Norway’s Northern Lights in 7 Days

The exciting voyage begins in Bergen, known as the gateway of fjords. Before embarking your ship late evening, you can explore on your own the various cultural and historical charm it has to offer - very famous UNESCO heritage Bryggen wharf, trek or ride the funicular of the Fløibanen mountain for fantastic view, or visit the famous fish market and its various cafes. After embarkation, we welcome you with a special Norwegian dinner buffet prepared with fresh local produce and all the best ingredients from the Norwegian coast. In the evening we begin sailing towards high north. You can spend the rest of the evening admiring spectacular landscapes right from the deck or panorama lounges we sail via Hltelfjord - a route that vikings once used. For those that arrive earlier, can explore even more of Norway before your sea voyage starts with our pre- and post programmes, like the famous Norway in a Nutshell. Contact our Expedition Consultant for more details.

Wake up early in the morning to experience the breathtaking beauty of Nordfjord as we sail past West cape out to open sea. After a delicious breakfast, we navigate through skerries and islands to reach Ålesund, a town renowned for its beautiful art nouveau architecture. Hop off to explore this beautiful town on your own, or join one of our excursions with expedition team for in-depth exploration. Sailing from Ålesund, we pass genuine Viking territory to the west, including Giske Island, which was ruled by great chieftains. Next, we drop anchor in the “Rose City of Norway”, Molde. The view over the Romsdalsfjord and 87 snow-clad peaks of the distant Romsdalsalpane has made the town famous. Our prolonged stay here makes it possible for you to explore the city on our excursions or on your own. As the ship continues north, Kvitholmen Lighthouse can be seen to the west and the impressive Atlantic Road to the east.

As we pass through many ports, the biggest highlight today remains the visit to Norway’s third-largest city - Trondheim, where you can experience authentic Norwegian culture. While you are here, be sure to stroll across Gamle Bybrua (the Old Town Bridge), dating back to 1861 and see the restored wooden buildings of the Bakklandet district. You will have plenty of time to explore the city on your own or on one of our many excursions - Visit the Nidaros Cathedral to marvel its architectural detail and works of art, kayak through river nid, or simply take a hike with a local experienced leader. Once back on board, we pass the small island of Munkholm and its fortress, as we leave the fjord. Join us out on deck as we pass beautiful Kjeungskjær lighthouse and meander through many pretty islets and rocky outcrops before sailing through the narrow Stokksund sound during the late afternoon. Here, you will understand the importance of good sea charts and skillful navigation. Further ahead, we cross the open sea towards the Vikna archipelago and its 6,000 isles and reefs. After dinner, the ship arrives in charming Rørvik.

Today we welcome you the Arctic as we cross the Arctic circle! This invisible line is situated at 66 degrees 33 minutes north and marks the border to the Arctic Region. From here begins our best chances of experiencing the Northern lights! Even if you aren’t awake to see the Arctic Circle, the captain makes sure that the occasion is a memorable event. If you are sailing in Arctic waters for the first time, you can participate in a daytime Arctic Circle ceremony on deck and mingle with guests. Before we reach Ørnes, you might see Norway’s second largest glacier, Svartisen, lighting up the land to the east. The view across the 50 km-long Saltfjorden, just south of Bodø, is magnificent. Here, the famous Saltstraumen tidal stream ows through a 150 m-wide strait spanned by a bridge. It is said to be the world’s most powerful tidal current. You will then have some time to explore Bodø before we cross the sea to Lofoten. On board, you can listen to the Hurtigruten Guide Team’s “Polar History” presentation and learn more about this part of Norwegian history. In Svolvær, you can visit to Viking museum for authentic dinner with chieftain and his family! Around late afternoon, the 1,000 m-high Lofoten Wall will appear on the horizon. The Lofoten archipelago resembles a formidable wall due to its high peaks and snow-clad, granite cliffs. For thousands of years, huge numbers of cod have migrated to the surrounding seas here every winter to spawn (January-April). These tastier, former cod are called skrei and are prized delicacies, beloved of chefs around the world. Much of the cod is traditionally hung on huge racks to be air dried by the wind. Continuing north, we sail through the narrow Raftsund. We highly recommend to be on deck for this experience. Depending on how the weather is, the captain will try to stop at the foot of Trollfjord - famous for its troll story. Don’t forget to try hot fish cakes served by our chef out on the deck. You also hear the story of ‘The battle of Trollfjord’, which took place here in the winter of 1890. If you look closely, you might see trolls up in the steep mountains. Or you might not. Once its dark, join us on the deck every night from today to sight for the northern lights!

Today’s the time to unpack the adventure gears to full throttle! Early in the morning after we first dock at Harstad, situated on Norway’s largest island Hinnøya, with a mix of old and contemporary architecture. Dubbed “the pearl of Northern Norway”, Harstad plays host to many arts festivals making it a cultural hub, and its many delightful cafés and restaurants have earned it a reputation as the gourmet city of the north. Go ashore and discover Harstad, then return to the ship in time for breakfast. As we leave Harstad, we pass Trondenes Church, the world’s northernmost, surviving medieval building. The church traces back to the Viking era. The ship then docks in Finnsnes for half an hour, just enough time to on and o load goods and mail and let locals embark and disembark the ship. Many of our guests like to gather on deck and watch this part of everyday life along the Norwegian coast. The route becomes narrower as we approach the island of Kvaløya. The area is covered with historical sites such as the remnants of dwellings and burial mounds. Early in the afternoon, we arrive at Tromsø for a prolonged stay. Many epic Arctic expeditions used Tromsø as their starting point, giving rise to its nickname “Gateway to the Arctic”. The city’s highlights include the landmark Arctic Cathedral, the Polaria Centre and a cable car that offers stunning views of the city and its surroundings. Tromsø is one of our main excursion hubs, so come ashore to explore the amazing nature, culture and history of the area. With a day full of activities, you can join our expedition team for a ‘Polar History Walk’, where we learn about explorers and Arctic hunters or complete your stay with a thrilling husky dog sled ride across a frozen landscapes with stunning view of mountains, oceans and open plateaus. During the polar night, the only light comes from headlamps, the starry sky, and, if we’re lucky, the magical Northern Lights. Why not test your coordination skills and have some winter fun by joining a cross-country skiing or snowshoeing adventure or go deep-sea fishing on an Arctic fjord. You can also join the Expedition team for hikes and discover more of Tromsø and its surroundings. As the darkness descends, the mesmerizing Northern Lights can show its magic anytime! As we continue sailing for the night, we gather on deck to witness the breathtaking phenomenon.

Enjoy magnificent sub-Arctic landscape as we cross the 71st parallel on our journey towards North Cape, one of the northernmost points on the European continent. After a brief and early stop at Hammerfest, The ship arrives in Honningsvåg. The compact city centre features colourful houses and gardens that, even at 71°N, have trees - although rarely more than 3-4m tall. Come ashore to visit North Cape museum, North Cape House or Honningsvåg Church. Or you can choose to join our optional excursion to visit the North Cape where most of the guests from the ship gather to relive the moment. As our ship sails further north, we cross the heartland of indigenous Sami people, Finkirka, make a short stop at the famous fishing village of Kjollefjord, and arrive to Finnmark Coast, where you can be part of snowmobile trip to one of Europe’s extreme and exciting natural areas, with complete chances to experience snow-clad valleys, fresh winter air and perhaps the mesmerizing Northern Lights. For those choosing to stay back onboard, the expedition team continues to host lectures and gatherings on Sami people, their traditions, history, culture. As the ship continues, you will see Nordkinn peninsula, which appears to be carved from the sea. Although it does not protrude as far north as North Cape (at 71 ̊ 10’ 21’’N), the tip of Nordkinn is mainland Europe’s northernmost point at 71 ̊ 11’ 0’’N. We sail north of this peninsula, passing the Smørbringa bird colony along the way. Further up the fjord is the fishing village of Mehamn, where we stop for 15 minutes. Then it’s time for dinner. By now, you will have discovered that Norway’s culinary traditions have much in common with the scenery of the coastline. It is always fresh, distinctive and full of variety. Local produce is integrated into every element of the culinary experience on board. Based on the season’s best ingredients, you can enjoy three- course dinners or lavish buffets.Enjoy the evening on board, watching small coastal communities and the Arctic wilderness go by. The Expedition Team gathers crowd on deck to catch glimpses of the Northern Lights. As we cross Austhavet, it is time for bed.

The vistas become more dramatic as we approach Kirkenes. We arrive in nearby Vadsø early in the morning and just after breakfast, arrive in Kirkenes, at 30° East, further east than Istanbul and St. Petersburg. Kirkenes is 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. Kirkenes also boasts several fascinating small museums recounting the remarkably rich history and heritage of this remote region. You get off the ship in the morning. Spending time in Kirkenes provides the opportunity to take part in numerous adventurous activities into the Arctic environment. In winter, you can join several activities and excursions, for example, exploring the Arctic wilderness on a snowmobile and driving over a frozen fjord. During the trip, your guides tell you about the history of the region, the extreme Arctic climate and the area ́s unique wildlife. On our dog-sledge adventures, huskies eagerly transport you across the frozen Arctic landscape.