The Coastal Express - Northern Lights

Your voyage starts in Bergen, a city founded in 1070 AD and surrounded by seven mountains. Before departure, you may wish to explore this cultural gateway to the fjords. The city is a central point for Norwegian travel and has retained a great deal of local character and history. One example of this is the historic UNESCO-listed Bryggen district with colourful wharfs that date back to the 14th century. Take a stroll around this charming and compact city, spend some time in one of the outdoor cafés and restaurants, enjoy a trip on the Fløibanen Funicular or visit the famous fish market. 

After boarding, we invite you to enjoy our tasty dinner buffet, based on the best ingredients from the coast. We sail north from Bergen along the Hjeltefjord, the same route the Vikings once plied to the Shetland Islands and beyond.

If you wake up early the next day, you have the chance to enjoy the breathtaking beauty of the Nordfjord, followed by a delicious breakfast. As we sail past the West Cape, we are out on the open sea. The ship then navigates through skerries and islands before reaching Ålesund.

Distinguished by its numerous spires, towers and highly-ornate buildings, Ålesund is a town renowned for its beautiful art nouveau architecture. It owes this to a devastating fire that burned a large proportion of the city to the ground in 1904. The entire town was subsequently rebuilt in the fashionable style of the time, art nouveau. If you like marine life, join us on a visit to Atlanterhavsparken - one of Northern Europe’s largest salt-water aquariums. The tour includes a visit to the open-air pool to see the resident penguins. After visiting Atlanterhavsparken, we continue onwards and upwards to Mount Aksla where you will get an amazing panorama of the area. 

In autumn, we explore Hjørundfjord, situated amidst the majestic Sunnmøre Alps. Its seclusion and unspoiled natural landscape are what give this fjord its special character: far from the tourist bustle, taking passengers past steep rock walls, green meadows, lonely mountain farms and small villages. 

Molde is known as the ‘city of roses'. This attractive coastal city also has a wonderful view of 222 mountain peaks, called ‘the Molde panorama’.

Few large cities have managed to preserve their intimacy as effectively as Norway’s third-largest city, Trondheim. Viking king, Olav Tryggvason, founded this ancient city as early as 997. Join our optional excursion to Norway’s national shrine, Nidaros Cathedral, the country´s only Gothic-style cathedral built over the burial place of St. Olav, Norway’s patron saint. Here you can marvel at the cathedral’s incredible architectural details and exquisite works of art.

From September to May you can experience Trondheim in a vintage carriage on the world’s northernmost tram for a unique sightseeing tour. You can also explore Trondheim from sea level in a kayak along the river Nid all year, or join the Expedition Team for a hike to discover more of the surroundings of Trondheim.

In the afternoon, the ship sets a northwest course, passing the beautiful Kjeungskjær lighthouse and numerous charming islets and rocky outcrops.  After passing through the narrow Stokksund, the ship heads towards charming Rørvik.

Today we cross the Arctic Circle! This invisible line is situated at 66 degrees 33 minutes north and marks the border of the Arctic Region. During winter, being above this latitude provides the best chance for experiencing the Northern Lights. Even if you aren’t awake to see the Arctic Circle, the captain makes sure that an 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. 

In Bodø, you can join an adventure in harmony with nature, eagles and the deep blue sea. We head to Saltstraumen in a RIB, where you witness the world’s most powerful tidal current. On this exciting journey through the wild landscapes, there is also a good chance to observe sea eagles. 

Majestic, beautiful Lofoten

Later this afternoon, the sight of the 1,000 m high Lofoten Wall appears on the horizon. Tucked between majestic granite cliffs and white sandy beaches, Lofoten is an experience that is out of the ordinary. The charms of the Lofoten Islands are revealed in the small, picturesque fishing villages with their bohemian ambience. Take a stroll between stockfish racks and ‘rorbuer’, the traditional fisherman’s huts. 

At Stamsund, join a historical journey to the Lofotr Viking Museum, where you are invited into the chieftain’s house, a full-size reconstruction featuring exhibits of finds dating back to the Viking Age. The chieftain and the lady of the house invite you to join them for a real Viking meal in the banquet hall, providing a taste of the Viking Age, complete with traditional food, drinks, costumes, singing and dancing. 

Between Stamsund and Svolvær, you have the chance to experience life on a herb and cheese farm in Lofoten, or visit the Lofoten’s only craft brewery, situated in an old fish landing facility in Svolvær.

Hunting the Northern Lights 

In winter, crossing the Arctic Circle is when the hunt for the Northern Light begins. We celebrate the event by presenting a multimedia show, ‘The Magic Light, Aurora Borealis’, featuring pictures, words and music. As we sail through the narrow Raftsund, we stop at the entrance to Trollfjord. Here we serve freshly made fish cakes out on 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.

Get ready for a day full of exciting activities, whatever the season! During the morning hours, we briefly dock at Risøyhamn, Harstad and Finnsnes. The ship then continues to Tromsø, `Capital of the Arctic´, for a prolonged stay. Many epic Arctic expeditions used Tromsø as a starting point. Join our `Polar History Walk´ to learn more about the explorers and Arctic hunters, and to taste beer made at the world´s northernmost brewery. 

You can complete your stay in Tromsø with a thrilling husky dog sledge ride. On this mini polar expedition, the huskies pull you over the frozen landscape while you enjoy stunning views of the ocean, mountains 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.

After an exhilarating day in Tromsø, we continue our northbound journey.

Enjoy the magnificent sub-Arctic landscape as we cross the 71st parallel on our journey towards the North Cape, one of the northernmost points on the European continent. 

After a brief and early stop in Hammerfest, we arrive in Havøysund where you can disembark for an overland RIB expedition, where you will see the North Cape from the sea. Then you go ashore to visit the northernmost fishing village in the world before a bus takes you to the North Cape where you can enjoy the spectacular view.

The ship arrives in Honningsvåg, the gateway to the spectacular North Cape. An optional excursion to the North Cape plateau puts you at 71°10'21´N, only 2,000 km away from the geographic North Pole. Standing on top the 307-metre high North Cape plateau imparts a sublime sense of being at the end of the world. Nearby is one of the world's most exciting nature reserves, Gjesværstappan.

Join a bird-watching safari to experience Finnmark's largest flock of puffins, as well as large numbers of kittiwakes. During the nesting season, this area is teeming with life, and mighty sea eagles hover above in search of prey. Meanwhile guillemots, razorbills, cormorants, arctic skuas, northern fulmars, Brünnich's guillemots, and the large northern gannet fill the air with a cacophony of shrieks and screeches.

If you want to learn more about local life in this remote region, join the fishing village visit that takes you through the island of Magerøya´s fantastic scenery to the fishing communities of Kamøyvær and Skarsvåg. Along the way, your guide tells you about the area´s nature, local culture and history.

Sailing north

The ship then continues north, sailing into the heartland of the indigenous Sámi people. We pass their ancient sacred site, the rock formation Finnkirka, as we approach our next stop, the fishing village Kjøllefjord.

Join us on an unforgettable snowmobile trip to one of Europe's most extreme and exciting natural areas. Along the way, guides tell you about the Sámi people, the geographic and climatic conditions, life on the Finnmark coast, and how the local population effectively utilises nature during both the summer and winter seasons. Experience snow-clad valleys, fresh winter air and perhaps the mesmerizing Northern Lights in the clear, starry sky.

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. This is Hurtigruten’s turning point for the return journey southwards. Kirkenes is known as the capital of the Barents region and gateway to the east.

Spending time in Kirkenes provides the opportunity to take part in numerous adventurous activities in 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. In summer, you can join the excursion where you catch and eat giant king crab from the Barents Sea.

Southbound and down

As the ship starts its voyage south, you can first enjoy lunch followed by views of the surrounding Arctic landscape on deck or from the panorama lounge. As we depart Kirkenes, you’ve only seen half of what our voyage along the Norwegian coastline has to offer. Prepare yourself for many new experiences. The ports previously visited by night on the northbound journey are now seen by day.

In the afternoon, the ship again docks at Vardø, Norway’s easternmost port. Weather permitting, we may invite you to experience ice bathing in the Arctic Ocean in winter. Onboard in spring, there is a presentation about shorebirds residing along the Nordic coastline. Heading south, we cruise along the Varanger peninsula to Båtsfjord, before reaching Berlevåg in the evening. The latter town is home to one of Norway’s most famous male choirs, consisting mainly of local fishermen.

In the middle of the night, we dock at Mehamn, where it is possible to join an unforgettable snowmobile trip through one of Europe's most extreme and exciting natural areas during wintertime. Experience snow-clad valleys, fresh winter air and perhaps the mesmerising Northern Lights in the clear, starry sky.

At Honningsvåg you can join an excursion that features breakfast at North Cape. Before stopping in Hammerfest, you can enjoy an 'energy coffee' and a 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. In winter, you can also join a mini-mountain expedition to experience the Arctic outdoors and learn about local polar hero and cook, Adolf Henrik Lindstrøm.

We then dock at Tromsø, just in time to enjoy a magical midnight concert at the cathedral.

We arrive at Harstad this morning, where you have the opportunity to participate in one of the classic Hurtigruten 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.

The island groups of Lofoten and Vesterålen offer some of the most stunning scenery you will see during the entire coastal 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.

We then continue south via Sortland to Stokmarknes, where Hurtigruten was founded more than 125 years ago. Go ashore and pay a visit to the Hurtigruten museum here. Continuing southwards, it looks like we are sailing straight into the mountain wall, but we inevitably slip through an opening leading to the narrow Raftsund. This 20-km passage between Lofoten and Vesterålen takes you through mountains soaring 1,000 metres directly out of the sea.

Trollfjord and the Lofoten islands

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. Trollfjord is also the realm of the sea eagle.

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. If there is time, you will see the Hurtigruten ship turns around in the narrow fjord, a magnificent sight in its own right! The eagle safari begins after leaving the Trollfjord, passing through narrow channels flanked by steep mountains where the sea eagles dwell and can be viewed. These beautiful, rare birds of prey circle the boat a few times before we toss fish into the sea for them to grab and devour. Be sure to bring a camera!

Crossing the Arctic Circle at 66°33’N is an important ‘rite of passage’. Today we celebrate the event out on the 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. The story goes that there were seven troll sisters, the daughters of King Sulis, who kept them under strict control. One night, when the king fell into a deep sleep, the seven maidens sneaked out. Vågekallen, who was eager for a wife, was lying in wait. He pursued the sisters, who fled southwards down the coast. Several other trolls joined the chase to either capture or rescue them. When night turned to morning, the troll sisters and their pursuers were petrified as the sun turns all trolls to stone. They all became the rocks and mountains that today make the Helgeland coastline one of the most beautiful places on earth. 

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 during summer. 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.

Today provides another opportunity to explore the city of Trondheim. 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. 

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 an open sea. 

Another interesting excursion is to the Bergtatt marble mine, which includes entering a mountain and sailing across an illuminated subterranean lake, before enjoying a meal in the mine´s ‘Grand Hall’.  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 the steep, grey, pointed peaks of the Romsdal Alps.

During the night, the ship calls at Ålesund, Torvik, and 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 fewer rainfalls. 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. Unfortunately, all good things must come to an end, but we hope to see you onboard for new adventures in the very near future.

If you still haven’t gotten enough of Norway, we highly recommend our excursion Bergen City Sightseeing (only sold onboard) or land adventures to experience more Norwegian cuisine, culture and scenery. Read more about our land adventures.