Sweden

Day 1 Copenhagen
Arrival at the airport and transfer to hotel.

Day 2 Copenhagen
You are introduced to Hans Christian Andersen's Little Mermaid - the symbol of Copenhagen - gazing wistfully across the harbour. Highlight visit takes you inside the Christiansborg (the Danish Parliament). See the Rosenborg and Amalienborg Palaces and the Renaissance Stock Exchange. See the Ny Carlsberg Glyptotek, Thorvaldsen's Museum and The National Museum.

Day 3 Copenhagen – Stockholm (660km/8,30h)
Drive to Elsinore to see Hamlet's Kronborg Castle before taking a ferry across to Sweden. Journey takes you through fertile farm land, and along the shores of Lake Vättern to Stockholm, which is set on 14 beautiful islands.

Day 4 Stockholm - Helsinki (cruise)
Start the day with an insight into the Swedish welfare state - learn about the myths and realities of maintaining these first class benefits. Then the charms of Sweden's capital are revealed with your local guide. Visit the City Hall's 'Gold Room', where Nobel Prize banquets are held, the medieval Old Town and see the cathedral. Visit the 17th century Vasa Galleon, one of the greatest attractions of northern Europe, then embark on a Baltic cruise to Finland through the largest archipelago in the world. On board, enjoy a Highlight Dinner.

Day 5 Helsinki
Disembark in Helsinki to visit the astonishing modern 'Church in the Rock'. Also see the Sibelius Monument, Finland Hall, the Russian Orthodox church and the lively market. The rest of the day is at leisure. Overnight.

Day 6 Helsinki – Kuopio (400km/6h)
Leave Helsinki behind and travel through a land of beautiful lakes and forests today! This afternoon enjoy an ascent of Kuopio's Viewing Tower. The splendid panorama will reveal why Finland is called the land of a thousand lakes. Overnight.

Day 7 Kuopio – Rovaniemi (510km/8h)
Today go to Arctic and into Lapland, the home of the Sami people. Your destination is Rovaniemi, the modern capital of the region. After arrival you will have some free time to explore the city on your own. Overnight.

Day 8 Rovaniemi - Arctic circle – Saariselka (260km/4h)
Visit Santa Claus Village and have the chance to meet Santa himself! Visit town hall, designed by Aalvar Aalto and Lutheran church - famous for its considerable large fresco. You can also visit Jätkänkynttilä bridge - one of the most important symbols of Rovaniemi. It runs over the Kemijoki close the northern end of the city center. Heading for the oldest church in Lapland, you may see herds of reindeer roaming freely along the way. Travel through Europe's last great wilderness to visit the national park near the gold centre of Tankavaara. Overnight.

Day 9 Saariselka - Karasjok (190km/3,30h) - North Cape (240km/5,30h)
Cross the rolling tundra into Norway to stop at Karasjok, the seat of the Sami Parliament and a centre of Lapp culture. Visit a Lapp folk museum and its unique scenery to the North Cape. Your hotel is in Honningsvag on Mager Island, from where you will journey at night to the most northern point of Europe in search of the Midnight Sun. Overnight.

Day 10 North Cape – Alta (210km/4,30h)
Return to the mainland, travelling through stony, near deserted Finnmark to Alta, situated on one of the world's richest salmon rivers.

Day 11 Alta – Narvik (520km/10h)
Today pass the fjord where the battleship Tirpitz hid out during World War Two. Travel through some of the most stunning northern scenery, past mountains, fjords and fishing villages for a two-night stay in Narvik.

Day 12 Narvik
A day has been set aside for you to enjoy at your own pace. Perhaps visit the War Museum or take the Cablecar to the top of Fagernesfjellet in the afternoon. Overnight.

Day 13 Narvik – Mosjoen (520km/10h)
Take a ferry across Tysfjord and pass Rago National Park, its fjords cutting deep into the landscape. Bid farewell to the Arctic before reaching Mosjoen, a lovely town on the Vefsnfjord, which has the oldest octagonal church in Norway. Overnight.

Day 14 Mosjoen – Trondheim (400km/8h)
Drive through Namdal then watch for salmon leaping upstream to their spawning-grounds at the mighty Laksfoss Falls. Continue via the village of Hell to Trondheim, seat of the ancient Viking Kings, to admire the cathedral. Overnight.

Day 15 Trondheim – Geiranger (400km/8h)
Cross the Dovre Mountains, which form Norway's oldest National Park. Arrive at the mirror-smooth waters of Geirangerfjord to embark on a spectacular Highlight cruise beneath towering cliffs and cascading waterfalls. Overnight.

Day 16 Geiranger
The day is for relaxation amid the fjords and mountains, a UNESCO World Heritage area. You will have free time to explore the city on your own. Consider taking an excursion along the amazing Trolls' Road. Overnight.

Day 17 Geiranger - Lom (120km/3,30h)- Lillehammer (160km/3,30h)- Oslo (190km/3,30h)
Travel via lakes and snow-capped peaks to Lom - home to one of Norway's biggest and most beautiful stave churches. Continue through the countryside of 'Peer Gynt', immortalised by Ibsen, to Oyer to come face to face with the world's largest Troll. After stopping in Lillehammer, host of the 1994 Winter Olympics, it's on to the capital of Oslo. Overnight.

Day 18 Oslo
A panoramic tour takes in the Akershus Fort guarding the harbour and the Royal Palace and includes a visit to the Viking Long Ship Museum. Visit Frogner Park which is housing the unique and controversial sculptures by Gustav Vigeland. The afternoon is at leisure. Overnight.

Day 19 Oslo
Transfer to hotel for final departure.