About our independent / Self guided tours

Our independent tours are a selection of eco-friendly self-guided tours, where travel is by public transport, including train, boat and/or bus. Several tours also include overnight cruises, scenic railways, fjord cruises and shorter stretches on board Hurtigruten. When booking a public transport tour you have the perfect opportunity to sit back and enjoy the spectacular scenery without having to worry about driving directions.

Explore our rail tours and winter rail tours

 

Frequently asked questions:

 

Is this a guided tour and how large is the group?

When booking a self-guided tour you will not travel as part of a group or with a guide. However, most included and optional experiences (activities, sightseeing, etc.) will be in a group and with a guide.

Will I meet a representative from Authentic Scandinavia during my trip?

Since we offer tours throughout the Nordic countries, the Baltics and Russia we do not have staff available to meet you in person during your travels with us. Please rest assured however that we are always available through phone and email during our office hours and through our emergency phone outside our office hours should you require any assistance during your travels.  

Is airport and hotel transfer included?

Airport and hotel transfer is normally not included in the tour price. The exception is when it is impossible or complicated to get there by public transport. Please refer to the services included for each tour.

How will I find the way?

We will provide you with a detailed travel itinerary, including information on how to get from the airport to your hotel, from your hotel to the train station, ferry terminal etc. We also provide exact details on how to change from one transport to the other during your trip (from train to boat to bus etc.).

Is it far to walk?

Whenever possible we always include hotels that are located within short walking distance from the train station/ferry terminal/bus station/pier. In some cases this is not possible due to availability or the distance between e.g. the ferry terminal and the central train station. In these cases we include information in the travel documents on how you can find your way by public transport.

On days with multiple transport changes the walking distance between the different transports is short (normally between 20-200 metres).

Will anyone take care of my luggage?

No luggage transport or assistance is included in the price; each person is responsible for his/her luggage. There is space for the luggage on-board the different transports (one suitcase and one carry-on per person), but you must be able to carry/lift your luggage on-board the transport.

Kindly note that it is possible to book luggage transport between Oslo and Bergen or vice versa (please see the optional luggage transport for further details).

What is included in the tour price?

An overview of the services included is specified for each tour (at the bottom of the tour page).

Can I add additional hotel nights?

Extra nights can be added when submitting the tour reservation through our website.

Extra nights before the start of the tour or after the end of the tour can also be added until the due date of the final payment by sending an e-mail to info@authentic-scandinavia.com

Please note that there will be an amendment fee of EUR 50,- for adding extra nights and/or overnight experiences in the middle of the tour once the tour is confirmed. The amendment fee also applies if adding an extra night after you have received the travel documents. 

Can I exclude hotel nights?

Should you wish to exclude any hotel overnights included in the tour we ask you kindly to specify this in the remarks field when submitting the reservation through our website.

It is not possible to take out the majority of the overnights included in the tour price. For tours including only 2 or 3 nights, no nights can be removed.

To get the amended tour price please contact us through the request form during the online booking process or by sending an email to info@authentic-scandinavia.com

Can I book my flight tickets before I receive my tour confirmation?

We highly recommend not to book your flight tickets before you have received the tour confirmation from us. All of our tours are subject to availability, meaning we cannot guarantee availability until we have sent out the tour confirmation. We try our best to send the tour confirmation within 24-48 hours (Monday-Friday). 

How and when will I receive my travel documents and tickets?

All travel documents will be sent by e-mail approximately one month before travel and after final payment is completed. For last minute bookings, we will send them as soon as possible after receipt of full payment.

Included in the travel documents are a detailed travel itinerary, an address list, travel vouchers and/or e-tickets. You will receive a travel voucher and/or e-ticket for each service included in the package tour. These vouchers are your proof of payment and must be presented during your trip. You will receive e-tickets for the train rides.

What happens if the train/boat/bus is delayed and I miss my connection?

Public transportation in Scandinavia is highly dependable. In case of close connections please rest assured that we have included departure times that correspond with the connecting transportation. However, we always recommend that you inform the driver/conductor of your connecting transport so that they can call to inform your connecting transport in case of delay.

What happens if I show up too late for my transport or activity?

We ask you kindly to show up on time as the tickets and vouchers can not be used for a later departure or activity. No refund can be offered if you show up too late - unless the cause of the delay is a connecting transport booked through Authentic Scandinavia. In this event we ask you kindly to call us immediately.

What is the child reduction for the public transport tours?

There is normally a 50% child reduction on our public transport tours when 1-2 children are sharing a room with two full paying persons. The age the child reduction applies to might differ between the tours (sometimes valid until 15 and sometimes until 12). To find the exact price for all travellers for a specific tour please enter a travel date, travelers, room type and hotel category.

Can I get a senior discount on your tours?

We can unfortunately not offer any senior discount on the prices published on our website as our contracted rates with our suppliers can not be combined with any discounts

Can I get a discount on your tours with Scanrail/Eurail Pass?

We can unfortunately not offer any discount on the prices published on our website for Scanrail / Eurail Pass holders.

 

Explore our rail tours and winter rail tours

 

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