The journey
Overview
From the maze of myriad inlets forming Bergen’s busy bays, to the top-of-the-world wilds of Nature at the North Cape, this classic Norwegian Hurtigruten cruise visits very varied ports of call as it follows Norway’s spectacular coast in search of the Northern Lights. Two seas, the Norwegian and Barents, in two oceans, the Atlantic and Arctic, have crashed against Norway’s ragged rocks to create its ravishing coastline, deeply indented, and liberally sprinkled with islands large and small. Cruising north from Norway’s second-largest city, Bergen, the shoreline reveals the graceful spires and gables of Alesund, the islets forming stepping-stones for Molde’s Atlantic Ocean Road, and Trondheim’s fjords, forestry, and painted waterfront warehouses. Sailing from these Viking haunts to Sámi homelands, Arctic ports include Ørnes, surrounded by 700 islands; Bodø, a favoured roost for sea eagles and the end of the line for the railway; Harstad, the ‘cultural capital of the north’ on Hinnøya, Norway’s biggest island; lively Tromsø, with its iconic cathedral and historic wooden houses; and Honningsvag, to tour the Nordkapp (North Cape). With haunting sights of the Northern Lights and an aura of snowbound seclusion, journey’s end is the tiny town of Kirkenes, bringing ‘remote’ to a whole new level. Throughout the cruise, the Hurtigruten ship is never out of sight of land and, while some longer visits are made, a feature of the journey is the many short stops of 15-45 minutes at small ports.
Unforgettable moments
Highlights
01
Discover UNESCO Site: Bryggen
02
Visit the Art Nouveau City Ålesund
03
Explore vibrant Trondheim
04
Wander the Nordic capital Tromsø
05
Option to visit Nordkapp
06
Optional Snowhotel visit
Your itinerary
Day by day
- Day1
Join the tour in Bergen+
Your tour starts in Bergen, a colourful town and gateway to the great Norwegian fjords.
in the arrivals hall of
Bergen Airport (BGO) at 4.30pm. We
aim to depart no later than
5pm, and fli
ghts will be booked in line with these timings.
Settle into the 4-star Zander K Hotel for an overnight stay.
- Day2
Enjoy a walking tour of Bergen+
Lining a labyrinth of fjords, with its iconic wooden houses along the Bryggen quay, Bergen is known as ‘the city of seven mountains’, although actually nine surround it. A morning walking tour of its landmark sights includes a ride on the Fløibanen funicular for stunning cityscapes. Embark this afternoon on the Hurtigruten expedition vessel for your six-night cruise, sailing north along the Hjeltefjord.
(B, D)
- Day3
Cruise to Alesund before visiting Torvik and Molde+
Cruise past the West Cape, into the open sea, and enjoy the views as the ship navigates through skerries and islands enroute to picture-perfect Alesund, spread across several islets, and famed for its elegant architecture. Time to explore independently or join an optional Art Nouveau Walk, which includes a visit to the Jungendstilsenteret Art Nouveau Centre and Museum, housed in an exquisite former pharmacy (3hrs, pre-bookable). Continue cruising for visits to the scenic and serene village of Torvik, and the little coastal town of Molde.
(B, L, D)
- Day4
Explore Trondheim on an optional tour+
Arrive in vibrant Trondheim, a picturesque town in a beautiful fjord setting and, with a thousand years of history, one of Norway’s oldest settlements. An optional tour of the town’s historic monuments includes a visit to the ‘national shrine’ of Nidaros Cathedral, a Gothic masterpiece, built over the tomb of St. Olav, the Viking monarch who brought Christianity to Norway and later became the country’s patron saint and ‘eternal king’ (2hrs, pre-bookable).
(B, L, D)
- Day5
Enjoy a full day of sightseeing+
Cross into the Arctic Circle and call at Ørnes, with a magnificent mountain backdrop, and romantic views of the archipelago from the ‘love bench’ on the pier. Continue to Bodø, a modern town known as the ‘mini-metropole’, and join an optional excursion on the Saltstraumen strait, to experience one of the strongest tidal currents in the world (2hrs, pre-bookable). Cross to Vestfjord and the Lofoten Islands, to call at the group’s administrative centre, Svolvaer, and the charming fishing village of Stamsund.
(B, L, D)
- Day6
Visit Harstad en route to Tromsø+
Call in to the sheltered harbour of bustling Harstad, the third-largest city in the region, enroute to Tromsø, the capital of Northern Norway. Set on an island 350km north of the Arctic Circle, its climate tempered by the Gulf Stream, Tromsø is renowned as a vantage point for the Northern Lights, and sits amid ragged whale-watching fjords and jagged snow-capped peaks. An optional Polar History Walk includes visits to the Polar Museum and to Ølhallen, the city’s oldest pub (2½ hrs, pre-bookable).
(B, L, D)
- Day7
Enjoy visits to Hammerfest and Havøysund+
Enjoy magnificent sub-Arctic scenery as you cross the 71
st
parallel on the journey toward the Nordkapp. The first of two brief stops enroute is Hammerfest, perhaps ‘the world’s northernmost town’, which sees the Aurora Borealis in winter months of Polar night, and boasts the first UNESCO listed scientific object, the Meridian Column of the Struve Geodetic Arc. The second is the fishing village of Havøysund, its multi-coloured houses brightening the shoreline. Cruise to Honnigsvag, gateway to the North Cape, with an optional tour of the legendary cape landscapes (3hrs, pre-bookable). Sail into the heartland of the indigenous Sámi people, passing the ancient sacred site, the rock formations of Finnjerka.
(B, L, D)
- Day8
Disembark in Kirkenes and enjoy our optional tours+
(B)
- Day9
Tour ends in Kirkenes+
The tour ends this morning after breakfast.
.
(B)
Peace of mind
What's included
- ✦2 nights hotel, 6-night cruise
- ✦Meals Included: breakfast daily, 5 lunches and 6 dinners
- ✦Itinerary as described
- ✦Services of local expert guides
- ✦Interested in adding flights to this tour?
- ✦Find out more
- ✦.
- ✦- Travel Guide -
- ✦You can find out more about the country on the travel guide.
- ✦Flights from the UK can be added — ask your adviser