Tour of a Lifetime - Lofoten Islands and Norwegian Midsummer
A Unique Tour of Norway and Sweden
June 19 - 29, 2009

Sponsored by Trillium Tours, LLC and Jomfru Reiser

ITINERARY

B = Breakfast, L = Lunch, D = Dinner

You can be as active or not as you like.

Day 1 - Friday, June 19

Depart Minneapolis with IcelandAir at 7:20 PM from HHH Airport.

Day 2 - Saturday, June 20 D

After a short stop on Iceland, we arrive in Oslo at 12:20 PM.

By bus we travel directly to Drøbak - approximately 1 hour from Gardermoen airport.

Check in at Reenskaug Hotel, a wonderful small hotel in this coastal town on the Oslofjord. The hotel is situated 50 meters from the water. Drøbak has long been a favorite vacation spot for the Norwegians. Many famous Norwegians over the years have spent time here including Knut Hamsun, Christian Krogh and Edward Munch.

The name Drøbak comes from the town’s location and means long hills. Drøbak today is considered "a pearl by the Oslofjord!"

The city has kept its old charm with narrow streets and lovely gardens around the old original homes. During the summers it is teeming with vacationers and the harbor is full of boats. Many interesting stores and art galleries, including a popular store called “Julenissehuset” (Santa’s house), can be found in Drøbak.

Free afternoon and then a walking tour of the town with a local guide.

A “Welcome” dinner at our hotel.

www.reenskaug.no

www.verneforeningen.no/pdf/walk_english.pdf  (Walking guide for the city of Drøbak)

Day 3 - Sunday, June 21 B, L

Six hour tour by coach and boat visiting the center of Oslo, the Vigeland Sculpture park, the Holmenkollen Ski Jump with museum, the Vikingships and the Kon-Tiki Raft.

Bus and guide will pick you up in Drøbak. Pause for lunch – Norwegian lunch included.

Other options available if you have already been to Oslo.

Possible home visits with Norwegians.

Free evening in Drøbak.

Day 4 - Monday, June 22 B, L, D

Sightseeing by boat to Oscarsborg fortress built in 1856 and around the Oslofjord while we enjoy eating peel-on shrimp and drinking white wine (a Norwegian Tradition).

Dinner at the hotel in the evening.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oscarsborg_Fortress

Day 5 - Tuesday, June 23 B, D

We leave by plane from Gardermoen to Bodø. Hope the weather is good and that you can see a lot of Norway on the way up.

There will be time to walk around Bodø before we get on the coastal steamer. Bodø is the second largest city in Northern Norway and home to Saltstraumen, the strongest maelstrom in the world. Every six hours, 400 million m3 of water at speeds up to 20 knots rush through the 150 m wide and 3 km long sound connecting the Saltenfjord and the Skjerstadfjord. The Coastal steamer ”Hurtigruta” takes us out to Stamsund on the Lofoten Islands – arriving at 7 PM.

We continue to Reine Rorbuer, 72 km with wonderful nature. This is part of the Historic Hotels in Europe.

Late dinner and then enjoy the evening. It is light almost all night!

Midnight sun: June 2 - July 10.

www.lofoten.info       www.reinerorbuer.no     www.hurtigruten.no  www.bodoe.com

National Geographic Traveler, one of the US’s most popular and respected travel and lifestyle magazines, has in its May issue an article about “50 Unforgettable Experiences – Tours of a Lifetime.”  Lofoten Islands is one of them.

www2.norway.or.jp/travel/news_events/nationalgeographic.htm

Day 6 - Wednesday, June 24 B, L, D

June 23 is St.Hans Aften (St.John’s Eve) The Norwegian Midsummer in Norway.

Hiking in the mountain with a local guide. We take a boat a short ride and go for a walk.

We learn how to bake Norwegian cake waffles and enjoy eating them.

Lunch and dinner at Reine Rorbuer.
Norwegian Heart Waffles
“St. Hans bonfire by Jølsterlake”
by Nicolai Aastrup
Norwegian Cake Waffles (vaffler)

Day 7 - Thursday, June 25 B, L, D

This is a fishing paradise, so for those who want, we can fish and have it as dinner in the evening. Lunch and dinner at Reine Rorbuer.

Museum tour of local artist. Many Norwegian painters and writers live and have lived in this community, including Knut Hamsun, who used the area as a backdrop in many of his books.

www.lofoten-art.no        

www.gonorway.com/norway/counties/nordland/    

Day 8 - Friday, June 26 B, D

We travel by ferry from Moskenes to Bodø and then by plane to Stockholm. We arrive in the late afternoon and go to our hotel in the center of town. Dinner together.

Day 9 - Saturday, June 27 B

City tour in Stockholm which includes Drottningholm Palace (outside only), Gamle Stan (Old Town), Wasa ship and changing of the guard at the Royal Palace. The afternoon will be for shopping and free time. You have time to take in other sights on your own like the Nobel Museum.

We recommend the evening at “Skansen” the local entertainment area. We will travel there together, but spend the evening as we please. There are many places to enjoy for meals.

www.vasamuseet.se    www.skansen.se   www.nobelmuseet.se

Day 10 - Sunday, June 28 B, D

The morning is free. Then we meet for a cruise in the Harbor of Stockholm. The islands of the Stockholm archipelago are very famous!

Farewell Dinner.

Day 11 - Monday, June 29 B, D

Last minute shopping before we head to the airport and fly home.

Depart Stockholm with IcelandAir at 2:10 PM.

Short stop on Iceland and arrive Minneapolis at 5:55 PM.

www.norway.org   www.sweden.se

TRIP DETAILS
 TRAVEL WITH TRILLIUM TOURS LLC and JOMFRUREISER
SMALL TOUR FOR ONLY 14 PERSONS

Price per person Double Occupancy: $ 4750

Single Occupancy: Add $ 680 

(Price includes all fees and taxes by airline, but is subject to change by airline)

INCLUDED IN PRICE:

  1. Airfare with IcelandAir from Minneapolis to Oslo with return to Minneapolis from Stockholm
  2. 9 nights in unique hotel
  3. 9 Norwegian Breakfasts
  4. 4 Lunches
  5. 7 Dinners
  6. Transfer from and to airport in Oslo and Stockholm
  7. All transfers to Lofoten Islands and to Stockholm by air, ship and bus
  8. 6 hour sightseeing tour in Oslo
  9. Boat tour to Oscarsborg and around the Oslofjord
  10. Boat tour in the Stockholm Archipelago (Stockholms skärgård)
  11. Tour Director for the whole trip – Ingeborg D. Sorensen
  12. Local Guide  - Drøbak and Lofoten walking tours
  13. Information Kit
  14. Informational meeting in Minneapolis

RESERVATIONS AND PAYMENT:

Request a registration form or download from our website.

Fill in form and mail with your deposit of $ 500  

Final payment is due 60 days before departure (April 17, 2009)

View Terms and Conditions

Please contact:

Ingeborg D. Sorensen at Trillium Tours LLC.
Phone: 612-532-6618    E-mail: info@trilliumtoursllc.com
1235 Yale Place # 1305, Minneapolis, MN 55403