European Christmas Wonders: Escorted Journey Itinerary 2027

Your journey begins!

Your dedicated Helloworld Mornington tour escorts will be with you from your home (conditions apply), ensuring a seamless start to your holiday. Meet at Melbourne Airport for departure with your Qatar Airways, a quality airline offering excellent service, entertainment and comfort for the long-haul flight. Settle in, enjoy gourmet meals, and begin your adventure bound for enchanting Stockholm, Sweden — the gateway to our magical Northern Lights and Christmas Markets journey.

Overnight: In flight

Welcome to Finland
Our local guide will meet us on arrival and assist with our transfer

to the hotel. After a brief orientation of Helsinki we will enjoy a

welcome dinner at the hotel. (B,D)

Overnight: Scandic Grand Central Helsinki (B, D)

Helsinki Sightseeing
Helsinki greets you with measured composure: elegant promenades, modernist squares and unexpected wooden churches. After arrival and transfer, begin with the broad openness of Senate Square where Neoclassical façades frame a winter sky; the square’s hush, pierced by the soft tap of walkers’ boots on paving stones, feels contemplative. The Market Square bustles with stalls selling smoked fish, berries preserved in jars, and steaming bowls of soup — a sensory primer to Finnish flavours. Walk to the extraordinary Temppeliaukio (Rock Church), where the sanctity of stone and the warmth of the copper dome create an acoustic wonder — time seems to slow as your guide explains the building’s radical design. Afternoon explorations highlight Helsinki’s design tradition: boutique stores, ceramic ateliers, and thoughtful craft that fuses function and beauty. Tonight, Savotta offers a rustic, candlelit meal that transports you to Finland’s forests: reindeer tender and expertly prepared, crisp fish dishes, wild mushrooms and lingonberries — each plate a vignette of northern terroir. As you stroll back to your central hotel, notice how the city’s lights are arranged like punctuation marks along the shoreline; the air is sharp and clean, and the hush of early winter invites sleep. 

Overnight Scandic Grand Central Helsinki (B, D)

 Day Trip to Estonia, Helsinki-Tallinn
This morning we take the ferry to Helsinki to Tallinn. The old town is especially magical at this time of year with its red-tiled roofs and narrow lanes that lead to luminous squares. With a local guide, you’ll ascend Toompea Hill and view the city’s patchwork of historic rooftops and church spires. The medieval Lower Old Town is a stage set of stooped merchants’ houses and shops where handicrafts still pass from hand to hand — you’ll find carved wooden toys, amber jewellery and gorgeous textiles. Town Hall Square (Raekoja plats) transforms in December into a picture-perfect Christmas market: stall roofs dusted with powder, a central tree wearing garlands, and the smells of gingerbread and roasted chestnuts mingling with local folk music. The day offers a rhythm of discovery — guided history and then the freedom to wander, browse and linger at cafés where locals drink dark roasts and sweet pastries. Return to Helsinki aboard the ferry, watching the horizon line and imagining the centuries of traders who plied these waters. Dinner is served onboard or in Helsinki depending on schedule — a convivial evening where travelers swap Tallinn bargains, photos and recipes, and the murmur of languages becomes part of the travel mosaic. 

Overnight Scandic Grand Central Helsinki (B, D)

  Santa Express to Kemi
Board the Santa Express this morning and allow Lapland’s landscape to unfurl: a long, cinematic passage of snow-sparkled forests, frozen rivers and small wooden hamlets. The train itself is comfortable and atmospheric: travel becomes an intimate transition from city life to wilderness. Arrive in Kemi mid-day and be transferred to your seafront Glass Villa. These villas, perched above the frozen Bothnian Bay, are designed so that the vaulted windows become picture frames for the vast white horizon — an architectural promise of peaceful Arctic mornings. In the late afternoon, venture to Arkadia Reindeer Farm where your hosts will welcome you with warmth and tales of Sámi traditions. Share a fireside meal inside a traditional Kota hut: slow-cooked stews, fragrant broths and local breads served in communal style, all punctuated by hushed conversation and the crackle of the fire. Reindeer herders may explain their relationship with the land and the animals, sharing stories about seasonal cycles and the endurance required for life at these latitudes. As night falls, the villa’s glass reflects the soft interior light while the outside world holds its breath; if weather and luck align, the first faint traces of northern luminosity might drift into view across the bay — a hint of the aurora to come.

Arkadia Reindeer Farm Dinner 

Overnight Kemi Glass Villas

(B, D)

Kemi-Rovaniemi
Wake to the serene expanse of frozen Bothnian Bay before a morning visit to SnowExperience 365, an extraordinary indoor world of sculpted snow and ice. Wander through dazzling ice tunnels, intricate snow sculptures, and shimmering displays that capture the magic of the Arctic winter. Later, journey to Rovaniemi, the official hometown of Santa Claus, and check into your private Glass Igloo at Santa’s Igloos Arctic Circle. With its panoramic roof, the igloo offers uninterrupted views of the night sky and the surrounding snow-blanketed landscapes, providing the perfect frame for a potential Northern Lights display. In the evening, enjoy a three-course dinner at the Arctic Eye Restaurant, where local ingredients like reindeer, freshwater fish, and forest mushrooms are transformed into refined seasonal dishes. After dinner, retreat to your igloo and absorb the stillness of the Arctic night, perhaps catching the first faint ribbons of the aurora as they dance above the frosted horizon. The combination of unique winter adventure and intimate comfort makes for a truly unforgettable Lapland experience.

Overnight: Apukka Aurora Cabin

(B,D) 

Rovienemi
Today stroll into the mythic choreography of Christmas: Santa Claus Village. The complex blends wholesome kitsch with sincere tradition — small timber chalets, a post office that processes letters to Santa from around the world, and the chance to meet the man himself in his office. Cross the Arctic Circle where a subtle world changes: daylight hours shorten noticeably, and the air carries a crystalline clarity. The village bustles with families and adult travellers alike — artisans sell carved wooden keepsakes, and local bakers tempt with dense, sticky pastries and hot drinks. Midday offers time to explore independent shops or send postcards with the official Arctic postmark. This evening returns to the gentler hush: a cosy dinner at Arctic Eye, followed by a restful vigil in your igloo. The Northern Lights are capricious; watching for them becomes part of the ritual — warm layers, patient silence, and moments of delighted gasps when curtains of green and purple slowly unfurl across the sky. The experience blends childhood wonder with adult appreciation for the natural world’s quiet grandeur. 

Overnight: Apukka Aurora Cabin (B, D) 

 Rovienemi - Levi
Depart Rovaniemi and travel west to Levi, a compact resort village that lives comfortably between traditional Lapland and modern winter sport. Approaching Levi, you’ll pass rolling fells and frozen lakes, and feel the landscape open into broad-white panoramas that invite exploration. Check into Levi Panorama, a hotel that mixes alpine comfort with local touches; wooden beams, soft textiles and views that extend to snowy horizons. After a leisurely afternoon to orient yourself, consider a gondola ride to the summit for sweeping views of the surrounding fells — at dusk the land assumes a muted blue that is strikingly beautiful. Levi’s compact village center offers casual cafés and shops with cozy atmosphere: try local pastries and warm drinks while you watch skiers return to base. Dinner at the hotel is relaxed and hearty: robust soups, roasted meats and desserts that taste of caramel and spice — perfect after a day outdoors. As evening settles, the village lights glow like scattered embers across the snow, and the sense of being in a winter community — intimate and convivial — settles in pleasantly. 

Overnight: Levi Panorama (B, D)

 Levi
Levi grants you freedom: an entire day to tailor discovery to your energy. Early risers may take to the slopes; Levi’s pistes suit beginners and intermediates, and instructors help novices find confidence in the cold, crisp air. For a different kind of speed, snowmobile safaris rocket over frosty plains and through pine forests, each turn raising a puff of diamond-dusted snow. If relaxation is the aim, the hotel spa offers saunas and warm pools — a Finnish ritual of alternately warming and cooling the body that is strangely addictive and deeply restorative. Take a gentle walk through the village, enjoy a long lunch of seasonal fare in a local tavern, or simply watch a winter light show unfold as day shortens. Tonight’s group dinner encourages lively conversation around experiences from Lapland: a chance to compare aurora sightings, swap husky tales and plan small adventures for the days ahead. The day’s tone is restorative and sociable, allowing the landscape to sink in slowly rather than racing past. 

Overnight: Levi Panorama (B,D)

Saariselkä
Today brings a quintessential Lapland thrill: a visit to a husky farm. Meet bundles of energy — lean, smiling dogs trained for sledging — and learn about the bond between musher and pack. Mush together across silent, snow-draped forests with only the rhythmic patter of paws and sled runners; the air is sharp and reinvigorating, and the motion connects you to a form of travel that predates engines. After the rush of speed and the warmth of shared excitement, travel east to Saariselkä and check into your Aurora Cabin, designed for sky-watching with a thermal glass roof. The small cabin’s comfort and privacy create a perfect counterpoint to the day’s exuberance. Evening finds you wrapped in layered blankets, perhaps joining a brief sauna before dinner — Lappish hospitality here is personal and attentive. The night’s quiet is deep; the omnipresent possibility of Northern Lights makes each return to the glass roof a small, expectant ceremony. 

Overnight: Wilderness Saariselkä Arctic Sky (B, D)

                          Saariselka
Lake Inari, a place of solemn beauty, invites a slower pace and a traditional pastime: ice fishing. Travel by snowmobile sled across the lake’s white surface to a prepared fishing spot, where guides help you drill through the ice and explain the patient, meditative craft of waiting. The activity is both contemplative and communal — stories are told, tea is poured and small triumphs are celebrated when a fish is brought up from the lake’s dark water. Warmth returns with a hearty soup lunch served in a traditional Kota hut, where the timber interior and low fire create a convivial setting that feels rooted in ancient practice. The afternoon offers time to absorb the lake’s silence and vastness; with luck, pale daylight will be clear and crystalline, making each shoreline and birch stand out like an illustration. After returning to your cabin, the evening is relaxed: a dinner with locally-sourced ingredients and the comfortable knowledge that these quiet traditions are part of the region’s living culture. 

Wilderness Saariselkä Arctic Sky (B, L, D)

                        Saariselka

Today is framed by an intimate encounter with Sámi tradition. A reindeer safari provides a gentler, timeless way to traverse boreal landscapes, and during the ride your Sámi hosts share stories of seasonal migration, language and handicrafts. As daylight recedes, gather for a Lapland farewell dinner where local recipes are given pride of place: savoury and subtly flavoured dishes draw on preserved fish, wild herbs and lovingly roasted root vegetables. The evening is both a celebration and a quiet send-off: music may be soft, voices reflective, and the Northern horizon a reminder that this place has its own cycles and rhythms. Bedtime in your cabin feels like a benediction for a landscape and culture you’ve warmed to. 

Wilderness Saariselkä in Arctic Sky (B,D)

                      Ivalo-Helsinki-Munich
This morning you transfer to Ivalo and board your flight south via Helsinki to Munich. The change from Arctic minimalism to Bavarian bustle is striking: Munich’s stone squares, baroque facades and pine-wood market stalls present warmth and conviviality in a different register. After settling into your central Munich hotel, step out to find the city’s Christmas markets: stalls brim with hand-blown glass, wooden toys, and local gingerbread (lebkuchen). The scent of mulled wine — Glühwein — rises in the cold air and the chatter of families and friends fills the square. A leisurely German dinner tonight introduces us to regional classics: roast pork, dumplings and rich desserts that celebrate winter’s generosity. Enjoy the mix of museum sophistication and small-town festival spirit; Munich in December is both stately and joyous, a city that knows how to host the season. 

Overnight Platzl Hotel or similar (B, D)

Nuremberg, Embark Amadeus Queen           
Travel to Nuremberg, a city whose medieval personality is heightened by the season. The city’s famous Christkindlesmarkt transforms the main square into a glittering tableau: rows of wooden stalls sell gingerbread, toys and local sausages while a towering tree lends a festive gravity. After a guided city tour observing the castle, old ramparts and the experienced craftsmanship that defines the town, you’ll embark the Amadeus Queen. Boarding the ship is like stepping into a floating salon: polished wood, panoramic windows and attentive staff create an intimate cruising environment. Meet your cruise director at a welcome cocktail, then enjoy a refined welcome dinner in the Panorama Restaurant — culinary touches nod to regional specialties reinterpreted with finesse. Overnight in port offers the rare pleasure of waking to the lights of a medieval city from the comfort of your cabin. 

                Amadeus Queen (B,D) 

Nuremberg Sightseeing & Regensburg  
Today, enjoy a more in-depth discovery of Nuremberg, with its impressive medieval walls and ornate Gothic churches. Visit the historic Albrecht Dürer House and learn about the city’s cultural legacy. Later, stroll through festively decorated squares where the scent of mulled wine and roasted almonds fills the air. Alternatively, you may choose an optional excursion exploring the city’s WWII history. Return to the ship for a leisurely afternoon as you sail through the Main–Danube Canal, where engineering marvels lift your ship between river levels. This evening, enjoy a festive dinner on board while admiring the passing lights of quaint riverside villages. 

             Amadeus Queen (B, L, D)

                       Regensburg
Arrive in Regensburg, one of Germany’s best-preserved medieval cities. With its UNESCO-listed old town, soaring cathedral, and 12th-century stone bridge, Regensburg is brimming with history and festive atmosphere. Visit the private grounds of Thurn & Taxis Palace, where an enchanting Christmas market fills the courtyard with light, music, and seasonal aromas. Alternatively, choose an excursion to Weltenburg Abbey, a Benedictine monastery set dramatically on the banks of the Danube, where monks still brew beer to age-old recipes. Whichever you choose, the day is filled with cultural discovery and seasonal cheer. Return to the ship and relax with a warming drink as your Christmas cruise continues downstream. 

              Amadeus Queen (B, L, D)

Passau - St. Stephen’s Cathedral Organ Concert & Market
Nestled at the confluence of three rivers, Passau charms with its baroque old town and pastel-coloured houses. A guided walking tour reveals St. Stephen’s Cathedral, home to the world’s largest cathedral organ, and picturesque lanes where festive stalls sell hand-blown glass and Bavarian delicacies. Enjoy free time to browse for gifts or sip mulled wine beside the river. This afternoon, return to the ship for a relaxed sailing, admiring snow-dusted hills and riverside castles. A themed Bavarian evening on board offers regional dishes and entertainment, celebrating the heritage of this river city. 

Amadeus Queen (B, L, D)

 Melk / Emmersdorf 

& Dürnstein - Wachau Valley
Today the Danube threads through the Wachau Valley, a landscape of terraced vineyards, medieval towns and stone villages that feels painted for winter. Choose to visit Melk Abbey, whose Baroque interiors and frescoed halls are an opulent counterpoint to the valley’s small scale, or disembark at Dürnstein to stroll narrow lanes beneath a castle ruin and sample regional wines in cozy taverns. Back on board, a jovial Glühwein party lifts spirits as the ship continues toward Vienna. Evening brings a musical highlight — a classical recital that celebrates the region’s deep music heritage. Excursions: Melk Abbey or Dürnstein village; Glühwein Party; classical recital.

Amadeus Queen (B, L, D) 

Vienna Sightseeing & Schönbrunn Palace
Vienna arrives with imperial dignity: broad boulevards, ornate palaces and a coffee-house culture that invites lingering. Your Imperial Discovery tour introduces the Ringstrasse, St. Stephen’s Cathedral and the grand palaces that define Habsburg elegance. In the afternoon, the Schönbrunn Palace Christmas Market provides a refined, classical setting for shopping and seasonal treats. Tonight the Captain’s Gala Dinner on board is a formal highlight — an opportunity for elegant dress, celebratory toasts and an elevated menu that crowns the voyage. (Note: references to any choir performances have been removed as requested.) Excursions: Vienna city tour, Schönbrunn Palace Christmas Market 

Amadeus Queen: (B, L, D)

Disembark and Vienna 

After breakfast and disembarking the Amadeus cruise, we meet our private guide for a full-day excursion through the Vienna Woods, a region of spectacular scenery and historic charm. Travel by private coach to Liechtenstein Palace, just 30 minutes from Vienna, for a short walk and photo stop before continuing to the Heiligenkreuz Abbey, a remarkable Cistercian monastery founded in 1133. Explore its beautiful Romanesque and Gothic architecture and experience the monks’ moving Gregorian chant performance at noon. Afterwards, enjoy lunch at the monastery restaurant (own expense), known for authentic Viennese specialties, followed by a relaxed wine tasting at a nearby winery amid the rolling hills of the Vienna Woods. 

We then check into our luxurious hotel for a 1 night stay at Le Meridien Vienna. 

Tonight we enjoy dinner at a cozy traditional Viennese tavern serving classic local dishes.

Overnight: Le Méridien, Vienna 

Meals (B, D) 

Vienna & Homeward Flight  
After breakfast and final farewells, transfer to Vienna International Airport for your homebound flight. Carry with you a curated collection of seasonal impressions, handcrafted gifts, recipes remembered by taste and the quiet memory of snow underfoot. (B)

Welcome home

May the memories of lights, laughter and quiet landscapes carry you through this festive season and you have a wonderful Christmas.