: R19270
The Classic Hurtigruten Roundtrip takes you through almost 1,500 miles of some of the most spectacular scenery on Earth, showing you the beauty of the Norwegian coast.
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Starting from | R19 270 |
Package Validity | Set departure date: 12 DEC 2016. |
Duration | 11 nights |
Destination | Norway |
Starts in | Bergen |
Ends in | Bergen |
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- 11 nights accommodation on-board MS Trolfjord in an inside cabin
- All meals on-board
- Assistance of an English speaking tour leader on-board
- Port charges
** They are so confident that Northern Lights will make an appearance during your voyage in Norway, that if they don’t, Hurtigruten will give you another 6 or 7-day Classic Voyage FREE OF CHARGE! This offer applies to all new bookings on the 12 day Classic Round Voyages (Bergen to Bergen), departing from 1 October 2016 to 31 Mar 2017. T&C’s apply.
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Bergen
Our expedition start in Bergen, a city surrounded by its famed seven mountains. Before departure you may wish to explore this cultural gateway to the fjords. 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 sailed to the Shetland Islands & beyond – we are heading to the high north. Spend the rest of the evening relaxing as you take in the spectacular landscapes, either from deck or in our panorama lounges.
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Florø - Molde
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 experience a rare venture into open sea. Then the ship navigates through skerries & islands before reaching Ålesund. In the summer months we set course for the spectacular UNESCO-listed Geirangerfjord passing sheer, 800m cliffs & impressive waterfalls en route. In autumn we explore Hjørundfjord, situated amidst the majestic Sunnmøre Alps. In addition to the excursion “A taste of Norway”, we offer two new mountain hikes here. Its seclusion & unspoiled natural landscape give this fjord its special character. In winter you can enjoy a colourful & enlightening presentation about the Aurora Borealis on-board.
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Kristiansund - Rørvik
Today you wake up in beautiful Trondheim. The architecture & surroundings in Trondheim create a beautiful & almost mythical setting for any outing, whether you prefer a guided tour of the Nidaros Cathedral, kayaking on the river Nid & into the city’s smaller channels, or a casual walk or by bicycle through the Bakkland district. In autumn you can join the trip out to Munkholmen. Originally this was an ancient place of execution, before becoming a Benedictine monastery around the year 1000. In 1658 it was made into a fortress & prison, & later a customs station. In the afternoon the ship sets a northwest course, passing the beautiful Kjeungskjær lighthouse & numerous charming islets & rocky outcrops. In autumn you can learn more about navigation & lighthouses along the Norwegian coast during the Captain’s talk. After passing through the narrow Stoksund, the ship arrives at charming Rørvik.
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Brønnøysund - Svolvær
The Arctic Circle marks the border to the Arctic region. In summer this means 24-hour daylight - often referred to as the ‘Midnight Sun’. During autumn & winter, being above this degree of latitude provides the best chances of experiencing the Northern Lights. We continue sailing along the beautiful coast of Helgeland up to Bodø. In spring there will be a presentation on-board where your can learn more about the millions of migrating birds returning to the Arctic Coast during the nesting period. Later this afternoon the sight of the 1,000m high Lofoten Wall will appear on the horizon. The charms of the Lofoten Islands are revealed in all the small, picturesque fishing villages with their bohemian atmosphere. In winter, crossing the Arctic Circle is when the hunt for the Arctic light begins. We celebrate this with a presentation of ‘The Magic Light, Aurora Borealis’, where you can experience this phenomenon via pictures, words and music. After sailing through the narrow Raftsund, we stop at the entrance to the enthralling Trollfjord. Here we serve freshly made fish cakes out on deck. You will also hear the story of ‘The battle of Trollfjord’, which took place here in the winter of 1890.
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Stokmarknes - Skjervøy
In summer, early birds can go ashore in Risøyhamn for our whale-watching excursion. The ship continues to Tromsø for a prolonged stay. In winter & spring you can complete your stay in Tromsø with a thrilling husky dog sledge ride. If you want to experience the peace & tranquillity of the sea in summer, why not join us on a kayaking excursion, or participate on a mountain hike on one of the mountains close to the city. The air up here is fresh & clear, and we get a beautiful view of the city & the impressive mountain chains around it. After an exhilarating day in Tromsø, we continue our northbound journey. In winter the Captain invites guests to taste stockfish on deck. The ship is now sailing into the area along the coast where you have the best chance of seeing the Northern Lights between September & March, and we gather on deck to search for this breathtaking phenomenon.
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Øksfjord - Berlevåg
Enjoy the magnificent sub-Arctic landscape as we cross the 71st parallel on our journey towards the North Cape, the northernmost point on the continent. In summer, you might see herds of grazing reindeer & small camps belonging to the indigenous Sámi people. After brief early stops in Hammerfest & Havøysund we arrive in Honningsvåg, the gateway to the spectacular North Cape. Close to the North Cape you find one of the world’s most exciting nature reserves, Gjesværstappan. Join the bird-watching safari during spring & summer to experience Finnmark’s largest flock of puffins, together with large numbers of kittiwakes. The Hurtigruten ship continues north, sailing in 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. Ever so often local fishermen visit us during winter & spring to share their catch of the day (King Crab & Cod) with us out on deck. Here you have the opportunity to learn more about the Sámi people, as well as exploring the wonderful scenery all year round on our different excursions. In winter you can join us on an unforgettable snowmobile trip to one of Europe’s most extreme & exciting natural areas.
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Båtsfjord - Kirkenes - Berlevåg
Early birds can see Vadsø & just after breakfast we arrive in Kirkenes, putting us at 30° East, further east than Istanbul & St. Petersburg. The Russian border is close by, & you may find it intriguing that the road signs are written in both Norwegian & Russian. Depending on the season, there are several ways to make a visit to the Russian border. During spring you may still be able to participate in our winter activities & excursions. You could explore the Arctic winter on a snowmobile, driving over a frozen fjord. On our dog sledge adventure the huskies eagerly transport you across the frozen landscape, taking you through the arctic wilderness. You can also visit the Snow Hotel & see the reindeer. Our Arctic bush craft excursion in autumn provides you with an insight into this season; how people have harvested, stored, hunted & fished for centuries. As the ship starts its voyage south, you can first enjoy a wonderful lunch followed by views of arctic wilderness from deck or the panorama lounge. There will be a presentation on Pomor trade history in the winter season.The ports previously visited by night on the northbound journey are now seen by day. In the afternoon the ship docks in Vardø again, Norway’s easternmost port. Weather permitting, we may invite you to experience ice bathing in the Arctic Ocean during winter season. On-board there will also be a presentation of "Life in the sea" in spring, & in winter local Arctic divers will bring displays & give a lecture out on deck about life in the ocean. We continue along the Varanger peninsula to Båtsfjord before reaching Berlevåg in the evening.
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Mehamn - Tromsø
In the middle of the night we dock at Mehamn, where it is possible to join an unforgettable snowmobile trip through one of Europe’s most extreme & exciting natural areas in winter. In Honningsvåg you can enjoy an excursion & breakfast at the North Cape while discovering hidden parts of Finnmark. Before stopping in Hammerfest, you can enjoy an ‘Energy coffee’ & a short introduction to ‘Melkøya - The northernmost natural gas terminal’ on-board. In autumn we invite you to taste dried reindeer meat on deck. In Hammerfest you can participate on a mountain hike or join a city guiding & see the UNESCO-listed Meridian Column, erected in 1854 to commemorate the first precise measurement of the globe. We continue south to Øksfjord. In winter our crew will teach you how to tie maritime knots on deck. After crossing open water, we will make a brief stop at the old trading post of Skjervøy before sailing through the beautiful Lyngenfjord in spring. Surrounded by the snowy peaks of the Lyngen Alps, we may be visited by a local fisherman & enjoy a taste of local freshly caught prawns. We dock in Tromsø known as “the gateway to the Arctic” just in time to enjoy a Midnight Concert at the Arctic Cathedral. Alternatively a walk around town will give you the chance to enjoy a local brew in one of the many friendly pubs.
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Tromsø - Stamsund
We arrive at Harstad this morning, where you have the opportunity to participate in one of the classics in Hurtigruten’s excursion programme: A taste of Vesterålen. The Risøyrenna channel is just 7m deep, & was made especially for Hurtigruten in the 1920s, providing an "inside route" between Harstad & Sortland. The sand banks are visible through the clear, green water. Risøyhamn is a small village with only 200 inhabitants, & we make a short stop here to deliver passengers, groceries & mail. From this port you can also join in on a spectacular whale watching experience during wintertime. Then we continue via Sortland to Stokmarknes, where Hurtigruten was founded more than 120 years ago. Continuing south it looks like we are sailing straight into the mountain wall, but the captain finds an opening & sails through the narrow Raftsund. As a tribute to the fishing history in this region, our chef shows how to fillet the catch of the day on deck in winter. Now we reach the spectacular Trollfjord, only 2km long & 100m wide, with majestic mountains surrounding it. If the weather & time permits it – the captain will take a detour in here. Join a sea eagle excursion to see the king of birds up close. Reaching Svolvær, you can choose from several excursion options in summer, spring & winter. From Svolvær we continue on to Stamsund, where the majestic peaks of the huge Lofoten wall can be viewed. We leave the islands during the evening & set course for the mainland.
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Bodø - Rørvik
Crossing the Arctic Circle at 66°33’N is an important ‘rite of passage’ today. We celebrate this with a taste of our Arctic traditions out on deck. Another highlight is sailing past the Seven Sisters mountain range. All seven mountains are between 900 & 1,100 m high, & it is easy to understand how these ‘ladies’ have inspired ancient myths. We take a short stop at Nesna, an idyllic old trading post before moving on to Sandnessjøen. The UNESCO World Heritage Site of the Vega Islands is close to our call in Sandnessjøen & can be visited on an optional excursion during summer. In Brønnøysund we offer an excursion to the Norwegian Aquaculture Centre.
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Trondheim - Ålesund
Today gives you another opportunity to explore the city of Trondheim. The city walk through Trondheim is a journey through its 1,000-year history. Back on-board, the ship heads out of the majestic Trondheimsfjord, which is 170km long & up to 25km wide. Like all other Norwegian fjords it is deep, 577m at most. As we sail along the coast you’ll realise the importance of fish to Norwegian coastal communities. Kristiansund’s location has provided the town with a wealth of opportunities in the fishing, shipbuilding & oil industries. This town is now regarded as Norway’s ‘cured cod capital’ because of its long time export of salted dry fish. Here you can join a trip to the Atlantic Road, one of Norway’s most visited tourist destinations. As we cross the open sea to Molde, known as the ‘city of roses’, you will notice the steep, grey, pointed peaks of the Romsdal Alps.
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Ålesund - Bergen
During the night, the ship will call at Ålesund, Torvik, Måløy as the world’s most beautiful voyage is drawing to a close. But before we dock in Bergen there are still a few nautical miles of fascinating scenery ahead of us, such as the picturesque Nordfjord below the enormous Jostedals glacier. We will make a call at Florø, a modern town which is the oldest in Sogn og Fjordane county & the westernmost in Norway. A few nautical miles south of Florø we navigate the estuary of the mighty Sognefjord. You also get the best views of the archipelago en route & finally you disembark in Bergen.
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