Best of Lofoten Islands and the Midnight Sun

Your unique summer adventure begins with your arrival to Kirkenes, known as the capital of the Barents region and gateway to the east. The Russian border is a just few miles away. You may find it intriguing that the local road signs are written in both Norwegian and Russian. Depending on the season, there are many ways to visit the Russian frontier. Travel either by bus (all year), enjoy a riverboat safari, or join an action-packed trip on ATV/quad-bikes. Kirkenes also boasts several fascinating small museums recounting the remarkably rich history and heritage of this remote region. Spending time in Kirkenes before your sailing provides the opportunity to take part in numerous adventurous activities into the Arctic environment. You can join the excursion where you catch and eat giant king crab from the Barents Sea. Once you embark the ship, familirise yourself with the interiors and find your self the spots which will surprise you with incredible scenery in the next few days! With a welcome lunch, as the ship starts its voyage south, you can first enjoy views of the surrounding Arctic landscape on deck or from the panorama lounge. As we depart Kirkenes, Prepare yourself for many new experiences. In the afternoon, we arrive at our first port for docking - Vardø, Norway’s easternmost port. Weather permitting, we may invite you to experience ice bathing in the Arctic Ocean. On board the expedition team might give you a special presentation about shorebirds residing along the Nordic coastline. Heading south, we cruise along the Varanger peninsula to Båtsfjord, before reaching Berlevåg in the evening.

In the middle of the night, we dock at Mehamn.At Honningsvåg you can join an excursion that features breakfast at North Cape and the discovery of hidden parts of Finnmark along the way. Before stopping in Hammerfest, you can enjoy an 'energy coffee' and short introduction to Melkøya - the world ́s northernmost natural gas terminal'. Hammerfest was founded in 1789, and over time became Norway's polar capital serving as a base for hunting expeditions into the High Arctic. Here you can see the UNESCO-listed Meridian Column, erected in 1854 to commemorate the first precise geographic measurement of the globe. We continue south to Øksfjord. After crossing open water, we make a brief stop at the old trading post of Skjervøy. We then dock at Tromsø, just in time to enjoy a magical midnight concert at the Arctic Cathedral. Here you can join a midnight excursion, under the Midnight Sun, to explore Tromsø by sea in a RIB boat. Alternatively, a walk around the town provides you the chance to gain a sense of how people live here in the Arctic town. The ship departs Tromsø at 01.30 am, and if you are not too tired, we recommend staying on deck, to see the Midnight Sun over nearby Fjellheisen peak in summer.

We arrive at Harstad this morning, where you have the opportunity to participate in one of the classic excursion programmes: A taste of Vesterålen. Experience history, beautiful scenery and a selection of breathtaking sites that include a visit to Trondenes Church, one of Norway's premier cultural heritage sites from the late Middle Ages. You can also choose to explore this place on your own while the ship remains docked. Those who choose to stay on board can admire views of this old church as we sail towards the Risøyrenna, a shallow 7- metre-deep channel made to provide an 'inside route' between Harstad and Sortland. The sand banks along the Risøyrenna are visible through the clear, green water. Today will be a feast for the eyes as we sail through the Lofoten and Vesterålen island groups and some of the most stunning scenery of your voyage. The Lofoten region is renowned for its natural beauty with steep mountains, wild nature and small, picturesque fishing villages. The daylight sailing route through the Lofoten Islands is a highlight for many of our guests. Now we reach the spectacular Trollfjord, only 2 km long and 100 metres wide, surrounded by majestic mountains. If the weather and time permit – the captain makes a detour into the fjord. Steep cliffs hug the ship ́s sides and the dramatic landscape conjures fairy tale images of an imaginary land of trolls. The ship turns around in the narrow fjord, a magnificent sight in its own right! Just north of the fjord, a smaller vessel awaits to take you out to see this magnificent bird up close on an optional sea eagle safari. To join the safari, you transfer to a smaller tour boat before we reach the Trollfjord. While those on board can watch the ship turn around in the narrow fjord, a magnificent sight in its own right! Be sure to bring a camera to capture all the beautiful sights! Risøyhamn is a small village with only 200 inhabitants, and we make a short stop here to deliver passengers, groceries and mail. As we sail south, you’d be forgiven for thinking we are heading straight into a mountain wall, but as we approach, the captain finds an opening and steers the ship deftly through the narrow Raftsund. The journey along this 20km passage between Lofoten and Vesterålen is both impressive and imposing, with mountain cliffs rising up to 1,000m on both sides. In the evening, we reach Svolvær. Come ashore and join one of our excursions or explore this charming town on your own. Join our Lofoten Islands tour to learn more about the fishing communities, beautiful scenery and art from this area. You can join a horseback ride over the powdery white sand on a beach along the Norwegian Sea. If you want more of an adrenaline rush, join one of our high-octane excursions by RIB. From Svolvær, we continue on to Stamsund, where the majestic peaks of the huge Lofoten Wall can be viewed. Then we say goodbye to these beautiful islands and set course for the mainland, but don’t worry – there’s more outstanding natural beauty to come.

Crossing the Arctic Circle at 66°33’N is an important ‘rite of passage’. Today we celebrate the event out on deck with a `taste ́ of Arctic tradition – a spoonful of cod liver oil. As we sail along the Helgeland coast, you pass hundreds of islets, fertile farmland and steep granite walls rich in local lore. On deck you can see the strange mountain Torghatten (rising 258 m above sea level), famous for its distinctive hole right through the middle. The hole is 160 m long, 35 m high and 20 m wide, and was created during the ice age. Another highlight is sailing past the Seven Sisters mountain range. All seven mountains are between 900 and 1,100 m high, and it is easy to understand how these ‘ladies’ influenced ancient myths. Make sure to gather around the expedition team to hear the amusing folktale of these ladies. Next we make a short stop at Nesna, an idyllic old trading post before moving on to Sandnessjøen. The UNESCO World Heritage Site of the Vega Islands is close to Sandnessjøen and can be visited on an optional excursion. This unique cultural landscape consists of dozens of islands. The UNESCO designation was awarded due to the unique interaction between the eider duck and island population. Learn how the fishermen and farmers have cultivated a centuries-old symbiotic relationship with the ducks, and how it continues to contribute to a livelihood of eiderdown harvesting and making down-filled duvets. Arriving in Brønnøysund, you’ll have time to go ashore and discover this charming little town on one of our excursions. Then it’s time for more magical sightseeing from the ship. Torghatten Mountain is known for its natural tunnel through its centre. The tunnel is 160 metres (520ft) long, 20 metres (66ft) wide, and 35 metres (115ft) high. It was formed during the last Ice age. Ice and water eroded the looser rocks, while the harder ones in the mountain top have resisted erosion. Legend claims that an arrow red by the troll Hestmannen formed the hole in Torghatten Mountain.

Today provides an opportunity to explore the third largest city of Norway - Trondheim, that has managed to preserve the charm and intimacy of a small town. Some of its narrow alleys and streets, many origi- nating in the Middle Ages, still exist. The city centre has many unique wooden buildings, some built as far back as the 1700s. This historic city has a lot to offer. Stroll around and see for yourself or join our city excursion, Trondheim with Nidaros Cathedral. Back on board, the ship heads out into the majestic Trondheimsfjord, which is 170 km long and up to 25 km wide. Like all other Norwegian fjords, it is deep, plunging to 577 m. Along the way, we sail past Munkholmen island. Later, we pass Smøla, an island chain at sea with at least one skerry or island for each one of its 2,400 inhabitants. Then we encounter the magnificent mountain peaks of Tustna, rising some 900m above sea level. Soon, the island of Grip and its light- house come into view. Clusters of houses were built around a small stave church here dating back to 1470. The tiny community has clung to Grip’s rocky shores for centuries, even defying huge waves that have occasionally swept over the island. As we sail along the coast, you realise the importance of fish to Norwegian coastal communities. Kristiansund’s location has steadily provided the town with a wealth of opportunities in the fishing, shipbuilding and oil industries. Kristiansund is today regarded as Norway’s ‘dried cod capital’ because of its long-time export of salted dry fish. Here you can join an excursion to the renowned Atlantic Road, one of Norway’s most visited tourist destinations. It is 8.2 km long, built on a total of eight bridges and surrounded by picturesque landscapes and open sea. Here you can join an excursion to the renowned Atlantic Road, one of Norway’s most visited tourist destinations. It is 8.2 km long, built on a total of eight bridges and surrounded by picturesque landscapes and open sea. Those choosing to stay on board at Kristiansund will experience the ship ́s crossing the open sea on our way to Molde, known as Norway ́s ‘City of Roses’. Along the way you see see the steep, grey, pointed peaks of the Romsdal Alps.

During the night, the ship calls at Ålesund, Torvik, Måløy, as the world’s most beautiful voyage draws to a close. Before we dock in Bergen, there are some nautical miles of fascinating scenery ahead of us, including the picturesque Nordfjord below the enormous Jostedal Glacier. Here the fjord widens to the east and forges 90 km inland to Loen and Olden. The rugged coastal areas are a striking contrast to the inner fjord regions where the wind is gentler and less rain falls. Fertile fruit orchards and glacial fingers stretch towards glistening lakes and gushing rapids. This landscape has its own distinctive charm and you are encouraged to experience it. In the morning, we call at Florø, a modern coastal seaport that is also the Sogn og Fjordane region ́s oldest town and Norway’s westernmost community. Despite constant changes, the city of Florø has maintained its special features. A few nautical miles south of Florø, we navigate the mouth of the mighty Sognefjord, and enjoy superb views of this magnificent island-studded coastline en route. Finally, you disembark in Bergen, taking with you memories of a unique journey filled with unforgettable experiences and meetings with local people, wildlife and stunning nature.