- Admire the magnificent landscapes of the Vesterålen and Lofoten archipelagos, as well as the distinct mountains of the Helgeland Coast
- Chances of experiencing the Northern Lights in winter or the Midnight Sun in summer
- Explore towns and cities like Svolvær, Brønnøysund, and Trondheim
Itinerary
Join the ship in Tromsø late at night and wake up the next day to the gorgeous scenery that’s synonymous with the Lofoten Islands. Drop into Hurtigrutemuseet in Stokmarknes to uncover our history before seeing more of Lofoten through your choice of multiple optional excursions from the port of Svolvær.
DAY 1 : Tromsø – Stamsund
High Peaks and Idyllic Islands
Welcome to the historic Arctic capital of Tromsø. If you’ve arrived in the morning or afternoon, you’ll have time to explore the city before your ship departs late in the evening.
After Finnsnes early in the morning, the ship calls at Harstad where the white-washed Trondenes Church, the world’s northernmost medieval stone church, sits on the peninsula.
Next is our smallest port of call Risøyhamn and then Sortland where the landscape slowly transforms from hills to 1,000-metre-high mountains.
Our birthplace
Stokmarknes is where Captain Richard With began The Coastal Express in 1893. Visit Hurtigrutemuseet, a ship-in-a-bottle building that chronicles our legacy, centred around retired ship MS Finnmarken from 1956.
A ship-size fjord
Sailing along Raftsund, the Captain may choose to take the ship into tiny Trollfjord. The mountain walls will look so close you’ll think you can reach out and brush them! To exit the fjord, the ship will rotate 180 degrees on the spot, then sail back out. Remember to look out for sea eagles here too.
Fall in love with Lofoten
We reach Svolvær in the evening, main town of the gorgeous Lofoten Islands. The huge mountain that sits above the town is named the Svolvær Goat due to its supposed resemblance. See if you agree!
The ship then sails for Stamsund, eventually passing the giant granite cliffs of the Lofoten Wall.
DAY 2 : Bodø - Rørvik
A Landscape of Trolls
The ship calls at Bodø in the small hours of the morning and then Ørnes at 7am. We then cross over the Arctic Circle just after breakfast. Commemorate the moment with a tradition of tasting a spoonful of good ol’ cod liver oil!
We make a short stop at Nesna before sailing on to Sandnessjøen, gateway to the magnificent Helgeland Coast.
Legend has it…
Admire the stunning landscape of the Seven Sisters mountain range, with peaks up to 1,100m high. The tale goes that seven beautiful troll princesses, fleeing from an unwanted suitor, got caught out as the sun rose, turning them into the seven beautiful mountains you see today.
You’ll also not want to miss views of Torghatten Mountain, with the distinctive hole in it. There is a local legend as to why and how this mountain came to have such a hole. Make sure you ask your Coastal Expert about it!
We reach Brønnøysund mid-afternoon. Explore the bustling marina on a walk along Havnegata. In the centre of town is Brønnøy Church: a stone church in the Neo-Gothic style dating back to 1870.
Our last stop of the day is the cosy fishing port of Rørvik in the picturesque Vikna archipelago.
-
UNESCO Vega ArchipelagoGo on a boat tour of the UNESCO-protected Vega Islands and learn about the islands’ unique industry of eider duck down harvesting.
-
Visit the SalmonLearn about the salmon lifecycle, as well as salmon fishing and farming in this hands-on tour of the Norwegian Aquaculture Centre in Toft.
-
Hike to Torghatten MountainWalk up to and through the distinctive hole in legendary Torghatten Mountain and enjoy the stunning panoramic views.
-
Visit Hildurs UrterariumDon`t miss this excursion to a quirky herb farm, where the warm hosts welcome you and proudly serve their homegrown and homemade food.
DAY 3 : Trondheim - Ålesund
Coastal Communities and Klippfisk
Spend the morning in Trondheim, then sail past beautiful island scenery and some of Norway’s smallest communities before exploring Kristiansund and Molde.
Capital of the Viking Age
Stroll around Trondheim in the early morning as the city wakes. Visit the sacred Nidaros Cathedral, resting place of St. Olav. Then, walk to Gamle Bybro bridge for a photo opportunity over Nid River.
Treat yourself to quality coffee and a Nordic patisserie in one of the Bakklandet district’s many chic cafés then walk up to Kristiansten Fort for great views of Norway’s third largest city.
Dealing in dried cod
We dock at Kristiansund’s harbour in the late afternoon. The town is spread over three islands and known for being Norway’s “Bacalao Capital” for the salted cod that’s dried on the surrounding cliffs, called klippfisk in Norwegian.
Take a walk around the cobblestone streets of the old town and tour the lively port. You can also head up to the old watchtower at Varden viewpoint for a lovely panorama.
Peaks and petals
The penultimate port of the day is Molde where you can spot the tops of the Romsdal Alps. Nicknamed “The City of Roses”, flowers should be in bloom between mid-June and late August.
-
Trondheim With Nidaros CathedralTake a bus tour of Trondheim, an ancient city rich in history and culture that also serves as one of Norway’s major academic and research centres
-
The Hidden Rooms of Nidaros CathedralExplore secret chambers deep inside Trondheim´s ancient Nidaros Cathedral as part of this exclusive tour reserved for our Platinum fare guests.
-
The Atlantic RoadEnjoy one of the world’s most beautiful drives as we follow the scenic Atlantic Road on this relaxing journey along the majestic coastline.
-
Bergtatt – Magnificent Marble MineJourney down into Bergtatt, a marble and limestone mine deep inside the mountain and take a raft ride onto the illuminated subterranean lake.
DAY 4 : Ålesund - Bergen
Until Next Time
Our Norwegian coastal cruise together, at least this time, will reach its end later today. During the previous night, we’ll call at Ålesund and Torvik. On our approach to Måløy, you might catch a glimpse of the northbound Coastal Express if you’re up early enough.
Morning highlights
You’ll have a chance to glimpse Nordfjord, under the enormous Jostedal Glacier, mainland Europe’s largest.
The ship then docks at Florø in the morning where you can take in the harbour and marina.
The home stretch
Leaving Florø, you’ll spot Stabben Lighthouse, a favourite subject for photographers. There’s also stunning views to enjoy as we cross the mouth of Sognefjord, the longest and widest fjord in the whole of Norway.
As we reach our final port in the afternoon, the ship will navigate through the last islands and skerries of our Norway scenic route, and sail down Hjeltefjord to arrive into Bergen.
Explore more of Norway
Sadly, it’s time to say farewell to the Captain, crew, and fellow guests.
But your journey doesn’t have to stop after disembarkation. We offer a Bergen sightseeing tour as well as a range of post-voyage programmes that you can add to your trip, including seeing Sognefjord by train or a tour of Oslo.
What's included
Included in your voyage
- Cruise with Hurtigruten in an unspecified cabin
Your cabin will be allocated when you check in
Not included in your voyage
- Flights & transfers
- Travel insurance
- Optional excursions
- Luggage handling
Notes
- Prices are per person based on two people travelling together sharing a twin cabin
- Not all cabin categories are available for all departures
- Single cabin pricing available on request
- Hurtigruten has a flexible pricing system and all prices are capacity controlled and subject to availability.
