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Enjoy an in-depth look at traditional, modern and contemporary art, sculpture, design and architecture in the Nordic capitals of Copenhagen, Aarhus, Oslo and Reykjavik. In Denmark, highlights include the Ny Carlsberg Glyptotek, ARKEN Museum of Modern Art, the Ordrupgaard Collection, the Louisiana Museum of Modern Art and Sculpture by the Sea in Aarhus.

In Norway, see Oslo’s new Opera House, the Renzo Piano-designed Astrup Fearnley Museum of Modern Art, Vigeland Sculpture Park and, of course, the Munch Museum.

Finish with five days exploring the scenic and natural wonders of Iceland, plus its flourishing contemporary art scene.

AT A GLANCE:

• Sculpture by the Sea in Aarhus
• Experience the best Scandinavia has to offer in art, design and architecture
• Discover the many great museums in Copenhagen and Oslo
• Spend five days in Reykjavik exploring its flourishing contemporary art scene
• Explore the scenic and natural wonders of Iceland

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ITINERARY

Tue 4 June / Depart Australia
Suggested departure from Australia on Singapore Airlines overnight flights via Singapore.

Wed 5 June / Arrive Copenhagen
Early morning arrival into Copenhagen. Hotel check-in available from 3:00 pm; if desired, you may pre-book your room to guarantee early check-in. The hotel is a design gem with a welcoming atmosphere and minimalist stylish design, centrally located on the City Hall Square.

Tour arrangements begin at 4:00 pm with a short walking tour of the historic centre of Copenhagen, including the colourful harbour district of Nyhavn, followed by a welcome briefing and dinner at a local restaurant with John McDonald. (D)

Thu 6 June / Copenhagen 
This morning visit the ARKEN Museum of Modern Art. Constructed of white concrete and steel, and evoking the hull of a beached ship, the museum was built in 1996 to celebrate Copenhagen's designation as European City of Culture for that year, and features modern works by Scandinavian and international painters such as Damien Hirst, Olafur Eliasson and Jeff Koons.

After lunch, visit the exceptional collection of paintings and sculptures at the Ny Carlsberg Glyptotek in fabulous architectural surroundings. Founded by beer baron Carl Jacobsen in 1888, the collection consists of works of art and artefacts from the ancient cultures around the Mediterranean – Egypt, Rome and Greece – as well as an extensive collection of Danish Golden Age, French impressionists and post-impressionist paintings, and the most important collection of Rodin works outside France. (BL)

Fri 7 June / Copenhagen
This morning is devoted to the National Gallery of Denmark, the country’s largest art museum, which exhibits 700 years of Western art. The collection includes works by the Italian renaissance painters Titian and Mantegna, the 17th century masters Rubens and Rembrandt, 19th century painters of the Danish Golden Age such as Eckersberg and Købke, and 20th century artists such as Henri Matisse, Edvard Munch and Emil Nolde, as well as Danish artists Asger Jorn and Per Kirkeby.

Afternoon at leisure to continue your exploration of the museum, or to wander around Copenhagen’s buzzing city centre Strøget, and walk along its canals, cobbled squares and verdant parks.

Optional evening performance of Tannhäuser at the Royal Danish Theatre.
Cost AUD 170 incl. 10% booking fee. Transfers excluded; taxis readily available. (B)

Sat 8 June / Copenhagen
Full day excursion to North Zealand, starting with a tour of the elegant renaissance castle of Kronborg, made famous by Shakespeare’s tragedy Hamlet, and now UNESCO-listed. Visit the castle’s chapel and the spectacular Knight’s Hall.

After lunch, explore the international collection of modern and contemporary art at the Louisiana Museum of Modern Art, and visit the Ordrupgaard Museum, including the wing designed by Iraqi-British architect Zaha Hadid in 2005. The museum is home to one of Northern Europe’s most important collection of French and Danish art from the 19th and early 20th century. Return to Copenhagen along the ‘Danish Riviera’, with lovely views of the Danish and Swedish coastlines. (BL)

Sun 9 June / Copenhagen – Aarhus
Transfer to Aarhus by coach (3.5 hrs approx.).

Lunch on arrival, followed by an afternoon tour of the ARos Aarhus Kunstmuseum, Denmark’s largest art collection outside Copenhagen. The museum owns notable collections of Danish art that span 300 years plus a noteworthy contingent of modern art. (BL)

Mon 10 June / Aarhus – Ferry
Morning visit to Sculpture by the Sea. See the spectacular 3 km long coast line from Tangkrogen to Ballehage in Aarhus Bay transform into a giant sculpture park by artists from all over the world.

This afternoon, transfer to Frederikshavn (2 hrs approx.) and embark on the Stena Line’s overnight ferry to Oslo for a 6:30 pm departure. Accommodation in standard cabins with sea view and featuring shower, toilet, bed linen and towels. Buffet dinner on board. (BD)

Tue 11 June / Arrive Oslo
Breakfast on board, before disembarkation at 7:30 am in Oslo. On arrival, enjoy an orientation tour of Oslo including the Oslo Cathedral, Akershus Fortress, dating from 1299, the Nobel Peace Centre, the Oslo Opera House, opened in 2008, and Holmenkollen ski jump offering breathtaking views of Oslo and its fjord. Stop for a walk through the Vigeland Sculpture Park. This unique park is the life work of Gustav Vigeland (1869-1943) with more than 200 sculptures in bronze, granite and cast iron. The sculptor was also responsible for the design and architectural layout of the park.

After lunch, check into your hotel. Remainder of the day at leisure. (BL)

Wed 12 June / Oslo
Today visit two of the four buildings belonging to the National Museum of Art, Architecture and Design. Start with the National Gallery, founded in 1837. Housing the country’s largest collection of Norwegian art, the gallery also displays an impressive collection of European art with works by Gauguin, Picasso, El Greco, Manet, Degas, Renoir, Matisse, Cézanne and Monet. The National Gallery’s central attraction is without doubt Edvard Munch's The Scream.

Continue to the Museum of Contemporary Art, which exhibits Norwegian and international art from 1945 up until today. The collection covers a broad spectrum of genres and media: painting, print-making, drawing, photography, sculpture, objects, installation and video-art.
Afternoon at leisure.

Optional evening performance of the Norwegian National Opera’s production of Salome at the Oslo Opera House.
Cost AUD 145 incl. 10% booking fee. Transfers excluded; taxis readily available. (B)

Thu 13 June / Oslo
This morning visit the Munch Museum, containing Edvard Munch’s bequest to the city of Oslo – a vast collection of his own paintings, drawings and graphic works. Then discover the Astrup Fearnley Museum of Modern Art. Opened in 1993, the museum will move into a spectacular new building designed by world renowned Italian architect Renzo Piano in 2012. Expect to see art works by artists such as Andy Warhol, Damien Hirst, Richard Prince, Matthew Barney, Cindy Sherman and Jeff Koons. Afternoon at leisure. (BL)

Fri 14 June / Oslo – Reykjavik
After a leisurely breakfast, transfer to the airport for the Icelandair flight to Reykjavik, the world’s northernmost capital. First settled in the late 9th century by the Viking Ingólfur Arnason, Reykjavik is today a modern but intimate city of 200,000 with a vibrant arts scene, striking contemporary architecture and stunning natural surroundings.

Arrive Reykjavik mid-afternoon and transfer to your hotel for check-in and dinner. (BD)

Sat 15 June / Reykjavik
Morning orientation tour of Reykjavik, including the Hallgrímskirkja Church and Höfdi House, best known as the location for the 1986 summit meeting between presidents Ronald Reagan and Mikhail Gorbachev that effectively marked the end of the Cold War. Visit the homes and studios of two of Iceland’s pioneers of modern art, who both drew inspiration from the Icelandic sagas. The Ásmundur Sveinsson Museum (1893-1982) is housed in a unique building designed and constructed mostly by the artist himself and drawing on architectural ideas from the Mediterranean, the domed buildings of the Middle East and the pyramids of Egypt. The Sigurjón Ólafsson Museum (1908-1982) features a large collection of the artist’s sketches, drawings and sculptures.

After lunch, see the greatest treasures of the Icelandic nation at the National Museum of Iceland, which provides a comprehensive picture of the past 1,200 years of Iceland's cultural history, from the settlement to the present day. Finally, enjoy a guided tour of the National Gallery of Iceland. Established in 1884 and dedicated mainly to Iceland art from the 19th and 20th centuries, with works by Ásgrímur Jónsson, Jóhannes Kjarval and Nína Sæmundsson, the gallery is a wealth of resources on Icelandic art history, and gives a very interesting glimpse into the nation’s psyche. (BL)

Sun 16 June / Reykjavik
After a morning at leisure, the afternoon is devoted to Reykjavik’s modern art museums, starting with the Harbour House, located in the former warehouses of the port of Reykjavik. The museum has diverse exhibitions of contemporary and experimental art, and also houses the works of Erró, an Icelandic-born artist who was based in Paris and best known for his large-scale comic-book-styled dreamscapes and montages.

Continue with some contemporary visual art at the Living Art Museum – commonly known as Nylo. Finish with a tour of the museum dedicated to Einar Jónsson – a groundbreaking figure in Icelandic sculpture, who considerably influenced the visual arts in Iceland. His sculptures draw on myths and folklore, and have been described as emotive and even a little disturbing, in some cases. Regardless, his work is definitely masterly and a must-see. (B)

Mon 17 June / Reykjavik
Journey out of Reykjavik for a full day tour known as the ‘Golden Circle’. Visit some of the most beautiful natural phenomena of Iceland, including the site of the ancient parliament at Thingvellir National Park, the impressive waterfall at Gullfoss and the original Geysir and nearby Strokkur, which hurls boiling water to heights of up to 20 metres once every 5 minutes. (BL)

Tue 18 June / Reykjavik
This morning visit the Blue Lagoon, where you can relax in the rejuvenating geothermal water, rich in minerals and believed to have healing properties. This unique spa is surrounded by a surreal environment of lava fields. Afternoon at leisure.
Tonight join John McDonald and fellow art lovers for a special farewell dinner. (BD)

Wed 19 June / Depart Reykjavik
End of tour arrangements after breakfast. If travelling on the suggested flights, make your way to the airport for an early morning Icelandair flight to London Heathrow (not included into tour cost*), connecting with your Singapore Airlines flights to Australia via Singapore.

* Iceland air flies to London, Paris, Milan, Frankfurt, Amsterdam and other European ports. Airfares cost from AUD 200 incl. taxes.

Thu 20 June / In flight

Fri 21 June / Arrive Australia
Early morning arrival in Australia.