Awarded European Green Capital in 2019, Oslo is a fjord-side city surrounded by forested hills and lakes.

Oslo's compact size makes it ideal for discovering on foot. The medieval Akershus Fortress dominates the harbourfront, and a stroll through the charming city centre will take you to the City Hall, Royal Palace, Parliament Building and Oslo Cathedral. The new National Museum provides a modern architectural contrast to the more classical buildings.

See the intriguing architecture east of the harbour, in the Bjørvika neighbourhood. The angular, white marble and glass Opera House resembles a glacier emerging from the sea. Walk along its rooftop for panoramic views of the city and look across to the nearby Munch Museum. Across the bridge at Sørenga, you can stroll along the beach, go kayaking and even relax in a floating sauna. 

After boarding your expedition ship, you’ll be shown your cabin. There’s a mandatory safety drill just before departure, after which you can walk around to explore the ship. After meeting your Expedition Team, you’ll be ready to start your Scandinavian adventure.

When you see the distinctive yellow houses with red roofs, you’ll know you’ve arrived at Skagen, one of Denmark’s most idyllic destinations. This atmospheric beach town is at the northernmost tip of Jutland, where the Baltic Sea meets the North Sea. During the summer months, the captivating light, wonderful nature and beautiful white sandy beaches are a big draw.

Skagen’s beautiful landscape was instrumental to the origin of a collective of artists known as Skagen Painters. In 1859, Denmark’s most famous writer Hans Christian Andersen encouraged artists to join him in Skagen. Word spread, leading to painters, musicians, writers and poets descending on the town, which was famed for its clear light.

If you’re interested in this art movement, visit Skagen Museum where you can see the works of the most famous painters, including Krøyer, Ancher and Tuxen. You’ll also learn about their considerable influence on Danish cultural history.

Wander around the lively town centre with its bustling marina, museums, galleries and boutiques, or head out along the walking trails to explore the beautiful coastal scenery. Three miles north of Skagen is Grenen. Here, you’ll be at Denmark’s northernmost point, where the Skagerrak and the Kattegat straits meet – you may be able to see the waves of the two seas clash. Wander among sand dunes on foot or take the Sandormen, a tractor-driven wagon tour. The area is popular with birders. You’ll want to visit a famous church devoured by sand dunes. What appears to be a small 14th century chapel turns out to be the tower of Sankt Laurentii, once the largest church in northern Jutland. Sand migration buried the building, leaving only the tower visible. Further south is Råberg Mile, the closest thing Denmark has to a desert. Hike to the top of this huge 130ft high migrating sand dune for great views. If conditions allow, you’ll have the chance to hike or cycle from Skagen to Hirtshals. The beautiful scenery makes it one of the most picturesque routes in the region.

Your exploration of Norway’s long coastline starts at its southernmost point, Lindesnes. Sandwiched between the North Sea to the west and Skagerrak to the east, Lindesnes’ famously choppy waters have been a formidable challenge for seafarers down the centuries. Archaeologists uncovered a Viking era canal in nearby Spangereid built as a rudimentary solution to these rough seas. Luckily, unlike the Vikings of yore, you’ll be sailing on a modern explorer vessel specially designed for expedition cruising.

While Nordkapp, 1,564 miles away, hogs most of the limelight, its southern cousin Lindesnes has a unique, understated charm. It’s located right in the heart of Sørlandet, the most popular summer destination for Norwegians. The area has some of the best beaches in southern Norway, making it ideal for bird watching and shoreside walks. Add unique skerries, lush forests and charming island lakes, and it's easy to see why Lindesnes has become such a popular destination.

Rising majestically above the cape, the iconic red and white lighthouse is the most prominent feature in Lindesnes. Dating back to 1656, it’s Norway’s oldest lighthouse and marks the mainland’s southernmost point. Here you’ll find a restaurant, museums, exhibitions, shops, a cinema and – naturally – a stunning view from the top.

If conditions allow and the weather is cooperating, the Expedition Team will lead the way in activities including sightseeing, hiking and kayaking.

A recent reorganisation of Norway’s regional map gave birth to Vestland, the result of Hordaland and Sogn og Fjordane merging. With the stroke of a pen, some of Norway’s most famous fjords and highlights were now part of the same county – a county that boasts culture-packed Bergen as its capital.

Local conditions will determine where we end up visiting and what you’ll do. Depending on weather conditions, we’ll take you for scenic cruises in our small expedition boats or on shore excursions with our Expedition Team. In keeping with our trademark expedition style, we’ll surprise you with the exciting locations to be discovered in western Norway.

A visit to one of the hidden gems of the west coast is in store for us today. Hjørundfjord is part of the UNESCO designated Fjords Norway area which is notable for ‘exceptional natural beauty’. Surrounded by the Sunnmøre Alps with peaks soaring almost 5,600 ft straight up from the sea, it is one of the most scenic fjords in all of Norway and is still mostly undiscovered by most other cruise lines.

The 20-mile-deep Hjøjundfjord should be truly magical in the autumnal weather. We’ll explore its reaches and perhaps use our small expedition boats to go on shore landings and get closer to interesting natural highlights. All in all, this should be a very special day of exploration.

Today you’ll explore the area around the windswept islands of mid-Norway, off the coast of Trøndelag. Notice how the islands facing the Norwegian Sea are in stark contrast to the sheltered fjords, as you’ll see from the small trees, bent by the strong winds. 

This region lies at the heart of the Norwegian coast, both geographically and culturally. Trondheim used to be the country’s capital, and King Olav, later beatified as Saint Olav, is buried in the city’s Notre-Dame-inspired Nidaros Cathedral. King Olav fell during a battle at Stiklestad, also found along Trøndelag’s coast. His martyrdom there subsequently paved the way for the conversion of Norway from Norse paganism to Christianity.

When Hurtigruten started sailing north of Trøndelag in 1893, much was still unknown about the coastline. Over the years, we’ve become experts in these waters, and today we are the only ones with the maritime knowledge and skill to take you through the many skerries and islets.

We plan to explore one of the islands in this area. Like any bona fide adventure, the elements will determine our exact route and activities today. If the weather is pleasant, we can stay out among the islands along the coast. Otherwise, we can head into one of the sheltered bays. 

Frøya is one of the possible islands we will explore today. It’s a resting, nesting and wintering area for seabirds, like gulls, cormorants, ducks and Sea Eagles. If we go ashore, you may also see seals, mink, otter, hare, and deer.

Once we’ve decided on our destination for the day, we’ll drop anchor and use our small expedition boats to get to shore. If conditions are right, you’ll be able to pick optional excursion hikes or kayaking, or possibly even both.

Today we’ll explore the coast of Helgeland on our way north towards Lofoten. Should we need to, we’ll use one of the ports in the area. However, if the weather is favourable, we’ll anchor and use our small expedition boats to visit one of the lesser-frequented islands.

Norwegians have a great respect for nature and a love of the outdoors – something they call friluftsliv. Being on an expedition cruise is the best time not just to learn about this ideal but to live it. Today, you might be island hopping, observing Sea Eagles, kayaking, or taking in Helgeland’s scenic coastline on an invigorating hike.

As we journey north, there will be lectures from the Expedition Team on possible subjects like the history of Hurtigruten, the first settlements in Norway, local myths and fairy tales, or the Arctic Circle.

The approach to Lofoten is not to be missed – a formidable wall of mountains greets you as you arrive. The islands here are probably unlike anything you’ve ever seen. The breathtaking scenery is a masterpiece of distinctive peaks, sheltered bays, untouched beaches, and paradisaic fishing villages. 

We’ll land in idyllic Reine in the morning. You may recognise it as one of the most photographed natural landscapes in Norway – and for good reason. Characteristic red fishing huts, known as rorbuer, dot the shoreline against a backdrop of granite peak clusters jutting out of the fjord.

As part of an included activity, you’ll board a bus to the picturesque old fishing village of Å, a unique and historical attraction. Here, you’ll see well-preserved houses, a blacksmith, an old cod liver oil press, and a bakery that might be making a fresh batch of lefse cakes. The local museum explains how cod fishing was key to establishing Norway as a country. 

Today, we call at Senja, one of Norway’s lesser-visited island gems. Quiet, untouched and ruggedly beautiful, you’ll quickly see why it made CNN Travel’s list of ‘10 of the world’s most beautiful islands.’ We aim to dock on the oceanside, but if the weather is rough, we’ll seek shelter in Finnsnes, also known as the Gateway to Senja. 

Sometimes referred to as ‘Norway in Miniature’, Senja boasts diverse landscapes that seem to change in the blink of an eye. The northern coastline is characterised by lofty mountains plummeting straight into the sea, interspersed with isolated coves and sandy beaches that fringe crystal clear turquoise waters. Southern Senja is distinguished by a rocky coastline and pine forests and is home to Ånderdalen National Park. The eastern side has gentler, more forgiving landscapes with rolling hills and birch forests.

Senja is Norway’s second-largest island but counts fewer than 8,000 inhabitants, most of whom are employed in fishing and aquaculture. In fact, around 100,000 tonnes of wild-caught seafood is landed here every year, as well as a similar quantity from aquaculture.

As ever, the local conditions will decide our method of exploring Senja. One option is a guided road trip along the appropriately named National Scenic Route. You could also go hiking with the Expedition Team or enjoy the scenery at sea level in a kayak.

As your expedition cruise comes to an end, you’ll find Tromsø a fitting place to conclude the journey. As you head ashore, you’ll take with you some fantastic lifetime memories of Norway, including incredible fjords, unique nature, fascinating towns, and of course, all the friendly people you’ve met.

If you have time, you’ll want to explore this historic city. The Arctic Cathedral is one of the most  striking landmarks in Tromsø. It features an immense stained-glass window that is well worth seeing up close.   

Historically, Tromsø was a frontier town for returning hunters and explorers and acted as a launch point for several Arctic expeditions. Relieved to return to the relative comforts of Tromsø, they nicknamed it the ‘Paris of the North’. And it’s still a very hospitable place – today, Tromsø has more pubs and restaurants per capita than any other Norwegian city.

You can busy yourself by browsing the shops or sampling the region’s fresh produce in a range of restaurants. Tromsø is home to the world’s northernmost brewery, Mack Bryggeri, which also runs Ølhallen, a lively pub where townspeople go for a chat and a drink.

Post-Programme

If you feel like extending your adventure, we recommend booking our optional Post-Programme. It includes a cable car ride to the top of the city and one overnight stay in a nice, centrally located hotel in Tromsø.