The legendary postal ship route

Journey via Frankfurt to Hanover.

Drive to Celle and guided city tour. In the evening, embark on a Stena Line ferry.

Arrive in Gothenburg in the morning. Through the scenic south of Sweden you travel to Lake Vättern and then continue to the Swedish capital. Thanks to its location on islands, Stockholm is also known as "the beauty on the water",

On a guided city tour in the morning, you get to know the splendid metropolis of Stockholm. The city rises out of the water across several islands, with its charming old town of narrow, winding lanes, its churches, the Stadshuset (City Hall) where the Nobel Prizes are presented, the Parliament island and the royal palace Kungliga Slottet, which has 608 rooms. At midday you continue via Uppsala, Sweden's former capital, to Gävle. The route now runs at some distance from the coast northwards and passes through Hälsingland, with the coastal towns of Söderhamn and Hudiksvall. Sundsvall, the northernmost city of central Sweden, is today's destination. The charm of this industrial city lies in its beautiful location, half on the mainland and half on the island of Alnö, which is reached by a bridge.

You travel through the expanses of Sweden with forests and red houses, along the "High Coast" towards the north. The coast of the Gulf of Bothnia is still a insider tip among Sweden travellers: uninhabited islands, hidden bays and historic towns line the way along the sea. In the south of the province of Ångermanland, a vast, almost uninhabited region, lies Härnösand, the largest coastal town in the province. Halfway from Sundsvall to Luleå you reach Umeå. The largest city in Norrland is known as the Birch City, as birch avenues were planted in 1888 as firebreaks. Towards evening you arrive in the charming Luleå, whose former old town, around 10 km away, is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

On the way from Luleå to the Swedish town of Haparanda on the Finnish border, you are already in the land of the Swedish Sami, also known as Lapps. You cross the border at Tornio, which is formed by the Torne River. Then you head into the middle of the Pallas-Ounastunturi National Park. You stay at the somewhat simpler mid-range Pallas Hotel, in the most beautiful location with a view, in the heart of the park, above the tree line. It offers something you will search for in vain elsewhere: the tranquillity of nature and the purity of air and water. Perhaps the reindeer will peek in through your window?

Through the birch tundra of Lapland you travel to the "reindeer capital" Kautokeino, in the heart of Sami country, where only 3,000 people but 80,000 reindeer live. It is the unofficial capital of the Sami and, at 9,704 km², the largest municipality in Norway, where around a third of the population still makes its living from reindeer herding. Continuing via Karasjok to Lakselv, where you reach the sea and follow the western shore of the Porsanger Fjord for some 100 kilometres. In the evening, an excursion from Honningsvåg to the North Cape, where you enjoy the magical midnight sun. Between Honningsvåg and the North Cape lie 35 kilometres of Europe's only true Arctic landscape. The island may be bare and treeless, but it radiates a rugged beauty, which is intensified on sunny days by the clear air.

Embark. Sailing to Europe's northernmost town, Hammerfest. Via Ösfjord and Skjervøy you continue to Tromsø. In Tromsø you have the opportunity to celebrate the midnight sun in a very special way on the optional Hurtigruten excursion: in the Arctic Cathedral you can look forward to a unique night-time concert with Norwegian folk music and classical pieces. (4 nights on board).

The sight of the Risøy Strait and the journey through the Raftsund, only about 100 m wide, are certainly among the most beautiful moments of the voyage. In good weather your ship sails into the extremely narrow Trollfjord, with its steep rock walls rising high on both sides. In Stokmarknes you will find the Post Ship Museum. As your ship heads for Svolvær, the main town of the Lofoten, and finally Stamsund, the majestic mountains of the Lofoten wall glide past you.

Rising early is well worth it: you pass the colourful scenery of the fertile Helgeland coast and cross the Arctic Circle. The varied voyage along the Helgeland coast is described as "the most beautiful route in the world". A varied landscape with numerous islands, mountains and waterfalls follows: the "Seven Sisters" mountain range (Syv Søstre), the "Bridal Veil" waterfall (Brudeslør) and the legendary rock island of Torghatten, which has a 40 m wide hole at a height of 160 m.

The charm of the past becomes visible in the old town of Trondheim with its wooden merchants' and warehouses and the Nidaros Cathedral. Passing the islands of Munkholmen and Hitra, you cross the open sea to Molde, which, thanks to its fertile location on the Gulf Stream, is also known as the "City of Roses".

A fantastic landscape unfolds before you: the Nordfjord beneath the vast Jostedalsbreen glacier, the mouth of the mighty Sognefjord and the skerry gardens in front of the city of Bergen. Guided walk through the historic Bryggen district. This beautiful city was built on a peninsula with a harbour right in the middle. Bergen, the capital of Western Norway, has all these qualities: a mild climate, lush vegetation and plenty of rain. Built on seven hills, the city spreads from the coast and the harbour on the Puddefjord inland into the hills and out across bridges to the islands and headlands.

On one of Europe's most fascinating railway routes, you travel to Hønefoss. The Bergen Railway crosses Hardangervidda, the largest high plateau in Europe, running for around 100 km above the tree line. The route also crosses some 300 bridges spanning countless rivers. In Hønefoss, just before Oslo, you meet your Eurobus coach driver again, who will be waiting for you at the station. Onward journey by coach to Oslo.

Guided tour through "Europe's greenest capital". There are only a few large buildings in the capital, so the cityscape is dominated by the Rådhus, the City Hall. Not far from it is the medieval Akershus Fortress, which lies directly on the fjord. The city's main reference points are Jernbanetorget to the east and Slottet (the Royal Palace) to the west. They are linked by Karl Johans gate, which for much of its length is a pedestrian zone and shopping street. In the afternoon, embark on the luxurious Color Line cruise ferry bound for Kiel.

Arrive in Kiel by ship in the morning. Stop in Hamburg and continue to Hanover.

Return journey to Switzerland.