Scandinavian Heritage
Scandinavian Heritage
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Scandinavian Heritage
28 Days Starting and ending in Oslo, Norway
Visiting: Oslo, Ullensvang, Nærøyfjord, Bergen, Stavanger, Lyngdal, Kristiansand, Aalborg, Aarhus, Jelling, Odense, Copenhagen, Skåne, Stockholm, Helsinki, Kuopio, Oulu, Rovaniemi, Ivalo, Karasjok, Honningsvåg, Nordkapp, Alta, Narvik, Tysfjord, Mosjøen, Laksfoss Falls, Trondheim, Dovrefjell National Park, Lom, Geirangerfjord, Geiranger, Lillehammer
Tour operator:
Tour code:
SE341ZN20
Guide Type:
Fully Guided
Tour operated in:
EnglishInterests:
Cultural, Gardens & Nature Tours, Rail Tours, Wildlife Tours
Activities:
Tour Overview
"Our guests love to meet and hear stories from Hanna, a recent dog sled champion at age of only 19. A constantly positive and passionate individual; Hanna overflows with love for her huskies." – Danny, Travel Director
Choice Highlights
- Choose between two carefully selected activities
- Odense: Be enchanted by the tales of Hans Christian Andersen's life when you visit the museum dedicated to his life and works.
- Odense: Visit St Canute's Cathedral and hear tales of Canute, Denmark's last Viking king and royal saint.
- Choose between two carefully selected activities
- Rovaniemi: Meet Santa Claus at his village and embrace the spirit of Christmas.
- Rovaniemi: Join your Local Expert for a nature walk in the forest and admire the tranquil surroundings.
Top Rated Highlights
- While travelling through southern Scandinavia, experience some of the most beautiful natural scenery in the world. Travel through the Skåne Region, along Lake Vättern, through Lapland and upon the Four Winds' Road. Pass Kåfjord, the Lyngen Alps, the Rago National Park, Laksfoss Falls, through Norwegian Fjordland, past Dovre Mountains, the Rondane National Park and through Pyr Gynt Country. Experience the Norwegian West Coast from Bergen to Stavanger, around the south cape of Norway and across Jutland Peninsula.
- Oslo: See Akershus Castle, Oslo Harbour, the Royal Palace, and visit Frogner Park.
- Oslo: Take a moment to contemplate the interesting Vigeland sculptures when you visit Frogner Park.
- Hardangervidda: Pass through the National Park known for its beautiful arctic tundra.
- Bergen: See the lively Fish Market's colourful stalls and marvel at the 13th-century Haakon's Hall.
- Flam Railway: Journey on the iconic Flåm Railway, one of the world's steepest standard-gauge rail lines.
- Stavanger: Cruise the Lysefjord and view Pulpit Rock.
- Kristiansand: During your orientation with your Travel Director, walk the city centre and see the Dom Kirke and Nupen Fountain.
- Kristiansand: Sail across the Skagerrak as you cross from Kristiansand to Hirsthals.
- Odense: Visit Kongernes Jelling - Home of the Viking Kings, where lighting, sound and special effects brings 1,000-year-old Viking stories to life.
- Copenhagen: Make the most of the long summer nights at the glittering Tivoli Gardens, the world-famous entertainment park, full of fantasy, fun and charm.
- Copenhagen: View Christiansborg Palace, Rosenborg Castle, Amalienborg Palace and the Rundertaarn, and visit Tivoli Gardens, the world-famous entertainment park.
- Copenhagen: Visit the impressive 18th century Copenhagen Cathedral, designed by Christian Frederik Hansen, known for its neoclassical architecture and for featuring the largest bell in Denmark.
- Oresund Bridge: Cross this magnificent feat of engineering. It's the longest road and rail bridge in Europe, spanning 8 kilometres.
- Stockholm: Visit City Hall to see the Golden Hall, adorned with 18 million gilded mosaic tiles and the Blue Hall.
- Stockholm: With your Local Expert, visit Gamla Stan to see the cathedral where Swedish kings have been coronated and wander the narrow streets of the Old Town.
- Helsinki: Admire the beautiful views from your high-class, sea-view cabin as your cruise through the largest archipelago in the world, from Stockholm to Helsinki.
- Helsinki: Explore the city of design, see its harbour and wander through a traditional food market.
- Kuopio: Admire the spectacular panoramic views from atop Puijo Tower.
- Oulu: Visit Northern Finland's oldest city. It is also one of the most important harbour cities in all of Northern Europe.
- Rovaniemi: See Alvar Aalto's Town Hall and visit the cathedral. You'll even receive an Arctic Circle Crossing certificate.
- Sodankyla: Visit one of Lapland's oldest churches.
- Ivalo: Enjoy an orientation as you arrive into the village.
- Karasjok: See the Sami Parliament and continue on to visit the museum devoted to Sami history and culture, offering a glimpse into the old Sami lifestyle.
- North Cape: See the midnight sun, where the sun never sets, with champagne and caviar in this once-in-a-lifetime experience.
- Narvik: Learn more about the scenic town of Narvik and its history as you gaze upon the majestic mountains that surround the town.
- Mosjoen: See the street of historic, 19th century wooden buildings and Norway's oldest octagonal church.
- Trondheim: Tell all your friends you travelled through!
- Trondheim: During an orientation with your Travel Director, see the Market Square and its statue of Olav Tryggvason, the Nidaros Cathedral, the Tyholt Tower and Old Town Bridge.
- Geiranger: Enjoy an orientation of Geiranger to learn more about this small village and the surrounding Fjords.
- Geiranger: Cruise Geirangerfjord's deep blue waters, surrounded by snow-covered mountains, waterfalls and lush greenery.
- Lillehammer: Explore the town where the 1994 Winter Olympics were held.
Make Travel Matter
Copenhagen: Dine at Cofoco, a restaurant leading the way in minimising food waste and promoting a sustainable future. This experience advances United Nations Sustainable Development Goals 7 & 12: Affordable and Clean Energy & Responsible Consumption and Production.
Karasjok: Visit the Sámi Museum, home to Norway's largest collection of indigenous Sámi cultural heritage, and learn about the community's resilience and the preservation of indigenous practices. This experience advances United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities.
Authentic Dining
Oslo: Savour local specialities with your Travel Director and fellow travellers during dinner paired with wine.
Aalborg: Savour a delightful dinner prepared with fresh, locally-sourced ingredients at a local restaurant.
Helsinki: Wander through the aromatic stalls of a traditional food market and sample local produce, like liquorice or smoked reindeer.
Alta: Savour a delicious oven-baked lunch of local seasonal specialities of fresh salmon or the local's favourite, reindeer, served with fresh salads and wine.
Oslo: Toast to the finale of your travels during dinner in Norway's capital city with your fellow travellers at a local restaurant.
Insight Choice
Odense: Be enchanted by the tales of Hans Christian Andersen's life when you visit the museum dedicated to his life and works.
Odense: Visit St Canute's Cathedral and hear tales of Canute, Denmark's last Viking king and royal saint.
Rovaniemi: Meet Santa Claus at his village and embrace the spirit of Christmas.
Rovaniemi: Join your Local Expert for a nature walk in the forest and admire the tranquil surroundings.
Itinerary
Day 1: Welcome To Oslo
Location: Oslo
Accommodation: Thon Hotel Europa, Oslo.
Accommodation Name: Thon Europa, Oslo
Meals Included: Dinner
Welcome to Oslo! This evening, join your Travel Director to enjoy dinner while you meet your fellow travellers.
Day 2: Cosmopolitan Oslo Relaxed Start
Location: Oslo
Accommodation: Thon Hotel Europa, Oslo.
Accommodation Name: Thon Europa, Oslo
Meals Included: Breakfast
Sightseeing with a Local Expert includes views of Akershus Castle and the Royal Palace.
Day 3: Oslo City To Ullensvang
Location: Oslo, Ullensvang
Accommodation: Ullensvang Hotel.
Accommodation Name: Ullensvang, Lofthus
Meals Included: Breakfast
Journey across the Hardanger Plateau to Ullensvang.
Day 4: Ullensvang, Flåm Railway And To The City Of Bergen Relaxed Start
Location: Nærøyfjord, Bergen
Accommodation: Thon Hotel Rosenkrantz, Bergen.
Accommodation Name: Thon Rosenkrantz, Bergen
Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner
Travel to the Coastal City of Bergen where you will visit the traditional train of the Flåm Railway, journey on one of the world's steepest railways through tunnels that spiral in and out of the mountainside. This evening join your Travel Director at a Local Restaurant for Dinner.
Day 5: The Hanseatic Port Of Bergen Relaxed Start
Location: Bergen
Accommodation: Thon Hotel Rosenkrantz, Bergen.
Accommodation Name: Thon Rosenkrantz, Bergen
Meals Included: Breakfast
A Local Expert introduces you to Bergen. See the lively Fish Market and the historic 13th-century Haakon’s Hall. With the afternoon free to explore on your own, perhaps ride Scandinavia's only funicular up Mount Fløyen.
Day 6: A Coastline Like No Other Relaxed Start
Location: Stavanger
Accommodation: Thon Hotel Maritim, Stavanger
Accommodation Name: Thon Maritim, Stavanger
Meals Included: Breakfast
Travel along this incredible coastline and sail across fjords to reach Stavanger, founded almost 900 years ago. Now the headquarters of the Norwegian oil industry, Stavanger is a fusion of old world charm and cosmopolitan flair. Cruise the Lysefjord and admire the waterfalls and Pulpit Rock overhanging the fjord.
Day 7: Lyngdal And Kristiansand
Location: Lyngdal, Kristiansand
Accommodation: Thon Hotel Parken, Kristiansand.
Accommodation Name: Thon Parken, Kristiansand
Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner
In Lyngdal, tour the Wild Salmon Centre with a biologist guide, learn about protecting salmon populations and the local ecosystem. Observe the majestic fish in their own environment, via a unique indoor 'staircase' and viewing area. Your scenic drive around the southern cape of Norway brings you to Kristiansand. An orientation walk will show you the Domkirke and Nupen Fountain. Savour a delicious dinner at a local restaurant.
Day 8: Kristiansand To Aalborg
Location: Kristiansand, Aalborg
Accommodation: Comwell Hvide Hus Aalborg
Accommodation Name: Comwell Hvide Hus Aalborg
Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner
Sail across the Skagerrak to Hirtshals, Denmark. Continue to Aalborg. Join your Travel Director for an Orientation Tour of Skagen.
Day 9: Journey To Odense Relaxed Start
Location: Aarhus, Jelling, Odense
Accommodation: Comwell H C Andersen Odense
Accommodation Name: Comwell H C Andersen Odense
Meals Included: Breakfast
Explore Aarhus and Jelling, en-route to Odense.
Day 10: Odense To Copenhagen
Location: Odense, Copenhagen
Accommodation: Radisson Blu Scandinavia Hotel, Copenhagen.
Accommodation Name: Radisson Blu Scandinavia, Copenhagen
Meals Included: Breakfast
Visit Odense with Insight Choice. Choose to visit the Hans Christian Andersen House, a museum dedicated to his life and works. Learn all about the famous fairytale writer as you follow his career, travels and love life. Alternatively, visit St Canute's Cathedral and hear tales of Canute, Denmark's first royal saint. Continue to Denmark's vibrant capital city, Copenhagen and later discover the enchanting Tivoli Gardens.
Day 11: Wonderful Copenhagen Relaxed Start
Location: Copenhagen
Accommodation: Radisson Blu Scandinavia Hotel, Copenhagen.
Accommodation Name: Radisson Blu Scandinavia, Copenhagen
Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner
With your Local Expert, meet Hans Christian Andersen's Little Mermaid. Visit Copenhagen Cathedral.
Day 12: Scenic Farmlands Of Sweden
Location: Skåne, Stockholm
Accommodation: Radisson Blu Royal Viking Hotel, Stockholm.
Accommodation Name: Radisson Blu Royal Viking Hotel, Stockholm.
Meals Included: Breakfast
Journey to Stockholm.
Day 13: Stockholm And Baltic Cruise
Location: Stockholm
Accommodation: Serenade/Symphony—Tallink & Silja Line Ships.
Accommodation Name: Serenade/Symphony - Tallink & Silja Line Ships
Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner
Join a Local Expert and visit City Hall.Board your Baltic cruise to Finland.
Day 14: Fashionable Helsinki Relaxed Start
Location: Helsinki
Accommodation: GLO Hotel Art, Helsinki.
Accommodation Name: GLO Art, Helsinki
Meals Included: Breakfast
Disembark your Baltic cruise and meet your Local Expert.Wander through aromatic stalls of a traditional food market with a Local Expert and sample local produce.
Day 15: Lakes And Forests To Kuopio
Location: Kuopio
Accommodation: Scandic Atlas, Kuopio.
Accommodation Name: Scandic Atlas, Kuopio
Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner
Ascend Puijo Tower.
Day 16: The Road To Rovaniemi
Location: Oulu, Rovaniemi
Accommodation: Santa's Hotel Santa Claus, Rovaniemi.
Accommodation Name: Santa's Santa Claus, Rovaniemi
Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner
Travel to Lapland. Arrive to Rovaniemi, the modern capital of the region.
Day 17: Rovaniemi And Lapland Relaxed Start
Location: Rovaniemi
Accommodation: Santa's Hotel Santa Claus, Rovaniemi.
Accommodation Name: Santa's Santa Claus, Rovaniemi
Meals Included: Breakfast
Cross the Arctic Circle today, a highlight for many travellers. Explore Rovaniemi with Insight Choice. Choose to meet Santa Claus and embrace the spirit of Christmas. Alternatively, join your Local Expert for a nature walk in the forest.
Day 18: The Arctic To Ivalo Relaxed Start
Location: Ivalo
Accommodation: Hotel Ivalo.
Accommodation Name: Ivalo
Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner
Travel through Europe's last great wilderness on the way to Ivalo.
Day 19: The North Cape
Location: Karasjok, Honningsvåg, Nordkapp
Accommodation: Scandic Honningsvåg.
Accommodation Name: Scandic Honningsvåg.
Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner
Stop at Karasjok for a MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experienceto visit a Sami National Museum and see the Sami Parliament.Journey to the northernmost point of mainland Europe in search of the midnight sun and enjoy a glass of bubbles and caviar in one of the most special places on Earth.
Day 20: Through Finnmark To Alta Relaxed Start
Location: Alta
Accommodation: Scandic Alta.
Accommodation Name: Scandic Alta
Meals Included: Breakfast
Continue your journey to Alta.
Day 21: A World Of Adventure In Alta Relaxed Start
Location: Alta
Accommodation: Scandic Alta.
Accommodation Name: Scandic Alta
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch
Visit a working husky farm to meet the champion dog sledding Lyrek family. Learn about their Alaskan huskies and meet some puppies.Delight in a wonderful Highlight Lunch of local seasonal specialities.
Day 22: Narvik
Location: Narvik
Accommodation: Scandic Narvik .
Accommodation Name: Scandic Narvik
Meals Included: Breakfast
Pass Kåfjord. Continue to scenic Narvik, a small town surrounded by majestic mountains.
Day 23: Across Tysfjord To Mosjøen
Location: Tysfjord, Mosjøen
Accommodation: Fru Haugans Hotel, Mosjoen.
Accommodation Name: Fru Haugans, Mosjoen
Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner
Bid farewell to the Arctic. Reach Mosjøen, a pleasant town on the Vefsnfjord.
Day 24: Laksfoss Falls To Trondheim
Location: Laksfoss Falls, Trondheim
Accommodation: Scandic Bakklandet, Trondheim.
Accommodation Name: Scandic Bakklandet, Trondheim.
Meals Included: Breakfast
Continue past the village of Hell to Trondheim, once the seat of the ancient Viking kings.
Day 25: Geiranger, Jewel Of The Fjords
Location: Dovrefjell National Park, Lom, Geirangerfjord
Accommodation: Hotel Union Geiranger.
Accommodation Name: Union Geiranger
Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner
Travel past lakes and snow-capped peaks to Lom.Arrive at Geirangerfjord to embark on a spectacular cruise beneath towering cliffs and cascading waterfalls.
Day 26: Geiranger At Leisure Relaxed Start
Location: Geiranger
Accommodation: Hotel Union Geiranger.
Accommodation Name: Union Geiranger
Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner
Enjoy a whole free day.
Day 27: Oslo, The Capital
Location: Lillehammer, Oslo
Accommodation: Thon Hotel Opera, Oslo.
Accommodation Name: Thon Opera, Oslo
Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner
Travel through 'Peer Gynt' Country, inspiration for Edvard Grieg. Stop in Lillehammer and continue on to Oslo. Round off your travels with a dinner, toast to your adventures.
Day 28: Out Of Oslo
Location: Oslo
Meals Included: Breakfast
Time to say goodbye to your new friends, your trip ends this morning.
What's Included
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Choice Highlights
Choose between two carefully selected activities in Odense and Rovaniemi.
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Top Rated Highlights
Visit iconic sites such as Akershus Castle in Oslo, the Fish Market in Bergen, and the Tivoli Gardens in Copenhagen.
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Make Travel Matter
Dine at Cofoco in Copenhagen and visit the Sámi Museum in Karasjok, supporting sustainable practices.
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Authentic Dining
Enjoy local specialties in Oslo, Aalborg, Helsinki, and Alta.
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Insight Choice
Visit the Hans Christian Andersen Museum or St Canute's Cathedral in Odense, and meet Santa Claus or take a nature walk in Rovaniemi.
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Dining Summary
Includes 14 dinners, 27 breakfasts, and 1 lunch.
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Additional Included Highlights
Personal radio headsets, hotel and restaurant tips, taxes, porterage, and complimentary Wi-Fi are included.
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Insight Experiences
Tour the Wild Salmon Center in Lyngdal and meet the Lyrek family and their huskies in Alta.
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Well-being
Travel in a sanitized, air-conditioned coach with double the standard legroom and onboard washroom.
What's Not Included
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Optional Experiences
Certain activities such as visiting the home of composer Edvard Grieg or taking a scenic drive along the Troll's Road are optional and may incur additional costs.
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Transfers Outside Scheduled Times
Transfers are available at scheduled times. If your flights are outside these times, you may need to purchase transfers or make your own arrangements.
Dining Summary
- 14 Dinner (D)
- 27 Breakfast (B)
- 1 Lunch (L)
Additional Included Highlights
- Personal radio headsets give you the freedom to wander during visits to famous highlights, without missing any of your Local Expert's fascinating commentary.
- Hotel and restaurant tips are included - you'll never have to worry about how much to give, nor search for foreign currency. We also include all taxes and porterage charges at hotels.
- We carry your bags for you and promptly deliver them to your hotel door.
- From time to time, your Travel Director will delight you with an Insight Flourish, which is a local specialty representing the destination.
- Stay connected with friends and family with our complimentary coach and hotel Wi-Fi (where available).
- If your arrival and/or departure flights are as per the itinerary start and end dates, then transfers are available at scheduled times. If your flights are outside these times, or you have booked additional nights accommodation with Insight Vacations, you may purchase transfers or make your own way from/to the airport.
- Cruise in high-class cabins with sea views.
Insight Experiences
- Lyngdal: Tour the Wild Salmon Centre with a biologist guide and learn about protecting salmon populations and the local ecosystem.
- Alta: Meet the Lyrek family at their husky farm for lunch and hear tales about their marathon Arctic dog sled races.
Well-being
- Enjoy the comfort of Insight's luxurious, air-conditioned, 40-seat coach with double the standard legroom and onboard washroom. Our customized luxury coaches are sanitized before the start of your tour and are maintained to very high standards. Physical distancing measures have been implemented on our customized luxury coaches.
- Hand sanitizer is freely available on board for you to use throughout the day.
Mode of Transport
Travel in luxury with Insight's air-conditioned, 40-seat coach featuring double the standard legroom and onboard washroom. Enjoy scenic journeys across fjords, railways, and the Øresund Bridge, with a Baltic cruise offering sea-view cabins for a memorable experience.
Accommodation
Experience comfort and style at various accommodations including Thon Europa in Oslo, Ullensvang Hotel in Lofthus, Thon Rosenkrantz in Bergen, and Radisson Blu Scandinavia in Copenhagen, among others, ensuring a restful stay throughout your Scandinavian adventure.
Summary
- Choose between two experiences in Aarhus.
- Travel and fjord hop from Bergen to Stavanger • cruise Lysefjord • cruise across the Skagerrak from Kristiansand to Hirsthals • cross the Baltic Sea by cruise from Stockholm to Helsinki • cruise Geirangerfjord.
- Visit the Viking Ship Museum in Oslo • Hans Christian Andersen Museum in Odense • Tivoli Gardens and Cathedral in Copenhagen • City Hall in Stockholm • Helsinki • Kuopio Viewing Tower • North Cape.
- City tours of Oslo, Bergen, Copenhagen, Stockholm and Helsinki, all with Local Experts.
- Welcome Dinner in Oslo • Dinner with wine at Zupperia Matbørsen in Bergen • Restaurant Dinner in Kristiansand • Farm-to-Table in Aarhus • Dinner with wine in Copenhagen • Traditional Dinner with Wine in Alta •Celebration Dinner in Oslo. Taste sparkling wine and caviar in North Cape • local treats at Helsinki's food market.
Check out our Q&As
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What unique experience can I expect at the North Cape?
At the North Cape, you can experience the midnight sun, where even at midnight, the sun clings to the horizon. This unique experience is accompanied by champagne and caviar, making it a special moment as you stand near the towering cliffs that rise dramatically out of the sea.
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What activities are available in Rovaniemi?
In Rovaniemi, you have the option to meet Santa Claus at his village, where it is Christmas all year round, or join a Local Expert for a nature walk in the forest to admire the tranquil surroundings.
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What can I expect during the visit to the Sami Museum in Karasjok?
During the visit to the Sami Museum in Karasjok, you will see the largest cultural heritage collection of the indigenous Sami people in Norway. The museum educates guests about the resiliency of the Sami community and endeavors to safeguard indigenous-driven processes and traditional practices.
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What is special about the Flam Railway journey?
The Flam Railway journey is one of the world's steepest railways, taking you through tunnels that spiral in and out of the mountainside of the narrow Flam Valley. You will enjoy views of rushing waterfalls, glacial rivers, and verdant scenery.
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What dining experience is offered in Copenhagen?
In Copenhagen, you will dine at Cofoco, a restaurant that leads the way in minimizing food waste and promoting a sustainable future. This dining experience supports United Nations Sustainable Development Goals related to affordable and clean energy and responsible consumption and production.
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What can I do during my leisure time in Geiranger?
During your leisure time in Geiranger, you can join an optional experience for a scenic drive along the Troll's Road, which offers spectacular views and is considered a masterpiece of engineering.
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Can I join the tour once it has departed?
We regret that no refunds can be made for absences from a tour, including experiences such as missed meals or sightseeing.
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How long has the tour company been trading?
Since 1978.
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What Ethical Travel credentials does the tour company have?
Insight Vacations is a founding member of the TreadRight Foundation, a joint initiative created by the brands within The Travel Corporation (TTC) almost 15 years ago to ensure our impact through tourism is positive. Our ethos to #MakeTravelMatter guides our decision-making at every level of our business.
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Will the accommodation included meet local health and safety regulations?
Yes
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Do you operate a “single share” option and how does it work?
You have two options as a solo traveller. Either choose to be matched with a same sex partner for a room share - at no extra cost. Or choose a room of your own with a reduced or even free private room upgrade on select tours.
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What policies are in place for Covid-19?
Please contact us for latest COVID-19 policies
Reviews of this operator
Book with Confidence
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Low Deposit
Insight Vacations requires a minimum deposit of 200 GBP per person or the full booking value, whichever is less, with the final balance not due until 90 days before departure.
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Cancellation Policy
We don't charge a cancellation fee, here is a summary of insight vacations charges.
Up to 91 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of deposit.
At 90 days before tour starts: Forfeit 50% of booking price.
At 29 days before tour starts: Forfeit 80% of booking price.
At 1 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of booking price.