EuropeTravel Tips

All Roads Lead Here: The Must-See Wonders of Ancient Rome

on November 28, 2016

Standing outside the Roman Coliseum, you can almost hear the echoes of ancient crowds roaring through the ages. The mammoth amphitheater is one of the empire’s many architectural achievements whose remains lend an unparalleled historic depth to today’s Rome. This arena stands four stories tall and is graced by 80 entrance arches. In its day, it could accommodate a crowd of 50,000 spectators who rooted for man to slay beast, for beast to slay man, or for men to slay each other. The arena’s bowl could even be flooded with water so that Roman citizens could witness mock sea battles.

It’s hard to believe that such a place could have been imagined in the ancient world, never mind constructed. That’s the wonder of exploring the millennia-old sites of Rome. Their power and their glory transcend the city itself, rising above today’s modern bustle to whisper and shout all at once that this is where a great arc of history began.

The past is palpable here. Along the byways of the ancient Forum—called by historians the most celebrated meeting place in the world and in all of history—triumphal processions marched to proclaim Rome’s latest military victory … public speakers rattled on about the latest current events … senators debated the latest laws … and merchants traded goods with vendors from faraway lands. Of course, it’s not just the social and political buzz of history that makes this place so spectacular; the Roman Forum is a living museum of architectural splendor. 

The Temple of Saturn is, for many visitors, the most prominent of the remains. Rome’s trusted financiers walked through its eight towering columns—all that remains of the once-grand building—to gain access to the city’s treasury of gold and silver. Saturn was the logical god to look over it all because he ruled during the Golden Age and was closely associated with wealth.

Also impressive, the Arch of Septimus Severus, a hulking and incredibly preserved structure, has stood here since its completion in the year 203. It commemorated the victory of Severus over the Parthians. It is so well preserved for two reasons: First, it was incorporated into the structure of a Christian church by Pope Innocent III in 1199. When the church moved, the arch stayed. Second, in the Middle Ages, flooding deposited debris and silt into the small valley that the Forum occupies, leaving the arch half-buried.

There’s another monument to Rome’s rich past that is admittedly harder to find. (Here’s a hint: It’s next to Arch of Septimus Severus.) The Umbilicus Urbis Romae, or Navel of the City of Rome, is little more than a plaque that marks the symbolic city center. You might think such a marker insignificant, but to ancient Romans it meant everything. Rome was, after all, the center of the world. And so distances to and from every outpost of the Roman Empire started and ended at this point. All roads did indeed lead to Rome.

One road—the Via Triumphalis—led to the Navel of Rome via the magnificent Arch of Constantine. This remarkable gate, adorned with bas reliefs, commemorates Emperor Constantine’s defeat in the Battle of Milvian Bridge in the year 312. The arch was built to straddle the Via Triumphalis, the road on which emperors made their ceremonial entrance into the city after a victory. The structure was so admired that it served as the inspiration for arches built all over the world in the coming centuries.

The Pantheon predates the arch by at least 200 years, yet it is the most complete building from ancient Rome. This majestic monument to Roman engineering was originally built as a temple to all the gods of ancient Rome. Today, it serves as a church, making it one of the city’s oldest structures in continuous use. Its circular room is topped by the world’s largest unreinforced concrete dome. The oculus at the apex of the dome bathes the rotunda in rays of sunlight. The massive gray-granite columns on the rectangular porch were quarried in Egypt, transported here down the Nile River, across the Mediterranean Sea, and up the Tiber River. 

It’s easy to see why all roads lead to ancient Rome. Ingenuity seems to have been born here, and inspiration lives in the brilliance of its architecture 2,000 years later.

EuropeSmall Group Discoveries

The Flam Railway: Where Staggering Beauty Meets Human Engineering

on November 16, 2016

When a railroad was built to connect the major Norwegian cities of Bergen and Oslo, advocates and residents of the more rural region of Sogn saw an opportunity: Why not also construct an additional line that would lead visitors to the gorgeous Sognefjord and allow those who live in the countryside easier access to the rest of Norway? The result – the astonishing Flam Railway – is a man-made wonder where nature steals the show.

The distance between the railway’s starting point of Myrdal and its scenic terminus of Flåm, which gracefully rests on the edge of a fjord, was a mere 12 miles. But the incline to connect the two points was so steep—rising to almost 3,000 feet—it seemed beyond what a train could handle. Norway’s best engineers decided that the only way to pull it off would be to create a route that twisted and turned, not just hugging mountainsides but burrowing through them. After years of debate, a plan was finalized to carve 20 tunnels out of the rocky mountainside—18 of them by hand.

Construction started in the 1920s, eventually employing 280 builders at once. Local farms got an unexpected bonus: Suddenly, their horses and wagons were in high demand for hauling materials, filling the bank accounts of rural families more than their fields alone ever had. Tourists also came to watch the construction itself, pouring more income into the local economy. It was quite a show: Workers drilled into the rock walls, stuffed dynamite into the holes and blasted away. Each foot of progress required roughly 40-50 hours of backbreaking work. All this was not without danger; twice, construction was briefly halted when workers were killed in accidents.

Once the rail line’s ten stations were built and tracks were laid, the pace picked up. By the end of the 1930s, the first freight train was rolling along the route three times a week. World War II actually hastened construction as the occupying German forces wanted the route for steam locomotives, too. After the war, the Flam Line was a commercial hit as trains ran in both directions twice daily. It was the fastest way for people, goods and mail to travel between the region of Sogn and Oslo and Bergen.

Now, the tracks are maintained by the Norwegian rail authorities. In a route that takes you from sea level to 2,847 feet in the span of a single hour, you are treated to an endless array of vistas. Waterfalls plunge down steep slopes to wide verdant valleys. Peak after snowcapped peak etch out the horizon, while bucolic farms overlook flower-filled pastures. At one point, there is a thrill ride element, as the train emerges from a 2,000-foot tunnel onto a clifftop shelf with a staggeringly sheer vertical drop. It is easily one of the world most breathtaking train journeys.

Showered with accolades by National Geographic, Lonely Planet, and others, the Flam Line is now one of Norway’s top three most visited sites, no longer a route toward a destination, but the destination in itself.

It’s all aboard the Flam Railway when you join us in on our Scandinavia, Naturally Charming small group trip. Click here to learn more!

EuropeSmall Group Discoveries

Tiny Titans: Iceland’s Legendary Horses

on November 15, 2016

For a creature just over four feet tall, the Icelandic horse looms large in its country’s folklore. The breed arrived with the Vikings a thousand years ago and was featured in the Norse mythologies that came with them. With the passage of time, the tall tales of Norse gods were replaced by majestic Icelandic Sagas, but the hardy little horses remained.

Typically, a horse this short would be considered a pony, but Iceland has never agreed with the classification, noting the strength and spirited temperament of the breed. First used for sheepherding and other farm work, the breed was developed in seemingly endless permutations for showing and racing. There are now so many colors and patterns that there are 100 Icelandic words to distinguish them.

For all their visual variety, Iceland is keen on keeping its beloved species genetically pure. No Icelandic horse may be bred with any other species, and no other breeds are allowed to be imported. If an Icelandic horse is exported it may never return. The 19 nations lucky enough to have an exported herd must still refer to them as Icelandic.

Aside from their stout beauty, the horses are beloved for their friendly temperament. They are cheerful beasts, known for their enthusiastic personalities and enjoyment of human company. Without any natural predators, they aren’t easily spooked, which makes them easy to handle. Some of their behaviors, too, are distinct. They walk, trot, and canter like other horses, but have two extra gaits: an “ambling pace” (tölt) and a “flying pace” (skeið). The term “flying” references a brief moment when the tiny creature is suspended in the air, all four hoofs off the ground, lending a hint of the magic that earned them roles in the Icelandic Sagas.

In the best known legend, a mighty chieftain vowed that if anyone dared to ride his prized horse Freyfaxi, the interloper would be put to death. When the chief followed through on the threat, he was beaten and chased out of town by locals, who then threw Freyfaxi off a cliff and told the animal to fly to the gods. That act took things too far and the deities were displeased; they restored the chieftain to his fortune, and impoverished the horse’s tormentors. Alas, the gods did not bring Freyfaxi back to life but no one again dared show such disrespect to the value of an Icelandic horse. By the medieval era, such horses were without question the greatest treasure of a household, and warriors were often buried not next to their wives but to their horses.

At Fákasel Horse Park in the northern reaches of Iceland, you can see skilled exhibitions by the four-legged stars of the sagas. But you’ll see plenty of them outside this special equestrian facility, too: They remain highly popular. One census estimates there is roughly one horse for every four humans in Iceland. After a thousand years, this land is truly theirs.

EuropeSmall Group Discoveries

Lands Awash in Beauty

on November 14, 2016

From Norway’s Fjords to Iceland’s Watery Wonders

Where on earth could you find a deep-water coral reef teeming with life and a glacier bigger than the city of New Orleans? How about a volcano with slopes hot enough to cook eggs on and icy peaks gilded in permafrost? Only in Scandinavia. Norway and its North Sea cousin Iceland boast landscapes that linger long in memory, together composing one of Earth’s most dramatically diverse corners.

There’s Nowhere Like Norway 

The Vikings made the waters of Norway famous and exploring by boat is still the thrill of a lifetime. Nowhere is that more true than among the magnificent fjords that have long defined this astonishing part of the world. Sognefjord is Norway’s biggest and best known, rising higher than the tallest skyscraper on earth and plunging a whopping 4,291 feet. At 127 miles long, it’s not only the longest in Norway, but the second longest on earth, and at its widest point, the span is nearly three miles across.

Humbler in scope but concentrated in its beauty, Norddalsfjorden (which you can cruise through on your way to the village of Eidsdal) is only 9 miles long but has been praised for its beauty since it was first mentioned in writing during the Middle Ages. Lined now by quaint villages and webbed with limpid rivers, Norddalsfjorden is idyllic in the extreme, a model of pastoral beauty.

If one had to pick a favorite Norwegian fjord, surely Geirangerfjord would be in the running. This UNESCO World Heritage Site is lined alternately with vertical rock walls rising from the pristine water and emerald green slopes lush with vegetation. Just when you think the vista couldn’t get more impressive here, you witness how (in the words of the mother-in-law of Henrik Ibsen, the famed Norwegian writer), “Foaming waterfalls plunge into the fjord from jagged peaks.” Local legend has a more romantic interpretation of the showers that plunge down the cliffs: The “Seven Sisters” cascades face the singular waterfall known as “The Suitor” across the fjord, and folklore says the spirit of The Suitor keeps trying to woo one of the Sisters to be his bride. If he succeeds, they don’t have to go far to prepare for their nuptials: Geirangerfjord is also home to a lacy waterfall known as The Bridal Veil.

For an entirely different perspective on Norway’s natural splendor, go high along some of the most memorable driving routes on Earth. From the Dalsnibba Lookout, you can see not only Geirangerfjord, but a dozen more fjords and snow-capped mountain peaks beyond. The highest vantage point in the region, this route was the handiwork of 300 men. The breathtaking Trollstigen Mountain Road, which was completed next, was built by 11 teams, one for each of its 11 hairpin bends. As you zigzag past waterfalls, you’ll be rewarded with views stretching miles from mountains to fjord.

Iceland: Wild at Heart 

From the imaginary kingdom of Westeros in Game of Thrones to Ridley Scott’s alien landscape in Prometheus, Hollywood directors looking for the most eye-popping and otherworldly terrain head to Iceland.  And no wonder: it’s striking at every turn.

A trio of unforgettable settings comprises what is famously known as the Golden Circle, a wealth of fantastic vistas that harken back to the world’s primeval origins. Thingvellir is the site of Iceland’s first parliament, which was called to order back in 930 AD. On the flat of a rift valley, lawmakers assembled in the open air to discuss clan business. It’s a wonder anyone could focus on the work at hand: the setting itself is a showstopper. Between tumults of rock, the verdant green plains are riven with gleaming pools that reflect the blue of the vast sky. Mountains overlook the scene and Iceland’s largest lake forms the far border.  It’s a truly inspiring setting for Iceland’s National Shrine, now a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Just a forty-minute drive away waits Haukadalur, a geothermal hotspot where the hissing earth vents its emotions, continually letting off steam. This is home to the original geyser—or at least to the first place ever called “Geysir,” the jettisoning plume after which all others have been named. Geysir, first mentioned in 13th-century accounts, has lately been dormant, but its  showoff sister Strokkur still regularly delivers scalding jets of water as high as 100 feet into the sky every ten or fifteen minutes.

At Iceland’s famous Gullfoss waterfall, the water cascades downward rather than spurting upward. These raucous waters plunge 100 feet into a ravine, a spectacular foaming curtain that seems to disappear into the earth.  It’s a feast for the senses: the roar of the falls, the transient spectacle of rainbows in sunlight, the spray of the mist cooling your skin.  According to locals, it’s so beautiful that when it was almost sold to foreign investors as a potential energy source, the landowner’s daughter threatened to throw herself into the crevice. Happily, she didn’t need to; Iceland bought the falls outright to protect them for eternity.

Few places on Earth match Norway and Iceland for their magnificent beauty and pristine wilderness shaped by glacial and volcanic forces. We invite you to join a Discovery Tours small group to experience them to their awe-inspiring fullness.

NewsSmall Group Discoveries

Dalmatia Exposed: The best vantage points, no matter the destination

on November 11, 2016

Call them gypsies, nomads or wanderers, Mark & Kate are truly Vagrants of The World by doing what most of us only wish we had the courage to do: sell everything you own and travel the world. Like many stories about following dreams, it was a combination of good timing and luck that permitted this couple to turn their passion into a lifestyle. Through their photographs, we followed them around the medieval landscape The Dalmatian Isles, Croatia & Slovenia provides. The Vagrants’ mantra of “Inspiration and ideas through slow travel and living local” epitomizes what our Discovery Tours offer. Each unique itinerary reveals the world in an intimate, unfiltered and authentic way. It is only with a small group size that allows you to truly savor the beauty of the destination.

Novice or newcomer… day or night… Mark & Kate provide easy, feasible methods of capturing moments you’ll want to relive at home again and again. Plus, find out their first hand recommendations on how to experience this magical archipelago to the fullest!

If you enjoy the value and convenience of escorted tours, but also crave an intimate view of local cultures that large groups can’t provide, then you’ll love Discovery Tours by Gate 1. Learn more about the tour the Vagrants selected or explore all of our destinations and be en route to your next adventure!

EuropeSmall Group Discoveries

Oslo’s Art of Reinvention

on November 10, 2016

Step aside, London and Paris. Move over Tokyo and Manhattan. There’s a new cultural capital on the map: Oslo. Granted, you can’t really call a nearly 967-year-old city “new” but with a recent boom in architecture and forward-thinking renovations of public space, it’s become the destination for those seeking sophisticated modern pleasures.

All eyes are on the waterfront. For the last decade, as part of a master plan reaching to 2020, Oslo has pumped money into transforming this once dour, industrial area into a glittering interconnected strand of inviting neighborhoods known as the Urban Fjord. The five-mile Havnepromenaden (Harbor Promenade) runs east to west like a ribbon tying the city together, with vivid orange markers guiding those who would like to follow the entire route.

One of the first finished areas was Sorenga, which boasts a public seawater pool and a lamplit tunnel that connects kayakers to the Akerselva River. Strolling down the promenade, you arrive at the new Barcode district, where shining ultramodern high-rises draw your gaze upward. Further along, the Aker Brigg Wharf is studded with cafes, boutiques, and a jetty rife with some of Oslo’s most acclaimed restaurants. One of the newest districts is Tjuvholmen, known for its romantic Venetian-style canals, and the Astrup Fearnley Museum, which has become a magnet for contemporary art lovers from across the globe.

The crown jewel of the waterfront remains the new Oslo Opera House. The 60-million-dollar beauty mixes gleaming glass with sloping white marble and granite ramps designed to mimic a glacier rising from the sea. Norwegians love strolling up the ramp-like surface all the way to the rooftop, where summertime begs for basking in the sunlight and taking in lovely views. It’s just one of the reasons the New York Times made Oslo one of the top places to visit in 2013, and called the city “ready to shine.”
Not all of Oslo’s treasures are new, of course. The Vigeland Sculpture Park is one of the great masterpieces of 20th-century culture in Oslo. The stunning outdoor collection of more than 200 granite, bronze, and wrought iron pieces is the largest sculpture park on earth by a single artist. Their creator, Gustav Vigeland, was considered a master in his own time: Back in the 1920s, the city agreed to build him a home, studio, and future museum. The result is the massive outdoor garden and a stunning indoor collection that Vigeland gifted to the city.

Perhaps Vigeland’s best known work, however, is his design for the Nobel Peace Prize medal. The Peace Prize is the only Nobel that is not awarded in Stockholm. The annual ceremony is a grand affair hosted at Rådhuset, Oslo’s City Hall, a modern-style building built in the mid-20th century. Yet its enormous clock face and carillon bell towers recall centuries-old European town halls, and the peal of the bells lends an especially timeless feel. True to Norway’s citizen-centered spirit, City Hall’s simple brick façade was meant to reflect the lives of ordinary Norwegian workers, while the stunning interior central hall is ablaze with color from the greatest Norwegian muralists and fresco artists.

With more treasures still in the making, Oslo feels like a thrilling hub of urban evolution. After nearly a millennium, travelers are finally taking notice: Oslo’s moment is now.

Visit Oslo, Norway with Gate 1 Travel today! View our trips to Norway here.

Asia & PacificSmall Group Discoveries

From the Gobi to Khovsgol: Keeping in Steppe with Mongolia’s Remote Beauty

on October 26, 2016

Most people envision unspoiled Mongolia as two ruggedly different environments: the barren Gobi Desert and vast steppes blanketed with grassland. But these two landscapes only paint a fraction of a remarkable canvas.

To start, the Gobi—one of the last great untraveled places on earth—is unlike any desert you’ve imagined. It is kept dry by the Himalayas, which prevent rain clouds from heading northeast. The Gobi is the third largest “hot” desert in the world, after the Sahara and the Arabian, and only three percent of it is actually covered by sand. The rest is a surprisingly diverse array of ecosystems: gravelly plains, exposed rock, soaring peaks, dizzying gorges, dense forest, and babbling springs. It all thrives with a miniscule amount of annual rainfall and supports a rich variety of wildlife.  Little wonder that 13 million acres of the desert have been declared the Great Gobi Protected Area, and comprise Asia’s largest UNESCO Biosphere Reserve.

Within this massive reserve, Gurvansaikhan National Park—whose name translates into “Three Beauties” for its three mountain ranges known as East, Middle, and West Beauty—hosts some remarkable desert delights. The range is completely surrounded by desert, yet a semi-permanent ice field clings to its slopes. Elsewhere, in Eagle Valley, the stunning bearded vulture, or lammergeyer, rides warm thermals where deep gorges have been carved into the desert floor. You might imagine this raptor has been around since the age of the dinosaurs. If so, then its ancestors would have witnessed the reign of Velociraptors and Tyrannosaurids here; dinosaur egg fossils and other prehistoric remains of these beasts have been uncovered in the shadow of the Flaming Cliffs, breathtaking monolithic rock formations named for their vivid red sandstone.

Perhaps the Gobi’s most mesmerizing natural wonder are its Singing Sands. You might think it magical that these towering sand dunes would whistle like desert spirits sending a message to the living. But this is a natural phenomenon, not a ghostly one. These sands can only sing because of a unique recipe found only here and a few other places on earth: Start with specifically-sized grains of sand … make sure they contain silica … and adjust the sand’s humidity to a very precise level. Add a gust of wind, and listen to the sands sing.

All told, the Gobi is a colossal, dynamic living organism that’s been known to affect climates outside its borders. Easterly winds during Mongolia’s stormy seasons can kick up Gobi dust and carry it to China, even lingering over major cities like Beijing.

Heading west from the Gobi, tiny villages of round tented huts called gers dot the green steppes. Wild horses drink from spring-fed, pristine lakes. Perhaps a nomadic family journeys across an open plain, their yak and reindeer and provisions in tow. And perhaps they are headed to Khovsgol in the far northwest, Mongolia’s green paradise of forests, mountains, and lakes.

Just over Khovsgol’s Sayan mountain range of 10,000-footers, Russia’s great Siberian wilderness—the taiga, or subarctic coniferous forest—stretches in all directions. Sacred rivers course down alpine slopes and feed some of the purest lakes in the world, Lake Khovsgol among them, known as the “dark blue pearl.” It is the largest fresh water lake in the country, and the centerpiece of a protected national park area larger than Yellowstone.

Life is simple here … both for the locals who have learned to welcome travelers without harming their cherished way of life … and for visitors who quickly learn to slow down to a peaceful pace among forests of Siberian larch trees and magenta fireweed. This is about as remote as the Gobi, perhaps even more so, the kind of place where you can hear yourself breathe amidst the whispers of a pine-scented breeze.

Who knew Mongolia was so magnificent? Discover it for yourself during our Mongolia & the Gobi Desert trip. Click here to learn more!

Asia & PacificSmall Group Discoveries

The Wrath of Khans

on October 24, 2016

Like all nations, Mongolia has seen its share of violent days. After all, if you’ve got building an empire on your mind, politeness is likely to fall away. The Mongolian Empire, largely bookended by Genghis Khan and Kublai Khan, blossomed throughout the 13th century, reaching as far west as today’s Poland, south to Pakistan and South China, and east all the way to Pacific shores. It was the largest contiguous land empire in human history, comprising 16% of the earth’s land surface. Herewith, the niceties of war, Khan-style:

  • Genghis Khan did not allow looting of his enemies without his prior approval, preferring to split acquired wealth among his warriors and their families.
  • He codified all laws, including prohibitions against selling women, stealing, fighting among Mongols, and hunting during the breeding season.
  • Genghis Khan declared religious freedom, international trade, and literacy for all, thus forming many alliances.
  • Genghis Khan saw his son and heir Ogedei as courteous, generous, and charismatic. Ironically, this kept the Empire on the path originally laid by Genghis, and Ogedei Khan expanded it to its farthest points west and south.
  • By the time of the third Khan’s enthronement at Karakorum in 1246, the reach of the Empire’s power was apparent: many foreign ambassadors attended Guyuk Khan’s coronation, including Pope Innocent IV, the Grand Duke of Moscow, a Seljuk Sultan, and the Emperor of India.
  • Khan #4, Mongke Khan, built Buddhist monasteries, mosques, and Christian churches in the Mongol capital. One prized installation in Karakorum was a silver tree whimsically adorned with pipes that dispensed various drinks. A replica of its stands before a Chinese temple today.
  • After Mongke Khan’s death, his two brothers Ariqboke and Kublai fought over the throne, stirring up a civil war in the once-united empire. Kublai emerged victorious.
  • Kublai Khan, after conquering all of China, became the first non-Chinese Emperor of that country. He grew the economy there and opened more than 20,000 public schools.
  • As the Mongol Empire grew, it broke into disparate factions who held allegiances to different ancestral brothers. By the time Kublai Khan died, southern expansion had reached its limit and over the following decades, the empire crumbled.
EuropeGate 1 Connections

Spectacular Scandinavia!

on October 20, 2016

Lovers of European history and culture can’t get enough of the continent. But many gravitate toward central and southern Europe. And as many Gate 1 travelers will tell you, they’re missing out. In the continent’s northern reaches, sweeping vistas and rich cultures unlike anywhere else on Earth are begging to be explored: deep, dramatic fjords and colossal glaciers shimmer in untouched splendor … charming farmhouses dwarfed by soaring peaks nestle in gently sloping valleys of green … cosmopolitan cities and quaint villages are married to the ebb and flow of the sea … a fascinating past stretches all the way to the Viking Age. What’s more, it’s all celebrated in some of the world’s most magnificent painting, music and literature borne from passionate national pride.

Norway’s Rich Culture and Magnificent Fjords

Norwegian Oslo exudes all the flair of any major European capital. The city takes full advantage of its seaside location, boasting a beautifully restored quay and a modern, world-class Opera House that slopes dramatically into the water. This innovative structure only hints at the city’s – and the nation’s – deep desire to stay connected to the natural world. You can witness the full expression of this desire at Vigeland Sculpture Park, a stunning outdoor installation of 212 bronze and granite sculptures depicting various stages of life. The artist behind these figures, Gustav Vigeland, is also beloved as the designer of the Nobel Peace Prize medal, which is awarded each year in Oslo’s City Hall. To glimpse Scandinavia’s Viking past, you can opt to visit three restored ships used by the explorers 1,200 years ago.

If the cosmopolitan beauty of Oslo takes your breath away, Norway’s natural beauty will send your spirit soaring. Lillehammer, situated at the northern end of Lake Mjosa, hosted the 1994 Winter Olympic Games and you’ll understand why when you witness its alpine setting. The town of Lom is home to one of the best preserved stave churches in the country, its wooden structure taking inspiration from its woodland surroundings. It was built without a single nail! But perhaps there is no more inspirational feature of Norway than its fjords.

Cruising the glacier-carved fjords is surely one of life’s most unforgettable and astonishing experiences. Depending on your itinerary, you’ll savor a leisurely cruise through Sognefjord, the longest and deepest of them all, and witness the magnificent natural splendor of these glacier-carved landscapes during a ride on the legendary Flam railway, passing flower-filled pastures, waterfalls and snow-covered peaks. This spectacular train journey, one of the world’s most scenic, climbs to 3,000 feet in 12 miles, delivering you to unbelievable vistas.

Nestled amidst it all is the historic coastal city of Bergen, capital of history’s Hanseatic League, the mercantile trade organization that controlled much of northern Europe’s trade in the Middle Ages. Its neat and pretty wooden structures recall the heydays when cargo ships unloaded pelts, spice, bronze and countless other wares from distant lands, filling the coffers of local merchants with endless riches. Today’s fish market still bustles with shoppers and made-to-order lunch stalls. Visit the Bergen Museum to learn more about this influential city’s fascinating past.

There is no more breathtaking way to take in the pristine and remote beauty of Norway than on a coastal cruise. You’ll trace the routes of postal ships, stopping at culture-rich cities and charming villages tucked into stunning fjords along the way. Exact itineraries of our multiple-night cruises vary. You might disembark to admire the Art Nouveau architecture of Alesund, rebuilt in this style after a fire destroyed the city in the early 20th century. Explore Trondheim, Norway’s oldest city and original capital. Cross the Arctic Circle, where you might spot sea eagles amidst the dramatic vistas of Bodo. Visit the Lofoten and Vesteralen Islands, known for their soaring granite cliffs and tiny fishing villages. Stop in Tromso, historic gateway to the northerly polar reaches, and witness the northernmost points of Europe during a call to Honningsvag or Hammerfest. Take all these sites in, and so much more, as you cruise among magnificent fjords and past staggering coastal mountains.

Sweden’s Grand Historic Capital

Spread across a vast archipelago, Stockholm is Sweden’s scintillating capital. Three of the city’s historic buildings stand out. The Royal Palace, a vast Italian-Baroque wonder and home to the Swedish royal family, overlooks the water from its perch on the island of Stadsholmen. Riddarholm Church, with its tall spire pointing skyward from the island of Riddarholmen, was the royal burial place until 1950. And the Romanesque City Hall on the island of Kungsholmen, with architectural touches that mirror the great buildings of Venice, hosts the Nobel Prize banquet each year. The city’s Gamla Stan, or Old Town, is a delightful maze of cobbled streets that lead to inviting squares surrounded by gabled houses and grand public buildings.

Second only to Stockholm in size and cultural offerings, Gothenburg is a lively university town. Many call it the friendliest city in Sweden, if not all of Scandinavia. One thing is certain: Its youthful vibe is truly contagious. You can tour this vibrant city via its charming 17th-century canals.

Denmark’s Fairytale Splendor

South of Sweden across the five-mile Oresund Bridge lies the island of Zealand, part of the nation of Denmark and home to the Danish capital, Copenhagen. The city is a delightful amalgam of elegant palaces, fairytale streets and beautiful public spaces. But amidst all the city’s grandiosity, every visitor is drawn to the Little Mermaid statue in the quaint park of Langelinie. The charming sculpture is based on the fairy tale written by the city’s native son, Hans Christian Andersen. During your stay in this pretty city, try a traditional smorrebrod, the Danish version of an open-faced sandwich. And if you wish, venture out of town to visit some of the country’s famed castles, including Elsinor, made famous by Shakespeare when he penned Hamlet.

Iceland’s Primeval Beauty

It’s easy to forget that Iceland is part of Scandinavia. But once you visit, you’ll surely never forget the unspoiled natural beauty that seems to steer you back to the very beginning of Earth’s origins.

Reykjavik is the nation’s gateway and the world’s northernmost capital city. You can get a good look at the city layout from Oskjuhlid Hill, where the lookout spot of Perlan provides excellent views. But you’ll want a closer look. As you explore the city, you’ll no doubt notice a charm reminiscent of smaller-scale buildings from the continent’s Old Towns. No grand palaces and enormous open squares here, just a delightful fully functioning city frozen in time that befits the nation’s small population. You’ll see the modest stone Parliament and the adjacent Cathedral, the National Museum, and the Hofdi House, where Reagan and Gorbachev famously met in 1986. Of course, a trip to the Reykjavik area isn’t complete without a soak in the geothermal waters of the famous Blue Lagoon.

Outside Reykjavik, the modern day seems to slip away as you step into an untouched, primitive world marked by volcanic slopes, glaciers, waterfalls and geysers in a starkly beautiful landscape free of trees. Traversing this barren terrain, you can’t help but feel that this is what the earth must have looked like in primeval days. And you wouldn’t be far from the truth: Geologically, Iceland is a young land and its location on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge makes it an active and ever-changing zone. You’ll hear more about this during a visit to Thingvellir National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site located right on the ridge.

Witness all this breathtaking natural beauty when you stop to marvel at Dyrholaey Nature Reserve on the South Shore, admire the sheer splendor of Skaftafell National Park, thrill to the famous Gullfoss waterfall, and explore the Snaefellsnes Peninsula with its colossal Snaefellsjokull Glacier. That’s only a fraction of the unforgettable natural sites you’ll view.

Throughout your exploration on our Classic Iceland tour, you’ll stop to witness Icelandic culture and history, whether at the Skogar Folk Museum, the Fridheimar Tomato Farm, the Bjanarhofn Farm or the Settlement Center at Borgarnes, which chronicles the history of the Vikings here. Learn about the impact of global warming on the country’s glaciers, and hear how geothermal energy and a thriving greenhouse culture have helped Iceland harness energy in the most efficient manner.

To see even more of Iceland, choose the Kaleidoscope of Iceland tour, which circles the country on its world-famous ring road. See Akureyri, Iceland’s “cultural capital of the north”, and the exquisite Lake Myvatn and Dettifoss waterfall. Or you might wish to join the small group Discovery tour Iceland, Natural Force & Beauty, where you’ll have the chance to explore an ice cave inside Langjökull Glacier, and go on a whale watching boat trip in northern Iceland.

So Many Ways to Explore Scandinavia with Gate 1

The beauty of Gate 1 Travel is the many options you’ll enjoy as you decide how you’d best like to discover Scandinavia. If Russia is on your bucket list, for instance, then you’ll want to join our Scandinavia & Russia trip. In addition to exploring Copenhagen, Gothenburg, and Stockholm, you’ll spend one night on a Baltic Sea ferry and two nights in Helsinki, Finland’s stylish and historic capital. Then board a high-speed train for a scenic journey to St. Petersburg, Peter the Great’s gilded city and home to the priceless collections of the Hermitage Museum. Continue by train to Moscow, Russia’s fascinating capital, where you can view the magnificent Faberge Eggs at the Armory Museum and explore the nation’s grandest gathering spot, Red Square, with its colorful onion-domed St. Basil’s Cathedral.

Get a closer look at Scandinavia when you explore with a small group on our Discovery Tours Scandinavia, Naturally Charming itinerary. Immerse yourself in the glories of Stockholm, Bergen, and Oslo. Plus, in Sweden, explore the architectural diversity of Falun and take in the alpine setting and Olympic venues of Lillehammer. In Norway, marvel at what many have called the most spectacular scenery in the world in Geiranger, nestled in a dramatic fjord, and visit Sogndal, home to a stunning stave church, one of the largest in Norway.

For More Natural Wonders, Look to the Sky

No one brings you this close to Scandinavia. And when you travel to these northern nations at the height of summer, you’ll enjoy them to their fullest, thanks to the near-constant Midnight Sun. Off season, too, has its advantages. The farther north you travel, the more likely you are to view the fantastical Northern Lights, a stunning celestial light show that illuminates the night sky in greens, blues and reds.  Of course, Gate 1 can never guarantee sightings, but should you join us at the right time of year, your Tour Manager will monitor conditions to increase your chances.

Discover Spectacular Scandinavia with Gate 1 Travel!

Join Gate 1 in Scandinavia and add its glorious cultural capitals, astonishing fjords, staggering mountains and dramatic landscapes to your favorite European destinations. And do so knowing that you’ll enjoy the best value in the industry, and the most rewarding experience. Join us!

EuropeTravel Tips

Scandinavia Climate & Clothing

on October 19, 2016

Denmark – The winters are not particularly cold, and the summers are cool. Autumn is the wettest season and spring is the driest. Spring and Fall: 32°F–61°F; Summer: 52°F–69°F; Winter: 28°F–39°F. Because of the country’s northern location, the length of the day with sunlight varies greatly. There are short days during the winter and long days during the summer. Bring comfortable walking shoes, a sweater, clothes you can layer, an all-weather jacket, and an umbrella.

Denmark Average Temperatures: www.gate1travel.com/weather/europe/default.aspx#scandinavia-weather

Norway – Norway’s coastal regions tend to be temperate, with more extreme temperature ranges occurring further inland. Summers can be moderately warm, even in northern areas, but only for limited periods. The length of the winter and amount of snow varies by region. In the north there is more snow and winters are dark; on the southern and western coast, winters are moderate and rainy. Daylight also varies greatly during the year. Bring comfortable walking shoes, a sweater, warm clothes you can layer, and an all-weather jacket.

Norway Average Temperatures: http://www.gate1travel.com/weather/europe/default.aspx#scandinavia-weather

Sweden – Temperatures vary greatly from north to south. Southern and central parts of the country have warm summers and cold winters, while the northern part of the country has shorter, cooler summers and longer, colder and snowier winters. Because of the high latitude, the length of daylight varies greatly. The sun never sets for part of each summer, and it never rises for part of each winter.

Sweden Average Temperatures: http://www.gate1travel.com/weather/europe/default.aspx#scandinavia-weather
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