SUMMER ITINERARY
DAY 1 – BERGEN
Welcome to Bergen! Your voyage begins in this beautiful city on the west coast of Norway. What began as a small village was developed by King Olav Kyree in 1070 AD and is now Norway’s second largest city. The majestic peaks that famously surround the city give Bergen its nickname, “The City of Seven Mountains”.
Nestled in Bergen’s centre is Vågen Bay, the historic core of the city, and home to the UNESCO-listed Bryggen quarter made up of charming cobblestone streets and local boutique shops. Across from Bryggen, you’ll find the fish market, which cooks up fresh and delicious seafood dishes to feast on.
DAY 2 – ÅNDALSNES
Located at the mouth of the river Rauma on the shores of the Romsdalfjord, Åndalsnes is a picturesque coastal town, home to about 2,000 people.
The literal highlights of Åndalsnes are the mountains that tower over the town and which line the Romsdalen valley. Trollveggen, the Troll Wall, is one prominent cliff with a vertical drop of more than 1,000 metres, making it popular for BASE jumpers.
Experience the Norwegian concept of friluftsliv – a love of the outdoors – through a variety of activities, such as hiking to a local viewpoint. For an easier way to take in the sights, sit back for a relaxing ride on the Romsdal Gondola or travel the winding Trollstigen Pass by bus.
There is also the Golden Train experience along the Rauma Railway, voted Europe’s most scenic train journey by Lonely Planet.
DAY 3 – 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.
Today’s selection of activities and optional excursions takes you to the heart of the archipelago’s sights and traditions. The village will be open just for you, including the church, Petter Dass chapel and the local museum. Alternatively, you can join a hike, take a cultural walk, or immerse yourself in a sauna and refreshing dip in the Arctic Ocean on one of the optional excursions.
Back on board, you’ll cross the Arctic Circle as you continue heading north, commemorating the moment with a traditional and fun ceremony.
DAY 4 – REINE
Today, you explore the famed Lofoten Islands. Watch for the steep mountains rising from the sea as we approach from the south in the morning.
You’ll dock in Reine, an important – and picture-perfect – fishing village since 1743. This is one of the most-photographed landscapes in all of Norway, where red-painted rorbuer cling to a string of islands beneath sharp mountain ranges reflected in the waters below.
Not far to the south of Reine, at the western tip of the Lofoten archipelago, you’ll find Å, one of the best-preserved traditional fishing villages in Norway. You can visit it on an optional excursion.
At the heart of this tiny village is the Norwegian Fishing Village Museum, which covers the importance and development of fishing in Lofoten over the last 250 years.
DAY 5 – TROMSØ
Tromsø is northern Norway’s urban Arctic hotspot, boasting impressive architecture, hip 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.
They aim to dock here in the morning, giving you a whole day to explore this historic Arctic city and its surroundings. Take your pick from a number of optional excursions. Learn more about the culture and polar history of Tromsø on a city walk, or take a scenic bus tour.
You can also visit the striking Arctic Cathedral, which has an impressively large multi-coloured stained-glass window. Or ride the Fjellheisen Cable Car up Storsteinen Mountain for exceptionally beautiful views of the city, mountains, and fjords.
DAY 6 – HONNINGSVÅG
Around mid-morning, we arrive at Honningsvåg, the northernmost city in mainland Norway.
You have several optional excursions to pick from here. These could include taking a bus, riding a quad bike to the North Cape, or a refreshing hike with your Expedition Team.
Honningsvåg is also the gateway to the North Cape, the northernmost point of Europe. The plateau stands 307 metres above the sea, and is just over 1,000 miles south of the geographical North Pole. Take a moment to gaze out across the sea from a top the soaring cliffs, watching the waves crash against the rocks below.
Sailing away from Honningsvåg, you’ll enjoy dramatic views of the plateau from the sea. The ship will head further into the Barents Sea, leaving mainland Norway’s coast far behind you.
DAY 7 – AT SEA
Today is a day spent far from land as you cross the Barents Sea heading towards the remote wilderness of Svalbard. It really does feel like you’re leaving civilisation far behind as you sail towards the top of the world. There will be a lecture about Svalbard, and the theme of the day is Arctic desert. Out on deck, the talented chefs will prepare another special tasting for you to enjoy – and listen out for any points of interest from the Expedition Team.
It’s a day for you to relax and enjoy the ship’s facilities, and also to look ahead and learn about our next destination. At some point today you will sail past the lonely and rugged island of Bjornøya – ‘Bear Island’ – although no bears live there today. Why not get a cup of tea or coffee and seat yourself somewhere comfortable and read up about the nature and history of the Arctic frontier. In the afternoon there will be a briefing about the special rules that we all must follow to protect the delicate local ecology when you reach Ny-Ålesund.
DAY 8 – LONGYEARBYEN
Today, you arrive at the Svalbard archipelago and make your way up to Spitsbergen, the largest of the three main islands. Magnificent brown and green mountains rise and ripple up from the High Arctic tundra while rivers of snow-melt trickle through the valley plains, glistening under the summer sun.
Take a moment to just be here, now, in Svalbard. You’re at a latitude more than 78°N and under 820 miles from the North Pole itself. The air of this Arctic desert is fresh and pure, and temperatures in summer average between zero and eight degrees Celsius thanks to a warm northern branch of the Gulf Stream.
In early afternoon, you find Longyearbyen nestled on the banks of Isfjord. A former coal mining colony, it is the biggest settlement in Svalbard and a hub for adventure travellers, as well as scientists and engineers attached to local research projects, like the famous Global Seed Vault.
Spend some time strolling around the town, admiring its collection of galleries, pubs, restaurants, brewery, and the notable North Pole Expedition Museum.
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.
Wander around what is one of the northernmost settlements in the world, drop in at the local museum and souvenir shop, or send a far-flung postcard back to friends and family from the small post office.
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 you 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.
Arctic fox and Svalbard reindeer can sometimes be spotted on land while the white beluga whale has been known to surface in the waters here too. If you’re very lucky, you might even see a polar bear prowling the coast for bearded and ringed seals.
