Visit Scandinavia

Nordic Exposed partners tours and products for 2010 featuring Denmark, Finland, Norway and Sweden

October 5, 2009

Guaranteed departures 2010 Product: Winter Lapland – Ultimate Arctic Adventure Description: 7 Day fully escorted tour of Finnish Lapland where you will experience a blend of first class travel and invigorating winter activities in the region.

Highlights include the King Crab Safari, voted as one of the 25 best new adventure trips by National Geographic, a night under the stars in your private Glass Igloo, a visit to Santa Claus Village and the Sampo Icebreaker cruise where you can experience ice swimming. Season.

Winter – 4 x Guaranteed Departures January to April Product: Scenes of the North Description: 19 Day fully escorted tour of Scandinavia, the Baltics and Russia staying in superior first class hotels and including the Nordic highlights on this comprehensive journey.

It’s a tour of contrasts - from Viking Capitals to the wild nature of the Norwegian Fjords through to the enchanting palaces of St Petersburg. Enjoy this modern, yet exotic area with its medieval history and feel the essence of the North!

For those guests with less time or wishing to combine the trip with alternative arrangements, there are 5 shorter modules of the Scenes of the North tour which can be taken. Three Capitals & The Fjords – 13 Days Copenhagen – Stockholm; Land of Fjords & Glaciers – 8 Days Bergen – Oslo; Copenhagen & Bergen – 6 Days Copenhagen – Bergen; Colours of the Baltic Sea – 9 Days Stockholm – St Petersburg/Baltic Vision – 7 Days Tallinn – St Petersburg.

Season: Summer – 7 x guaranteed departures June to August.

How to book: Available through retail travel agencies that support MyBentours, Nordic Travel or Beyond Travel.

2. DFDS SEAWAYS

DFDS Seaways offers services and facilities for passenger and car traffic between Denmark, Norway, UK and Holland. With 5 passenger ships – and capacity ranging from 600 to 2,200 beds - these majestic passenger liners are state of the art ships with comfortable cabins, tax free shopping, and sauna, choice of restaurants, wine bar and night-clubs.

The city to city overnight cruise concept offers a first class voyage with a range of comfortable on board facilities and is an excellent alternative to flying and staying over-night at a hotel.

How to book: Available through Nordic Exposed wholesalers or retail travel agencies.

For more information visit: www.dfdsseaways.com/

3. FJORD NORWAY

Fjord Norway is located in Bergen, Norway and it is the marketing company for the travel industry in Western Norway – the site of the world famous fjords. Fjord Norway can secure the quality of your trips to the fjord region and can assist with FAM trips as well as press tours for travel correspondents.

Their product manual, travel brochure, posters and newsletters are necessary tools for your planning.

Fjord Norway has a strong online presence and their website contains detailed information about the region the fjords, tour suggestions as well as a wide selection of photographs for you to use free of charge. Go to www.fjordnorway.com/imageshop to download high-res images.

How to book: Available through Nordic Exposed wholesalers or retail travel agencies.

Booking can also take place from their website: www.fjordnorway.com

4. HELSINKI CITY TOURIST AND CONVENTION BUREAU UPDATE HELSINKI

Helsinki, the capital of Fnland, has been shortlisted for the World Design Capital 2012 together with the city of Eindhoven of the Netherlands. ICSID, the International Council of Societies of Industrial Design, will announce the winner in November.

A high-speed rail link between Helsinki and St. Petersburg is due to open in the summer of 2010. The new rail link will shorten the journey time to three hours, from the current five and a half hours.

The train has been named Allegro, which means “fast” in Italian. Each train will have seven carriages and a total of 350 seats. There will be a restaurant, a business class area, and facilities for disabled passengers as well as designated seats for passengers travelling with pets. There are currently 2 daily services between Helsinki and St Petersburg.

More informaiton: www.vr.fi

Food Sightseeing in Helsinki guides you to Finland’s latest culinary experiences. Discover traditional Finnish cuisine and latest trends in the best restaurants of the capital area! The guided tour begins with starters in one restaurant, continues to a second for the main course and dessert in the third.

Visit high-quality restaurants and indulge in the stories of their restaurant culture and nightlife.

How to book: Available through Nordic Exposed wholesalers or retail travel agencies or for more information visit: www.nousujohde.fi

For more information on Helsinki visit www.visithelsinki.fi

5. HOTEL UNION GEIRANGER, NORWAY

Open from mid January to end of December, the 4 star boutique Hotel Union Geiranger is located in Geiranger village, Norway by the world heritage site of Nature Geirangerfjord and close to the city centre of Geiranger.

The hotel has 197 rooms and all rooms include baths, twin beds, cable TV, minibar, telephone and fjord or mountain views.

The hotel has 3 restaurants, 3 bars and 1 nightclub. Recently new deluxe hotel rooms, junior suites, Spa suites and a new Bath & Spa department were added.

Facilities include a large indoor swimming pool, separate children’s pool area, finish sauna, a large outdoor wellness pool, solarium and Fitness Centre.

New for 2010 is their World Heritage Information Centre with information on the Western Fjords World Heritage areas.

The property also offers a wide range all year round hiking trips with and without guide, fitness outdoor training, Nordic walking, kayaking, fjord trips and local food experiences.

How to book: Available through Nordic Exposed wholesalers or retail travel agencies or visit www.hotel-union.no

6. ONELAPLAND - FINLAND

One Lapland – all destinations within an hour of Rovaniemi, in Finnish Lapland. The One Lapland product family is a collection of the best tourist destinations and products available for international tourists visiting Rovaniemi and its surrounding region.

The tour operators are provided complete commercial, marketing and selling assistance to create the best holiday experience possible for their clients.

In addition to Rovaniemi, other regions participating in One Lapland include Ranua, Pyhä-Luosto and Kemi - each within a 90 minute drive from Rovaniemi, Rovaniemi Airport and the Arctic Circle and all with their own unique characteristics.

Products are listed by themes: city and culture, nature, snow and ski, and wellness.

Pyhä-Luosto is renowned as a diverse downhill skiing resort; Ranua for its Arctic Zoo with polar bears and Kemi for its Arctic Icebreaker and exotic Snow Castle experiences.

Rovaniemi is the capital of Lapland and the hometown of Santa Claus and offers year round attractions.

How to book: Available through Nordic Exposed wholesalers or retail travel agencies or visit www.onelapland.fi

7. VISIT FLAM - NORWAY

The beautiful small town of Flåm is situated in the innermost part of the Aurlandsfjord, a tributary of the magnificent Sognefjord in Norway. With steep mountainsides, roaring waterfalls and deep valleys, it is a paradise for anyone looking for a one-of-a-kind experience with nature.

From Flåm Harbour it is only a short walk to a trip on the famous Flåm Railway, or to one of Fjord Norway’s long-established hotels. The Flåm Railway is unparalleled in Europe. The track runs 20km from fjord to high mountains, with a height difference of nearly 900m. The trains have large windows to provide excellent viewing and are traditionally designed.

The nearby Fretheim Hotel is one of the most distinctive hotels in Fjord Norway. The hotel is situated close to Flåm train station and the quay area. With its warm atmosphere, long tradition and exciting interior, the property welcomes guests all year round.

How to book: Available through Nordic Exposed wholesalers or retail travel agencies or visit www.visitflam.com & www.flaamsbana.no

8. BEYOND TRAVEL

Beyond Travel has introduced a wider range of Scandinavian product due to an increase of interest in the region by the Australia consumers.

Package examples: the ’3 night Christmas in the Arctic Circle' package, where you can experience a reindeer farm complete with official reindeer driving test before spending Christmas day in the Arctic Circle at Santa's official village. Priced from $1520pp twin share adults and from $1070 for children 4-12, the package operates from Dec 23-26 and includes three nights in a family apartment with daily buffet breakfast and dinner, sightseeing and transfers.

Also available - a range of escorted tours with guaranteed departures for 2010, now on sale with early bird discounts. Example: 18-day ‘Scandinavian and Russia Treasures’ - Copenhagen, Bergen, Stockholm, St Petersburg before concluding the journey in Moscow. Save $500 per couple if you book and pay by October 31, reducing the price to $4307pp twin share.

More details from Beyond Travel at 1300-363-554 or visit www.beyondtravel.com.au.

9. HURTIGRUTEN CRUISES

The famous Norwegian Coastal Voyage journey offered by Hurtigruten is often described as ‘the world’s most beautiful voyage’ and provides a cruise for people who want to see more than just the sea.

Hurtigruten ships depart almost daily up and down the magnificent coastline of Norway from Bergen in the South to Kirkenes in the North calling at 34 ports in 12 days, most never visited by the larger cruise liners.

The voyage visits world heritage fjords, Sami culture towns, small fishing villages and there is the opportunity to whale, bird and nature watch on board, and to take excursions like dog-sledding, staying in an ice-hotel and king crab diving.

Norway offers a voyage for all seasons. From the extremes of the Midnight Sun to the Polar Night and Northern Lights, from temperate southern seas to the harsh landscapes of the Arctic north, the Hurtigruten journeys are a dramatic fusion of light, landscapes and unforgettable experience.

For bookings: Australian agents who have clients interested in a Norwegian Coastal Voyage can enquire about Hurtigruten through their preferred cruise wholesaler or Discover the World Marketing on 1800OCEANS.

10. GLOBUS & COSMOS

Globus and Cosmos offers first class touring in the Nordic region.Globus offers escorted, premium, independent or a river cruise holidays in the Nordic region. All of Globus and Cosmos packages are all pre arranged.

Tour packages including Nordic countries combine all the benefits of group travel but with much of the freedom of an independent tour

For more informaiton, go to www.globus.com.au

11. MYPLANET/MYBENTOURS

MyPlanet/MyBentours celebrates 30 years in specialised Scandinavian travel.

MyPlanet/MyBentours offers an exceptionally wide range of independent and escorted cruise, rail and sightseeing tours for the region all year around. This includes Hurtigruten cruises of the Norwegian Coast, Grand Nordic, Complete Norway, Soul of Lapland tours and Finland Arctic cruises.

MyPlanet/MyBentours cover everything from the rich traditional history and architecture to cruising along remote Arctic coastlines, experiencing the incredible tundra landscapes of Iceland or the phenomenon of the Northern Lights of Lapland.

They specialise in packaged tours for both the FIT & Group markets.

New in 2010: Summer Highlights in Samiland, 7 days ex Rovaniemi – a comprehensive journey into Finnish Lapland to experience the Sami culture, Lake Inari and the Northern Lights. Visit a reindeer far, a Sami village, cruise on the lake and hike in the wilderness.

For bookings call 1800 221 712 or visit www.myplanetaustralia.com.au

12. NORDIC TRAVEL

For almost 30 years Nordic Travel has been dedicated to showing their guests the beauty, nature, culture and history of special destinations in Scandinavia, Iceland, Greenland, Faroe Islands, the High Arctic, Western Russia & the Baltic States.

Nordic Travel is a one stop shop for the Nordic region and they have over 1000 tours and cruises to choose from, including: expedition cruises, escorted walking tours, horse riding, diving, dog-sledding, snowmobiling, Aurora Borealis (North Lights), Midnight Sun, self drive, wildlife encounters, coach tours, city breaks, ice hotels & igloo stays, Santa Claus tours and much more.

2010 Highlight: The High Arctic and North Pole expedition cruises and special small group walking tours1

The new 2010 brochure will be distributed to all licensed travel agents in December.

For bookings: Go to www.nordictravel.com.au