Complete Norway | Arctic Winter & Northern Lights

Arrive in Oslo and spend the day exploring the historical and beautiful Norwegian capital. Its compact size makes it ideal to discover and experience the best, the city has to offer. For the cultural lovers, the Bydgdøy peninsula is home to several museums like the outdoor museum, Folkemuseet and the Viking ship museum. Downtown Oslo, is bustling with trendy restaurants, bars, cafes and open spaces such as the Vigeland Sculpture Park and Ekeberg Park. At the heart of the city is the Royal Palace, home to the Norwegian Royal family since work began in 1814.

After breakfast, make your own way to Oslo Central Railway Station to commence your ‘Norway in a Nutshell’ adventure by boarding the train to Myrdal. Enjoy one of the world's most scenic rail journeys as you travel from Oslo through farmland, past snow-covered forests and glacial peaks. At Myrdal join the famous Flåm Railway - a marvel of railway engineering, descending more than 900 metres to the town of Flåm. Take time to explore at your the town and even a visit to the local brewery or the Flåm railway museum.

After breakfast, board the ferry from Flåm to Gudvangen, enjoying the spectacular views as you pass through the narrow Nærøyfjord. Known for its snow-capped mountain peaks, deep valleys, fast-flowing rivers and thunderous waterfalls, the journey along the valley from Gudvangen to Voss is as beautiful as it sounds. For those wanting a view to remember, take the Voss Gondola to the summit of Mount Hanguren (820 metres above sea level). The panoramic views of the snow covered valley and surrounding areas are more than worth the journey.

Spend the morning exploring Voss, before taking the train for the last bit of your journey to Bergen. Once you arrive in Bergen, take the afternoon to explore this colourful gateway to the fjords. Bergen was founded in 1070 AD, and retains a great deal of its character, charm and history. Visit the UNESCO-listed Bryggen district with colourful wharfs dating back to the 14th century. You may enjoy a stroll in the cobblestone alleyways, a bite at an outdoor café or restaurant, a trip on the Fløibanen funicular or a visit to the famous fish market.

Following breakfast and another chance to explore this picturesque city, join the ship at the port to begin your voyage towards the Arctic circle and the Northern Lights. After we depart, enjoy a tasty dinner buffet made from fresh coastal produce. We sail north from Bergen along the Viking route of Hjeltefjord. Spend the rest of the evening relaxing as you admire the spectacular landscapes from the deck or in our panorama lounge. Seven of our ships along the Norwegian Coast have Hurtigruten Guides. You are welcome to join them on hikes during many of our port stays or enjoy onboard lectures and activities.

Enjoy the early morning in the breathtaking Nordfjord, followed by a delicious breakfast. We then sail past West Cape for our approach to Ålesund. Art Nouveau city Ålesund is renowned for its beautiful Art Nouveau architecture and famed Atlanterhavsparken aquarium. Our tour to the aquarium includes a visit to see resident penguins before we continue to nearby Mount Aksla for an amazing view. Mountains and roses Molde is known as the ‘City of Roses’ because of its lovely municipal gardens. This attractive coastal town has an amazing view of 222 mountain peaks across the fjord, called ‘the Molde Panorama’.

Charming Trondheim is home to great history and a rich cultural life. Magical, medieval and modern Founded by Viking king Olav Tryggvason in 997, Trondheim today is a unique mix of the ancient and modern. Join our optional excursion to the soaring Nidaros Cathedral, Norway’s only gothic cathedral and the burial place of St. Olav (Tryggvason). Marvel at the cathedral’s exquisite works of art, architectural details and medieval statues. Excursions for every taste From September to May, experience Trondheim with a unique carriage tour on the world’s northernmost tram line. You can also explore Trondheim by kayak on the River Nid or experience the city by bicycle. You can also join the Hurtigruten Guides for a hike to discover more of the area. Back on board In the afternoon, the ship sails northwest, passing the Kjeungskjær lighthouse, islets and rocky reefs. After sailing through the narrow channel of Stokksund, we head towards charming Rørvik.

Today we cross the Arctic Circle, marking your best chance to see Northern Lights. We mark the occasion with a fun Arctic Circle ceremony on deck. Forces of nature Ørnes is the site of Norway’s second-largest glacier, Svartisen. We then sail along the beautiful coast of Helgeland to Bodø, where you can experience Saltstraumen, the world’s most powerful maelstrom, by small boat. Majestic Lofoten That afternoon, the 1,000 metre-high Lofoten Wall looms on the horizon, ushering us towards majestic granite cliffs and white sandy beaches. Meet the Vikings At Stamsund, visit the Lofotr Viking Museum, where you are welcomed into the chieftain’s house for a real Viking feast. Going organic Between Stamsund and Svolvær, you can experience life on an organic herb and cheese farm, or visit the Lofoten’s only craft brewery, in Svolvær. As we sail through the narrow Raftsund, we stop at the entrance to Trollfjord, a dramatic natural wonder that should not be missed.

We briefly dock at Risøyhamn, Harstad and Finnsnes in the morning. Polar history and beer We then sail to the Arctic exploration capital of Tromsø for a prolonged stay. Join our `Polar History Walk´ in winter to learn more about explorers and Arctic hunters, and taste beer from the world’s northernmost brewery. Beyond your imagination Throughout the winter, complete your stay in Tromsø with a thrilling dog-sledding ride, as huskies pull you over the frozen landscape past stunning views of the snowy plateaus. The only light during the polar night comes from headlamps, the starry sky, and, if we’re lucky, the magical Northern Lights. Why not have some winter fun by joining a cross-country skiing or snowshoeing adventure, or go deep-sea fishing on an Arctic fjord? All year, you can join the Hurtigruten Guides for hikes and discover more of the Tromsø area. Sailing from Tromsø, we continue to search for the Northern Lights.

Experience the North Cape After a brief stop in Hammerfest, we arrive in Havøysund the world’s northernmost fishing village. One of the most popular excursions is a visit to the North Cape, one of the northernmost points on the European continent marked by the photogenic globe monument. Sailing north and Northern Lights The ship continues north into the heartland of the Sámi people. Visit Kjøllefjord, where you can learn about the Sámi way of life and hear traditional joiking (song). In winter, you can join an unforgettable snowmobile trip across snowy plains and perhaps spot the Northern Lights in the starry sky.

We arrive early into Vadsø before docking in Kirkenes - the ship’s turning point for the return journey. Streets with Russian names The Russian border is a just few kilometres from Kirkenes and you’ll notice local road signs in both Norwegian and Russian. There are many ways to visit the Russian frontier: canoeing, hiking or bus. Winter wonder Kirkenes offers a wide range of classic winter activities, like dog-sledging, snowshoeing, snowmobiling and visiting an Arctic Ice Dome. Southbound and down As the ship starts its voyage south, remember that you’ve seen only half of what Norway’s coastline offers. The ports we visited by night going north are now seen by day. Ice dipping Docking again at Vardø, we may invite you to swim in the icy Arctic Ocean in winter. We then cruise along Varanger peninsula to Båtsfjord and Berlevåg, home to a famous male choir of local fishermen.

Around midnight we dock at Mehamn with the option to join in winter a snowmobile trip to hunt the Aurora. Meridian Column Following a stop at Honningsvåg, the ship continues then to Hammerfest, where you can see the UNESCO-listed Meridian Column. You can also join a mini-mountain expedition and learn about local polar hero Adolf Lindstrøm. Old Skjervøy With a brief stop at the old trading post of Skjervøy, we return to Tromsø, just in time to enjoy a midnight concert at the Arctic Cathedral. You may want to drop by Ølhallen, a classic pub for a friendly beer.

We arrive in Harstad, where you can join the excursion A taste of Vesterålen. Amazing scenery The island groups of Lofoten and Vesterålen offer some of the most stunning natural scenery of the entire voyage. Lofoten is renowned for its steep mountains, sandy beaches, wild nature and picturesque fishing villages. Hurtigruten’s birthplace We make a short stop at Risøyhamn, to deliver passengers, groceries and mail, and then continue to Stokmarknes, where Hurtigruten was founded more than 125 years ago. Go ashore and visit the Hurtigruten Museum. Continuing south, we slip through a passage into the narrow Raftsund, past peaks rising 1,000 metres from the sea. Spectacular Trollfjord We now reach spectacular Trollfjord, only 2 km long, 100 m wide and surrounded by majestic mountains. If possible, we sail inside, where the dramatic landscape inspires images of fairy tales and trolls. Just north, you can opt to see sea eagles up close by boat. Heart of Lofoten At Svolvær, you can select several excursion options. We then proceed to Stamsund along the massive Lofoten wall.

Celebrate crossing the Arctic Circle with a `taste´ of Arctic tradition – a fun ceremony highlighted by a spoonful of cod liver oil. Mountain with a hole As we sail along the Helgeland coast, you’ll see the strange mountain Torghatten, famous for its distinctive hole in the centre. The opening is 160 m long, 35 m high and 20 m wide, and was created during the ice age. If the weather allows, join a hike with your guides up the mountain. Myths and legends We also sail past the Seven Sisters mountain range – with peaks up to 1,100 m high. The story goes that seven beautiful troll sisters got caught out at sunrise and turned to stone, thus the seven beautiful peaks. UNESCO heritage We next make a short stop at Nesna, before moving on to Sandnessjøen. Charming coastal town Brønnøysund is a pretty little town that offers a charming high street and marina. You can join an excursion to the Norwegian Aquaculture Centre for an interesting tour and taste of fresh salmon.

We revisit Trondheim to further explore it´s colourful history! Be sure to join our excursion Trondheim with Nidaros Cathedral to learn more about one of the most sacred buildings in all of Norway. Fishing, scenery and excursions From there we call at Kristiansund, a city spread across four islands with an excellent harbour that has been active since the Stone Age. Today, it is Norway’s ‘cured cod capital’ because of its centuries-old export of dried fish. Be sure to join an excursion to Bergtatt marble mine, which includes going inside a mountain and sailing across an illuminated subterranean lake, before enjoying a meal in the mine´s ‘Grand Hall’. Norwegian Alps Those choosing to stay on board at Kristiansund will cross the open sea to Molde, known as Norway's ‘City of Roses’. Along the way, you will take in the steep peaks of the Romsdal Alps on the horizon.

During the night, the ship calls at Ålesund, Torvik and Måløy, but before we dock in Bergen, there is some fascinating scenery ahead of us. Glaciers and lush farmland We sail through picturesque Nordfjord beneath Jostedal Glacier. This rugged coastal region features farms with fruit orchards and glacial fingers that stretch towards glistening lakes. In the morning, we call at Florø. Back to Bergen We navigate the mouth of the mighty Sognefjord and enjoy superb views of the island-studded coastline before you disembark in Bergen. We hope you will take home memories of stunning nature, wildlife and fascinating culture, and we hope to see you onboard again in the near future! Enjoy even more of Norway To see more of Norway, we highly recommend our excursion Bergen City Sightseeing (only sold on board) or join one of our Post-programmes to experience more Norwegian cuisine, culture and scenery.

The day-by-day programme will give you a few ideas about what you can see and do on your coastal voyage in Norway, but bear in mind that this itinerary is just an indication of what you can experience. After all, this is a sailing where the elements rule and weather conditions might vary, which is why every voyage with The Hurtigruten Coastal Express is unique.