Visit the legendary Geirangerfjord in summer

Visit the Hjørundfjord, Norway’s most beautiful fjord in autumn Cross the Arctic Circle under the Midnight Sun (summer) or Northern Lights (winter)

Sightseeing: Optional shore excursions

Sail on: Hurtigruten´s: Hurtigruten´s northbound journey from Bergen to Kirkenes is rich in cultural exploration opportunities. We visit major coastal cities and tiny remote villages, and travel far beyond the Arctic Circle. Join us on this northern adventure to explore deep fjords and rugged coastlines and come face-to-face with natural wonders and thrilling excursions.

Itinerary:

DAY 1: Bergen – The journey begins in the gateway to the fjords

Your 7-day expedition to the high north starts in Bergen, a city surrounded by seven mountains. Before departure you may wish to explore this cultural gateway to the fjords. Bergen was founded in 1070 AD, and was the capital of Norway for several years. The city is a central point for Norwegian travel, and has retained a great deal of local character and history. One example of this is the historic UNESCO-listed Bryggen district with colourful wharfs that date back to the 14th century. Take a stroll around this charming and compact city, spend some time in one of the outdoor cafés and restaurants, enjoy a trip on the Fløibanen Funicular or visit the famous fish market.After embarkation, we invite you to enjoy our tasty dinner buffet, based on the best ingredients from the coast. We sail north from Bergen along the Hjeltefjord, the same route the Vikings once plied to the Shetland Islands and beyond. We are heading to the high north. Spend the rest of the evening relaxing as you admire the spectacular landscapes, either from deck or in our panorama lounges.

DAY 2: Florø – Molde – A day for architectural and natural masterpieces

If you wake up early the next day, you have the chance to enjoy the breathtaking beauty of the Nordfjord, followed by a delicious breakfast. As we sail past the West Cape, we are out on the open sea. The ship then navigates through skerries and islands before reaching Ålesund. Distinguished by its numerous spires, towers and highly-ornate buildings, Ålesund is a town renowned for its beautiful art nouveau architecture. It owes this to a devastating fire that burned a large proportion of the city to the ground in 1904. The entire town was subsequently rebuilt in the fashionable style of the time, art nouveau. If you like marine life, join us on a visit to Atlanterhavsparken – one of Northern Europe’s largest salt-water aquariums. The tour includes a visit to the open-air pool to see the resident penguins. After visiting Atlanterhavsparken, we continue onwards and upwards to Mount Aksla where you will get an amazing panorama of the area.

DAY 3: Kristiansund – Rørvik – Discover medieval spirit in the old capital

Few large cities have managed to preserve their intimacy as effectively as Norway’s third largest city, Trondheim. Viking king, Olav Tryggvason, founded this ancient city as early as 997. Join our optional excursion to Norway’s national shrine, Nidaros Cathedral, the country´s only Gothic-style cathedral built over the burial place of St. Olav, Norway’s patron saint. Here you can marvel at the cathedral’s incredible architectural details and exquisite works of art. During spring and summer, we continue to the Ringve Museum of Musical History, where the history of Norway’s music is brought to life. This beautiful manor house is surrounded by a wonderful botanical garden, and provides fantastic views of both the city and the fjord.

DAY 4: Brønnøysund – Svolvær – Welcome to the Arctic!

Today we cross the Arctic Circle! This invisible line is situated at 66 degrees 33 minutes north and marks the border to the Arctic Region. In summer, this means 24-hour daylight – often referred to as the ‘midnight sun’. During winter, being above this latitude provides the best chances for experiencing the Northern Lights. Even if you aren’t awake to see the Arctic Circle, the captain makes sure that the occasion is a memorable event. If you are sailing in Arctic waters for the first time, you can participate in a daytime Arctic Circle ceremony on deck. Near Ørnes, you find Svartisen, Norway’s second largest glacier. Join us for a trip to the Svartisen Tourist Centre in summer, where you can admire the beauty of this enigmatic ice world. Afterwards, the journey continues along the beautiful coast of Helgeland to Bodø, where you re-join the ship. In Bodø, you can join an adventure in harmony with nature, eagles and the deep blue sea. We head to Saltstraumen in a RIB, where you witness the world’s most powerful tidal current. On this exciting journey through wild landscape, there is also a good chance to observe sea eagles. Majestic, beautiful Lofoten Later this afternoon, the sight of the 1,000 m high Lofoten Wall appears on the horizon. Tucked between majestic granite cliffs and white sandy beaches, Lofoten is an experience that is out of the ordinary. The charms of the Lofoten Islands are revealed in the small, picturesque fishing villages with their bohemian ambience. Take a stroll between stockfish racks and ‘rorbuer’, the traditional fisherman’s huts. At Stamsund, join a historical journey to the Lofotr Viking Museum, where you are invited into the chieftain’s house, a full-size reconstruction featuring exhibits of finds dating back to the Viking Age. The chieftain and the lady of the house invite you to join them for a real Viking meal in the banquet hall, providing a taste of the Viking Age, complete with traditional food, drinks, costumes, singing and dancing. Between Stamsund and Svolvær, you have the chance to experience life on a herb and cheese farm in Lofoten, or visit the Lofoten’s only craft brewery, situated in an old fish landing facility in Svolvær.

Hunting the Northern Lights In winter, crossing the Arctic Circle is when the hunt for the Northern Light begins. We celebrate the event by presenting a multimedia show, ‘The Magic Light, Aurora Borealis’, featuring pictures, words and music. As we sail through the narrow Raftsund, we stop at the entrance to Trollfjord. Here we serve freshly made fish cakes out on deck. You also hear the story of ‘The battle of Trollfjord’, which took place here in the winter of 1890. If you look closely, you might see trolls up in the steep mountains. Or you might not.

DAY 5: Stokmarknes – Skjervøy – Feeling like a polar hero

During the morning hours, we briefly dock at Risøyhamn, Harstad and Finnsnes. The ship then continues to Tromsø, `Capital of the Arctic´, for a prolonged stay. Many epic Arctic expeditions used Tromsø as a starting point. Join our `Polar History Walk´ in winter to learn more about the explorers and Arctic hunters, and to taste beer made at the world´s northernmost brewery. In winter and spring, you can complete your stay in Tromsø with a thrilling husky dog sledge ride. On this mini polar expedition, the huskies pull you over the frozen landscape while you enjoy stunning views of the ocean, mountains and open plateaus. During the polar night, the only light comes from headlamps, the starry sky, and, if we’re lucky, the magical Northern Lights. Why not test your coordination skills and have some winter fun by joining a cross-country skiing or snowshoeing adventure or go deep-sea fishing on an Arctic fjord.

DAY 6: Øksfjord – Berlevåg – At the top of the world – North Cape

Enjoy magnificent sub-Arctic landscape as we cross the 71st parallel on our journey towards North Cape, one of the northernmost points on the European continent. In summer, you may see herds of grazing reindeer and small camps belonging to the indigenous Sámi people. After a brief and early stop in Hammerfest we arrive in Havøysund where you can disembark for an overland RIB and Hike expedition to the North Cape during the summer months. We pass scenic bird cliffs on our way to Hornvika, where we hike the old historical route up to the North Cape Plateau.The ship arrives in Honningsvåg, the gateway to the spectacular North Cape. An optional excursion to the North Cape plateau puts you at 71°10’21´N, only 2,000 km away from the geographic North Pole. Standing on top the 307-metre high North Cape plateau imparts a sublime sense of being at the end of the world. Nearby is one of the world’s most exciting nature reserves, Gjesværstappan. Join a bird-watching safari to experience Finnmark’s largest flock of puffins, as well as large numbers of kittiwakes. During the nesting season, this area is teeming with life, and mighty

sea eagles hover above in search of prey. Meanwhile guillemots, razorbills, cormorants, arctic skuas, northern fulmars, brünnich’s guillemots, and the large northern gannet fill the air with a cacophony of shrieks and screeches. Sailing north The ship then continues north, sailing into the heartland of the indigenous Sámi people. We pass their ancient sacred site, the rock formation Finnkirka, as we approach our next stop, the fishing village Kjøllefjord. Here you have the opportunity to learn more about the Sámi people, as well as to explore the wonderful landscape in summer and autumn. Learn about Sámi traditions and their way of life, and hear traditional Sámi joiking (song).

DAY 07: Kirkenes – The extreme north

The vistas become more dramatic as we approach Kirkenes. We arrive in nearby Vadsø early in the morning and just after breakfast, arrive in Kirkenes, at 30° East, further east than Istanbul and St. Petersburg. This is Hurtigruten’s turning point for the return journey southwards. Kirkenes is known as the capital of the Barents region and gateway to the east. The Russian border is a just few miles away. You may find it intriguing that the local road signs are written in both Norwegian and Russian. Depending on the season, there are many ways to visit the Russian frontier. Travel either by bus (all year), enjoy a riverboat safari, or join an action-packed trip on ATV/quad-bikes. Kirkenes also boasts several fascinating small museums recounting the remarkably rich history and heritage of this remote region. You get off the ship in the morning. Spending time in Kirkenes provides the opportunity to take part in numerous adventurous activities into the Arctic environment. In winter and spring, you can join several activities and excursions, for example, exploring the Arctic wilderness on a snowmobile and driving over a frozen fjord. During the trip, your guides tell you about the history of the region, the extreme Arctic climate and the area´s unique wildlife. On our dog-sledge adventures, huskies eagerly transport you across the frozen Arctic landscape. In summer, you can join the excursion where you catch and eat giant king crab from the Barents Sea.

Inclusions:

• Ship board accommodation for 06 nights on the HURTIGRUTEN Ship.
• All taxes, port handling charges
• Ocean transportation.
• Meals on board the ship
• Onboard entertainment except those on chargeable basis.
• A group transfer from the airport to the pre-expedition hotel
• One night pre-expedition hotel accommodation with breakfast
• Shipboard accommodation with daily housekeeping
• All breakfasts, lunches and dinners on board throughout your voyage
• All shore landings per the daily program
• Leadership throughout the voyage by our experienced Expedition Leader
• All Zodiac transfers and cruising per the daily program
• Formal and informal presentations by our Expedition Team and guest speakers as scheduled
• Photographic Journal on DVD, documenting the voyage
• A pair of waterproof expedition boots on loan for shore landings
• An official Quark Expeditions parka to keep
• Coffee, tea and cocoa available around the clock
• Hair dryer and bathrobes in every cabin
• Comprehensive pre-departure materials, including a map and an informative Antarctic Reader
• A group transfer upon disembarkation in Ushuaia from the ship to the local airport
• All miscellaneous service taxes and port charges throughout the program  All luggage handling aboard the ship
• Emergency Evacuation Insurance for all passengers to a maximum benefit of US$100,000 per person

Exclusions:

• International air fare with taxes,
• Visa/s
• Travel insurance
• Shore & land excursions
• Lunch whilst on day excursions
• Transfers
• Tips and Porterage,
• Speciality restaurant fees.
• Medical services
• All expenses of personal nature
• Any service not part of the inclusions list