SCAN WORLD TOURS
ATTRACTIONS

 

ATTRACTIONS AND EVENTS TO CONSIDER FOR YOUR ITINERARY:

NORWAY -

  • Norway in a Nutshell - a full day independent tour of the Norwegian countryside from Oslo to Bergen or reverse using trains, boat and bus.
  • Hurtigruten Coastal Cruise - six or seven day cruise along one of the world's most exciting stretches of coastline. Originally scheduled to carry local people and goods between the ports of North Norway, the 11 ships comprising the current fleet now make the Land of the Midnight Sun accessible to an international audience.
  • Fjord tours - one to seven days cruising awe-inspiring fjords and travelling along crystal lakes, past spectacular waterfalls and snow-capped mountain peaks.
  • Bergen - one of the nine European Cities of Culture for the year 2000 will feature a host of cultural events in town and all over Western Norway.

A sampling of annual festivals: Jazz Festival in May (Stavanger); Medieval Festival in June (Oslo); Midnight Sun Marathon in July (Tromso); Peer Gynt Festival in August (Gala Lake); Hell Blues Festival in September (Hell/Trondheim); Rain Festival in October (Bergen).

SWEDEN -

  • Kingdom of Crystal - Visit up to 16 glassworks between Vaxjo and Nybro, including Orrefors and Kosta Boda. Open year 'round, the glassworks of the Smaland region are surrounded by deep forests.
  • Stockholm - don't miss the Gamla Stan (Old Town), renowned for its picturesque narrow alleys, old and beautiful houses and many shops, restaurants, and galleries. The Royal Palace, and both the Skansan Open Air and Vasa Museums are also "must sees" in Stockholm.
  • Gota Canal (or Blue Ribbon Canal) - takes you past castles, monasteries, palaces, medieval churches, and a number of picturesque towns. Really a system of canals and locks connecting rivers and lakes all the way from Gothenburg to Stockholm, the Gota Canal covers 372 miles and unites the North Sea with the Baltic Sea.
  • Gothenburg - boasts the largest harbor in Scandinavia and an international flavor due to the heritage of German, Scottish, English and Dutch merchants who once settled there. Don't miss the Poseidon Sculpture and Fountain, and the Liesenberg Amusement Park.
  • Ice Hotel - in Lapland Is rebuilt each December out of 1500 tons of ice and 2000 tons of snow. Though frozen on the outside, it is both inviting and cozy on the inside. Up to 100 guests can enjoy an icy "resort" complex Including a Church, gallery, golf room, cinema, and bar.

A sampling of annual festivals: Kiruna Snow Festival in January; Stockholm Marathon in June; Falun Folk Music Festival in July; Medieval Festival (Visby) and Stockholm Water Festival in August; Lucia Day ill December (nationwide).

FINLAND -

  • Helsinki - is located on a peninsula at the southern tip of Finland, overlooking numerous beautiful intriguing islands that make up Finland's coastal archipelago (the second largest in Europe). Visit Senate Square, Market Square, and the awe-inspiring "Rock Church" (Temppeliaukio).
  • The "King's Road" - is the only viable connection between the capitals of Scandinavia and Russia and dates back to the 13th century. Visit Turku, Fiskars, Vantaa, Espoo, Porvoo and Lappeenranta before returning to Helsinki or continuing on to Russia.
  • The Lakeland - home to almost 188,000 lakes and 33,000 islands - was created during the Ice Age. Here you visit Savonlinna, home to the world-famous Opera Festival; and Jyvaskyla, renowned for the Alvar Alto Museum honoring Finland's famous architect.
  • Lapland's capital of Rovaniemi is where Santa Claus and his reindeer reside. The streets here are laid out in the shape of a pair of reindeer antlers. Visit the Arktikum Science Center, which depicts life above the Arctic Circle.

A sampling of annual festivals: Arctic Comics Festival in May; Midnight Sun Cinema in June (Sodankyla); Savonlinna Opera Festival in July; Helsinki Music Festival in August/September.

DENMARK -

  • Copenhagen - watch the changing of the guard at Amalienborg Palace, stop at one of Nyhavn's quayside taverns, and stroll the Stroget pedestrian street. Of course, Tivoli Gardens has been a "don't miss" since its opening in 1843!
  • Legoland in Billund features acres of landmarks made of legos, the famous little building blocks.
  • Nationwide - visit numerous excavated Viking sites, including battlements and elaborate burial Monuments. Also see a few of the over 800 castles and manor houses sprinkled across the Countryside.
  • North Sealand - prime touring Country featuring Karen Blixen's family home (Rungstedlund), Humlebaek's Louisiana Museum of Art, and Helsingor's/Elsinore's brooding Kronborg Castle of Hamlet fame.
  • Greenland - under Danish governmental rule - is North America's closest neighbor and the largest island in the world.

A sampling of annual festivals: Royal Danish Ballet and Royal Danish Opera (all year); Viking Play in May/June (Fyrkat); Riverboat Jazz Festival in June (Silkeborg); Fourth of July at Rebild National Park (Aalborg); European Medieval Festival in August (Horsens); Christmas Market in November/December (Copenhagen).

ICELAND -

  • Reykjavik - is one of the nine European Cities of Culture in 2000 and offers non-stop ballet, theater and music. See the Asmundur Sveinsson Sculpture Garden and Flojdi House, the charming town center, City Hall, and fishing harbor.
  • Blue Lagoon - in southwest Iceland is a geothermal wonder providing a hot springs experience in all ice-cold environment... all year!
  • Tour the Golden Circle of Gullfoss and Geysir and pass lava fields, an extinct volcano crater, spectacular Gullfoss waterfall, the hot spring area of Geysir and the rift valley boundary between tectonic continental plates.

For information on tours to any of these destinations or other assistance with your vacation, complete the "Request Information" form in this web site.