North to the Arctic and Sámiland:
Norway and Sweden

TOUR IS CURRENTLY FULL - If you would like to be placed on the waiting list, please send an email to Michelle Whitehill, Tour Coordinator at or call 563-382-9681 ext. 240.

Tour Guide

Harley Refsal

Tour Leader

Michelle Whitehill

Itinerary

  1. Day 1 Tues., August 7: USA-KIRUNA (D)

    Board Scandinavian Airlines for the transatlantic flight from Chicago, Illinois, to Kiruna, Sweden.

  2. Day 2 Wed., August 8: ARRIVE KIRUNA (B & D)

    Arrive in Kiruna and transfer by bus to Scandic Hotel Ferrum to check-in. Once settled, depart for Nutti Sámi Siida AB for welcome traditional Sámi dinner in a laavo. Overnight at Scandic Hotel Ferrum, Kiruna.

  3. Day 3 Thurs., August 9: KIRUNA-JOKKMOKK (B, L & D)

    After a good night’s sleep, depart for Jokkmokk for a lunch and guided tour of Ãjtte Museum - The Swedish Mountain and Sámi Museum. A very special evening is planned at the Sámi Folk School. Dinner and overnight at Hotel Jokkmokk, Jokkmokk.

  4. Day 4 Fri., August 10: JOKKMOKK-GÄLLIVARE-KIRUNA (B & L)

    Enjoy free time in the morning looking around, shopping, or relaxing. Leave for Jukkasjärvi in late morning and stop for lunch at the Forest Hotel & Lapland Wilderness Lodge in Gällivare. Once back in Jukkasjärvi, visit the 1600s log church, home to the famous altar carved by Bror Hjorth, followed by a visit to the Ice Hotel to see the ice and snow exhibition in their large freeze house. Overnight at Scandic Hotel Ferrum, Kiruna.

  5. Day 5 Sat., August 11: KIRUNA-HARSTAD-SVOLVÆR
    (B, L & D)

    Head west to the beautiful Lofoten Islands. Lunch will be served in Harstad at the Røkenes Farm, an old trading post and guesthouse dating back to the sixteenth century. After lunch, have a guided tour of Trondenes Church, the northernmost and one of the largest medieval stone churches in Norway. See the world’s largest land-based cannon dating from World War II, the Adolf Gun, during our guided tour of Trondenes Fort. Leave Harstad to drive along the beautiful coastline to Svolvær for dinner and overnight at the Thon Hotel in Lofoten, Svolvær.

  6. Day 6 Sun., August 12: SVOLVÆR-BØSTAD-REINE (B & D)

    Take the morning to relax or explore Svolvær before departing for Bøstad for a guided tour of Lofotr Viking Museum, a historical museum based on a reconstruction and archaeological excavation of a Viking chieftain’s village dating back to 500 AD. From there drive to Reine and rest before dinner at the Gammelbua restaurant, which serves typical Norwegian food, specializing in fish dishes with fresh, local produce. Accommodations for the night will be in rorbuers, traditional fisherman cottages, located by the Reine Fjord and surrounded by the Lofoten Mountains.

  7. Day 7 Mon., August 13: REINE-Å-HENNINGSVÆR-HARSTAD (B & L)

    Start the day with an exciting visit and guided tour of the Norwegian Fishing Village Museum in Å, which features the life of the fishing village and the Lofoten Fishery over the past 200 years. Lunch will follow at the Brygga Restaurant. Depart for Henningsvær for time to shop or to look around this quaint fishing village. The day ends with a drive to Harstad for an overnight stay at Thon Hotel.

  8. Day 8 Tues., August 14: HARSTAD-TROMSØ (B, L & D)

    Get a taste of the Hurtigruten by sailing aboard the MS Nordlys from Harstad to Tromsø. Enjoy lunch on board “The World’s Most Beautiful Voyage,” with an unforgettable treasure trove of landscapes, scenery, sights, and sounds. Once in Tromsø, take a city tour, including a stop at the Arctic Cathedral. Dinner and overnight at the Rica Ishavshotel, Tromsø.

  9. Day 9 Wed., August 15: TROMSØ (B & L)

    Vesterheim’s friends at the University of Tromsø Museum have arranged a visit at North Norway’s largest and oldest museum. This museum offers a comprehensive exhibition on the traditional culture of the Sámi people and an exquisite collection of ecclesiastical art and a full-scale Viking longhouse. Afternoon free to explore with overnight stay at the Rica Ishavshotel, Tromsø.

  10. Day 10 Thurs., August 16: TROMSØ-SAMUELSBERG-ALTA (B, L & C/D)

    A special day has been planned by our friends from the Nord Troms Museum, with activities at the Manndalen Husflidslag, the wool factory, the coastal Sámi farm, Sámi boat houses, and more. After this wonderful time, head north along the amazing Lyngen Alps to Gildetun for traditional waffles and coffee. Overnight stay at Rica Hotel Alta.

  11. Day 11 Fri., August 17: ALTA-MASİ-KARASJOK (B, L & D)

    Start out with a guided tour of the Alta Museum. Experience Northern Europe’s largest and richest rock carving site included on the UNESCO’s World Heritage List. These 2000-to-6200-year-old rock carvings show the life of hunters and fishermen. The museum also has historical exhibitions on fishing and Sámi. Next drive along the Alta River to Masi for lunch and a unique experience of “Past & Present” Sámi activities. Depart for Karasjok to have dinner and an overnight stay at Rica Hotel Karasjok.

  12. Day 12 Sat., August 18: KARASJOK-TANA-KIRKENES (B, L & C/D)

    After breakfast, have a guided tour of Riddo Duottar Museat. This museum displays objects and Sámi art from “Sápmi.” The outdoor museum offers a view on the old Sámi lifestyle. After lunch there will be a private tour of the Sámi Parliament. Heading north, visit the Tana Gull og Sølvsmie for a chance to see a demonstration of traditional Sámi jewelry making before heading to Kirkenes for an overnight stay at the Arctic Hotel.

  13. Day 13, Sun., August 19: KIRKENES (B & L)

    Explore Kirkenes through a short city tour. Then visit Borderland Museum and the unique Pasvikdalen, which forms a narrow valley between Finland and Russia. Enjoy a picnic lunch at the riverside, only a stone’s throw from Russia. Your culinary delights will include salmon, pikeburgers, smoked Pasvik river whitefish, reindeer soup, berries, and other local foods native to the area. You will thoroughly enjoy this exceptional experience, made possible only through the connections Vesterheim has made. Overnight at the Arctic Hotel, Kirkenes.

  14. Day 14, Mon., August 20: KIRKENES-OSLO (B & D)

    Following breakfast, transfer to the Kirkenes Airport for the flight to Oslo. Upon arriving in Oslo, check into the hotel before a transfer to the city center for free time to explore the capital city of Norway. The tour will conclude with a “Farewell Dinner” at Café Europa. After dinner, transfer to the Clarion Hotel Airport for an overnight stay.

  15. Day 15, Tues., August 21: OSLO-USA (B & L)

    In the morning, transfer to the airport for the transatlantic flight to Chicago, Illinois.

The tour operator reserves the right to make changes necessary in order to give travelers the best experience possible.

Price:
$5,295
Single supplement:
$700
Land only:
$4,295

Minimum of 35 participants

Maximum of 40 participants

Price Includes (as listed in the above itinerary):

Tour Guide

Harley Refsal

Harley Refsal recently retired from nearly four decades of teaching Norwegian language and Scandinavian culture courses at Luther College. A noted woodcarver, he has taught courses in Scandinavian-style figure carving in Norway and the U.S. since the 1980s, including several courses each each year at Vesterheim. He has led two Luther College January-Term courses to Norway.

Tour Leader

Michelle Whitehill

Michelle Whitehill is Vesterheim’s Coordinator of Tours to Norway. She has planned 9 tours and led tours to Norway every year since 2008. Her organization and friendliness allow participants to sit back, relax, and enjoy the trip.