Roundtrip on Hurtigruten

This is a holiday packed with incident, sailing alongside

ever changing scenery to well beyond the Arctic Circle

and calling at numerous small ports.

 

The ships are the regular service vessels carrying freight, mail and passengers along the 2,500 nautical miles of coastline from Bergen to Kirkenes close to the Russion border. This means of transportation is known locally as the 'Hurtigruten'. A coastal ship departs from Bergen each evening at 2000 arriving back into Bergen at 1403 on the twelth day. Our tour spend spends the twelth night in Bergen.

Accommodation is very comfortable and meals are of a high standard including breakfast, lunch and dinner. A hostess travels on board ship providing information and arranging optional shore excursions.

Day 1

Arrive Bergen Airport. Met on arrival and transferred to the Coastal Voyage Quay. Sail at 2000 hrs.

11 nights ONBOARD - Hurtigruten ship (full board).

Day 2

Brief calls at Florø and Måløy before passing Stadthavet, the most westerly point of Norway. Arrive Ålesund, Norway's largest fishing port. Scenic detour into the magnificent Geirangerfjord with its towering sheer rock sides and many waterfalls before returning to Ålesund and on to Molde and Kristiansund.

Day 3

Morning in Trondheim, Norway's former capital. Continue through the narrow Stokksund to Rørvik.

Day 4

Cross the Arctic Circle during early morning. Possible view of the mighty Svartisan Glacier before calling at Ørnes and on to Bodø with some time on shore. You are now in the 'Land of the Midnight Sun' where from early June to mid July the sun technically does not set. Next call at Stamsund on the Lofoten Islands then below the magnificent Lofoten Wall to Svolvær, small capital of the islands.

Day 5

Calls at Harstad and Finnsnes before sailing through the narrow channels to Tromsø from where many arctic expeditions have begun.

Day 6

Early call at Hammerfest, the world's northernmost town and on to Honningsvåg. Now sail past Nordkinn, the most northerly point of the voyage, calling at several small fishing villages.

Day 7

Reach Kirkenes, the turning point of the voyage. Optional excursion available to the Russian border. The ship has sailed deceptively not only northwards but eastwards and you are now almost as far east as Athens and Cairo. Commence return with short calls at Vadsø and Båtsfjord.

Day 8

Short calls at Hammerfest and Øksfjord before reaching Tromsø. Optional midnight excursion by cable car to Mount Storsteinen.

Day 9

Arrive at Harstad from where an optional excursion is normally available, rejoining the ship at Sortland. The wild scenery is quite different to that of southern Norway. Leave the Vesterålens for the Loftoens and Svolvær again.

Day 10

Re-cross the Arctic Circle passing the holed rock of Torghatten of famed Norwegian legend. Calls at Sandnessjøen and Brønnøysund.

Day 11

Morning call at Trondheim with further short visits to Kristiansund and Molde.

Day 12

This memorable voyage is now drawing to a close. After calls at Maloy and Florø the ship re-enters the Herdlafjord berthing in Bergen at 1430 hrs. Transfer to Augustin Hotel.

1 night BERGEN - Augustin Hotel (BB)

Day 13

Time for shopping or sightseeing before transfer to Bergen Airport.

By Air: Daily from London Heathrow Airport
Departure Dates:  1 March - 31 October 2012 (for winter departures see our Northern Lights Voyages)
Duration:  12 nights (11 on ship and 1 in Bergen)

N. B. Alternative airports available for departure.

Please view our Terms & Conditions for this holiday.