly became one of the highlights of the Moscow excursion. If I have a complaint with AllTravelRussia, it is with their plan and its execution (more later).

I had requested emphasis on World War II (in Russia, the Great Patriotic War) sites and info. In scheduling us, they weren't careful about dates and a couple of the sites we wanted to see were scheduled on the third day, after we'd been to Moscow. But both sites were closed that day of the week, and that info was readily available, right on web sites describing them. Also, the included meals (lunches in St. Pete, dinner in Moscow) were not what we asked for: light meals with some choices, so we could avoid things we didn't like and choose things we did like. My request was ignored; we were given full Russian meals with a fixed menu, no choice. On the first day, a fish dish was the entre, but I am allergic to fish. Fortunately, I had the e-mail I'd sent with me and showed it to the guide, and she was able to change my entre to chicken, which was very good actually. But we didn't want a 3-4 course lunches or dinner (in Moscow). We had the guide drop the lunch the third day, although we never got any credit or refund. But, particularly in contrast to the ship's tours, the prices were so reasonable we didn't worry too much about it.

The people who were on the ship's tour to Moscow saw us boarding the same train for which they were forced to queue up and wait on the way back, and asked us what we had done. I was candid and open so they were not happy when I explained what we had arranged and particularly what it had cost. Also, when we returned to the ship, we found they had laid on a late supper for those who had gone to Moscow, so up we went and had something. Well, it turns out the late supper was supposed to be just for those on the ship's tour, but we and others on 'independent' tours, there were a dozen or more of us, crashed the party, actually got there first, and they didn't realize it until the larger group arrived and there weren't enough tables/places set. By that time, the 'independents' had all gotten served and were eating; what could they do?

A couple from the larger group sat down with us and asked us about our tour, and they were the ones I told about our arrangement and its cost. They turned to others who’d been with them and announced the details, loudly enough so the whole room heard, which started a lot of bitching and complaining. I gathered they weren't very happy with the ship's tour to begin with, and this was the straw that broke the camel's back. We finished up and beat it out of there, but overheard later that one of the excursion staff came to check on something and ran into a real mess. I caught a cold on the trip, which forced me to bed the second day following in Tallinn, so by the time we reappeared we heard about the contretemps' but apparently no one recalled who started it, thankfully.

Because of what happened to us, I would probably not use AllTravelRussia if I were to go again, or if I did, I would be sure to get confirmation of every detail of the tour. They do have good reviews generally, and we were certainly helped by their visa department and liked the guides and drivers. Their weakness, I say now with full 20:20 hindsight, is that once the sales person who plans the tour, sells it to you and collects your money, he (or she) transfers the plan to their Russia office for implementation; there is no follow-up to make sure it gets done right. And that is where our problems arose; we paid for a custom tour but got a standard package with a few destinations switched, and no one checked them out, even to see when they were open the day we were scheduled to go. If you check every detail that’s important to you, it should be OK, but that’s a hell of a way to have to do business, in my opinion.

Thank you for the 20/20 hindsight observation on your Russian tour operator, and better priced than the ship's excursion cost.

Thanks very much for the feedback.

We had the same experience as you so far as price. We originally booked a Viking Cruise but, hearing some things about the river cruises that made us unhappy, looked into other options. T-A-R cost the same or less than a cruise and had us in hotels for 11 days. We opted for the private tour. They have three tour levels, based on hotels. We originally opted for the four star as it did not cost much more than the three star hotels. Finally we decided to throw it all in and upgraded to five star. In Moscow we will be at the newly opened Kempinsky which is two blocks from Red Square. In St. Petersburg it is the Grand Hotel Europe, one of the most vaunted luxury hotels in Russia. Location is important for us as the tours use up only part of the day so being in the center of everything for our independent touring is important. As with many other cities, the less you pay, the farther out of the center of town you are.

We have been working with our salesman in D.C. and he seems to get back to us with the changes we want. He recently returned from Russia so is up on everything. When I asked they said they paid the full TA commission if I wanted so I got my usual TA on board so he is watching our back and giving us that extra level of comfort. He also set up our air, which I know pays him little or nothing, and got us business class for much less than T-A-R wanted for economy, though it took working for a while with a consolidator. He's happy to get his 10 percent on this trip without having booked it. He also took care of the trip insurance. We've been doing a lot of research on the CC sister site Trip Advisor and will write a report there. We will, I guess, become a source of info for CC members after having spent 5 days in Moscow and 6 in SP.

• 4 months later...

scubacruiserx2

Anybody considering a day trip to Moscow from St. Petersburg on the Sapsan may want to look at our travelogue filled with pictures.

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1927687

Very informative. Thanks dor sharing. Jeff

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