Norwegian Fjords Explorer

Norwegian Fjords Explorer

Tours Starts: Berlin, Germany

Tours Ends: Berlin, Germany

Day 1

Depart for Europe

Take an overnight flight to Germany.

Day 2

Arrive in Berlin, Germany

Welcome to Berlin, one of the world's most beautiful and sophisticated capital cities. If you purchased airline tickets from YMT, a representative will welcome you at the airport and transport you to the hotel. The rest of the day is yours to enjoy at leisure until the included welcome dinner at the hotel begins. This is your chance to get to know your fellow travelers and learn about the exciting days ahead. (D)

Abba Hotel Berlin or similar

Day 3

Berlin City Tour, Lunch Stop in Potsdam, and Transfer to Hamburg

This morning, board your coach and enjoy sightseeing in Berlin. Discover the city's vibrant culture, cutting-edge architecture, fabulous food, and tangible history from the Brandenburg Gate to Checkpoint Charlie, to the beautiful gardens and museums that pepper Germany’s sophisticated capital. Afterwards, we stop for lunch on your own in Potsdam, the capital and largest city of the German federal state of Brandenburg. The residence of the Prussian kings and the German Kaiser until 1918, the city features a delicate balance of architecture and landscape as it was intended to be "a picturesque, pastoral dream" to remind its residents of their relationship with nature and reason. Continue to your hotel in Hamburg this evening and enjoy dinner on your own. (B)

Leonardo Hotel Hamburg Stillhorn or similar

Day 4

Hamburg City Tour, Lunch Stop in Lübeck, and Embarkation (Depart 7:00 PM)

Start your day with a city tour of Hamburg, “the gateway to the world.” Enjoy highlights of Germany’s largest port city, which is as renowned for its musical heritage—Gustav Mahler once directed its storied state opera, both Brahms and Felix Mendelssohn were born here, and the Beatles enjoyed pre-fame residencies at various clubs around the city—as its stunning architecture. Standouts include the glass and brick Elbphilharmonie Concert Hall and the Medieval City’s half-timbered structures. Enjoy time on your own for lunch in Lübeck, an influential trading post during the Middle Ages, before boarding the glamorous Costa Fascinosa in Warnemünde. (B)

Day 5

Copenhagen, Denmark (8:30 AM – 5:30 PM)

Velkommen til København! The Danish capital was first established in the 10th century, and during your time in this vibrant city you’ll have the chance to learn about its storied history while enjoying the cutting-edge technology that it now embraces. If you’re interested in shopping, take a stroll through a few of Copenhagen’s boutiques. Scandinavian clothing and home goods are world-famous for their thoughtful, innovative, minimalist design, and you can make some great purchases right here in Copenhagen.

Day 6

At Sea

Day 7

Hellesylt (8:00 AM – 9:00 AM) and Geiranger, Norway (11:00 AM – 6:00 PM)

Cruise through what many consider to be the most beautiful fjord in the world! Discover Hellesylt and Geiranger, two villages sitting at either end of the UNESCO World Heritage Site Geirangerfjord. Enjoy awe-inspiring views, charming farmhouses and traces of original settlements, and spectacular waterfalls on your cruise through the fjords. These long, narrow fingers of the ocean were formed over countless millenia by glacial movement. They may look like clear mountain lakes, but these narrow inlets are offshoots of the sea, slowly-formed canyons surrounded by steep cliffs and filled with ocean water, that jut deep into the Norwegian interior.

Day 8

Bergen, Norway (8:00 AM – 6:00 PM)

Known as the "city of seven mountains," the UNESCO World Heritage City of Bergen is the gateway to the Fjords of Norway. A large city on a Norwegian scale, Bergen boasts a wonderful small-town atmosphere; once the center of the Hanseatic League's trading empire, the old wharf now features charming colorful wooden houses. The city offers plenty for visitors to enjoy, including museums, art galleries, and restaurants serving some of the finest seafood in Norway!

Day 9

Stavanger, Norway (7:30 AM – 4:30 PM)

There is no shortage of things to see and do in Stavanger! Stop by the Old Cathedral, visit one of the fascinating museums, or stroll down the shopping street Øvre Holmegate, known for its colorful houses during your leisure time in port today. This scenic and historic town is a lovely example of rich culture in a growing metropolis.

Day 10

Gothenburg, Sweden (10:30 AM – 5:30 PM)

Bid adieu to the dazzling natural splendor of Norway’s fjords, and say hello to the understated sophistication of Gothenburg. Sweden’s second largest city is charming, cheerful, and exceptionally walkable. Don’t miss out on the Kronhuset, where you can purchase personalized souvenirs from local artisans, knows as the Kronhusbodarna. In addition, Gothenburg has truly divine fresh seafood—you’re unlikely to find better in Europe!

Day 11

Disembarkation and Transfer to Berlin (8:00 AM)

Your morning starts with disembarkation in Warnemünde and motorcoach transportation back to Berlin. The rest of the day will be at your leisure until dinnertime, when you are invited to an included sit-down Farewell Feast. (D)

Abba Hotel Berlin or similar

Day 12

Depart for Home (B)

Please note that this is a proposed itinerary; the actual itinerary may vary due to season, special events, or weather. Because our tour arrangements are often made a year or more in advance, YMT Vacations reserves the right to alter the itinerary. Itinerary changes are made to improve your vacation experience, as well as respond to any unforeseen circumstances that mandate alterations. By their nature, all tours vacations involve a certain level of physical activity. While YMT tours have been designed with our guests in mind and are not physically demanding, this tour does include walking and periods of standing during the sightseeing visits. You will also encounter steps and some uneven ground along the way, particularly at older, historical sights.