After your transfer in to town, you’ll visit Stockholm’s oldest and coziest quarters, the Old Town of Gamla Stan. Witness the historic elegance of the exterior of the dominating Royal Palace, and stroll along the narrow, twisting alleys and cobblestone streets. You’ll experience the medieval intimacy of what is today a living historical monument of international renown. You’ll also see Stortorget and the Great Square - the hub of the Old Town, dominated by the old Stock Exchange, today housing the Nobel Museum and the Swedish Academy, which meets each year to decide the laureate of the Nobel Prize for Literature. Rejoin your coach and continue through the city center and on to the Nordic Hotel in the heart of the city, where the world’s first permanent ice bar is located. The interior is kept at -5 degrees Centigrade all year round. The whole interior, including glasses, is made of pure, clear ice from the Torne River in Northern Sweden. A complimentary drink in an ice glass will be served and the staff will tell you more about the bar and the construction. After tasty drinks you’ll drive to Djurgarden, a favorite getaway spot for Stockholm residents. In the Vasa Museum, you’ll see the Swedish warship Vasa, once considered the pride of Sweden’s navy. The present museum is built around the restored 17th century warship, which sank in Stockholm’s inner harbor on her maiden voyage in 1628. Its salvage in 1961, with more than 12,000 objects on board, is one of the most important events in marine archaeology.

Join the perfect introduction to Stockholm, the Capital of Scandinavia. Take a rural drive from Nynashamn into Stockholm while your guide tells you about Sweden and Stockholm.

Enjoy the beautiful sights as you pass by landmark locations like the Medieval Old Town of Gamla Stan, the Royal Palace, the Cathedral, Parliament House and more. Continue along the water and on to the green and lush island of Djugarden. Here you'll visit the Vasa Museum, home to the magnificent warship 'Vasa', one of Sweden’s number one attractions. The 'Vasa' dates back to the 17th century and is the best preserved warship of its time.

Leaving the 'Vasa', drive through the modern downtown and business areas before being dropped off in a central location for free time before your coach picks you up for the return drive to Nynashamn.

Be one with the sky as you ride one of the most remarkable attractions in Sweden, the SkyView. The Ericsson Globe Arena, resembling a giant golf ball, is the largest spherical building in the world. An exhilarating ride will take you to the top of the Globe. At 426 feet (130 meters) above sea level, the glass gondola will stop for you to have ample time to marvel over the magnificent view over the city. Continue your introduction tour of Stockholm on the ground with a panoramic drive covering all major sights before stopping at the Vasa Museum, home to the magnificent warship ‘Vasa’. The ‘Vasa’ dates back to the 17th century and is the best preserved warship of its time. Afterwards you’ll be able to enjoy some free time in the city before returning to Nynashamn and your ship.

After your transfer into town, your tour will start in Gamla Stan, the Old Town founded in the 13th century. Walk along the cobblestone alleys and winding narrow streets, past houses, shops and soaring church spires. View the Royal Palace, which stands on one side of the island, and 17th century mansions, built by the city’s wealthy merchants. Next it’s off to the island of Lidingo. Here lies the estate and studio of the late Carl Milles, Sweden’s most famous modern sculptor. Millesgarden Museum features the sculptures of Milles and his extensive art collection, arranged on terraces in a series of small gardens. Enjoy a tour of the museum before departing Millesgarden.

After your transfer into town, begin with a short panoramic drive of the city. Continue to Gamla Stan, the enchanting, medieval Old Town. You’ll pass the Royal Palace and the dramatic royal theater as you drive to the island of Djurgarden, home of the Vasa Museum.

In the Vasa Museum, you’ll see the Swedish warship ‘Vasa’, once considered the pride of Sweden’s navy. The present museum is built around the restored 17th century warship, which sank in Stockholm’s inner harbor on her maiden voyage in 1628. It was salvaged in 1961 with more than 12,000 objects on board and is one of the most important events in marine archaeology.

Continue on your panoramic drive to Ostermalm, a fashionable neighborhood of stately apartment buildings, then on to Sergel’s Torg, a square that is the focal point of modern Stockholm and the old town, where your guide will lead you on a walk through its cobbled streets, followed by a few minutes of free time to take some pictures or explore a bit on your own, before the return drive to Nynashamn.

Enjoy exploring two of the region's most charming towns - Villajoyosa, famous for fishing and chocolate, with vividly painted houses and Altea, one of the most beautiful towns of the Costa Blanca which maintains its former fishing village feeling. The old section, atop a hill, offers spectacular views and perfect photo opportunities.

A scenic drive along the coastal road takes you to Villajoyosa, a small seaside town, famous for its fishing and its’ chocolate. Still dependent on its fishing industry, each afternoon the daily catch brought in by the local fishermen is auctioned off in the port. The quaint houses that line the seafront are painted in bright rainbow colors and legend has it, that this is so the fishermen can see them from the sea. Upon arrival at the seafront, you’ll enjoy free time to explore the town on your own.

Your route to Altea takes you along the coastal road via Albir, providing wonderful views of the sweeping bays of the Costa Blanca. Altea's old town is an enchanting picture postcard scene of white-washed houses that has managed to maintain its authentic atmosphere. Follow your guide on a walk to the famous square at the summit, where you’ll find the Virgin of Consuelo Church with its iconic blue roof. After an outside visit of the church, you’ll have free time to soak up the town's ambience and enjoy the wonderful views.

OVERVIEW

Travel to a rural wildlife park for up-close looks at Tasmanian devils, kangaroos and some most-unusual other animals, then enjoy a driving overview of Burnie. Your leisurely drive inland toward Mount Dial Nature Recreation Area traverses idyllic terrain and scattered villages where life has changed little over the centuries. Once at Wings Wildlife Park, you’ll have ample free time to ramble the trails and encounter famous fauna like the Tasmanian devil and Australia’s trademark kangaroo, as well as obscure ones like the bettong, a tiny marsupial that hops around like a mini-kangaroo. Other strange and unfamiliar creatures who call the park home include boobook owls, crab-eating macaques, quolls and long-nosed potoroos. Somehow, even American bison and Japanese quail are on the resident list. The more you learn about this immense menagerie of Tasmanian wildlife and their behaviors, the more interesting they seem. Back in Burnie, you’ll enjoy a downtown drive before returning to the pier. Founded in 1828 around an excellent natural harbor on Emu Bay and surrounded by vast eucalyptus forests, the timber industry dominated the town for the next 100 years. Today, the creative arts and culinary endeavors are what Burnie is most known for.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Travel by coach to Wings Wildlife Park, the largest collection of Tasmanian wildlife in Australia.
• Spend about two hours meandering the park’s paths and encountering its residents.
• See Tasmanian devils, kangaroos, bettongs, quolls, potoroos and others in this curiosity-shop of indigenous fauna.
• Settle in for a scenic return drive across an unspoiled landscape, followed by an informative orientation spin around Burnie itself.

HELPFUL HINTS

• Dress in weather-appropriate clothing.
• Flat, comfortable, closed-toe walking shoes are recommended; no heels.
• Bring a hat, sunglasses and sunscreen as needed

This tour provides you with the perfect opportunity to discover two Mediterranean cities located in the heart of the Costa Blanca and visit a local winery.

Alicante, capital of the Costa Blanca, White Coast, is also known as the Ciudad de la Luz or the City of Light. Arriving in the old quarter, follow your guide on a walking tour. View the 18th century Neo-Baroque town hall, and stop at the Cathedral for a visit. One of the Cathedral’s most notable features is its Renaissance baroque facade. Inside, you’ll discover an impressive 17th century nave and a 15th century cloister.

Travel from Alicante to the city of Novelda to visit its most important historic building, the sanctuary of Santa María Magdalena. The building is a Gaudi inspired design and has been likened to the Sagrada Familia. Enjoy a visit of the wine cellar of a local winery with a short introduction to its history. See the old machinery once used for wine-making and its evolution up until the present day. Here, you’ll also learn about the wine-making process - from the receiving of the grapes, all the way through before being bottled and labeled. At the end of your guided tour, you’ll be invited to taste one of the wines produced here.

After your transfer into town, enjoy some of Stockholm’s highlights on a panoramic drive through the city on your way to Skansen, one of Sweden's leading tourist attractions. Skansen Museum is the oldest open-air museum in the world, with more than 1.3 million visitors annually. People come from everywhere to see the unique collection of historical buildings from all over Sweden as well as the Scandinavian wild and domestic animals and the exotic fauna at the Aquarium. Skansen has its own stage for concerts, a lively town quarter, a hot-glass workshop, craft workshops, cafes, restaurants, shops, and to top it all off, a fantastic view of Stockholm. Over the years, about 150 historical buildings have been moved here from nearly every part of Sweden. Most of them date from the 18th and 19th centuries. Visitors to the houses and farmsteads are met by hosts in period costumes. They often demonstrate domestic occupations, such as weaving and spinning and there's also a wonderful display of glassblowing.

After your transfer into town, travel through the city districts of Sodermalm, Gamla Stan, Norrmalm, Ostermalm, and Djurgarden. First you’ll cross Gamla Stan, the enchanting Medieval Old Town where you’ll pass the Royal Palace, which overlooks Stockholm’s inner harbor. Pass the Royal Opera, the Parliament Building and along the narrow canal at Slussen, where you’ll enter Sodermalm district. Sodermalm is the large island off Stockholm’s south side which contains a number of small, closely integrated neighborhoods. You’ll also drive west along Soder Malarstrand, where you’ll cross the Western Bridge that spans Riddarfjarden and offers views of the city skyline and City Hall. In the city center, the focal point of modern Stockholm, travel along Strandvagen to the island of Djurgarden. Here, you’ll have a chance to tour the island, which is regarded as Stockholm’s outdoor recreation center, and features attractions such as Grona Lund Tivoli, Skansen Open-Air Museum and extensive park lands beyond. Your panoramic drive also takes you through Diplomatic Town to Ostermalm, a fashionable neighborhood of stately apartment buildings.

OVERVIEW

Enjoy a relaxed orientation tour of Dunedin, home to some of New Zealand’s most elegant Victorian architecture, its oldest university and its first public botanical gardens. Second largest city on the South Island, central Dunedin sits deep within beautiful Otago Harbor. Your picturesque coach drive from the pier traces the harbor’s shore, passing charming Sawyer’s Bay, Roseneath and St. Leonard’s on the way into the city. A tour of the grand Jacobean house known as Olveston Historic Home provides a remarkably well-preserved glimpse into the refined Dunedin life circa 1906. Set on an acre of wooded land, this graceful 35-room residence is the epitome of English Arts & Crafts style and still contains the marvelous artwork and artifacts collected by its original owner. Continuing through the city, you’ll pass many more landmark structures including the Law Courts, Otago Boys High School and First Church, the Edwardian mansions of Royal Terrace and High Streets, and Gothic Revival-styled Otago University, founded in 1869 and as vital as ever. Spanning 69 manicured on a hilltop, magnificent Dunedin Botanic Gardens are older still, but – just like the university – thrive today. Enjoy free time for strolling here and be sure to visit the classic Winter Garden Glasshouse.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Enjoy a sightseeing drive to central Dunedin from the port, tracing beautiful Otago Harbor and its towns.
• Tour a 35-room home that features fine art and intriguing collectibles, perfectly capturing the style of this city known for its worldly elegance.
• Travel along streets lined with Edwardian and Victorian mansions, churches and cathedrals, and the Gothic campus of New Zealand’s first university.
• Stroll among camellias and rhododendrons, roses and splashing fountains in an 1863 botanic garden.
• Ride back to the pier directly or step off in town to explore awhile longer and catch a shuttle back later.

HELPFUL HINTS

• Dress in weather-appropriate clothing.
• Wear flat comfortable walking shoes.