Hurtigruten the classic North South journey

DAY 1 | KIRKENES
WELCOME ABOARD !

Your journey begins in the Arctic, in the town of Kirkenes, just a few kilometers from the Russian border, but further east than St. Petersburg and Istanbul.

You will probably notice that the region is strongly influenced by this neighboring nation of Norway, as evidenced by the street signs in Norwegian and Russian, the monthly Russian market, or the Russian monument erected in memory of the liberation of the city by the Red Army during the Second World War.

History of the Second World War

For those interested in history, the Varanger Museum in Kirkenes has exhibits on the ordeal the city endured during World War II, being bombed 328 times in four years, becoming the most bombed place during the war after Malta .

To learn more about this dark period, visit the Andersgrotta WWII bomb shelter, which can accommodate up to 2,500 people underground.

The northern Norwegian border

In the port of Vardø, you will discover the Vardøhus Fortress, built in 1737. The northernmost fortification there is, it still belongs to the army to this day.

We will sail along the Norwegian coast to reach the small port of Båtsfjord in the evening and then that of Berlevåg. You might be able to spot Mount Tanahorn to the west, or see the Kjølnes Lighthouse flashing atop a cliff overlooking the Barents Sea.

Stopover times :

Kirkenes: 9:00 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
Vardø: 4:05 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Båtsfjord: 8:00 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.
Berlevåg: 10:25 p.m.-10:35 p.m.

DAY 2| MEHAMN – TROMSØ
AN INCOMPARABLE ARCTIC LANDSCAPE

We will dock in Mehamn around midnight and you can take part in a snowmobile trip in search of the Northern Lights.

Breakfast in the North Cape

We will travel again to Honningsvåg, where you can join an excursion to have breakfast in the North Cape. The ship will continue its route to Hammerfest, where the UNESCO-listed Meridian Column stands. You can take part in a mini mountain expedition to discover local hero Adolf Lindstrøm.

We will progress south to the Øksfjord and make a short stop at the old trading port of Skjervøy.

Midnight Adventures

We will dock in Tromsø, just in time to attend a midnight concert at the Arctic Cathedral. You will also have the opportunity to explore Tromsø by boat under the Midnight Sun in summer. You could stop at Ølhallen, a traditional pub, to have a beer in good company.

Stopover times :

Mehamn: 01:20 a.m. – 01:30 a.m.
Kjøllefjord: 03:25 a.m. – 03:35 a.m.
Honningsvåg: 05:45 a.m.– 06:00 a.m.
Havoysund: 08:00 a.m. – 08:15 a.m.
Hammerfest: 11:00 a.m. –1 2:45 p.m.
Øksfjord: 15:50 p.m. – 16:05 p.m.
Skjervoy: 19:30 p.m. – 19:45 p.m.
Tromso: 23:45 p.m. – 01:30 a.m.

Optional excursions :

Breakfast in the North Cape
The northernmost city
Midnight concert in the Arctic Cathedral
Snowmobile in the polar night
Mountain hike at Hammerfest
In the footsteps of a polar hero

DAY 3: TROMSØ – STRAMSUND
LOFOTEN, STUNNING NATURE

History and culture

We will arrive in Harstad in the morning and you can join one of our traditional excursions, Vesterålen Islands. On this tour, learn about the history, beautiful landscapes as well as cultural sites before returning to the ship in Sortland.

Passengers who choose to stay on the ship will pass through the Risøyrenna, a shallow canal built for Hurtigruten in the 1920s.

Lofoten and the Trollfjord

The formidable landscape of the famous islands of Lofoten and Vesterålen will not leave you indifferent. Lofoten is renowned for its immense beauty, craggy mountains, wild nature and picturesque fishing villages. Our daytime itinerary in the region is a must-see stop for many travelers.

After a short stop in the hamlet of Risøyhamn, we will continue our journey to Stokmarknes, where Hurtigruten was born more than 125 years ago. You can also visit the Hurtigruten Museum. As we continue south, you might think we’ll be heading straight into the rock face, but appearances are deceiving. We will actually take a passage through the narrow Raftsund, weaving among peaks reaching 1,000 meters above sea level.

Then we will arrive in the wonderful Trollfjord. If conditions permit, we will pass along sheer cliffs that you can almost touch. An unforgettable experience !

We will then reach Svolvær, where you will have the choice of several optional excursions. You can go horseback riding on a beach at sunset, take part in spectacular hikes, take a speedboat ride in the fjord or enjoy the town’s many cafes, pubs and restaurants.

Stopover times :

Tromsø: 23:45 p.m. – 01:30 a.m.
Finnsnes: 04:20 a.m. – 04:40 a.m.
Harstad: 08:00 a.m. – 08:30 a.m.
Risøyhamn: 10:45 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.
Sortland: 12:30 p.m – 13:00 p.m.
Stokmarknes: 14:15 p.m. –15:15 p.m.
Svolvær: 18:30 p.m. – 20:30 p.m.
Stamsund: 22:15 p.m. – 22:30 p.m.

Optional excursions :

The Vesterålen Islands
Lofoten Islands
Eagle safari
The Lofoten Islands on horseback
Sea safari in Lofoten
Walk in a fishing village
Vesterålen and Lofoten Islands by RIB Boat
Sailing on an electric catamaran in Lofoten

DAY 4: BODØ – RØRVIK MEETING WITH THE SEVEN SISTERS

Trolls and mountains

Crossing the Arctic Circle is an important “rite of passage.” We will celebrate this moment on deck in true Arctic tradition, with a spoonful of cod liver oil.

Driving along the Helgeland coast, you will see a strange mountain, Torghatten (rising 258 m above sea level), with a characteristic hole in its center. This 160 m long, 35 m high and 20 m wide hole was formed during glaciation. Take a hike on the mountain.

The Seven Sisters chain will also be one of the must-see sites. We quickly understand how it could have influenced the myths of yesteryear. Legend has it that seven beautiful troll sisters were surprised by the sunrise and turned to stone, creating these seven stunning peaks.

From duck to salmon

We will then stop briefly at the charming trading port of Nesna before heading to Sandnessjøen. There you can take part in an optional excursion to the Vega Islands, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. UNESCO is indeed interested in the archipelago and its unique centuries-old link with eider ducks. Find out how locals make a living making down duvets.

In Brønnøysund, you can join an excursion to learn about the Norwegian aquaculture center and taste fresh salmon from April to October.

Although we are below the Arctic Circle, you will have a good chance of seeing the Aurora Borealis in winter. The Midnight Sun may not be there, but in late spring and summer you will experience the light of endless days.

Stopover times :

Bodø: 02:30 a.m. – 03:30 a.m.
Ørnes: 06:25 a.m. – 06:35 a.m.
Nesna: 10:25 a.m. – 10:35 a.m.
Sandnessjøen: 11:45 a.m. – 12:15 p.m.
Brønnøysund: 15:00 p.m. – 17:25 p.m.
Rørvik: 21:00 p.m. – 21:30 p.m.

Optional excursions :

The Vega archipelago, UNESCO heritage
Discovery of salmon
Hike Torghatten Mountain
Visit to Hildurs Urterarium

DAY 5: TRONDHEIM – ÅLESUND
GOTHIC MAJESTY AND SECRET LAKE

Trondheim

You will have the chance to explore a historic city built of wood: Trondheim. Don’t forget to visit the majestic Nidaros Cathedral, built over the tomb of King Olaf II who reigned from 1015 to 1028.

Sumptuous landscapes as you navigate

As you walk along the coast, you will see the important place fish plays in the villages along the Norwegian coast.

Kristiansund is known as the “dried cod capital” of Norway due to its long tradition of exporting salted fish. You can take part in an excursion on the Atlantic Route, one of the national tourist routes. The 8km stretch crosses eight bridges and bucolic landscapes surrounded by the sea.

The Bergtatt Marble Mine is another exciting excursion that will take you deep into the heart of the mountain to an illuminated underground lake before dining in the massive mine hall.

The Norwegian Alps

Passengers who remain on board in Kristiansund will cross the open sea to Molde, the Norwegian “City of Roses”. In the distance, you’ll see the peaks of the Romsdal Alps beyond the fjord, known as the ‘Molde Panorama‘.

Stopover times :

Trondheim 06:30 a.m. – 09:30 a.m.
Kristiansund 16:30 p.m. – 17:30 p.m.
Molde 21:15 p.m. – 21:45 p.m.

Optional excursions :

Trondheim and Nidaros Cathedral
The hidden treasures of Nidaros Cathedral
The Atlantic route
Bergtatt – Discovery of a marble cave

DAY 6: ÅLESUND – BERGEN
RETURN TO BERGEN

Night stopovers

Our ship will stop overnight in Ålesund, Torvik and Måløy and we will approach our final destination. But before docking in Bergen, we still have some fascinating landscapes to discover, including the picturesque Nordfjord under the Jostedal glacier. The fjord widens to the east, forming an area of ​​90 km.

The Bergen approach

In the morning, we will dock at Florø, the westernmost town in Norway.

A few nautical miles south of Florø, we will cross the mouth of the majestic Sognefjord and can admire the magnificent panorama of the coastline punctuated by islands. Finally, you will disembark in the Hanseatic city of Bergen with all your unforgettable memories of this unique place in the world. We hope to see you back on board very soon!

If you want to continue exploring Norway, we recommend the Bergen City Tour excursion (on sale only on board) or various after-programs to discover Norwegian cuisine, culture and landscapes. Learn more about our expansion programs.

Stopover times :

Ålesund: 00:30 a.m. – 01:20 a.m.
Torvik: 02:35 a.m. – 02:45 a.m.
Måløy: 05:45 a.m. – 06:00 a.m.
Florø: 08:15 a.m. – 08:30 a.m.
Bergen: 14:45 p.m.

In Norway, the four seasons are very different from each other. Onboard activities, our restaurant menus and shore excursions vary depending on the time of year and the waters in which we sail. Each season brings new possibilities to experience a Hurtigruten trip in a completely different light.