Rail journey through northern Scandinavia

A fortress in the sea: on a city tour, you will see that Finland's metropolis is a rendezvous of old and new: on one side, the white cathedral with its turquoise dome and the golden onion domes of the Uspenski Cathedral, on the other, the fascinating play of light in the modern rock cathedral. In the afternoon, take a boat out onto the Baltic Sea through the green islands just outside Helsinki. The fortress walls of Suomenlinna (UNESCO World Heritage Site) soon appear on the horizon. The imposing complex extends over several islands. 

Today you have time to explore Helsinki on your own. Fancy a shopping spree on the Esplanadi promenade or the hustle and bustle of the market halls? Art lovers are spoiled for choice: today at the Ateneum or at the Kiasma or Design Museum? In the evening, the express train to Lapland awaits you at the central station. It will take you north in comfortable sleeping compartments through the bright Finnish summer night. 

To the midnight sun with Santa Claus Forests and lakes as far as the eye can see - welcome to Lapland! Your train will soon reach Rovaniemi, the capital of Finnish Lapland and home of Santa Claus in the Arctic Circle. In the impressive glass vault of the Arktikum, everything revolves around the nature, culture and people of the Arctic. A special experience awaits you in the afternoon: on an easy one-hour hike, you will climb Mount Oulankaa and enjoy a magnificent panoramic view as a reward. Your dinner will be prepared in a typical Finnish kota. Don't hesitate to look up: In good weather, the midnight sun shines (May date) and in September, with a bit of luck, the fascinating Northern Lights can be seen. 

Today's bus trip from Rovaniemi across the border to Luleå in Sweden first takes you through forest and lake country. Keep an eye out for reindeer and moose. Then continue on a scenic route along the Baltic Sea coast with views of the archipelago. In the afternoon, explore Gammelstad, the 1,000-year-old old town of Luleå. The historic church village is Sweden's largest and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Its imposing stone church from the 13th century bears witness to the region's prosperity through the fur and salmon trade. Today you will stay in a comfortable hotel in Luleå. (F)

Sweden's far north is home to the world's largest iron ore deposits, rock with an iron content of up to 70%. Visit a mine 540 m underground and discover the secrets of Swedish steel. In the afternoon you have the choice: you can explore Kiruna on your own or visit the always lively sled dogs on their farm (optional excursion). For dinner, you all enjoy local specialties together. 

On the Ore Railway. Today you will travel the most beautiful section of the Ore Railway from Kiruna to Narvik: bizarre mountain giants, dense forests, deserted tundra. From the port city on the North Atlantic, you continue by bus along the stunning fjord coast to the island of Hinnøya. You will spend your first night on the Lofoten Islands in the fishing village of Svolvær. 

In the Lofoten Islands. Visit some of the 80 or so Lofoten islands on a day trip by coach. A fantastic world of rocks and sea: rugged peaks, surrounded by sounds and fjords, are reflected in the deep blue Atlantic. Colorful fishing villages huddle against steep cliffs. Your tour guide knows the most beautiful views and takes you to the Lofoten Wall, which rises 1,000 m out of the ocean. Enjoy a picnic on the beach with Norwegian specialties in a wonderful setting. (FM)

Today you will experience northern Norway's fjords and islands from a different perspective. Over breakfast on board a coastal boat, you can take in the fantastic scenery. It is not until the early afternoon that you reach your destination, the northernmost point of your journey: Tromsø, the gateway to the Arctic Ocean. A real eye-catcher on the city tour: the Arctic Ocean Cathedral; Tromsø is, after all, the northernmost episcopal see on earth.Emma's Drømmekjøkken, wonderfully old-fashioned and elegant at the same time, is a worthy venue for the finale of your trip: Here, as the name suggests, seasonal fish specialties are served. Enjoy your meal! You will spend the night in a comfortable hotel in Tromsø. 

From Tromsø Airport you fly back home.