SOUNDS OF SCANDINAVIA - 2009

COPENHAGEN, OSLO, STOCKHOLM and HELSINKI 

Opera Performances:
To be announced.

Departure: 04 September 2009 
11 days. Return: 14 September, 2009.

Day 1. - Sept. 04. (D).* COPENHAGEN
Depart this evening aboard any airline of your to Copenhagen, Denmark, arriving the next morning. Dinner and light breakfast served on the plane.

Day 2. - Sept. 05. (B,D). COPENHAGEN
Independent arrival at the Copenhagen Kastrup International Airport. We meet you at the centrally located ADMIRAL HOTEL where we stay three nights. Briefing and Gala Welcome Dinner at the hotel. This evening or the next we will see an opera at the beautiful Royal Danish Opera House dating back to 1750.

Day 3. - Sept. 06. (B). COPENHAGEN
Morning sightseeing of this charming city. Among the sights are the famous Little Mermaid, Tivoli Gardens, the winter residence of Queen Margrethe II, Amalienborg, and Christiansborg Palace, where the Danish Parliament meets. Afternoon free to take in any of the fine museums in the city or stroll along the famous "Walking Street" lined with smart boutiques.

COPENHAGEN grew up on the shores of Øresund as a trading town under the Vikings and played an important role during the heyday of the Hanseatic League's dominance of the Baltic lands.  Its Danish name København stands for "the merchants' harbor."  Today it is Scandinavia's largest city and focal point with a population of 1.5 million.  The capital of Denmark and seat of the oldest kingdom in the world, it was founded in 1167 by Bishop Absalon.  Most of the city's outstanding buildings including the Old Stock Exchange, the Round Tower and Rosenborg Castle, were erected during the reign of King Christian IV (1588-1648). 

Day 4. - Sept. 07. (B,L). COPENHAGEN
Full-day sightseeing along the Danish Riviera with stops at the home and museum of Karen Blixen, author of "Out of Africa" and "Babette's Feast" which were made into movies, and Kronborg Castle used as a setting by Shakespeare in his play Hamlet. Lunch en route.

Day 5. - Sept. 08. (B,D). OSLO
This morning we fly to Oslo, Norway. We transfer you to the centrally located RADISSON SAS HOTEL, where we stay two nights. Afternoon free to visit any of the fine museums nearby including the Edvard Munch Museum, to see the famous painting "The Scream."

OSLO, at the end of a deep fjord, was settled by the Norske Vikings in the 10^th century. It became the capital of Norway when first the Danish Kings and then the Swedish Kings stopped ruling over the country in 1905. Every December, the Nobel Peace Prize is awarded in its City Hall, a fitting tribute to its people, who have never invaded any country.

Day 6. - Sept. 09. (B). OSLO
Morning sightseeing tour of this laid-back city will include a visit to the Vigeland Sculpture Park and the Museums of the Viking Ships and the Kon-Tiki Raft. Afternoon free. This evening we will see an opera at the newly built Opera House.

Day 7. - Sept. 10. (B,D). STOCKHOLM
This morning we fly to Stockholm, Sweden. We transfer you to the centrally located SHERATON HOTEL where we stay for two nights. Dinner at the hotel.

Day 8. - Sept. 11. (B). STOCKHOLM
Our sightseeing tour of the capital of Sweden will pass by the main historical buildings and the many canals and bridges of the city. A visit is made to the unique City Hall, one of the great architectural works of the past century, where you will see the Golden Hall with brilliant mosaic tiles where the Nobel-prize banquet is held every year. Afternoon free to take in any of the many fine museums or a boat ride on the lakes. This evening we will see an opera at the Royal Opera House. 

STOCKHOLM grew from a small fortress town in Viking times to a modern beautiful city with a population of more than one million people today.  Often called the "Venice of the North," Stockholm is an extremely graceful city built on fourteen islands.  It boasts many fine museums and parks, the most famous being the Museum Island of Skepsholmen.

Day 9. - Sept. 12. (B). HELSINKI
This morning we fly to Helsinki, Finland, where we transfer you to the centrally located RADISSON PLAZA HOTEL where we stay two nights. Afternoon sightseeing of this small metropolis. Among the sights are the Senate Square, the Temppeliakio Church also known as the church in the "living rock," and the Sibelius Monument. This evening or the next we see an opera at the Finnish National Opera.

HELSINKI owes its origin to the orders given to the Finnish citizens by their King 400 years ago, to build a new town on the Baltic to attract the trade of the Estonian city, Tallinn, thus challenging the powers of the Hanseatic League.  The town burned down in the early 19th century and the great German-born architect, Carl Engel, had an opportunity to design stunningly beautiful public buildings and private houses on its site.  Inspired by Engel, Finland has always had superb architects among whom were Alvar Alto, Eillo Saarinen and his son, Eero Saarinen, well known in the U.S.A.

Day 10. - Sept. 13. (B,D). HELSINKI
Morning drive to Hvittråsk to visit the combined home of three Finnish architects including the famous Eillo Saarinen. Afternoon drive to Jåårvenpåå to visit the home of Finland's national composer, Jean Sibelius, preserved as it was during his lifetime. Gala Farewell Dinner at the hotel

Day 11. - Sept. 14. (B). HELSINKI - BACK HOME
Morning departure aboard your airline from Helsinki back home, arriving the same afternoon. Farvel. See you on another H.A.T. Tour.

*B-Breakfast, L-Lunch, D-Dinner (including wine)

LAND COST: (includes orchestra level tickets in the theaters listed above)Double occupancy: $4,750 per person - Single supplement: $850  
Deposit: $750 per person - Balance due ten (10) weeks prior to departure.

Airfare is not included. Individuals make their own flight arrangements. Please make sure that your airline ticket includes: U.S.A. to Copenhagen, Copenhagen to Oslo, Oslo to Stockholm, Stockholm to Helsinki, and Helsinki back to the U.S.A. We urge you to check airline cancellation penalties before purchasing airline tickets since international departure times and flights can change. Tours also can be cancelled due to low enrollment. H.A.T. Tours does not accept liability for cancellation penalties related to domestic or international airline tickets purchased independently in conjunction with this tour.

The group is limited to fifteen persons maximum. The Managing Director Grethe Arani will personally escort this tour. Local English-speaking guides are provided in each of the cities visited.

H.A.T. Tours has been operating in Northern Europe for the past 25 years, and is very familiar with this part of the world. Therefore, we conduct a special tour with many "extras," which comes from our long-term knowledge of the area.

Please send your deposit to:

H.A.T. Tours
PO Box 46876, St. Petersburg, FL 33741
Phone toll free (800) 472-4448 or Fax (727) 360-8459
gnahat@EuropeanOperaTours.com
www.EuropeanOperaTours.com