Arrive Oslo airport and transfer to centrally located hotel. Check in and freshen up. You could also take a super efficient airport express train pulls into. The Norwegian capital has a great deal to offer the discerning traveller. If you arrive early, we can recommend a walk around the centre of town to view the Parliament, the Castle & the Harbour area. Close to the hotel, climb the new Opera House for a chance to orient yourself to this small capital.
Overnight at hotel
Meals: -
After breakfast, enjoy a 3-hour city tour including some of the Oslo highlights: the Viking Ship, Fram and Folklore museums, the Vigeland Sculpture Park and the Holmenkollen Ski Jump and Museum. The afternoon is free in Oslo, and you will still have a valid Oslo Card on hand to catch the sights you haven’t already experienced. In the early evening, meet your guide & walk down to the harbour to join the Norwegian Evening on the Fjord - 3-hour boat trip with prawn buffet. Marvel at the beautiful Oslo fjord on a summer's evening!
Overnight at hotel
Meals: Breakfast
Over the next couple of days you will experience Norway’s most popular round trip; Norway in a Nutshell. The excursion takes you through some of the most beautiful scenery in Norway's fjord region.
After breakfast transfer to the Oslo Central Railway Station (3 min walk) and depart Oslo by train across the Hardanger Plateau, with its highest point at Finse (1222m), and to the village of Myrdal. At Myrdal you will change trains and board the Flåm Railway taking you from a height of 900 metres above the Sognefjord, through wild and beautiful mountain scenery with waterfalls and steep mountainsides to the fjord village of Flåm. There is no other adhesion railway in the world running on normal tracks that are so steep over a long distance.
On arrival in Flåm take a short walk along the water to Flam Marina (your luggage will be transferred by motorbike). After checking in, head out on a walking tour giving you an introduction to village life in Flåm. Staying in self-catering apartments this evening, you can choose to eat out or head to the shops for supplies & dine by the fjord in front of your apartment.
NOTE: Your main luggage will be transferred from Oslo to Bergen, so please bring a 1-night overnight bag for this exclusive fjord experience.
Overnight at hotel
Meals: Breakfast
Enjoy a peaceful morning in Flåm. Just after midday continue by boat along the Nærøyfjord, Europe’s narrowest fjord, to Gudvangen. At Gudvangen we will change to a bus taking us up the steep and spectacular hairpin bends of Stalheimskleiva to Voss. The last leg to Bergen re-joins the Oslo to Bergen railway line.
On arrival in Bergen you will transfer to centrally positioned hotel with views of the harbour. The evening in Bergen is free.
Overnight at hotel
Meals: Breakfast
After breakfast enjoy a 2-hour walking tour of Bergen, including a visit to the popular Fish and Flower Market, the famous Bryggen Harbour with its gabled pack-houses, and the old Hanseatic Quarter. You will also ride on the funicular to Mt. Fløien, for the best views of the city and fjords way below.
The early afternoon is free in Bergen, then at 16:00, you will transfer to the Hurtigruten terminal for check-in.
Overnight at cruise
Meals: Breakfast & Dinner
Ports visited today: Florø, Måløy, Torvik, Ålesund, Molde.
Summer is a great time for exploring Norway’s coast and the Geirangerfjord. The intense extended daylight above the Arctic Circle lasts around the clock, giving you more than enough time to discover the beautiful coastline.
Your ship navigates the skerries and islands further north before reaching Ålesund. Marvel at the inspiring architecture in the Apotekergate and Kongensgate pedestrian precinct, perfect examples of the Art Nouveau style. Don’t miss out on the view from Mount Aksla but beware, there are 418 steps to the top!
Optional Excursions depending on the season: Geiranger with Trollstigen Pass.
Overnight at cruise
Meals: Breakfast & Dinner
Ports visited today: Kristiansund, Trondheim, Rørvik.
When visiting the old royal city of Trondheim, be sure to get a good view from the Gamle Bybrua (“Old Town Bridge”). Dating from 1861, this neo-gothic wooden bridge used to be the only way into the town centre. Nidaros Cathedral, built between 1070 and 1300, is Norway’s largest Gothic religious edifice. In the neighbouring Archbishop’s Palace, the Norwegian Crown Jewels are kept. In Trondheim itself, the Hanseatic, waterside storehouses built on wooden stilts are just as charming as the Rococo-style Stiftsgården, the largest wooden building in Norway and residence for the Royal Family when visiting Trondheim. You then set a course for the northwest, past the beautiful Kjeungskjær lighthouse and thousands of little islands and picturesque rocky outcrops. After passing through Stokksund, the ship will arrive at Rørvik.
Optional Excursions depending on the season: Nidaros Cathedral and Ringve Museum, Trondheim with Nidaros Cathedral.
Overnight at cruise
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Ports visited today: Brønnøysund, Sandnessjøen, Nesna, Ørnes, Bodø, Stamsund, Svolvær.
This morning, between Nesna and Ørnes, you pass a globe on a small islet which heralds your crossing of the Arctic Circle. Passengers sailing in Arctic waters for the first time are given an Arctic Circle baptism by Njord, the ruler of the Seven Seas. This comes in the form of an ice cube down your front or back, but is entirely optional. In the evening you reach Svolvær, the main settlement on the Lofoten Islands. These islands are renowned for their small, picturesque fishing villages with their bohemian atmosphere surrounded by majestic granite cliffs and white sandy beaches. Complete your visit with a stroll between the stockfish racks and ‘rorbuer’, the traditional, red fishermen’s residences. The Lofoten Islands are a truly extraordinary experience.
Optional Excursions depending on the season: Rib Safari to Saltstraumen, Meet the Vikings Summer & Svartisen Glacier.
Overnight at cruise
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Ports visited today: Stokmarknes, Sortland, Risøyhamn, Harstad, Finnsnes, Tromsø, Skjervøy.
During the night the ship navigates the narrow Raftsund strait. After a stop in Harstad, situated on the largest island of Norway, Hinnøya, you continue via Finnsnes to Tromsø for a prolonged stay. Many of the epic Arctic expeditions used Tromsø as a starting point; the famous explorer Roald Amundsen sourced both crew and supplies here. With the presence of the Norwegian Polar Institute, the city has cemented its position as the Polar Capital of Norway.
Ishavskatedralen, the Arctic Cathedral, is the most famous landmark with its modern design and extraordinary stained glass window. Tromsø is also home to the world’s northernmost university and the large number of people arriving here has created a vibrant cultural scene with numerous restaurants and cafes constantly teeming with life.
Optional Excursions depending on the season: the Arctic Capital Tromsø, Huksy Visit & Kayaking.
Overnight at cruise
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Ports visited today: Øksfjord, Hammerfest, Havøysund, Honningsvåg, Kjøllefjord, Mehamn, Berlevåg.
Following the scenic sailing through Magerøysund and after an early stop in Hammerfest, you arrive in Honningsvåg. This small port is the gateway to the wonders of the spectacular North Cape which rises 300m from the ocean, and at 71° 10’ 21” north it puts you a mere 2,000 kilometres from the Geographical North Pole. Standing atop the North Cape Plateau you’ll get the eerie feeling of being at the end of the world. The area is also known for its birdlife, and Gjesværstappan, a bird sanctuary with up to 250,000 seabirds is home to some High Arctic species that can only be observed here on the Norwegian mainland. This evening, as you approach Kjøllefjord, you pass a rock formation that is sacred to the indigenous Sámi people, Finnkjerka.
Optional Excursions depending on the season: The North Cape and Birdwatching Safari & Taste of Lapland.
Overnight at cruise
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Ports visited today: Båtsfjord, Vardø, Vadsø, Kirkenes, Berlevåg.
The last port on the Voyage North is Kirkenes. And at longitude 30 east, you are actually further east than Istanbul and St. Petersburg. The well-policed Russian border and the Kola peninsula are close by which explains why the road signs are written in both Norwegian and Russian.
Disembarked the Hurtigruten ship and transfer to the Gamme Cabins, Kirkenes.
Departing at 1pm, get ready for a totally unforgettable experience on the fjords of Kirkenes. This is your chance to catch, learn how to cook, and most importantly eat the Arctic King Crab.
The Arctic King Crab is one of the most sort after meals in top restaurants, and yet here, you get to eat the best and the freshest, pulled from the fjord in front of your eyes. On board brand new RIB boats you will cruise along the Bugøyfjord and the Barents Sea to find the right place to anchor. You will be hands on deck to help pull up the King Crab cages from the depths.
Your guide will take you back and serve your catch in a traditional renovated boat house by the fjord. The tour guide will provide you with protective clothing and necessary equipment.
Overnight at cruise
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
The tour finishes after breakfast with a transfer to Kirkenes town or airport.