SCANDINAVIA AND ICELAND THE NORDIC WORLD JUNE 11-25, 2018 TOUR LEADER: DR NICK GORDON

Overview The Nordic world is a distinct cultural region which has developed from the age of the Vikings, Danes and Swedes to become a world leader in fields, such as design, architecture, education, politics and even, with the success of Nordic noir, television. The extraordinary landscapes of the region – from the forests to the fjords of Norway, the fields of Sweden and the lava flows and glaciers of Iceland – have been a constant source of inspiration, as have the values that have helped these societies flourish in an often-inhospitable environment. This tour takes you beyond the clichés to discover the deep relationships between people, landscape and history, from the megalithic standing stones of Ales in southern Sweden and the enchanted landscapes of Iceland to the iconic works of Edvard Munch and the flourishing modern culture we see today. The tour begins in Copenhagen, where we explore the enduring legacy of the Danish monarchy immortalised by Hamlet’s Elsinore, and the development of the modern Scandinavian design movement through such figures as Jorn Utzon and Arne Jacobsen. We then travel to Norway, to explore the great achievements of its explorers and adventurers, the emergence of Oslo and Bergen as twin cultural capitals, and to experience the sublime majesty of its fjords. The tour concludes in Iceland, where we enjoy varied, pristine environments, see the innovative ways that Icelanders have come to flourish on the edge of the Arctic, and how myths and legends permeate contemporary culture.

Your tour leader Dr Nick Gordon holds a University Medal and PhD in History from the University of Sydney. He specialises in medieval and early modern European history and has taught at Australian universities for 10 years, on topics ranging from Ancient Greek democracy to the art and culture of Renaissance Italy, the French and industrial revolutions and the rise of modern psychology. He has presented numerous popular art history courses at the University of Sydney’s Centre for Continuing Education, and

is a regular speaker in the Nicholson Museum’s public lecture series. Nick’s academic expertise is complemented by the specialised knowledge he has gained as a practicing artist, and he brings these insights to the art enjoyed throughout this tour. Nick has been leading cultural tours to Europe since 2006 and his passion and for the extraordinary art and history of the region led him to develop this tour in 2014. Previous participants on tour with Nick have remarked:

“Nick was an extremely knowledgeable guide; he organised us very well; he was calm and unflappable; and his lectures were excellent.”

“Nick Gordon was an excellent tour leader with deep and comprehensive knowledge, excellent rapport and organisational skills.”

SCANDINAVIA AND ICELAND THE NORDIC WORLD

Tour dates: June 11-25, 2018

Tour leader: Dr Nick Gordon

Tour Price: $10,720 per person, twin share

Single Supplement: $2,430 for sole use of double room

Booking deposit: $500 per person

Recommended airline: British Airways

Maximum places: 20

Itinerary: Copenhagen (4 nights), Copenhagen-Oslo Cruise Ferry (1 Night), Oslo (2 nights), Bergen (2 nights), Iceland (5 nights)

Date published: June 5, 2017

Enquiries and bookings

For further information and to secure a place on this tour please contact Jemma York at Academy Travel on 9235 0023 or 1800 639 699 (outside Sydney) or email jemma@academytravel.com.au

Tour Highlights

SCANDINAVIAN DESIGN Scandinavia’s flair for design has ongoing influence, ranging from the distinctive mid-century modern aesthetic of designers such as Arne Jacobsen to the expressive architecture of Jorn Utzon and Henning Larsen’s opera houses in Copenhagen and Reykjavik. Explore this wonderful modern heritage and the cultural and historic influences that led to its creation.

LANDSCAPES OF ICELAND Iceland’s landscapes are stunning, from its glaciers, mountains, lava flows, basalt cliffs, waterfalls and glowing golden fields of moss and lichen. They are also central to Icelandic culture and identity, from the time of the sagas to modern movements to protect the houses of elves and other mystical beings and to preserve the environment through novel uses of technology.

MODERN ART AND ARCHITECTURE Enjoy spectacular private collections of modern art, such as the Louisiana Museum, set on the coastline a short distance north of Copenhagen, to the most important collections of the works of Edvard Munch in Oslo and Bergen. Explore the development of the Nordic style from World Heritage-listed Cathedral of Lund to the birth of Nordic modernism in the age of Hans Christen Andersen.

THE FJORDS OF NORWAY Experience the pristine fjords of Western Norway, where rugged mountains rise 1,700 metres high directly from the sea (and plunge 1,300 meters below it). We travel the length of the Sognefjord, from central Norway to Bergen, where waterfalls cascade into narrow, fertile valleys and streams flow through isolated communities.

THE NORDIC WORLD Explore the influence of the Nordic world on western history and culture, from the mysterious Viking standing stones of Ales, to the lands of the Icelandic sagas and Norse mythology, the rise of the Kingdom of Denmark, immortalised by Shakespeare’s Hamlet set in Elsinor Castle, the maritime adventures of Eric the Red, Thor Heyerdal and the polar expeditions of Raold Amundsen.

Detailed itinerary Included meals are shown with the symbols B, L and D.

Monday 11 June Arrive and Copenhagen by Water

The tour commences in the hotel this afternoon, where Dr Nick Gordon will meet you for a walking tour of old Copenhagen. We then tour the city by boat, seeing the transformation of the city from the Renaissance capital of the Danish monarchy to the flourishing modern city known for its excellent contemporary architecture. There is a light dinner this evening in a superior local restaurant on the waterfront. Overnight Copenhagen (D)

Tuesday 12 June The Nordic World

Today we explore the history and culture of the Nordic world. After a talk in the hotel, we visit the National Museum, which has one of the finest collections of art and antiquities from prehistoric Scandinavia to the rise and fall of the Vikings. Highlights of the museum include the Trundholm Chariot of the Sun, extraordinary finds from Viking tombs and the first Danish kings, and prehistoric bog bodies. The early afternoon is at leisure and you may wish to explore the nearby Ny Carlsberg Gyptotek, the private collection of the Carlsberg dynasty, which has a renowned collection of Gauguins and antiquities from Egypt and Rome. In the late afternoon, we have a guided tour of Henning Larsen’s Opera House, with its state of the art facilities (many of which are below sea level) and superb interior decoration. Dinner is at Nimb, a fine restaurant overlooking the historic Tivoli Gardens. Overnight Copenhagen. (B, D)

Wednesday 13 June Helsinor and Louisiana

This morning we travel north along the Zealand coastline to Kronborg Castle in Helsingor, better known to English speakers as ‘Elsinor’, the setting of Shakespeare’s Hamlet. After a tour we head to the nearby Louisiana Museum of Art. A private collection in a magnificent waterside garden setting, Louisiana features a permanent collection of 20th-century masterpieces by the likes of Giacometti, Henry Moore, Isamu Naguchi, Francis Bacon, and hosts outstanding temporary exhibitions. Overnight Copenhagen (B)

Thursday 14 June Southern Sweden

The landscapes of Southern Sweden are quite different from the rest of Scandinavia: its gently rolling and verdant hills may be familiar to you from Wallander. This region has also been vital to the history of the region because of its proximity to continental Europe and its potential to dominate Baltic trade routes. Our tour today takes us over the Oresund Bridge, which connects Denmark to Sweden, and onto Lund. The UNESCO World Heritage-listed Cathedral of Lund was the centre of Christianity

Nyhavn, Copenhagen

Trundholm Chariot of the Sun, National Museum Copenhagen

Louisiana Museum of Art, Copenhagen

in Scandinavia from the 11th to 16th centuries and it is the best and one of the most beautiful example of medieval Scandinavian architecture. After touring the town and cathedral, we break for lunch and then continue across Southern Sweden to Ales to visit a remarkable megalithic iron age monument –standing stones arranged in the form of a boat. The site has been used for various purposes over the millennia, including burials and astronomical calculations, and remains somewhat mysterious. In the later afternoon, we return to Copenhagen via Istad. Overnight Copenhagen (B)

Friday 15 June Danish Design

Denmark’s reputation as a centre of modern design is well earned. We explore the origins and development of Danish design today, starting start with a visit to the highly original Grundtvig’s Church, whose combination of gothic architecture with early modernism captures the emergence of a distinct modern culture with its own social and aesthetic priorities. We then continue to the Bagsvaerd Church, designed by Jorn Utzon in the 1970s, immediately after his departure from Australia. The design combines elements of Japanese and Chinese aesthetics with a soaring, light-filled interior. We then return by coach to Copenhagen, where, after a break for lunch, we visit the Design Museum with its excellent collection of modern and contemporary Danish design. In the late afternoon, we board the modern cruise ferry to Oslo. The overnight journey takes us along the Oresund, the channel separating Denmark and Sweden, in the evening and along the Oslo Fjord in the morning. We have booked the comfortable Commodore class rooms on board and enjoy dinner in the superior restaurant. Overnight Ferry. (B, D)

Saturday 16 June Edvard Munch

Fine art in Scandinavia has been dominated by Edvard Munch, whose unique style seems to capture the culture and anxieties of the early twentieth century. After arriving in Oslo in the mid-morning, we visit the museum devoted to Munch, whose collection contains more than half of Munch’s entire oeuvre. After a break for lunch, we continue to the National Gallery. In addition to Munch’s The Scream, the collection has very good collections of Scandinavian and European art, from Greco-Roman sculpture, to masterpieces by Lucas Cranach and Artemisia Gentileschi. The later afternoon and evening are at leisure. Overnight Oslo. (B)

Sunday 17 June Oslo: From Vikings to Norwegians

Oslo has exceptional museums and galleries, which preserve the history and celebrate the achievements of the Norwegians. After a talk this morning, we travel by ferry to Bygdoy, which has several museums devoted to the maritime history of Norway. We visit the Viking Ship museum, which has some of the best-preserved Viking ships in the world along with an excellent

The striking 1919 Grudtvigs Church, Copenhagen

Edvard Munch’s Workers Returning Home, 1913-15, in the Munch Museum

Viking Ship museum, Oslo

collection of Viking materials from major archaeological sites in Norway, and the Fram Museum. This museum is dedicated to the strongest wooden boat ever constructed, a vessel custom built for polar expedition and used on several expeditions to the arctic and on Roald Amundsen’s Antarctic expedition. After time for lunch and individual exploration of the Bigdoy musuems (which also house Heyerdal’s Kon Tiki), we return to Oslo by ferry. Perhaps there is no greater symbol of Norway’s newfound oil wealth than the extensive urban renewal along Oslo’s waterfront, and the Astrup Fearnley Museum of Modern Art, designed by Renzo Piano, is its centrepiece. After visiting the excellent, if sometimes eclectic, private collection of modern and contemporary art from around the world, the later afternoon and evening are at leisure and you may wish to enjoy the bars, cafes and restaurants that line this new waterfront district. Overnight Oslo.

Monday 18 June The Sognefjord

Today we take a classic full-day journey by train, bus and boat through Norway’s mountains and fjords. Highlights include cruising through the spectacular Sognefjord to Bergen and the Flam railway, which rises 900 metres from the fjord in 20 kilometres. Please note that this is a public excursion, although train carriages will be reserved for our group and any luggage you don’t wish to carry will be transferred to Bergen by private van. There is a light dinner this evening following our arrival. Overnight Bergen (B, D)

Tuesday 19 June Bergen

Our program in Bergen moves at a relaxed pace. After a leisurely start, a talk in the hotel is followed by a visit to the Bergen Art Museum, whose collection reflects Bergen’s status as one of Scandinavia’s cultural capitals. The afternoon is at leaiure, and you may wish to explore the old port of Bergen, which was part of the medieval Hanseatic League and traded throughout Europe, or take the funicular ride to Floi Mountain, offering superb views of Bergen Fjord. Overnight Bergen (B)

Wednesday 20 June To Iceland

In the mid-morning we transfer to Bergen airport for the four-hour flight to Reykjavik, the capital of Iceland, stopping at Stavanger en route. We arrive in the mid-afternoon, in time to check in and take an orientation walking tour of the old town. Overnight Reykjavik (B)

Thursday 21 June Geysers and waterfalls

This morning we visit Iceland’s most historic site, Pingvellir. Here the world’s oldest known parliament convened in 930AD and our visit is a window on Iceland’s unique history and culture. Pingvellir is located in a beautiful national park, and the drive to

The spectacular Sognefjord

The colourful buildings of Bergen

The original geyser, Iceland

the site takes us through a singular landscape of lava flows, volcanoes and thermal springs. After lunch at a local restaurant we continue to Geysir. The impressive thermal springs here have lent their name to the phenomenon all over the world. Nearby are the Gullfoss waterfalls, following the line of the meeting point of two of the Earth’s tectonic plates. We return to Reykjavik, stopping to visit the state of the art Hellisheidi geothermal powerplant, which provides power, citywide heating and water to Reykjavik. Overnight Reykjavik (B, L)

Friday 22 June Inspirational Scenery

This morning we depart Reykjavik and travel along Iceland’s scenic western coast to the Snaefellsnes peninsula, stopping at villages and scenic points along the way, including the basalt cliffs and bird colonies at Arnastapi. After lunch, we continue on to the northern side of the peninsula stopping to visit its unique geological features. Overnight Stikkisholmur. (B, L, D)

Saturday 23 June Journey to the Centre of the Earth

The Snaefells Peninsula is dominated by a conical volcano, Snaefellsjökull. Here, amid a setting of sea and wild terrain, is where Professor Lidenbrock begins his descent in Jules Verne’s Journey to the Centre of the Earth. This morning we ascend the volcano on a snow cat to peer into the snow-covered cone and enjoy a seemingly limitless 360-degree panorama of Iceland’s coastline. In the afternoon, we return to Reykjavik. Overnight Reykjavik (B, L)

Sunday 24 June Modern Reykjavik

This morning we tour Reykjavik, visiting Iceland’s National Museum, which traces the history of the city from its earliest settlement, and explore Icelanders’ novel use of technology to flourish in an inhospitable environment by, for example, using geothermal water tanks to heat the city and supply it with water. Our program ends with a visit to the museum devoted to the sculpture of Asmunder Sveinnson, one of modern Iceland’s most famous artists. The afternoon is at leaisure, before we meet in the early evening for a tour of Harpa Hall, a thrilling contemporary performing arts centre, with elaborate steel and glass architecture and vast interior spaces, inspired by Iceland’s glaciers and volcanoes. Our tour this evening ends with a farewell meal at the venue’s excellent restaurant. Overnight Reykjavik (B, D)

Monday 25 June Departure

There is a transfer early this morning to Keflavik airport for those on morning flights. Please check your individual travel plans for details of your onward journey.

A canyon filled with hot water at Pingvellir

Coastal scenery at Arnastapi

Harpa Hall – a thrilling contemporary building

Hotels Hotels have been selected principally for their central location and 4* rating. The exception is Hotel Fransiskus, which is in Stykkisholmur a seaside town on the remote Snaefellsnes Peninsula. Copenhagen, Scandic Hotel Palace (4 nights)

www.scandichotels.com Copenhagen-Oslo Ferry, DFDS Seaways Ferry (1 night)

www.dfdsseaways.co.uk Oslo, Radisson Blu Plaza (2 nights)

www.radissonblu.com/en/plazahotel-oslo Bergen, Hotel Oleana (2 nights)

www.hoteloleana.com Reykjavik, TBA (4 nights) Snaefellsnes Peninsula, Hotel Fransiskus (1 night)

www.fransiskus.is

Further Travel?

Greenland

Greenland is exceptionally beautiful and one of the world’s few remaining largely untouched landscapes. Please contact us if you are interested in extending your journey to Greenland. Given the small number of flights to Greenland and the limited accommodation available, we recommend making your booking as soon as possible (and no later than December 2017).

Sculptor Ásmundur Sveinsson’s The Water Carrier

Hallgrimskirkja Cathedral in Reykjavik

Tour Price The tour price is $10,720 per person, twin share (land content only). The supplement for a single room is $2,430 per person. A non-refundable deposit of $500 per person is required to secure a place on the tour.

Tour Inclusions Included in the tour price All accommodation in selected hotels All breakfasts, lunches and dinners as indicated in the

detailed itinerary by B, L and D Wine with most meals Land travel by air-conditioned coach One-way economy class air flight from Bergen to

Reykjavik and one Commodore class room on the cruise ferry from Copenhagen to Oslo

Background talks Services of Australian tour leader throughout tour All entrance fees to sites mentioned on itinerary Qualified local guides and museum lecturers Not included International air fares, taxes and surcharges (see below) Travel insurance Meals not mentioned in itinerary Expenses of a personal nature

Air travel OPTIONS We suggest British Airways to Copenhagen and from Reykjavik via London, which offer good quality and competitive prices. Please contact us for the best possible prices on economy, business or first class fares. Transfers between airport and hotel are included for all passengers booking their flights through Academy Travel. These may be group or individual transfers.

Enquiries & bookings For further information and to secure a place on this tour please contact Jemma York at Academy Travel on 9235 0023 or 1800 639 699 (outside Sydney) or email jemma@academytravel.com.au

Weather on Tour The weather in Scandinavia in June is usually very pleasant with long days and mild-to-warm temperatures. Expect daytime temperatures to range between 12 and 17 degrees and evenings that can drop into single digits requiring a warmer jacket and some light layering. Iceland is described as having a subarctic continental climate with cool summers and no dry season. Temperatures range between 7 degrees in the evening rising only marginally to an average of 12 degrees in the daytime. The weather can be highly changeable.

Fitness Requirements of THIS tour

GRADE THREE

It is important both for you and for your fellow travellers that you are fit enough to be able to enjoy all the activities on this tour. To give you an indication of the level of physical fitness required to participate on our tours, we have given them a star grading. Academy Travel’s tours tend to feature extended walking tours and site visits, which require greater fitness than coach touring. We ask you to carefully consider your ability to meet the physical demands of the tour.

Participation criteria for this tour

This Grade Three tour is among our most physically demanding. To participate on this tour, you should be able to comfortably undertake up to seven hours per day, over several days. Activities may include travelling long distances, walking on difficult terrain, climbing stairs, embarking and disembarking trains and/or boats, exposure to high altitudes and long days of touring. These tours may include one night stops and early starts.

You should be able to: keep up with the group at all times walk for 5-7 kilometres at a moderate pace with only

short breaks stand for a reasonable length of time in galleries and

museums tolerate varying climatic conditions a reasonable level of physical and respiratory fitness tolerate a diet that can be significantly different from a

typical Australian diet, and where some dietary requirements cannot be met

walk up and down slopes negotiate steps and slopes on archaeological sites or

mountain paths, which are often uneven and unstable get on and off a large coach with steep steps, train or

boat unassisted, possibly with luggage move your luggage a short distance if required

A note for older travellers We regret that we are not able to accept bookings on a Grade Three tours from people more than 80 years old, or with restricted mobility.

The snow cat on the Snaefells volcano