Scandinavian Escape Christmas
Scandinavian Escape Christmas
$3020
Scandinavian Escape Christmas
10 Days Starting in Copenhagen and ending in Stockholm
Visiting: Copenhagen, Hirtshals, Bergen, Oslo, Stockholm
Tour operator:
Tour code:
ESYXMAS
Guide Type:
Fully Guided
Group size:
10 - 51
Age range:
10-99
Special diets catered:
Vegetarians
Tour operated in:
EnglishTrip Styles:
Interests:
Cultural, Festive and New Year, Gardens & Nature Tours, History
Tour Overview
Seeking a Scandinavian Escape this Christmas? This 10-day, adventure-filled Scandinavia tour is for you! Explore Denmark, Norway and Sweden. Visit all the Scandinavian capital cities and explore lesser-known spots in each destination. Tick off top sights, uncover hidden gems and marvel at spectacular natural scenery featuring snow-capped mountains and Norway’s famous fjords! Experience the twinkling lights of Copenhagen, explore Bergen’s Christmas markets on Christmas Day and wander through the fairytale Gamla Stan in Stockholm. Taste local cuisine, embark on locally-guided tours and make Scandinavian travel memories to last a lifetime!
Highlights
Itinerary
Day 1: Start Of Tour In Copenhagen
Location: Copenhagen
Meals Included: Dinner
Kick off this unmissable Scandinavia Christmas and New Year tour this morning! Arrive in Copenhagen, Denmark, and meet your tour leader and group at your hotel. Settle in before meeting up with an expert local guide to embark on a walking tour of this capital city's top attractions! Once the walk concludes, spend the rest of the day exploring at leisure. The Tivoli Gardens are always a must-see but especially during the festive season! This evening, after an exciting first day on tour, enjoy an included buffet dinner with your new travel companions. The Scandinavian exploration has just begun!
Guided tour of Copenhagen: Enjoy a walking tour of Copenhagen with a local guide. Highlights include the famous Nyhavn Waterfront, Rosenborg Castle, the Town Hall, the Little Mermaid statue and Amalienborg Palace.
Day 2: Copenhagen: Free Day
Location: Copenhagen
Meals Included: Breakfast
Get immersed in Copenhagen on a full free day! To embark on the ultimate exploration of Copenhagen's culture and rich history, join today's optional excursion led by an expert local guide. You won't want to miss the included canal cruise, a true bucket-list experience, or the delectable local delights at the famous Reffen Market! What better way to experience the city? Alternatively, use the free day to spend as you wish, at your own pace. Missed out on the Tivoli Gardens yesterday? Consider a visit! The city has much to explore, such as the astronomical observatory, the Rundetaarn. It's famous for its fabulous city views and the unique equestrian staircase. Today is guaranteed to be filled with fun and adventure!
Day 3: Copenhagen - Odense - Aarhus - Hirtshals (Ferry Port)
Location: Hirtshals
Meals Included: Breakfast
Start the picturesque journey to the seaside gem of Hirtshals this morning. On the way, make a stop in Odense, the third-largest city in Denmark that is world-renowned for being the birthplace of fairytale writer, Hans Christian Anderson. Arrive and head out on an orientation tour of the city, exploring its top attractions before enjoying some free time to spend as you wish. Next, travel to Aarhus, Denmark's second-largest city. Upon arrival, embark on an orientation tour of the must-see sights, such as an old town open-air museum, contemporary art and architecture, Viking museums and more! Journey to Hirtshals, where the group will board the overnight ferry to Bergen, Norway!
Orientation tour of Odense: Explore the highlights of Odense, the hometown of Hans Christian Andersen. Join your tour leader and learn more about Odense’s history as well as its most famous inhabitant. Try and see if you can identify some of the inspiration for his fairytales!
Orientation tour of Aarhus: Enjoy a tour and learn more about the bustling city of Aarhus. Aarhus is home to Den Gamle By, an Old Town that doubles as an open-air museum offering insight into the Danish way of life from centuries ago.
Overnight ferry to Norway: Arrive in Hirtshals seaport and hop aboard the ferry. Get ready to enjoy an overnight cruise to Bergen, Norway.
Day 4: Overnight Ferry - Bergen
Location: Bergen
Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner
It’s Christmas Eve! Wake up onboard the ferry and admire the scenery while arriving in Bergen. Upon arrival, set off on an orientation tour of this city which is known as "the city among the seven mountains" and the gateway to the Norwegian fjords! Discover some of Bergen’s most beloved sights including the historic Bryggen Quay, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The rest of the day is free. Choose to join the optional excursion to experience some of Norway’s historic fishing villages and indulge in a local lunch! What better way to celebrate Christmas Eve?Explore Bergen; known as “the city among the seven mountains”
Day 5: Bergen: Free Day (Christmas Day)
Location: Bergen
Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner
Welcome to beautiful Bergen, the must-see destination where you will be spending Christmas Day discovering its top attractions and picturesque surroundings. Why not explore the city in-depth without the hassle of arrangements by joining today's Bergen+ optional excursion? This highly recommended excursion includes an orientation tour followed by a ferry trip and a guided tour of Bryggen. Then, take a Fløibanen ride to the top of Mount Fløyen for panoramic views before enjoying a cocktail at the Magic Ice Bar. You'll truly see the best of Bergen in a day! Otherwise, use the day to discover at leisure. The city boasts impressive medieval architecture and Christmas markets waiting to be explored.
Day 6: Bergen - Flam - Gudvangen
Location: Oslo
Meals Included: Dinner
Bid Bergen farewell this morning and prepare for a scenic journey through Norway’s exceptional nature. Travel to the quaint village of Gudvangen which is located at the end of Nærøyfjord - one of Norway’s most beautiful fjords! To experience the full extent of this majestic region, opt to join today’s optional excursion which includes a visit to a Viking village and a dreamy cruise through the Nærøyfjord and Aurlandsfjorden fjords. Marvel at the awe-inspiring waterfalls, azure waters and snow-capped mountains. Arrive in Flam and enjoy some free time before travelling back to Gudvangen for the night. Dinner is included at the hotel tonight.Marvel at Norway’s spectacular natural sceneryVisit Gudvangen near Norway’s most famous fjord
Day 7: Gudvangen - Oslo
Location: Oslo
Meals Included: Breakfast
God MorgenNorway! Admire the striking Gol Stave Church en route to Oslo where the group will spend the evening. Experience the best of Norway’s fascinating capital city on a locally-guided walking tour upon arrival. Tick off top sights including Akershus Castle and the Royal Palace, home to the Norwegian royal family. The rest of the day is free to explore the city at your own pace. Oslo is home to a number of great eateries. Find a spot to enjoy a tasty dinner this evening.
Enjoy a photo stop at Gol Stave Church
See the highlights of Oslo with a local guide
Day 8: Oslo - Karlstad - Sigtuna - Stockholm
Location: Stockholm
Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner
Explore even more of Sweden today! This morning, travel from Oslo to Karlstad, located halfway between Oslo and Stockholm on Lake Vänern's shores. Arrive in Karlstad, discover the must-see attractions and delectable local cuisine. Next, head to the medieval town of Sigtuna for an orientation tour and photo stop before enjoying free time in Sweden's oldest town founded in 970 AD. Then, the journey continues towards the capital of Sweden, Stockholm. Upon arrival, embark on a city tour with an expert local guide to tick the top attractions off of your bucket list, including the Royal Palace, the AF Chapman ship and Gamla Stan (Stockholm’s Old Town). This evening, enjoy an included dinner and settle into the hotel.
Stop in Karlstad: Discover this small city on the shores of Lake Vänern which is conveniently located between Oslo and Stockholm. Karlstad is known for its outdoor activities and ancient Viking history.
Visit Sigtuna: Enjoy a visit to Sweden’s oldest town! Founded by King Erik the Victorious in 970 AD, Sigtuna is home to the oldest Main Street in the country.
Guided tour of Stockholm: Join a local guide and see the top sights of Sweden’s capital city. Highlights of this cosmopolitan Scandinavian city include the Royal Palace, the AF Chapman ship as well as the old town Gamla Stan which is the beating heart of the city.
Swedish meatballs for dinner: It’s time to tuck into a Swedish classic - meatballs! Join the group and enjoy this included dinner tonight.
Day 9: Stockholm: Free Day
Location: Stockholm
Meals Included: Breakfast
Stockholm is just waiting to be explored on this free day! From the terracotta buildings and cobblestone streets of Gamla Stan to the island of Djurgården, which houses an amusement park and the ABBA Museum, you’ll be spoilt for choice when it comes to things to do in Stockholm. Choose to discover Sweden’s maritime history by joining the Nautical Stockholm optional excursion. Experience the world-renowned Vasa Museum! As this is the last night on tour, why not gather with the group for a farewell dinner?
Day 10: End Of Tour In Stockholm
Location: Stockholm
Meals Included: Breakfast
After 10 days of discovering the highlights of Scandinavia in winter, the time has come to bid this gem a festive farewell! This morning, the tour comes to an end after breakfast. Be sure to swap contact information with your newly-made travel friends before leaving! Expat Explore hopes you have had an incredible Christmas on tour with us. We wish you a Happy New Year full of even more exciting travel experiences!
What's Included
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Accommodation
9 nights in 2, 3 & 4* hotel accommodation in twin rooms and cabins with private bathrooms
Single travellers have the option to pay a single supplement to ensure a private room/cabin (subject to availability) -
Transport
Modern air-conditioned coach with reclining seats and toilet onboard
Overnight ferry from Denmark to Norwa
Any public transport used as part of the tour (excludes free days) -
Meals
9 Breakfasts, 4 Dinners*Vegetarian options available for all meals on request
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Tour Leader
Fully guided tour with experienced tour leader
Tour leader will accompany group throughout and manage all logistical details
What's Not Included
International flightsTravel to the start point and from the end point is not included. We recommend using Skyscanner to find the best deals on international flights.Travel insuranceFor a relatively small price, travel insurance provides you with peace of mind so that you can enjoy your tour without any worries.
All passengers travelling on an Expat Explore tour are required to have valid travel insurance cover and you are responsible for arranging your own insurance.
Mode of Transport
Modern air-conditioned coach with reclining seats and toilet onboard
Overnight ferry from Denmark to Norwa
Any public transport used as part of the tour (excludes free days)
Accommodation
9 nights in 2, 3 & 4* hotel accommodation in twin rooms and cabins with private bathrooms
Single travellers have the option to pay a single supplement to ensure a private room/cabin (subject to availability)
Traveller Comfort - *COACH* tours
We welcome all travellers on our tours but we would like to ensure that you are as comfortable as possible. In light of this, please ensure that you are happy with the below information and level of fitness required.
Expat Explore tries to be as accommodating as possible, however, our tours are unfortunately not designed for people travelling with wheelchairs or severe mobility issues.
Our tours are fast paced because they are designed for you to see the most a destination has to offer. We also want to ensure that you explore as much as possible, which may require long periods without stops on the coach as we drive to a new destination.
We offer walking tours in most cities (up to 3 hours), and a wheelchair is not always a practical option as there are often cobbled streets and stairs on these tours.
For travellers in wheelchairs, you will only be able to store your wheelchair under the coach with the other luggage. Thus, on the long drives between cities you will not necessarily have access to your wheelchair if we make a quick bathroom stop along the way. Please note that travelling with a wheelchair could prove difficult as our coaches don't have wheelchair lifts, as such you will need to be able to board and alight the coach on your own.
With regards to our accommodation, not all hotels have lifts and this means potentially having to carry bags up and down stairs.
For more information regarding traveller fitness please see our Terms and Conditions.
Health and Fitness
We welcome all travellers on our tours but we would like to ensure that you are as comfortable as possible. In light of this, please ensure that you are happy with the below information and level of fitness required.
Expat Explore tries to be as accommodating as possible, however, our tours are unfortunately not designed for people travelling with wheelchairs or severe mobility issues.
Our tours are fast paced because they are designed for you to see the most a destination has to offer. We also want to ensure that you explore as much as possible, which may require long periods without stops on the coach as we drive to a new destination.
We offer walking tours in most cities (up to 3 hours), and a wheelchair is not always a practical option as there are often cobbled streets and stairs on these tours.
For travellers in wheelchairs, you will only be able to store your wheelchair under the coach with the other luggage. Thus, on the long drives between cities you will not necessarily have access to your wheelchair if we make a quick bathroom stop along the way. Please note that travelling with a wheelchair could prove difficult as our coaches don't have wheelchair lifts, as such you will need to be able to board and alight the coach on your own.
With regards to our accommodation, not all hotels have lifts and this means potentially having to carry bags up and down stairs.
Experiences
Enjoy a guided tour of Copenhagen; Denmark's capital city
Explore Odense; hometown of Hans Christian Anderson
Visit Aarhus; a captivating Danish city
Catch an overnight ferry to Norway
Explore Bergen; known as “the city among the seven mountains”
Marvel at Norway’s spectacular natural scenery
Visit Gudvangen near Norway’s most famous fjord
Enjoy a photo stop at Gol Stave Church
See the highlights of Oslo with a local guide
Discover Karlstad on an orientation tour
Visit Sigtuna; Sweden’s oldest town
Explore Stockholm with a local guide
Tuck into Swedish meatballs in Stockholm
Check out our Q&As
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Are airport transfers included in this tour?
No, you will need to make your own arrangements to get to the meeting point for the first day of your tour. Please see the meeting point information for details on how to reach the meeting point.
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Are all entrance fees included in the price?
No, entrance fees are not included. Are all entrance fees included in the price?
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Are all the relevant entry visa’s included in the price of the tour?
No, visas are each traveler’s personal responsibility, and we recommend that plenty of time is allowed for visas to be applied for. When applying for your visa, please ensure that the proper research is carried out before you apply, and that you deal directly with the embassies or certified agents with regard to acquiring correct and timely information. We cannot take responsibility for customers
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Are children permitted to take part in the tour?
Our tours are not suitable for young children, so we set a minimum age limit of 10 years old.
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Are flights included in this tour?
No, you will need to make your own arrangements to get to the meeting destination for the first day of your tour. Make sure you keep departure times and possible delays in mind when booking flights.
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Are the local guides on the tour English speaking?
All our tours are conducted in English.
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Are vaccinations required for this tour?
We are committed to curating excellent travel experiences and to do so we need all of our travelers to feel safe.
In order to ensure the peace of mind and safety of our travelers and staff on board the coach, we are still requesting that all travellers, regardless of their vaccination status, produce a negative Covid test. This test can be a PCR test -
Do you require a visa for this holiday?
Certain nationalities may require a visa(s) for this tour.
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Is free Wi-Fi available in the accommodation used?
All of the hotels on this tour offer Wi-Fi, which is available free of charge as part of your Expat Explore tour.
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Is free Wi-Fi available in the accommodation used?
All of the hotels on this tour offer Wi-Fi, which is available free of charge as part of your Expat Explore tour.
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Is the tour coach air conditioned?
Yes, Full air-conditioning
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Is there a limit to luggage that can be brought on the tour?
Due to weight and space limitations, you are allowed to bring one main piece of luggage weighing no more than 20kg, and one small soft bag for hand luggage weighing a maximum of 7kg. On all tours, you will have to carry your own luggage (e.g. into hotels and up to your room if hotels don’t have elevators). Please bear this in mind when you are deciding what to pack
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Is there a supplement for solo travellers?
There is an optional single supplement/private room upgrade available for single travellers who wish to have a private room. This can be added at the time of booking or by contacting our customer services team. Please note that the room provided may be a single room with a single bed.
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Is there any free time to explore places during the tour?
Yes, As detailed in the itinerary
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What is the fitness level required to do this tour?
All travellers are required to carry their own bags, get on and off the coach, and use public transport. Our city walking tours can last up to 3 hours and certain places involve walking up and down lots of steps. We want you to enjoy your tour, so read through the itinerary thoroughly and make your own conclusions as to whether you feel that you are fit and healthy enough.
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What is the maximum group size?
It depends on how many other people book! There could be up to 51 other passengers, so you will have the opportunity to make lots of friends!
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What is the standard of the hotels on this tour?
We have searched and invested in excellent accommodation options, either located in cities or well placed with public transport connections. Clean linen, towels is always included. Toiletries (shampoo, shower gel etc) and hair dryers are not always included, so you may wish to bring these with you. Accommodation is provided in twin share en-suite rooms. We use a mix of mostly 2, 3 & 4-star hotels.
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What is the tipping policy?
Whilst we fully understand that some nationalities are not accustomed to tipping, this is a normal part of the culture in many of the countries we visit. Tipping has become an increasingly accepted practice in all areas of the service industry, but particularly in restaurants, bars and taxis worldwide. Expat Explore crew members
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Will I know the names and details of all the accommodation before I depart?
A full list of confirmed accommodation names and addresses for your particular departure will be emailed to you around 1 week before the tour starts.
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Will passengers from another country be participating in the tour?
Our travelers come from all walks of life, with different backgrounds and interests.
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Will there be an escort accompanying this tour?
Our tour leaders come from all walks of life, with different backgrounds and interests. They are all confident and well-travelled with an in-depth knowledge of the destinations they are working in, and a passion for helping you make the most out of your Expat Explore tour.
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Do you operate a “single share” option and how does it work?
If you are travelling alone there is no compulsory charge - you will share a twin room with another passenger of the same gender. There is an optional single supplement/private room upgrade available for single travellers who wish to have a private room. This can be added at the time of booking or by contacting our team.
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Children on tour?
Our tours are not suitable for young children which is why we have a minimum age limit of 10 years old. However, at the discretion of Expat Explore we may consider younger children on certain tours if they meet certain criteria and a request is received in writing via email. Minors (between 10 and 18 years of age) must be accompanied by a parent or guardian who accepts full responsibility for them. Unaccompanied minors will not be accepted on tour. Expat Explore reserves the right to decline any booking at our discretion. Any minor (between 10 and 18 years of age) is priced the same as an adult.
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What policies are in place for Covid-19?
The health and safety of our travellers and employees are our top priority. Which means, when you travel with us, our enhanced hygiene protocols will ensure you do so in a safe and responsible way - ask for details of current policies.
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How long has the tour company been trading?
Since 2005
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What Ethical Travel credentials does the tour company have?
At Expat Explore we value responsible travel and are committed to exploring the world consciously and kindly. We are proud to make responsible travel possible with a number of our sustainable travel practices!
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Am I contributing to any charity by booking the tour?
Relate is a South African based not-for-profit organisation that Expat Explore supports. The group aims to help those less fortunate create better lives for themselves through a variety of fundraising initiatives. On our South Africa tours, each passenger will receive an Expat Explore branded Relate bracelet. We donate the cost of these bracelets to our chosen Relate charity: the Nelson Mandela Sc
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1 Select your preferred date
Sunday - Tuesday
Dec 21, 2025 - Dec 30, 2025Book with Confidence
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Free Date Changes
Expat Explore Travel allows you to make 5 free date changes, as long as the change is made at least 91 days before the start of the tour.
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Low Deposit
Expat Explore Travel requires a minimum deposit of 10% or the full booking value, whichever is less, with the final balance not due until 60 days before departure.
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Cancellation Policy
We don't charge a cancellation fee, here is a summary of expat explore travel charges.
Up to 60 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of deposit.
At 59 days before tour starts: Forfeit 20% of booking price.
At 44 days before tour starts: Forfeit 40% of booking price.
At 29 days before tour starts: Forfeit 70% of booking price.
At 14 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of booking price.