The Hurtigruten 6 Day Classic Voyage South 2024/25

You begin your Hurtigruten voyage in Kirkenes and embark on a five night southbound coastal voyage that calls at a total of 33 ports along the way. A unique feature of this voyage is a daytime sailing through the magnificently beautiful Lofoten Islands - for many the highlight of the region. Other highlights include crossing the Arctic Circle, visiting Hammerfest and exploring the Viking capital of Trondheim.

Day 1 - Kirkenes, The Voyage South Begins:

Ports visited today : Kirkenes, Vardø, Båtsfjord, Berlevåg.

On 1 October 1908 the Hurtigruten route was extended from Vadsø to a small settlement with a church (Norw. kirke) on a promontory(nes), or Kirkenes. For the 3,500 inhabitants, the main sources of income are fishing and tourism. More recently, jobs have been made available at the re-commissioned iron-ore mine. As you turn south, the northbound ports previously visited by night are now seen by day. In the afternoon the ship docks in Vardø, Norway's easternmost port. You continue along the Varanger peninsula to Båtsfjord before reaching Berlevåg in the evening.

Available Extensions :

Kirkenes Hotels and Extensions

Day 2 - Hammerfest and Tromsø :

Ports visited today : Mehamn, Kjøllefjord, Honningsvåg, Havøysund, Hammerfest, Øksfjord, Skjervøy, Tromsø.

Breakfast at the North Cape including a visit to a Sámi family form part of an early morning excursion (at extra cost). Your next stop, Hammerfest, was a settlement back to the Stone Age and is still playing an important role as a fishing port. Founded in 1789 to develop trade with Russia, Hammerfest reconfirmed its position as Norway's Polar capital of its time, acting as a base for hunting expeditions to the High Arctic. In Hammerfest the Meridian Column, erected in 1854, commemorates the first precise measurement of the globe, an achievement so important that it's become a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

As early as 1891, wave energy provided power to the first electric street lighting in Northern Europe, and energy innovation is still a signature for Hammerfest with its large Liquid Gas Plant just outside town. From here, your next major stop will be Tromsø where you are invited to take part in a very special musical experience, The Arctic Cathedral Midnight Concert. Or why not head to one of the town's many friendly pubs and sample the local brew, Mack's Arctic Beer.

Available excursions :

8A Breakfast at the North Cape

8B The Northernmost Town in the World, Hammerfest

8C Midnight Concert in the Arctic Cathedral

8F Snowmobile Trip in the Polar Night

8G Mountain Hike in Hammerfest

8H Into the Ice

Day 3 - Vesterålen and Lofoten Islands :

Ports visited today : Tromsø, Finnsnes, Harstad, Risøyhamn, Sortland, Stokmarknes, Svolvær, Stamsund.

The Vesterålen and Lofoten Island are amongst today's highlights. Before you reach them, you pass through Risøyrenna, a channel that was specially constructed for Hurtigruten, providing the vessels an 'inside route' between Harstad and Sortland. Stokmarknes, where Hurtigruten was founded, is the location of the Hurtigruten Museum. Entry is free for all Hurtigruten passengers.

You continue through the narrow Raftsund, the picturesque narrow channel between the Vesterålen and Lofoten Islands, where, time and weather permitting, you'll take a detour into the spectacular Trollfjord where steep cliffs hug the ship's sides. Then it's on to Svolvær, the main settlement on the Lofoten Islands followed by Stamsund where the majestic peaks of the huge Lofoten Wall can be viewed. You leave the islands during the evening and set course for the mainland.

Available excursions :

9A A Taste of Vesterålen

9B Lofoten Islands

9C Sea Eagle Safari

9D Lofoten by Horse

9E RIB-Adventure in Lofoten

9F Discover a Fishing Village

9G Fishing in Lofoten

9I Vesterålen and Lofoten by RIB

Day 4 - Arctic Circle, Seven Sisters :

Ports visited today : Bodø, Ørnes, Nesna, Sandnessjøen, Brønnøysund, Rørvik.

The Helgeland coast with hundreds of islets, fertile farmland and steep granite walls is worth getting up early to experience. Today will also be your last one north of the Arctic Circle as you cross it between Ørnes and Nesna. This part of the coast is rich in local lore with stories including the legend of the Seven Sisters, a picturesque row of peaks, and the myth about how the arrow from Hestmannen's bow formed the hole in Torghatten Mountain. The Vega Archipelago, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is close to your call in Sandnessjøen.

The islands were inscribed on this prestigious list due to the unique interaction between man and nature - over centuries the local population have protected the eider duck nests in return for the highly valuable down from the birds.

Available excursion :

10B UNESCO Islands Vega

10C Visit the Salmon

Day 5 - Trondheim and Kristiansund :

Ports visited today : Trondheim, Kristiansund, Molde, Ålesund.

Today gives you another opportunity to explore the city of Trondheim. Nidaros Cathedral, in which three Queens and seven Kings have been crowned, is Scandinavia's largest medieval building, and Norway's crown jewels are kept in the adjacent Archbishop's Residence. Passing the islands of Munkholmen and Hitra you then cross the open sea to Molde, known as the 'city of roses' due to its lush Gulf Stream location.

You will notice the steep, grey, pointed peaks of the Romsdal Alps glinting in the sun. The town of Kristiansund, located on the scenic Atlantic Road, holds the rather obscure title of Norway's 'cured cod capital' because of the nature of its main export.

Available excursions :

11A Trondheim with Nidaros Cathedral

11B The Hidden Rooms of Nidaros Cathedral

11C The Atlantic Road

11E Bergtatt - A Magnificent Marble Mine

Day 6 - Rocky Islands, Disembarkation :

Ports visited today : Ålesund, Torvik, Måløy, Florø, Bergen.

Today, your Hurtigruten voyage will come to an end when you arrive in the City of Seven Mountains, Bergen. But before that, you still have a few nautical miles of fascinating scenery ahead of you such as the picturesque Nordfjord below the enormous Jostedalsbreen glacier, Norway's longest fjord - the mighty Sognefjord and the picturesque Bergen Archipelago. Take home your memories of the world's most beautiful voyage and the many seafaring companions and friends you've made along the way.

One of the unique features of the Hurtigruten voyage is that with daily departures throughout the year you can choose the date and ship that suits your taste. With several UK airports to choose from this gives you great flexibility to decide your own schedule. See FLIGHT PACKAGES below.

Available Extensions :

Bergen Hotels and Extensions

DEPARTURES 2024/25 :

Coastal EXpress South Fares 2024/25

PLEASE NOTE:

• *Limited View
• All prices are shown in £s per person, based on two people travelling together and sharing a twin cabin, voyage only.
• The ship departure date determines the price of your voyage.
• Not all cabin grades are available on all ships.

Please also see FARE OPTIONS to see what is included in the different fares.

Cabin Single Supplements available on request.

The price you pay for your cabin will depend on when you book. Early bookers will get the 'from' price. As the cabins get booked up, the price will rise. It is strongly advised to book early to get the best fare.

Arrival, Departure & Flight Options

Hurtigruten can offer flights with several scheduled airlines, including Scandinavian Airlines, Norwegian, BMI and KLM depending on your preferred departure airport.

Booking a complete package with Hurtigruten gives you the advantage of having everything smoothly organised for you from start to finish at the same time as your voyage. You will also benefit from protection under Hurtigruten's ATOL licence.

Flights can be arranged from the following airports :-

Aberdeen, Birmingham, Bristol, Cardiff, Durham Tees Valley, Edinburgh, Gatwick, Glasgow, Heathrow, Humberside, Leeds/Bradford, Liverpool, Manchester, Newcastle and Norwich.

Connections and airlines will vary depending on the departure and arrival airports.

If you choose not to book flights with us, you can still book transfers for certain routes, as well as pre and post tours, excursions and hotels.

All above prices are in £s per person based on two people travelling together and sharing a twin room.

Extra nights in Bergen can be booked. Prices on request.