15 Day Follow The Lights
This tour is categorised as 3 out of 5
Balanced exploration with walking tours: Our most popular style, this tour offers a good mix of planned activities and free time. Expect moderate daily walking tours, so pack comfortable shoes.
As a general requirement across all of our trips, you may be required to walk up and down stairs, get on and off transportation, handle your own luggage, and participate in all scheduled sightseeing that may be conducted on uneven ground and terrain. Any physical ailments you may have must be disclosed at the time of booking to determine your suitability and where required, supporting documentation may be requested to ensure that we are comfortable that you will enjoy your trip.
A portion of this tour runs as a group tour where you will be escorted by an expert tour leader. Another portion is self-guided, whether conducted by rail, cruise or land, and you will travel between destinations on your own, with free time to explore at your own pace.
Make the most of your cruise and travel independently, with everything organised for you. Your international flights, pre-cruise stay, and cruise are organised so all you have to do is relax and enjoy your time at sea. Of course, there is the option of extending your tour if you don’t want to head straight to the airport upon disembarkation.
Experience a superior level of comfort. Our Small Group tours have been crafted for Inspiring Vacations travellers exclusively, with personal and unique experiences in mind. Travel with no more than 26 people, allowing for a more personalised and immersive experience. Please see the Important Information on your selected tour for the exact group size.
✓ Small, personal group experience – no more than 26 people
✓ Return international airfares with a full-service airline
✓ All airport and port transfers, plus internal flight
✓ 8 nights in quality 4-star accommodation
✓ 5 nights cruising the spectacular Norwegian coast with Hurtigruten
✓ Daily breakfast, 7 lunches, 8 dinners
✓ Fully escorted from Day 2 - Day 7 by expert, English-speaking guides
✓ Incredible sightseeing including the rugged Arctic wilderness of Lapland, crossing the Arctic Circle, a husky safari and a chance to spot the mesmerising northern lights
Travel with the experts for a carefully curated, value-packed discovery of the world's most iconic destinations. Our tours are bursting with must-see sights, rich experiences and quality inclusions, all at an unbeatable price. Bucket list dreams are ticked off on these all-encompassing journeys.
Welcome to Finland, the happiest country in the world!
You’ll be met at the airport and taken to your hotel. Your tour leader will be on hand this afternoon to welcome you and answer any questions.
The rest of the day is free for you to get to know this gorgeous seaside city. Enjoy the old market, the green parks and the Russian influence in its buildings and churches.
Soak in some of the culture with a visit to one of Helsinki’s many museums, like the National Museum of Finland, the Design Museum, the Seurasaari Open-Air Museum, the Mannerheim Museum and the Kiasma Museum of Contemporary Art. The City Museum is free. Take a ferry to Suomenlinna, a great UNESCO World Heritage fortress that once protected the sea entry to the city.
If it’s open, a visit to the unique Temppeliaukio Church is worth it – also known as the ‘Rock Church’, as it’s built directly into the granite rock.
Please note: Some flights may depart the day before.
Check in: Passengers will be arriving at various times throughout the day from as early as 6am through to late evening. If arriving prior to standard check-in time, which is generally 3pm local time, you are welcome to leave your luggage with hotel reception and explore your surroundings until check-in becomes available, as there are generally no scheduled activities on Day 1 of the itinerary. The hotel may grant early check-in, however this is strictly subject to availability and at the hotel’s discretion.
After breakfast, we’ll enjoy a morning tour of Helsinki, capital of Finland and also known as the 'Daughter of the Baltic Sea’ or ‘White City of the North’. Learn about its culture, history, traditions and more.
You’ll see Senate Square with the famous Cathedral rising on the northern side, the Market Square, the orthodox Uspenski Cathedral, the Olympic Stadium, the Parliament, the Sibelius Monument and Finlandia Hall. Finlandia Hall was built in 1971 and has a distinctive, impressive white facade of Carrara marble.
If it’s open, entrance is included to the unique Temppeliaukio Church – also known as the ‘Rock Church’, as it’s built directly into the granite rock.
Tonight, join your guide and the rest of your group for a welcome dinner at the hotel.
Today we’ll head for Finnish Lapland, the country’s northernmost region and a veritable winter wonderland. We will fly from Helsinki to Rovaniemi.
Once settled into your hotel, the rest of the evening is yours to relax and explore. The city centre is quite compact and easy to walk around. Fancy reindeer stew or salmon soup? You can find traditional Lappish food in a host of different establishments here, from fine dining to casual options.
With any luck, you’ll have a chance to see the mesmerising northern lights, aurora borealis, an item on many bucket lists. Chances are pretty good in Finland, with the lights appearing for roughly 200 nights out of the year. Lapland is one of the best places to witness the lights on the Arctic Circle. The remoteness of this area, and therefore the lack of light pollution, combined with the long dark winters make the lights seem to glow even more brightly.
Part of the allure of this natural phenomenon is down to its elusiveness. Many factors need to align – weather, timing, light pollution, moon activity – in order to catch this beautiful light show. One thing is for certain, to view the aurora borealis is a once in a lifetime, unforgettable experience. This spectacle is every bit as thrilling as you’d hope, taking over the whole sky with brilliant, unusual colours.
It’s only fitting that in his official hometown, we pay a visit to Santa Claus’ Village for some Christmas magic. Enjoy the village’s charm and fun activities, like perusing the souvenirs and sending a postcard home from the post office – it will have a special Arctic Circle postmark. And of course, you can meet Santa.
We’ll then visit a local reindeer farm. Reindeer play a special part in the stories and traditions of the Arctic and here you’ll be able to learn about these enchanting creatures and even feed them. You’ll cross the Arctic Circle and receive a certificate to commemorate this.
We’ll head for Saariselkä today, Europe’s northernmost outdoor resort town, with a short stop enroute at Sodankylä.
We’ll visit a husky farm for our Inspiring Sight, the thrill of an exhilarating Lapland husky safari. Savour the fresh Arctic air and these powerful, graceful huskies will pull your sled as you take a fast-paced trip over the untouched snow of the white, shimmering fells. This one-hour adventure is weather dependent.
Fancy the possibility of witnessing the spectacle of the northern lights from the warmth of your own bed? Your Inspiring Stay is the ultimate immersive Arctic experience – an Aurora Cabin, with a glass roof over the bed so you can sleep under the stars.
We’ll say goodbye to Saariselkä this morning and head for Kirkenes, a famed aurora viewing spot in Norway near the Russian border.
The history of the Sámi people, who inhabit northernmost Europe, is rich with many cultural traditions and customs. On the way to Kirkenes, we’ll stop for a couple of hours in the village of Inari, to visit the Sámi Museum Siida. It’s the national museum of the Sámi and explores their spiritual and material culture in its collections, exhibitions and publications. It’s an intriguing look at the past and present of this fascinating culture. There will be free time for lunch.
In countries like Norway and Finland, this ancient spectacle has formed part of their indigenous culture and folk heritage. The Vikings believed the northern lights were an earthly manifestation of their gods.
The fjords of Kirkenes make for excellent king crab fishing. The red king crab, one of the largest crabs in the world, is highly sought after and enjoyed. We’ll head out by snowmobile to help the fishermen saw the hole in the ice (weather dependent) and pull up the crab pods. We’ll then learn how to prepare this local delight and feast on the giant crab, served Norwegian-style for our Inspiring Taste.
You will have the evening free.
We’ll head to port to embark on our voyage along the thrilling Norwegian coastline. This voyage south traverses classic Norwegian landscapes – fjords, mountains, waterfalls, glaciers – while searching for the northern lights. You’ll stop at quaint towns and interesting cities along the way.
As the ship departs, you can enjoy lunch and take in the views of the surrounding rugged Arctic wilderness on deck, or from the panorama lounge.
In the afternoon, we’ll dock at Vardø, Norway’s easternmost port. Weather permitting, you may experience ice bathing in the Arctic Ocean.
We’ll continue along the Varanger peninsula to Båtsfjord, before reaching Berlevåg in the evening. This fishing village is home to one of Norway’s most famous local choirs, consisting mainly of local fishermen.
We’ll dock at Mehamn late at night. There’s the option of a snowmobile trip here through the vast wilderness.
The town of Hammerfest was founded in 1789 and over time became Norway’s polar capital, serving as a base for hunting expeditions into the High Arctic. You can see the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Meridian Column, erected in 1854 to commemorate the first precise geographic measurement of the globe.
We’ll then continue south to Øksfjord. After crossing open water, we make a brief stop at the old trading post of Skjervøy. We’ll then dock at Tromsø, often described as the ‘Paris of the north’. In winter, you can enjoy an enchanting northern lights concert at the Arctic Cathedral.
Another day of cruising Norway’s spectacular mountains and fjords. This morning we’ll arrive at Harstad. History, beautiful scenery and a selection of breathtaking sites await, including Trondenes Church, one of Norway’s premier cultural heritage sites from the late Middle Ages.
Admire the views as we sail towards the Risøyrenna, a shallow, seven metre-deep channel made for the cruise company in the 1920s to provide an ‘inside route’ between Harstad and Sortland. Sandbanks along the Risøyrenna are visible through the clear, green water. The island groups of Lofoten and Vesterålen will undoubtedly offer some of the most stunning scenery you’ll see on your voyage.
Risøyhamn is a small village with only 200 inhabitants, and we make a short stop here to deliver passengers, groceries and mail. We then continue south via Sortland to Stokmarknes, where Hurtigruten was founded more than 125 years ago. There is a Hurtigruten Museum here.
Then we’ll reach the spectacular Trollfjord; only two kilometres long, 100 metres wide, and surrounded by majestic mountains. If weather and time permit, the Captain will make a detour into the fjord. Steep cliffs hug the ship’s sides, and the dramatic landscape conjures images of an imaginary land of trolls.
After stopping at Svolvær, we’ll continue to Stamsund and see the majestic peaks of the huge Lofoten Wall. We leave Lofoten during the evening and set course for the mainland.
Crossing the Arctic Circle at 66°33’ N is an important rite of passage. We’ll celebrate the event on deck with a taste of Arctic tradition, a spoonful of cod liver oil. Sailing along the Helgeland coast, we’ll pass hundreds of islets, fertile farmland, and steep granite walls rich in local lore. From the deck you can see the eerie mountain Torghatten (rising 258m above sea level), famous for the distinctive hole right through the middle – the hole is 160m long, 35m high and 20m wide, and was created during the Ice Age.
Another cruise highlight is sailing past the Seven Sisters mountain range. All seven imposing peaks are between 900 and 1100 metres high – a prominent landmark of the Helgeland coastline.
We’ll make short stops at Nesna, an idyllic old trading post, and Sandnessjøen, before moving onto Brønnøysund.
The ship will head slowly into the majestic Trondheimsfjord, and along the coast and into Trondheim, Norway’s capital of technology. Although not a big city on a European scale, Trondheim is the third largest in Norway, thanks in part to its large student population.
The compact city centre with a wide array of shops makes Trondheim popular for shopping. You’ll find many independent shops, selling clothes and accessories that you won’t find everywhere. In historic Bakklandet, you’ll find several shops that make the garments they sell from scratch or by adapting old garments.
We’ll continue to Kristiansund, Norway’s dried cod capital – fishing is the lifeblood of these communities. There’s the option of an excursion along the spectacular Atlantic Road, a stretch of road that takes you right out to the ocean’s edge. This mesmerising experience is widely reputed to be one of the world’s most beautiful drives, packed with coastal scenery, culture and history. It promises dazzling views, whether the ocean is calm or a storm is brewing.
The ship stops at Molde, Ålesund, Torvik and Måløy during the night.
In the morning we’ll dock at Florø, Norway’s westernmost community. A few nautical miles south, we’ll cross the mighty Sognefjord, with magnificent views of the coastline.
We’ll disembark in Bergen at 2pm, the capital city of fjords in southern Norway. Surrounded by mountains on one side and water on the other, it's a quaint, nature-filled destination.
Your local guide will meet you for a three hour sightseeing tour. We’ll see St. Mary’s church, the oldest building in Bergen, and the lively fish markets. Enjoy the old Hanseatic wharf and traditional wooden buildings of the Bryggen area, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
A funicular trip to the top of Mount Fløyen, just a six minute journey from the city centre, will deliver amazing vistas of the town and Bergen fjord.
Enjoy one last delicious breakfast this morning, before your adventure comes to an end. After checking out of your hotel, you’ll be transferred to the airport for your flight back home.
We hope you’ve enjoyed this extraordinary journey.
Check out: Passengers will be departing at various times throughout the day. Standard hotel check-out times will apply no matter what time your flight is scheduled to depart. Check-out time is generally anywhere from 10am-12pm. You are welcome to leave your luggage at hotel reception and spend your final moments of free time exploring the area or, alternatively, please speak with hotel staff if you would like to extend your check-out time. Please note this service is subject to availability and will likely come at an additional cost. Your tour guide (or hotel staff) will confirm the time of your airport transfer with you directly.
Arrive home today after your amazing adventure, we hope you have been Inspired!
Inspiring Taste
Inspiring Sights
Inspiring Stay
Depending on your chosen date, you will sail on any of the following Hurtigruten ships:
Included cabin - Polar Outside (N2)
Cabin upgrades - available upon request only
If you would like to upgrade your cruise cabin, please make a special request at time of booking. All requests are subject to availability and the additional cost incurred will be added to your invoice. Should your request not be available, you can revert to an Polar Outisde Cabin or we can provide you with a refund of your deposit.
For more information on your Hurtigruten cruise from Kirkenes to Bergen, click HERE.
Deposit & Payments
Booking Process
Airfare Information
Premium Economy or Business Class upgrades
Please specify this as a 'Special Request' when completing your booking and you will be quoted for the additional fare. In the event your selection is unavailable, or that you are dissatisfied with the quote, you will be provided with a full refund.
Land Only discount
A reduction of $1,500 per person applies if you wish to arrange your own airfares and transfers. To purchase a land-only fare, please select this option in the booking process under 'Departure City'.
Please note, if you are not arriving or departing as per the group itinerary, airport transfers are also no longer included.
Extending Your Stay
Some customers like to enhance their holiday by extending their stay pre- and/or post-tour or including a stopover in another destination. If you wish to do so, please follow these steps:
By choosing to extend your stay, please note that a supplement of $150 per person, plus applicable fare and tax differences will apply. We will contact you via email with a quote and proposed flight itinerary, and then proceed with collecting the additional payment required to confirm your request.
You can enhance your holiday by arriving or departing before or after the tour, or booking a tour extension. On this tour you can choose from the following options:
Airport chauffeur
Take the hassle out of getting to the airport with private chauffeur transfers to and from your home airport. Your personal chauffeur will meet and greet you, attend to your luggage and drive you to your destination in a luxury vehicle.
Additional surcharges may apply depending on pick-up time, tolls and government levies.
Airport Chauffeur can be selected once you have finalised your tour purchase and paid your deposit. When completing your Passenger Booking Form, you will be asked if you would like to add this service, where any applicable cost will be added to your final balance.
Airport lounges
Escape busy airport terminals and relax at a cosy and catered lounge instead. Departure lounge access in Sydney $70 per person (up to 6 hours); Melbourne & Brisbane $55 per person (up to 3 hours).
Airport lounge passes can be selected once you have finalised your tour purchase and paid your deposit. When completing your Passenger Booking Form, you will be asked if you would like to add this service, where any applicable cost will be added to your final balance.
Pre and post-tour accommodation
Arrival and departure airport shuttle transfers (deviating from group flights forfeits your group airport transfers)
Please note, the transfers are not private and you may be grouped with other Inspiring Vacations customers.
Please specify in the 'Special Request' field when making your purchase your preferred travel arrangements and if you would like our team to book additional nights' accommodation and/or airport transfers. The additional cost for these land arrangements will be added to your final payment invoice and are subject to availability. Alternatively, you may purchase 1 pre or post-night accommodation + transfers, at time of booking.
Once Optional Tours become available for selection, your Dedicated Support Agent will contact you. Given that you would not be travelling until late 2020 or early 2021, there is plenty of time to arrange Optional Tours prior to your travel. Until these details are confirmed by our local partner, we are unable to provide further details. We appreciate your patience.
Fitness Requirements
While the tour itinerary should give you some guidance and overview to the expected requirements, to determine if this tour is right for you we categorise each of our tours in terms of their intensity. These guidelines are to ensure that each tour group is conducted as expected and to ensure the overall satisfaction of all Inspiring Vacations customers.
As a general rule, porterage is not included, therefore at all times you are expected to handle your own luggage where help may not be available.
This particular tour is categorised as a “3”:
3 – Moderate Tour: A good level of fitness and mobility is required, as this tour includes a moderate level of physical activity and is considered a medium-fast paced tour. You should be able to walk up and down stairs, get on and off the coach and able to walk reasonable distances of approximately 2 kilometres per day or more with ease. Any physical ailments you may have must be disclosed at the time of booking to determine your suitability. If you have any form of walking aids, other than a walking stick or hiking poles, then this tour is not suitable.
Tipping
Tipping in Scandinavia is not compulsory, however, they are much appreciated, especially as a reward if guests feel someone has delivered good service. Tips and gratuities are not included for this package and are discretionary. If you wish to reward good service, the suggested amounts are:
Local assistant or guide transfer: EUR 10.00 per person, per service
Guide: EUR 5-6 per person, per day
Driver: EUR 2-3 per person, per day
Hurtigruten Cruise: There are no guidelines as such; tips and gratuities are appreciated but not expected. Please speak to cruise staff on-board for more information.
Accommodation
The accommodation listed is subject to change. Any changes will be of an equal or higher standard. Bedding configurations (double or twin) are requests only. All efforts will be made to meet your preferences however any changes are beyond our control.
Single Supplement
Single supplement is $2599 per person in addition to the twin-share price.
Triple Share
Not avaliable.
Travel Insurance
Travel insurance is required to protect yourself against the unexpected.
We have partnered with nib to offer our customers competitive rates for their travel insurance. You can book comprehensive or budget cover simply by clicking HERE to arrange your policy.
Visa & Passport information
It is the traveller's responsibility to ensure they have a valid passport. The passport must be valid for a minimum of six months from the intended date of return.
Australian passport holders will not require a visa to enter Finland and Norway.
Please note that these details are subject to change without notice. We recommend visiting https://smartraveller.gov.au for up to date information in terms of entry requirements.
Group Size
15-26 people. Please be advised that under exceptional circumstances, the group size may slightly surpass the designated limit due to operational reasons, such as in the event that a cruise date is consolidated with another.
Trip Style - Small Group Tour
These tours are our proudest creations. They have been crafted for Inspiring Vacations travellers exclusively, with personal and unique experiences in mind. You will travel with only a maximum of 26 other guests. Enjoy choice features such as hand-picked accommodation, a sampling of the region’s best culinary delights and a range of optional activities to choose from to best suit your travel style.
Children
Children must be 5 years old or over and share a room with parents at all times. Children are charged the same price as adults.
Tour Length
The total length of the tour in days includes time spent inflight and is subject to change, depending on the flight schedule. Please refer to the day-by-day itinerary for the time spent in your destination(s).
Average low temperatures will can as low as minus -15 celcius regularly, with highs still in the minuses. The only time you'll be provided thermal gear is on the snowmobiles. Because of the heating in hotels and indoor, layers is recommended which can be removed and added when needed.
For more information on the weather in Norway, click HERE.
For more information on the weather in Finland, click HERE.
Refundable deposit within 28 days of purchase:
For cancellations made within 28 days of paying the deposit on any tour, your deposit can be refunded in full or can be transferred to a new booking should you decide to change to another package or destination. Please note this change of mind guarantee does not apply for bookings made within 90 days of departure, after which time our standard 48 hour cooling off period applies. After this time, your booking becomes non-refundable.
All cancellation or change requests must be advised in writing to our Customer Service Team at support@inspiringvacations.
Refund times will vary and the timeframe of which will be advised at the time of cancellation. Any refund of deposit will be issued back to the original form of payment.
Any bookings made prior to 13 March 2020 must abide by the original payment term conditions.
Transferrable second installment up until 90 days before scheduled departure:
Following the second installment payment and up until 90 days before your departure only, should you wish to postpone your travel or transfer to another package, we can provide you with a credit note of the current balance paid on your booking, to be used to rebook within 18 months of the credit being issued.
Any change request must be advised in writing to our Customer Service Team at support@inspiringvacations.
Any bookings made prior to 13 March 2020 must abide by the original payment term conditions.
Please refer to our full Terms and Conditions for more details
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