Stay : Discover the Norwegian coast on board the Hurtigruten

From 15.00 hrs, the Hurtigruten ship is ready for boarding. Before embarking, you have the opportunity to discover the charming harbor of Bergen and its Hanseatic city. Visit Bryggen with its typical wooden houses along the harbor, or "Gamle Bergen", the well-preserved old town with its white houses with red roofs and narrow streets, the Hanseatic museum or the fish market on the square where all kinds of fresh fish are sold every day. If you take the 319m high Fløibaan (cable car), you have a wonderful view of the city and the fjord. Visit also Troldhaugen, the summer residence where the composer Edvard Grieg lived.

Your cabin is available from 18.00 hrs. At 21.30 hrs, the sea journey begins with Hurtigruten via Hjeltefjord, from where the Vikings left for the Shetland Islands. Dinner (buffet) on board. Information session in the evening.

The boat heads north to Ålesund. The city is a pearl of Art Nouveau; the most beautiful houses can be found in Apotekergate and the pedestrian area of Kongensgate. Don't miss the breathtaking view from Aksla Mountain - 418 steps lead to the top. Discover the 3 islands on which Ålesund is built, the picturesque straits, the sparkling sea and the snow-capped mountain peaks of Sunnmørsalpen.

During the months of June, July and August, the Hurtigruten ship passes through the Storfjord and the spectacular 15 km long Geirangerfjord. The ship passes through Hjørunfjorden on Mondays in September and October. After the ice age, the glacier masses form the deep coves of the coastal landscape. Steep rock walls of almost 800m, grandiose waterfalls and isolated farms in the mountains form the goal of the most coveted trip in Western Norway.

The day ends in the rose city Molde. The city is named after the many gardens in the city center. In Molde, you enjoy a panoramic view of 222 peaks. Do you count all the peaks?

The old royal city of Trondheim is worth a visit. From the old city bridge Gamle Bybrua you have a beautiful view of the city. The wooden bridge was built in 1861 in neo-Gothic style and was previously the only access to the city. In Nidaros Cathedral, the largest Gothic church in Norway, the Norwegian crown jewels have been displayed in a side chapel since 1988. Until today, 7 kings and 3 queens have been crowned in this church. Also worth seeing are the old wooden warehouses built on stilts on the water and the royal residence, Stiftsgården, in the rococo style, where the royal family stays when visiting Trondheim.

With a photo book of thousands of islands and picturesque coastlines, you continue your journey north. After the difficult navigation passage at Stokksund, the boat arrives in Rørvik in the evening.

Very early in the morning, you pass between Nesna and Ørnes, the Arctic Circle, an imaginary magic line at 66°33'51", indicated on the globe as a small island. Travelers who cross the Arctic Circle for the first time receive their polar baptism from the sea god, Neptune. In summer, a boat trip to the Svartisen glacier is offered from Grønøy. For those who prefer to stay on board, you travel along the impressive Børvasstinden mountain to Bodø.

When the Lofoten Wall, an impressive 1000m high rock face of the Lofoten island group appears on the horizon, Landegodefjord, Helligvær and Vestfjord are behind you. Large quantities of cod are caught in Vestfjord from January to April. The cod is always air-dried and exported to Spain, Italy and Africa as dried cod. In the evening you reach Stamsund and then Svolvær, the main place of Lofoten: picturesque fishing ports, red painted houses (rorbu) and dried cod on wooden shelves.

Night sailing through the spectacular and narrow Raftsund Channel leading to the Trollfjord. After a short stop in Harstad on the Vesterålen island group, you continue from Finnsnes to Tromsø, where you arrive at noon. The atmosphere is almost Mediterranean in the university town, which in the past was already the gateway to the Arctic waters for many polar expeditions.

In the Polar Museum and the interactive Polaria Center you will get information about Norwegian polar expeditions. 2 churches are worth a visit: the wooden church, one of the largest in the country with 750 seats, and the Arctic Cathedral, which was enlarged in 1965. This cathedral is world famous for its modern architecture and large mosaic windows. Tip: book a dog sled with real huskies (only in winter).

Early in the morning you arrive in Hammerfest, the northernmost city in the world. King Christian VII founded the city in 1789 to develop trade with Russia. This city is located only 2,100km from the North Pole. The Hurtigruten ship passes through Magerøysund and then reaches Honningsvåg. As an optional excursion, you travel to the North Cape plateau, 307 meters above sea level, located at 71°10'21", the northernmost point on the European continent. As an alternative, we recommend the program with boat trips to Gjesværstappan, a reserved area with up to 250,000 sea birds. At noon, you will pass one of the largest bird rocks in Norway, the Sværholtsklubben, and the Finnkjerka rock formation, something for the birdwatcher!

In the morning, you are at the same longitude as St. Petersburg, Cairo and Istanbul, only a few minutes drive from the Russian border in Kirkenes. For those returning by plane, it is time to say goodbye to this beautiful country. At this location between Norway, Russia and Finland, you can take a quick snowmobile safari (only in winter), a boat trip and a visit to the Sámi people or a trip to the border between Norway and Russia. These optional excursions are only possible if you spend an extra night in Kirkenes in one of the hotels.