When: Between May and September
Price: From £4,018 Per Person
Duration: 15 Nights
Hurtigruten, the Norwegian operator, offers the very best way of seeing Northern Norway. Given that they’ve been sailing these waters for more than a century, it’s hardly surprising that they’re widely considered the authority when it comes to Norway. They literally wrote the map. Here is our favourite one of their itineraries, which takes you right up the fabled coast line and beyond – to the mythical Svalbard archipelago – where polar bears outnumber people.
Where You’ll Stay
The MS Trollfjord sails the Svalbard Line during the summer and the North Cape Line during the winter months (perfect for seeing the Northern Lights). The ship is fitted out with everything from a sauna (integral on a Nordic voyage) to an award-winning fine-dining restaurant (much needed after a day exploring).
What’s Included
For guests in cabins
Enjoy an impressive range of included benefits when you choose from our selection of comfortable options: Polar Inside, Polar Outside, and Arctic Superior cabins.
Flights from the UK (Manchester or London) until November 4.
Accommodation
- Choice of cabin type
- Choice of cabin location
- Accommodation in a comfortable cabin with ensuite bathroom
Food and drink
- Daily breakfast, lunch, and dinner in the ship’s main restaurant, Flora
- Daily lunch and dinner in Brasserie Árran
- Unlimited selected drinks in Flora, Brasserie Árran, and 1893 Bar during opening hours
- Unlimited selected tea and coffee
- Afternoon snack in the bar
- Culinary demonstrations and food tastings
Life on board
- Complimentary Wi-Fi throughout the ship and in your cabin
- Multi-lingual Coastal Experience Team
- Daily themed lectures, photography guidance, arts and crafts sessions
- Access to the fitness room and sauna
- Music entertainment and library access
- Selection of equipment for outdoor activities off ship
What You’ll Do
Day 1-2: Bergen
The adventure begins in the beautiful city of Bergen, on the west coast of Norway. Fly in and enjoy a one-night hotel stay – and a chance to explore this beautiful city – before boarding the MS Trollfjord the next day.
What began as a small village is now Norway’s second largest city. The majestic peaks that famously surround the city give Bergen its nickname, “The City of Seven Mountains”. Board the MS Trollfjord and get your bearings.
Day 3: Åndalsnes
Situated at the mouth of the river Rauma, Åndalsnes is a coastal town home to about 2,000 people. The mountains tower overhead and hiking is hugely popular here – for good reason. Fans of the rails can also board the Golden Train on the Rauma Railway, voted Europe’s most scenic train journey by Lonely Planet.
Day 4: Træna
Træna is an archipelago that sits along the Helgeland coast at the edge of the Arctic Circle, 33 nautical miles northwest of the mainland. Made up of around 500 islands, islets, and skerries, only four are inhabited year-round.
Spend the afternoon in one of Norway’s oldest fishing communities and maybe join a local hike. The area is home to a large population of sea eagles too, making it a popular spot for bird watchers.
Day 5: Reine
Today, you will explore the famed Lofoten Islands.
As you approach in the early morning you will see the steep mountains rising from the sea. There has been a fishing village in Reine since 1743 and it is one of the most photographed landscapes in all of Norway.
Day 6: Tromsø
Tromsø is northern Norway’s urban Arctic hub, boasting impressive architecture – including the famous Arctic Cathedral – good restaurants, and the world’s northernmost university.
Calling into Tromsø on the way to or from Svalbard follows in the footsteps of history. Most explorers and sailors on Arctic expeditions would embark from or return to the city. You will usually dock here in the morning and have the entire day to explore the Arctic city and its surroundings.
Day 7: Honningsvåg
Today, you will get the opportunity to explore Honningsvåg, the northernmost city in mainland Norway.
You have several optional excursions to pick from here. These could include riding a quad bike to the North Cape, or a refreshing hike.
The North Cape, which sits on a plateau 307 metres above the sea, is marked by the famous globe monument. It’s just over 1,000 miles from here to the geographical North Pole.
Day 8: Bjørnøya
The southernmost island of the Svalbard archipelago, Bjørnøya sits just past the halfway point between mainland Norway and Spitsbergen. We’ll be viewing this inaccessible land from the ship in the afternoon, so think of this as the prologue to your Svalbard adventure.
Day 9: Longyearbyen
Today sees the MS Trollfjord arrive at the Svalbard archipelago where you will make your way up to Spitsbergen, the largest of the three main islands.
Magnificent brown and green mountains rise up from the High Arctic tundra while rivers of snow-melt trickle through the valley plains, glistening under the summer sun.
You’re at a latitude more than 78°N and under 820 miles from the North Pole itself.
Day 10: Ny-Ålesund
At the tip of Brøgger peninsula, on one of Kongsfjord’s shores, is Ny-Ålesund. Like Longyearbyen, it began as a coal mine but became host to scientific stations from the mid 20th century. During the summer, there are over a hundred researchers based in the town, representing 20 glaciology and climate institutes from more than 10 countries.
If you weren’t up in time to enjoy the impressive views of Kongsfjord on the way to Ny-Ålesund, make sure you’re on deck as we leave. It’s one of the largest fjords in the area, with an entrance guarded by two colossal creaking glaciers that regularly deposit ice into the fjord.
This stretch is also a good place to look out for walrus basking on the shores and for many different species of migrating birds, including puffins, king eiders, pink-footed geese, and guillemots. If you’re very lucky, you might also see a polar bear prowling the coast.
Day 11: At Sea
Enjoy a day at sea as you sail back to mainland Norway. Keep an eye out for whales and curl up with a good book.
Day 12: Senja
After a day at sea, arrive back to mainland Norway. The first stop of the day is Tromsø, to drop off any cargo from Svalbard and pick up cargo bound for ports to the south, before continuing south to Senja.
The island is one of the country’s largest, and northern Norway’s fast-rising star destination, as you’d expect for a place ranked among CNN’s top ten most beautiful islands in the world.
Day 13: Stokmarknes
Start the day with a few hours in Stokmarknes, the birthplace of Hurtigruten Norwegian Coastal Express and home to the Hurtigruten Museum, where you can explore the retired 1956 ship, MS Finnmarken, encased in glass on the waterfront.
After Stokmarknes, you’ll sail via Raftsundet and Trollfjord to Lofoten. The rest of the day is all about exploring this breathtaking archipelago. Hailed as one of the most spectacular areas in all of Norway, you’ll understand why as you see its jagged green cliffs rise dramatically out of the ocean, climbing high into the sky like giant teeth.
Day 14: Brønnøysund
The ship continues south and reaches the Helgeland Coast, the midpoint of the Norwegian coast, and a place that has borne many myths and legends.
The ship will dock in the town of Brønnøysund, which features a beautiful marina and a Neo-Gothic stone church from 1870.
Further along from Brønnøysund is the unique Torghatten Mountain. The first thing you’ll notice about Torghatten is the hole that pierces right through its centre. At an easy pace, it takes about an hour to reach the hole in Torghatten on an optional excursion. The panoramic view of the islands stretching out before you is well worth it.
Day 15: Ålesund
The ship will make a brief stop in the town of Ålesund, known for its Art Nouveau architecture and picturesque position on a peninsula below Mount Aksla. If you’re joining the overland excursion to Hjørundfjord and Sæbø, this is where you disembark, or you can explore the town on foot.
Day 16: Bergen
This is where your adventure ends. Disembark in Bergen and make your way back home.
Package Rate: £4,018 based on 2 people travelling for 15 nights. Flights included.
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