Load more
Home Tours Göta Canal & Hurtigruten

Göta Canal & Hurtigruten

Start your journey in the wonderful city of Copenhagen. Travel on the classical 4-day Göta Canal cruise between Gothenburg and Stockholm and continue by overnight train and bus to Harstad. Embark on a Hurtigruten 4-day cruise along the spectacular coastline from Lofoten to Bergen. Set departure dates.

Duration

13 days

Transportation

Cruise, Train, Bus

Season

Summer

Tour Type

Partly guided

Itinerary - Day by day

day 1
  • Arrival in Copenhagen.
  • Day at leisure in Copenhagen.
  • Recommended attractions:
    • The Tivoli Gardens
    • Nyhavn harbour
    • Ny Carlsberg Glyptotek
    • Amalienborg Palace
    • Statue of Little Mermaid
  • Accommodation in Copenhagen.

Arrival in Copenhagen, the capital of Denmark. In this charming city one thousand years of history awaits you in the medieval streets; the same streets walked on by every generation of the world's oldest royal family, the same streets and canals which have inspired artists for centuries and been the home and workplace to meticulous craftsmen and famous designers. The city offers many attractions such as Tivoli, the statue of the Little Mermaid, the Gefion Fountain, the Royal Palace Amalienborg and much more. Accommodation in Copenhagen

Add extra nights in Copenhagen - From EUR 85 per person per night

day 2
  • Breakfast at the hotel.
  • Day at leisure in Copenhagen.
  • Afternoon departure by train from Copenhagen to Gothenburg
  • Recommended attractions:
    • Haga/Old Town
    • The Archipelago
    • Liseberg Amusement Park
    • Avenyn Parade street
  • Accommodation in Gothenburg.

Breakfast at the hotel. Day at leisure in Copenhagen before your 3,5 hour train journey to Gothenburg. Gothenburg is the second largest city in Sweden. Visit Gothenburg’s oldest suburb Haga, now a trendy neighborhood in the centre of the town. In the evening we recommend a dinner cruise where you can enjoy fresh seafood whilst sailing around the spectacular archipelago (requires earlier departure from Copenhagen). Accommodation in Gothenburg.

Add extra nights in Gothenburg - From EUR 69 per person per night

day 3
  • Breakfast at the hotel
  • Embarkation possible from 08:30 hrs
  • Cruise departure from Gothenburg at 09:00 hrs
  • Included shore excursions:
    • Visit to Trollhättan Canal Museum
  • 2-course lunch and 3-course dinner onboard
  • Accommodation onboard.

Breakfast at the hotel. The Göta Canal cruise departs in the morning from Packhuskajen in central Gothenburg. You are welcomed aboard by your guide and shown to your cabin onboard M/S Juno. Turn off your mobile phone, leave the stress of everyday life behind, and give yourself a few days of total relaxation with good food and interesting encounters. All meals are included and served at set times in the dining room. The first lock on your journey is at Lilla Edet on the Trollhätte Canal; a canal that connects Göta River with Lake Vänern. The Göta Canal itself is 190 km long, of which 87,3 km is hand-dug. Together with Trollhätte Canal and Göta River, the Göta Canal forms a 390 km long waterway across Sweden. The original lock at Lilla Edet opened in 1607 and was the first lock in Sweden. The impressive lock staircase at Trollhättan consists of four locks with a total drop of 32 meters. At a visit to Trollhättan Canal Museum you will learn more about the fascinating history of the Trollhätte Canal. Overnight cruise on Lake Vänern.

Cabin types included during the cruise

Göta Canal.
MS Juno - lower deck cabin Silver
MS Juno - middle deck cabin Gold
day 4
  • Included shore excursions:
    • Guided tour of Karlsborg Fortress
  • Buffet breakfast, 2-course lunch and 3-course dinner onboard
  • Accommodation onboard.

Morning cruise arrival in Sjötorp where the ship enters the first of the 58 narrow locks on the Göta Canal. Today you pass several lock systems including one hand-operated lock at Tåtorp. At the Berg Canal an Obelisk marks the highest point of the canal; 91.5 meters above sea level. You will cross the beautiful Lake Viken which serves as a water reservoir for the western section of Göta Canal. Continuing to the Spetsnäs Canal, the ship steers through two narrow, wood-lined passages and small lakes full of water lilies. Today you will visit Karlsborg Fortress, initiated by Baltzar von Platen and built in 1819-1909. The fortress was built as part of the central defense policy, born when Sweden lost Finland and Åland to Russia in the war of 1808-09. The war left Sweden’s borders open. Here the guides take you on an interesting tour of the fortress and the beautiful Garrison Church. In the evening, the boat berths in Motala. It was Baltzar von Platen, the founder of Göta Canal, who drew up the plans for Motala and today it is called "the Capital of the Göta Canal".

day 5
  • Included shore excursions:
    • Guided tour to the convent of Vreta
    • Visit to the idyllic town of Söderköping
  • Buffet breakfast, 2-course lunch and 3-course dinner onboard
  • Accommodation onboard.

The ship leaves Motala and enters Lake Boren in the early morning. Arriving in Borensberg you will find another of the canal’s hand-operated locks before crossing one of the canals aqueducts. At midday you will arrive to the famous locks of Berg. Here, the Carl-Johan lock staircase is the longest in the Göta Canal with its seven connected locks that lifts or lowers boats 18.8 meters. A fascinating spectacle that often attracts a large audience. Together with the guide, you have the opportunity to visit the convent of Vreta. This is the first nunnery in Sweden and dates from about 1100. The ship then continues to Lake Roxen and Lake Asplången before arriving to Söderköping in the evening. Passing through the last narrow lock at Mem you leave the Göta Canal and head out for an overnight cruise on the Baltic Sea.

day 6
  • Included shore activities:
    • Guided tour of the Viking community of Birka
  • Buffet breakfast and 2-course lunch onboard
  • Arrival in Stockholm at 14:30 hrs
  • Recommended attractions in Stockholm:
    • Gamla Stan – Old Town
    • Vasa Museum
    • Skansen Open Air Museum
    • Stockholm Archipelago
    • Stadshuset – City Hall
  • Accommodation in Stockholm.

Weaving through the archipelago in the early morning light you arrive to Södertälje lock; 135 meters long and the largest lock in Scandinavia. The cruise continues to Lake Mälaren and heads for the island of Björkö. Here you will visit the Viking community of Birka which is often regarded as Sweden’s first town. The archaeologists on the island will show you around and you will also have the opportunity to visit the museum. Across Lake Mälaren you pass the Drottningholm Castle, home of the Royal family since 1981, and on the UNESCO’s list of World Heritage sites before arriving to Hammarby lock. This is the final lock on the journey and delivers you from Lake Mälaren into Saltsjön. The cruise ends at approximately 14:30 hrs at Skeppsbrokajen, in the old town of Stockholm. Stockholm is built on 14 islands connected by old bridges and overpasses and is one of Europe’s largest and best-preserved mediaeval city centers. It homes the country’s most important buildings and finest architecture. Take an afternoon boat trip along Stockholm’s numerous waterways or around Lake Mälaren, a sightseeing trip by open-top bus or try one of the evening dinner cruises sailing around the beautiful archipelago. Accommodation in Stockholm.

Add extra nights in Stockholm - From EUR 95 per person per night

day 7
  • Breakfast at the hotel.
  • Day at leisure in Stockholm
  • Overnight train from Stockholm to Narvik (Norway)

Breakfast at the hotel. Spend the day exploring Stockholm, both by land and by sea. We recommend one of the optional sightseeing tours, e.g. the Stockholm Panorama which will give you a good impression of the city and its sights. At 6 pm your overnight train to Narvik departs from Stockholm. Accommodation in a sleeping compartment onboard the train.

Compartment included during the overnight train

SJ night train.
Overnight train Stockholm-Narvik (shared) Silver
Private compartment on board the SJ night train in Sweden.
Overnight train Stockholm-Narvik (private) Gold
day 8
  • Arrival in Narvik by the overnight train from Stockholm.
  • 2 local buses from Narvik to Harstad (via Evenes).
  • Accommodation in Harstad.

Arrival at Narvik by the overnight train at approximately 1 pm. Upon arrival in Narvik you will have some hours at leisure before continuing by local buses from Narvik to Harstad. Harstad is a small coastal town located on the island Hinnøya and is the entry-point to Lofoten. Accommodation in Harstad.

day 9
  • Breakfast at the hotel
  • Hurtigruten cruise departure at 08:30 hrs.
  • Attractions along the coast:
    • Risøyrenna, narrow channel
    • Vesterålen and Raftsundet sound
    • Hurtigruten Museum in Stokmarknes
    • Lofoten Wall (mountain chain)
    • Vestfjorden
  • Optional Shore Excursions.
  • Dinner onboard.
  • Accommodation onboard Hurtigruten.

Breakfast at the hotel before embarking on a cruise with Hurtigruten along the spectacular Norwegian coastline towards Bergen. Hurtigruten is often referred to as the world’s most beautiful sea voyage, and it is a journey through history and maritime culture. Today you will cruise along Vesterålen Islands to Lofoten Islands passing narrow sounds, steep mountains, and sandy beaches and fishing villages. The highlight of today's cruise is the spectacular Raftsundet sound, which connects the Vesterålen Islands with the Lofoten Islands. Arrival in Svolvær before dinnertime. Svolvær, the undisputed capital of the Lofoten Islands, is easily identified by the towering Svolværgeita Mountain. The last stop for the day is Stamsund, a fishing station built into the rock, almost in defiance of nature. It is now one of the largest fishing stations in Lofoten. Dinner and accommodation onboard.

Cabin types included during the cruise

Polar inside cabin on board Hurtigruten
Hurtigruten – Polar Inside Cabin Silver
Outside cabin onboard Hurtigruten.
Hurtigruten - Polar Outside Cabin Gold
day 10
  • Hurtigruten Cruise.
  • Attractions along the coast:
    • The Arctic Circle
    • The Helgeland coast during daytime
    • Torghatten, the mountain with a cave/hole
    • The Seven Sisters, mountain formation
    • The coastal museum in Nord-Trøndelag
  • Optional Shore Excursions.
  • Breakfast buffet & dinner onboard.
  • Accommodation onboard Hurtigruten.

Breakfast onboard Hurtigruten. Cruise along the Helgeland coastline. Numerous legends and stories are associated with this coastline. One such story is about the Seven Sisters and Torghatten Mountain and how they came to be such unusual shapes. A myth about the beautiful sisters tells of how they ran away from their father, King Sulis, and danced naked in the waters of the fjord. Unfortunately, the sisters forgot that when the sun rose they would all be turned into stone. Now they stand there, all in a row, as captivating and lovely as ever before. Dinner and accommodation onboard.

day 11
  • Hurtigruten Cruise.
  • Attractions along the coast:
    • Trondheim
    • Hitra and Hustadvika
    • The Romsdal Alps
  • Optional Shore Excursions.
  • Breakfast buffet & dinner onboard.
  • Accommodation onboard Hurtigruten.

Breakfast onboard Hurtigruten. Early morning arrival in Trondheim where you have time at leisure until departure at 10 am. Enjoy a little of the city’s culture, architecture and history. Departure through the Trondheimfjord and along Trondheimsleia channel, before continuing southwards to Kristiansund and Molde. Kristiansund is the home of dried fish production while Molde is known for its breathtaking location with panoramic views of the 222 partly snow-clad mountain peaks (Romsdal Alps). Dinner and accommodation onboard.

day 12
  • Hurtigruten Cruise.
  • Breakfast buffet onboard.
  • Attractions along the coast:
    • The archipelago and entrance to Bergen
    • Bergen, the Gateway to the Fjords
  • Arrival in Bergen at 14:30 hrs.
  • Recommended attractions:
    • Bryggen Wharf
    • Fløibanen funicular
    • Edvard Grieg’s home Troldhaugen
    • The Fish and Flower market
    • Old Bergen Open Air Museum
  • Accommodation in Bergen.

Breakfast onboard Hurtigruten. The last part of the cruise includes magnificent fjord- and archipelago scenery, before the ship arrives in Bergen in the afternoon. Bergen is Norway’s second largest city and the world’s only city surrounded by 7 mountains and 7 fjords. Attractions in Bergen include the Hanseatic Bryggen Harbour, the Fløibanen Funicular, which takes you up to a height of 320 metres above sea level where you are presented with a great view over the city, Grieg’s home Troldhaugen, the Fish and Flower Market or the Bergen Aquarium. Accommodation in Bergen.

Add extra nights in Bergen - From EUR 69 per person per night

day 13
  • Breakfast at the hotel.
  • Departure from Bergen according to your own itinerary.

Breakfast at the hotel. Departure from Bergen is according to your own itinerary. As an alternative we recommend staying some extra nights in Bergen to explore the fjords or combine your tour with e.g. Discover Fjord Norway, Bergen & Fjord Adventure or Bergen & Sognefjord Adventure.

Tour category

Comfort Hotel Vesterbro

Silver

Accommodation at good tourist class hotels equal to 3 to 3+ stars according to Scandinavian standard.

Inside cabin included during overnight cruises.

See Silver accommodation

Imperial Hotel

Gold

Accommodation at 4 star hotels or at unique properties, like historic hotels or manor houses, selected for their atmosphere.

Outside (seaside) cabin included during overnight cruises.

See Gold accommodation

About the tour categories

Services included: 

  • 5 nights hotel accommodation in a standard room with private shower/WC, including breakfast.
  • 3 nights (4 days) onboard Göta Canal from Gothenburg to Stockholm.
  • Guide onboard the Göta Canal cruise (guiding in English, German and Swedish)
  • Accommodation in an outside cabin (bunk beds) on lower deck with shared facilities on the Göta Canal cruise.
  • Full board during the Göta Canal cruise:
    • 3 x Scandinavian breakfast buffet
    • 4 x two-course lunches
    • 3 x three-course dinners
  • 5 sightseeing stops of varying duration including entrances on the Göta Canal cruise:
    • Trollhättan Canal Museum
    • Karlsborg Fortress
    • The Convent of Vreta
    • The town of Söderköping
    • The Viking Community of Birka
  • 3 nights (4 days) onboard Hurtigruten from Harstad to Bergen.
  • Accommodation in 2-berth cabin with shower/WC onboard Hurtigruten. Unspecified cabin category (inside, twin beds).
  • Half board during the Hurtigruten cruise:
    • Breakfast buffet with a wide selection of food, usually served between 07.00-10.00
    • 3-course dinner, usually served between 18.30-21.00
  • Overnight train from Stockholm to Narvik.
  • Bus from Narvik to Harstad (not possible on Saturdays).
  • Electronic travel documentation, including a detailed travel itinerary and travel vouchers.
  • Additional services included for Tour Category GOLD only:
  • Category GOLD hotels (accommodation in standard rooms)
  • 1st class on the train from Copenhagen to Gothenburg.
  • Cabin on middle deck (shelter deck) on the Göta Canal Cruise.
  • Private sleeping compartment on the overnight train from Stockholm to Narvik.
  • Outside cabin onboard Hurtigruten (porthole or window, twin beds).

Early booking discount:

  • Hotel category SILVER: reduction of EUR 140 per person in a double room / EUR 190 in a single room
  • Hotel category GOLD: reduction of EUR 170 per person in a double room / EUR 220 in a single room

Valid for bookings made until including March 14 2019.
Please note that the refund will not show during the booking process; it will be deducted in our back-office system and be specified on your written tour confirmation. 

Similar Tours

Göta Canal, Fjords & Hurtigruten
Göta Canal, Fjords & Hurtigruten
16 days
Summer
Cruise, Train, Boat, Bus
Göta Canal cruise, Norwegian fjords & Hurtigruten cruise from Bergen-Kirkenes. FROM EUR 3685
Göta Canal: The Complete Cruise
Göta Canal: The Complete Cruise
8 days
Summer
Cruise
6-day cruise on the Göta Canal between Stockholm and Gothenburg. FROM EUR 2229
Göta Canal: The Classic Canal Cruise
Göta Canal: The Classic Canal Cruise
6 days
Summer
Cruise
4-day cruise on the Göta Canal between Stockholm and Gothenburg. FROM EUR 1555