41-Day Spitsbergen, Icelandic Fjords & Viking Passage

You can thank Olav Kyrre.

He’s the Viking king who founded Bergen in 1070. During the Middle Ages, the city became Scandinavia’s primary port, and today, against all odds, you can still see buildings and other relics of this long period. There’s the medieval fortress of Bergenhus, as well as the summer home of composer Edvard Grieg. Bergen, Norway is also a jumping off point for excursions to some of Norway’s wonders, such as Sorfjord, Samnangerfjord, Tokagjel Gorge and Steindalsfjoss Waterfall. After you’ve visited all of these, there will be a short spelling quiz.

In 1773, the only visitors arriving to Boston’s shores were the English Redcoats. Today, Bostonians welcome more than 10 million visitors each year from all over the world as they arrive in Boston to enjoy this exciting and interesting city. Tourism is one of Boston’s and New England’s largest industries, and as a result you will find a city willing to accommodate and entertain you as few other cities can.

Cobblestone streets and gleaming skyscrapers blend perfectly in this historic city.

Walk the one-and-a-half-mile Freedom Trail, a tour marked by a red line, leading you through some of the most interesting chapters in U.S. history or simply stroll along Newberry Street, lined with charming shops and coffeehouses.

Founded by the French, circa 1720, Charlottetown is the capital and largest city on the southern coast of Prince Edward Island, Canada.Live it up with live theatre, local pubs, festivals and outdoor cafés! Spice it up with fresh seafood, shopping and traditional song and dance! Or just take it easy with scenic waterfront strolls, gallery gazing or antique browsing.Charlottetown is Canada’s Birthplace. It was here that the founding fathers gathered in 1864 to discuss the union of all British North America into one country which eventually became Canada.

The world renowned stunning “White Cliffs” of Dover were made even more famous in a song. Today, over 20 million people a year pass through Dover, mostly on there way to France, Belgium or London. Dover dates back more than 4,000 years and the city is rich in history and places of interest. From Dover Castle, perched on the white cliffs, to the Church of St. Mary the Virgin consecrated in 1253, Dover is not a town to just “pass through”.

The largest city in Canada’s Maritime Province, Halifax has strong ties to its past. The star-shaped Citadel fortress, built by Cornwallis in 1749, overlooks the city and much of the area’s maritime history is displayed in the Maritime Museum of the Atlantic.

Nestled in a beautiful mountain area near the southernmost coast of Greenland. The town was established in 1797, and has a population of about 2,700.

Reykjavik, is the capital of Iceland. It is the country’s chief port and center of its cod fishing industry.

Founded in 874 A.D., it is the home of the Althing, or Icelandic parliament, the oldest in Europe. The city’s heating system uses nearby hot springs. Reykjavik was the site of 1986 disarmament talks between the U.S. and USSR.

Sydney, capital of New South Wales, is Australia’s largest city, chief port, and main cultural and industrial center. Manufactures include ships, refined oil, chemicals, textiles, and automobiles. Sydney Harbour and Port Botany are the main ports. Founded as a penal colony in 1788, Sydney is Australia’s oldest settlement. Its population surged during the Australian gold rushes of the 1850s. Sydney replaced Melbourne as the nation’s largest population center after World War II. Landmarks include the Sydney Harbour Bridge (1932); the Gladesville Bridge (1964); the modernistic Sydney Opera House complex (1973); and the Centrepoint Tower (1981), Australia’s tallest building. The city has several universities and museums, including the National Gallery of Art and the Australia Museum.