In search of the Vikings — our journey brings us to Northern Europe and the islands in the North Atlantic; a region consisting of Norway, Sweden, and Denmark, Finland, Iceland, and the Faeroe Islands known as Scandinavia.

Rich in history, culture and ancient mythology, dating back more than 1,000 years to a period in history called the Viking Age. Norse mythology, Scandinavian mythology, Viking mythology; all refer to the pre-Christian religion of the Norwegian, Swedish, Icelandic, and Danish peoples. Their mythology and sagas telling about Gods, kings, missionaries, skalds, Viking chieftains, dwarfs, giants, trolls, nisse, tomte and vetter (spirits).

History records date the beginning of the Viking Age around AD 800 – 1100, nearly three centuries, when Scandinavian peoples, consisting of the three present-day Scandinavian kingdoms of Denmark, Norway and Sweden, together with part of Finland (Åland), influenced much of the North of Europe.

They populated Greenland, Iceland, the Faroe Islands, the Shetland Islands, Orkney, ravaged Christian kingdoms, penetrated to the Carolingian Empire and journeyed eastward deep into Russia. Geography determined the directions of the Viking movements: Norwegian Vikings ventured to the west; Swedish Vikings looked eastwards; the Danes traveled west along the southern coast of the North Sea.

Old beliefs portrayed the Vikings as fierce warriors with barbaric manners, raiders and pirates. However, history also tells that Scandinavians were responsible for great beneficial changes during the Viking Age, reshaping political structures and as successful merchantmen encouraging commerce.

They colonized North Atlantic islands, formed powerful democratic states, influenced political changes in Europe, and created lasting societies in Iceland and Greenland. They were fearless explorers, traders, master craftsmen, sailors and the best shipbuilders in the world. Vikings were adventurers and travelers, adventuring to the riches of the East, exploring uncharted waters of the North Atlantic, extending the borders of Europe. Their ships carried them to Britain, Ireland, the north and west coasts of Europe, across the North Atlantic to Iceland, Greenland and Newfoundland.

Perhaps the most famous Viking explorer is Erik The Red, a Norse chieftain, discoverer and first European to make landfall with 400 to 500 settlers in 14 ships in Greenland in 986. Sailing from Iceland after he was expelled for murder, he sailed 450 miles west across the Arctic seas to an ice land he named Greenland. He settled at “Brattahlid”, now known by its Inuit name, Qagssiarssuk.

The remains of three large farms and a meeting place, or Thing, are still visible today. Long lasting societies in Iceland and Greenland were established. Eric’s son Leif Eriksson continued the seafaring tradition and discovered a coast abundant of vines and berries. He named this beautiful place “Vinland”, today part of Labrador and Newfoundland. Thus, the Vikings had discovered America 500 years before Columbus.

Remaining in the North Atlantic we visit Iceland, land of fire and ice, sagas and eddas. Sitting on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge, Iceland remains a hot spot for volcanic and geothermal activity. Contrasting nature of glaciers and volcanoes, extreme landscapes of desert and lava fields, hot springs and Geysers, thundering waterfalls and pristine rivers, geothermal power, clean air and pure nature, make Iceland one of the most fascinating travel destinations of today! No matter if you explore the south or the north, the coast or the desert, wonders of Iceland, legends, sagas and myths are sure to follow your every trail.

Iceland’s most historic site and national shrine is the Þingvellir National Park. Here at Pingvellir the oldest existing parliament in the world first met in AD930 and continued to meet until 1798. The Althing, an open-air assembly, represented all of Iceland and met here every year to enact laws and in AD1000 a law was passed to introduce Christianity into the island. Pingvellir is Iceland’s first site on the World Heritage List.

Many Viking age sites have been excavated and reconstructed in Iceland. Stong in the fertile valley of Thjorsardalur is the best-known excavated Viking age farmstead. The great majority of Viking age finds from Iceland are housed at the National Museum in Reykjavik.

From Iceland we follow the route of the Vikings, sailing from Seydisfjordur via the Faroer Islands to Norway, landing in the fjord capital of Bergen, home of Norway’s famous composer Edward Grieg.

To continue with the sea-faring traditions of the Vikings and Norwegians, what better way than to take the most Beautiful Sea Voyage in the World! 1200 miles along the scenic west coast of Norway from Bergen to Kirkenes, passing the Arctic Circle, sailing through the Lofoten Islands, the narrow Raftsund Strait, the majestic Trollfjord to the North Cape. Along the route you will retrace roots of history, with mountains, fjords, waterfalls, grave sites telling of ancient myths and legends of trolls and giants.

Borg on the Lofoten Islands is home of the “Lofotr Viking Museum”. Excavations revealed remains of the largest building ever to be found of the Viking Age in Europe! A 67 m long building had been erected as early as in the sixth century. It was rebuilt and expanded in the beginning of the Viking Era to a length of 83 meters with five main rooms. Artifacts and structures indicate the life of a wealthy and powerful chieftain family. On August 03 – 07, 2005 the Viking Museum at Borg is celebrating it’s first Viking Market!

On your visit to Oslo, take a short boat trip on the Oslo Fjord to the Bygdoy Peninsula, home to 3 museums dedicated to Norwegian explorers of ancient times. The Viking Ship Museum houses the best-preserved Viking ships in existence, dating back up to 1200 years. The most spectacular ship is the Oseberg ship, built ca. 815-820 AD as a burial ship for a Viking Queen. Discovered in a large burial mound on a farm in Vestfold, it was excavated in 1904. The 24-meter Gokstad ship was built about 890 AD, and was used to bury a Viking chieftain around 900 AD. It was discovered in 1880, also on a farm in Vestfold. The Tune ship, discovered in Østfold in 1867, was built in about 900 AD. Although badly damaged, it details the construction of ship building in Viking times.

Denmark, land of Fairytales and Castles, is the world's oldest monarchy with some 600 castles and manor houses. Denmark is also home of Hans Christian Andersen. 2005 marks the 200 birthday of Hans Christian Andersen. His Life and Work is celebrated with many events and festivities throughout the country.

Visit Copenhagen, Denmark’s capital, and the most popular cruise destination in Northern Europe. The famous Tivoli Gardens is featuring a “Tivoli Fairytale”, Tivoli's celebration of Hans Christian Andersen's birthday with a spectacular show, featured nightly from 14 May.

Explore the traces and evidence of the Vikings in Denmark, where many Viking-age sites have been discovered. Perhaps one of the most famous is the Viking town of Ribe, the oldest town in Scandinavia, founded around the year 700. Visit the Ribe Viking Center, where reconstructed sites are bringing the Viking Age back to life.

Not far from Copenhagen is Roskilde, home of The Viking Ship Museum, located on the waterfront of the beautiful Roskilde Fjord. The Viking Ship Museum offers a unique opportunity to experience Viking ships, the Viking Age and life at sea. Several ships, known as the Skuldelev ships, were excavated from the Roskilde Fjord near Skuldelev.

In Sweden the medieval island of The Gotland is celebrating 2005 as the Year of the Viking on Gotland . The Gotlandic Allting, highest political, legal and religious authority on Gotland is revived a thousand years later. During the Viking Era, for several hundred years, Gotland and the capital city Visby, became the trade center in the Baltic Sea, visited by Vikings, kings and nobility for centuries. It was one of the most prominent towns in the Baltic Sea region, its residence and visitors celebrate the “Medieval Week” each summer in August

Over 400 picture stones dating back to the 5th century have been discovered in the region .Many archeological finds from the Viking Age are on exhibition at the Historical Museum of Gotland, the National Museum of Antiquities in Stockholm and the open-air museum at Bunge.

Another important trade center was Sweden's first real town, Birka on the island of Björkö in Lake Mälaren near Stockholm. Founded in the eighth century, Birka became the center of the prosperous Mälaren valley in the Viking Age. It is one of the most complete and untouched Viking Age trading sites from the years 700-900.

Continue to journey further east across the Baltic Sea to Finland. Viking traders traveled along the East coast of Sweden, via Arnholm in Roslagen and Åland's sea to Finland. This Eastern route passed through southern Finland and the archipelago of Hitis, consisting of 2000 islands. The archipelago is called "Viking Islands - the southernmost archipelago in Finland", since in the Viking Age there was a harbor and a trading place, the only one found in Finland.

Among the many sights and museums on Viking Island is the Rosala Viking Centre, where the Viking past of the archipelago comes to life. You will find exhibition of the Viking harbor, learn about Nordic mythology; explore ancient remains and reconstructed houses from the Viking age and be a “Viking for a day".

Finland’s inland region of Häme near Hämeenlinna was the main route for trade with Birka and Gotland. From about AD 800 the two territories were connected by the 100-mile long “Häme Oxen Road”; still in use today as a public highway, called “Härkätie”. Further along in the prehistory of the Aura river valley is the Vanhalinna Manor and Museum, which houses exhibitions about the Vanhalinna hill fort and a Viking Age cemetery.

The medieval island of Åland is celebrating a festive Viking Market in the summer with events like Vikings telling stories, Viking ship carving, Battle games with Swedish Vikings.

In realizing the limitation of our presentation of Viking history in Northern Europe and Scandinavia and the travels to lands of ancient cultures, it is our hope that you are inspired to follow the routes of the Vikings, either by sea or land. Your journey to Scandinavia and the North Atlantic will be an exploration of history, cultures and sagas very much alive today. To explore the Past is to enrich the Future. We invite you to travel in the wake of the Vikings – to Scandinavia - lands of the Midnight Sun – lands of Myths and Legends.

Take a Journey Back in Time and meet the peoples of the past!