Below are some thoughts on the optionals offered.
Generally, I like to take all the optionals to get the whole experience and on this tour, all the optionals were worth doing. I know some people don’t care for “cultural” optionals or optional meals. Some are budgeting and want to only do the ones that are a must. Others tire easily and want the free time to relax while others like the free time to do their own thing.
With these things in mind, here are the optionals and my review of each to help you decide which ones are for you. Total cost for all the optionals was just over $800 CDN.
Copenhagen
North Zealand Riviera and Castle Tour – 7/10
I’ve done this one twice now and seeing it under sunshine made the experience that much better. If you haven’t seen a lot of European palaces, this one is a great example. You get a chance to view the changing of the guard at the Peace Palace, visit a picturesque village that still uses thatched roofs and visit the inside of the Frederiksborg Castle. On both tours, people still recovering from jetlag skipped this optional as well as people who wanted to see more of Copenhagen. Overall, a good majority of the tour took this optional.
Danish Traditions and Canal Cruise 8/10
This optional included the canal cruise which some people had already done on their own and didn’t want to repeat. Others were still catching up on jet lag, but for the most part, a vast majority of the tour took this one. Following the cruise, we drove towards Dragor and got a good view of the bridge to Sweden. The walk through the town was nice. It was nice to walk through the quiet streets away from the usual tourist traps. We got a light meal and there was ice cream available for dessert.
Grieg and Bergen Insights 7/10
This optional took place shortly after we arrived in Bergen after traveling from Stavanger. While I imagine some would prefer to skip the Grieg portion of the optional, it did include a great orientation of Bergen. We went up the funicular for great views of the city and got a tour of Bryggen. This made it worth it for sure. With a full free day in Bergen the next day, we got plenty of time to visit the area on our own. If you tire easily or are budgeting, this one can partially be done on your own minus the information. The funicular and Bryggen are well within walking distance of the hotel. The funicular cost 85 Kroner.
War History and Peaceful Traditions 9/10
This optional visits the town of Televag on the coast where you learn about the destruction of the town during the war when two Gestapo agents were killed after discovering enemy agents being sheltered by the locals. The museum was well done and the town is very picturesque. The optional includes a visit to the cafe. The fortress was not open and therefore not part of the optional. If you have any interest in World War II history, this optional is a must. Many on the tour had no idea what they were going to learn and were quite surprised with the story and everyone I spoke to was pleased that they had taken the optional. I think about 2/3 of the group took it. We got back to Bergen with plenty of time to go shopping and explore the area. I even got time to go back up the funicular.
Sognefjord
Fjords and Mountains – 10/10
A must. As Amanda said, if you come this far and don’t do the fjord optionals, yar cracked. On a rainy, foggy day, it might be hard to see things but on a sunny day, it was spectacular. I believe everyone signed up for it. If you didn’t, I think you would have taken the bus to the drop off point on the other end of the fjord.
Fjordland Farm Cultural Experience – 7/10
As the name says, this is a cultural optional. It’s done late in the day after the drive from Bergen to Leikanger, so if you tire easily, you can go to the hotel to rest while the rest go on the optional. The optional included a visit to the three unmarked Viking graves which also gives you a great view of the fjord. Then we sat outside and had an entertaining Q and A with the farmer and her sons with cider and a treat. Pretty well the entire tour took this optional. I heard one woman think it wasn’t what she expected – she was bored. So, if cultural experiences like this don’t interest you, you can skip this and go to the hotel.
Dalsnibba and the Majestic Geiranger – 10/10
If you don’t do this optional, yar cracked! It’s not that expensive and it is scenery on steroids – especially on a sunny day.
Trollstigen Explored – 10/10
If you don’t do this optional, yar cracked! There’s not a lot to do in Geiranger and you have plenty of time in the evening on both days to explore the town, visit the falls and shop in the half dozen souvenir shops there.
Treasures of Lillehammer – 7/10
This includes a visit to the reconstructed 17th Century farm and a visit to the Olympic Ski Jump and park with a ride up and down on the ski lift (with a great view of the town). This optional took place late in the afternoon after driving from Geiranger. If you tire easily, you can stay in the hotel no problem. This is partially a cultural optional.
Oslo
Vikings and Explorers – 9.5/10
This optional includes a visit to the Viking Ship Museum where you see the best examples of Viking ships in existence and also includes a visit to the Fram museum where you can go inside this historic ship. This is a cultural/historical optional and was quite good. It took place later in the afternoon after the city tour in Oslo. Those who didn’t do it could go to the hotel which was within walking distance of the city centre. We did get back with plenty of time to walk to the city centre to explore, eat and shop.
Panoramic Tower and Dinner – 8/10
This optional includes a visit to the TV tower for great views of Stockholm and then a Swedish meatball dinner. I’ve done this twice. This time, the meatball dinner was much better. Most took this optional but those that didn’t could stay at the hotel if they wanted to rest. The optional took place in the evening after the long drive from Oslo.
Stockholm Discovery – 9.5/10
I did the visit to Vasa on my last time in Stockholm but didn’t do the lake cruise. The optional took place after the city tour. After the optional, we had enough free time to visit Gamla Stan to eat, shop and explore. The cruise was gorgeous on the sunny day. Vasa is a must. You just don’t see intact 17th Century ships everyday.
Swedish Ice Bar and Old Town – 8/10
This optional included a walking tour of Gamla Stan (which I had explored earlier in the afternoon…but got a commentary to go with some of the stuff I had seen) and a visit to the original Ice Bar. That was worth the experience. This optional takes place late on the day in Stockholm and ends just before the farewell dinner.
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