6 Day Norway Classic Voyage South

Start your Classic Voyage South in the far northern town of Kirkenes (which, surprisingly, lies further east than Istanbul).

The region has many wintertime activities, including snowshoeing, dog-sledging and snowmobiling. You can also visit an Arctic Ice Dome.

Interested in history? Kirkenes has many small museums detailing the region’s rich heritage.

After departing Kirkenes, we head due north, arriving at Vardø in the afternoon. Weather permitting, the brave may want to take a dip in the icy Arctic Ocean (strictly optional of course!).

We now head due west, cruising along the Varanger peninsula to Båtsfjord and Berlevåg, home to Norway’s most famous male choir, made up of local fishermen.

North Cape - 71 degrees north
We make a late night stop at Mehamn. During winter, you can join an amazing snowmobile trip here, through the vast Arctic wilderness. Experience snowy plains and valleys, crisp winter air and very possibly the Northern Lights in the starry sky above.

At Honningsvåg, join an overland excursion that crosses the island of Magerøy in time for you to enjoy breakfast atop North Cape (May - October). In Hammerfest, you can visit the UNESCO-listed Meridian Column, erected in 1854 to honour the first precise geographic measurement of the globe. During winter, join a mini-mountain expedition to experience the Arctic outdoors and learn about local polar hero and cook, Adolf Henrik Lindstrøm.

Tromsø – Paris of the North
We proceed south to Øksfjord, stopping briefly at the old trading post of Skjervøy. In spring, we sail through the beautiful Lyngenfjord, nestled beneath the snowy peaks of the Lyngen Alps.

We dock at Tromsø, in time to enjoy a magical Northern Lights concert at the Arctic Cathedral in winter, or Midnight Sun concert during summer. You can join a midnight excursion under the Midnight Sun to explore Tromsø by sea in a small boat. You may want to drop by Ølhallen to enjoy a beer and a chat with friendly locals.

This morning, we arrive at Harstad, where you can join one of our classic excursions - A Taste of Vesterålen. Discover history, beautiful scenery, and cultural heritage sites on this tour that rejoins the ship at Sortland.

Those who stay on the ship experience our passage through the Risøyrenna, a shallow channel made for Hurtigruten in the 1920s.

Lofoten and Trollfjord - Get ready now for some amazing scenery as we sail through the world-famous islands of Lofoten and Vesterålen. Lofoten is known for its natural beauty, steep mountains, wild nature and picturesque fishing villages. Our daylight sailing route through the region is the voyage highlight for many.

After a short stop at the tiny village of Risøyhamn, we continue to Stokmarknes - where Hurtigruten began more than 125 years ago. You can visit the Hurtigruten Museum here.

Continuing south, it will look like we’re headed into a mountain wall, but don’t worry. We are in fact sailing through a passage into the narrow Raftsund, flanked by peaks rising 1,000 m out of the sea.

We now arrive at amazing Trollfjord. If conditions allow, we will sail between sheer cliffs that seem close enough to reach out and touch. It’s an unforgettable experience!

Next we arrive in Svolvær, where you can choose from several excursion options. Go horseback riding along a beach at sunset, head out on spectacular hikes, join a fast-boat tour on the fjord, or relax in town at one of many cafés, pubs and restaurants.

Crossing the Arctic Circle is an important ‘rite of passage’. Today we celebrate the occasion on deck with a taste of Arctic tradition – a spoonful of cod liver oil.

Sailing along the Helgeland coast, you see the strange mountain, Torghatten (258 m above sea level), famous for the distinctive hole through its centre. The hole is 160 m long, 35 m high and 20 m wide, and was formed during the ice age. Participate on a hike up the mountain.

Another highlight is sailing past the Seven Sisters mountain range. It is easy to see how the peaks influenced ancient legend. The story goes that seven beautiful troll sisters were caught out at sunrise and turned to stone, thus creating the seven beautiful mountaintops.

Next, we briefly stop at the idyllic trading post of Nesna before moving on to Sandnessjøen. From here, you can join an optional excursion to a UNESCO World Heritage site, the Vega Islands. The UNESCO status is due to the unique centuries-old interaction between the islanders and eider ducks. Learn how the locals sustain a livelihood of making down-filled duvets.

In Brønnøysund, join an excursion to the Norwegian Aquaculture Centre for an informative tour and taste of fresh salmon, from April through October.

Even though we’re south of the Arctic Circle, there are still good chances to see the Northern Lights in winter. The Midnight Sun may not shine, but you still experience seemingly endless daylight during late spring and summer.

Today you have a chance to explore the wooden city of history: Trondheim. Be sure to visit the majestic Nidaros Cathedral, built over the burial site of King Olav II who reigned from 1015 to 1028.

View the spectacular scenery and life of the sea as we sail along the coast, you will realize the importance of fishing to Norway’s coastal communities.

Kristiansund is regarded as Norway’s ‘dried cod capital’ because of its long-time export of salted dry fish. Here you can join an excursion along the Atlantic Road, a National Scenic Route. The 8 km stretch of highway spans eight bridges, crosses picturesque landscapes and is surrounded by open sea.

Another interesting excursion is to the Bergtatt marble mine, which takes you inside a mountain and across an illuminated subterranean lake before serving you a meal in the mine´s ‘Grand Hall’.

Those who remain aboard at Kristiansund will experience the ship´s open sea crossing towards Molde - Norway´s ‘City of Roses’. From there, you can see the distant pointed peaks of the Romsdal Alps across the fjord, called ‘the Molde panorama’.

During the night, the ship calls at Ålesund, Torvik and Måløy, as our voyage draws to a close. Before docking in Bergen, there is fascinating scenery to see, including picturesque Nordfjord beneath Jostedal Glacier. Here the fjord widens to the east and forges 90 km inland.

Approaching Bergen - In the morning, we dock at Florø, Norway’s westernmost community.

A few nautical miles south of Florø, we cross the mouth of the mighty Sognefjord, taking in superb views of the magnificent island-studded coastline en route. Finally, you disembark in the Hanseatic city of Bergen with unforgettable memories of a truly unique part of the world. We hope to see you on board again in the very near future!

If you would like to see more of Norway, we highly recommend our Bergen City Sightseeing excursion (only sold on board), or various Post-programmes to experience more Norwegian cuisine, culture and scenery.