Kirkenes - Bergen

White sandy beaches and turquoise water. Beneath the wild Lofoten mountains lie idyllic bays and coves between islets and skerries and the sea eagle patrols the entire area. The RIB tour from Svolvær takes you into such a sheltered lagoon with a stop to capture the colourful splendour in a photo.

Direction: Southbound

Disembarkation port: Svolvær

Embarkation port: Svolvær

Time: 18:30-20:00  (one hour at the rib)

Meal: None

Season: Spring, Summer (1 Apr - 8 Sep)

Min/max persons: 4/24

Short walk to the base. Wear comfortable shoes, and warm, windproof clothing. Survival suits and gloves are provided. The excursion is not suitable for guests with back problems. The minimum age limit is eight years/140 centimeters, and there should be one adult per child. 

Nature tours differ from day to day. The light and weather change, and the birds come and go, but there are lots of sea eagles in the area, so you have a good chance of seeing these majestic birds at close quarters.

After this stop, the RIB travel across the fjord to Skrova. Abundant fishing and whaling meant that several thousand people lived on the island. Now there are only around 200 inhabitants in the small island community, but there is still an active industry.

On the way back to the Havila Voyages ship by RIB, you also get a closer look at the "Fiskerkona" statue at the entrance to Svolvær.

A Walk in the Tracks of the Medieval Town of Vagar

Discover the Arctic winter night while learning about the medeval town of Vagar,  the people of Lofoten who lived off the sea, and the history of the codfish, "skrei". The guide will meet you at the quay and accompany you on a short bus ride to Kabelvåg. There, you will be handed a headlight and a couple of staves before setting out on a relatively easy going tour, partly through the terrain. Wear good shoes, and windproof trousers and jacket. In the winter season, snowshoes are used depending on the snow conditions.

Direction: Southbound

Disembarkation port: Svolvær

Embarkation port: Svolvær

Time: 18:30 - 20:30

Season: Autumn, Winter, Spring (10 Sep - 15 Apr)

Min/max persons: 8 - 50

The town of Vagar is often mentioned in written materials from medieval ages, such as sagas and other documents. It is most likely because the  king and archbishop of the time needed to be in control of the important fishery. If it weren't for the presence of the authorities, little would have been written about the daily life among the people of Vagar.

The people of Lofoten have been fishing skrei (a codfish) since medieval times, and even back then, people from far and wide came to participate in the lucrative, but dangerous work in the hope of bringing dried fish (salt cod) home. Vágar was the town in which the fishermen sold some of their catch to merchants traveling from the cities of the south.

During your walk in the cultural landscape in Storvågan – which once held the biggest medieval settlement north of Trondheim – you will learn the history of the skrei, about the medieval town of Vágar, and about the people who lived off the sea.

Step into an authentic rorbu (seasonal house used by fishermen) from 1910 to get a deeper understanding of what was required from the fishermen of Lofoten back in the days.

The tour bus waits at the quay and takes you through Harstad to Trondenes Church for a guided tour and tourist devotions. Visit to Trondenes Historical Centre and the medieval farm with actors and live animals. Onwards by bus with photo stops and a stop for waffles, local "lefse" (traditional soft Norwegian flatbread) and tea/coffee. Then you board the Havila Voyages ship in Sortland.

Direction: Southbound

Disembarkation port: Harstad

Embarkation port: Sortland

Time: 08:15-12:30

Meal: Local pastry, coffe/tea

Season: All year round

Min/max persons: 16-252

We start with city sightseeing in Harstad before visiting Trondenes* Church, Trondenes Historical Centre and the Medieval Farm. Trondenes was an important political centre at the end of the Viking Age. The church you are going to visit dates from the 13th century and is the world's northernmost medieval stone church.

The Medieval Farm is a living museum where actors and animals show what life was like on this farm 800 years ago. You get to meet the housewife and the land owner, the farmhand and the maid, and watch them at work, the nature of which changes according to the seasons.

The road continues along Vesterålen's mountains and fjords with several photo stops along the way before you reach Sortland where you will see the Havila Voyages ship pass under the almost one kilometre long Sortlandbrua (the Sortland Bridge) before reboarding the ship in Sortland Harbour.

We take a boat trip on the M/S Orca, which brings us close to nature and wildlife in the magical Trollfjord. On a bright summer evening, we travel in the hope of encountering the majestic sea eagle. The excursion is suitable for most people, but disembarkation from the Havila Voyages ship to the tour boat takes place in the open sea.

Direction: Southbound

Disembarkation port: Disembarkation from the ship in open sea

Embarkation port: Embarkation to the ship in open sea

Time:16:30-18:30

Meal: Hot drinks

Level: 1-2 , suitable for most, but disembarkation from the ship in the open sea

Season: Spring, summer (23 Mar - 30 Sep)

Min/max persons: 20 - 48

The white-tailed sea eagle has a wingspan of almost 2.5 metres and is Northern Europe's largest bird of prey. When this giant with the characteristic "fingers" on the outer wings and the bright yellow, sharp claws sweeps over you, it will remind you of the story of the northern Norwegian three-year-old girl who was taken by sea eagles and carried up to the eagle's nest.

The mighty eagle really suits these surroundings. The Trollfjord itself is both majestic and mighty with pointed peaks and steep mountain sides that are worn smooth by regular winter landslides. You can only get here by boat.

The violence of nature also gives rise to dramatic stories from vibrant communities and displaced clusters of houses. One of them is the story of when smaller, traditional fishing boats fought against the new, steam-driven fishing boats in a battle for cod in what has been named the Trollfjord Battle. Now you make a peaceful mission to the fjord on a boat with a large outdoor area that enables you to get close to eagles and nature.

Visit the Caves of the Bergtatt Marble Mine! This can be the tour where you are on a bus that drives over the sea and a boat that goes into the mountains.

Direction: Southbound

Disembarkation port: Kristiansund

Embarkation port: Molde

Time:16:30 - 21:20

Meal: Enjoy a soup made with local ingredients, accompanied by the mine's own spring water to drink.

Season: Autumn - winter (15 Sep - 30 Apr, not  19-31 Dec and 1 - 3 Jan)

Min/max persons: 20 - 150

Wear warm clothing and comfortable shoes. The temperature in the mine stays at 6–8 degrees throughout the year. The main hall, however, is heated. Helmets and life jackets are provided for your safety. The boat ride through the mine shafts lasts about 15 minutes.

Weather permitting, the journey begins with a drive along what has been named one of the world's most beautiful roads—the Atlantic Ocean Road. This route traverses islets stretching out to the sea. Naturally, there will be a photo stop. *

The bus then takes you into the mountain and the marble mines. Golden marble has been extracted here since the 1930s, creating over 40 kilometres of mining shafts across eleven levels. A highlight of the mine is a 300-meter lake with clean, clear spring water.

You will embark on a safe, stable raft to traverse the underground lake, tasting the spring water that cascades down the mountain sides. The journey is illuminated by colorful lights in the water and chandeliers in the tunnels, creating a magical atmosphere. This trip is also accessible to wheelchair users.

The tour concludes in the main hall, a large mining hall that can accommodate up to 300 people. Here, you can watch a film to learn more about the mining operations. A meal of meat stew will be served, accompanied by the mine's own spring water. Before reboarding the Havila Voyages' ship, there will be time for a short stroll in the town of Molde.

* Please note that it will be dark upon our arrival at the Atlantic Road from approximately mid-November to mid-February.

Come along to one of the most distinctive mountains that we sail past on the Havila Voyages ship: Torghatten, the mountain with a big hole right through it. Bus to the foot of Torghatten. Guided tour up to the hole where coffee is served. Return by bus to the quay. Wear warm, windproof clothing and comfortable shoes. The tour up to Torghatten is short, but very steep.

Direction: Southbound

Disembarkation port: Brønnøysund

Embarkation port: Brønnøysund

Time: 15:00 - 17:30

Season: Spring, summer, autumn (1 Apr - 31 Oct)

Min/max persons: 13 - 45

Torghatten has a naturally formed tunnel in the middle of the mountain, 12–15 metres wide, twice as high and 160 metres long.  The hole was formed when the North American and European continental plates collided 600 million years ago, but while science tells us one thing, legends tell us something else.

According to one story, a brute of a troll fired an arrow at a girl who was running away from him. The king in one of the other mountains saw this and threw his hat in between so that the arrow went through the hat. Then the sun rose and as happens in legends, the sunlight turned the trolls to stone, just as it did with the seven sisters who lie like a mountain range close to Sandnessjøen.

On the walk up to Torghatten, you will learn more about this special mountain and the myths that have sprung up around the mountain with the hole.

Have you ever wondered what made people establish a town this far north, in the vast wilderness of the Arctic? Join us for a city sightseeing by bus, and learn all about the unique history of the town on the rocks. The bus picks you up on the quay. We will have a few stops along the way, so bring clothes according to season.

Direction: Southbound

Disembarkation port: Hammerfest

Embarkation port: Hammerfest

Time: 11:15–12:15

Meal: None

Season: All year round

Min/max persons: 15 – 45

The old town Hammerfest  has an ice-free harbor that has been inviting to great trading activities for centuries.  This northernmost  town was the very first in Norway to install electric street lights – in 1891. Even today, Hammerfest has taken a lead at energy production as a lot of the business activity in this town is connected to the large landing facility for natural gas from the seabed under the Barents Sea.

On this excursion, where you can enjoy a bus tour through the city center, past the city hall and Ishavportalen (Ice see Portal), you'll get a good insight into Hammerfest's rich history. For instance, you'll see the modernist concrete church with a construction inspired by the old tradition of drying fish on racks.

Throughout the bus tour, you'll be accompanied by a local storyteller who gives you a taste of  the varied history of Hammerfest.

During the Second World War, Hammerfest was burned and left in ruins. On our your from the quay, you'll catch a glimpse of the typical reconstruction architecture that came during the post-war period, and you'll also see the old chapel – the only building left from before the war.

We'll make a few stops along the way, so you'll get a chance to snap some photos.

The first people who came to Lofoten settled on Gimsøy, and most activity that occurred during the Viking Age took place here. Now you get to ride over the same fields and white sandy beaches as the Vikings did.  The bus driver will pick you up from the quay and take you to the farm. Wear comfortable shoes and warm clothes, and our guides will provide all necessary equipment. Participants must be at least eight years old and weigh less than 90 kilos.

Direction: Southbound

Disembarkation port: Svolvær

Embarkation port: Stamsund

Time: 18:40-22:20

Meal:  None

Season: 01 February-31 October

Min/max persons: 8-16

Take a scenic bus ride from Svolvær to meet the Icelandic horses, who will take riders of all levels for an enjoyable ride into the evening. In summer there are sunlight and dazzling green fields. In winter it is completely dark and you hear the sea wave towards the beach while the northern lights wave across the sky.

Experience the beauty of Lofoten in summer with its bright sunlight and lush green fields, or in winter where the dark skies provide the perfect backdrop for the mesmerizing northern lights and the sound of the sea.

Snowmobiling through the polar night and into the northernmost mainland of Europe.  An arctic experience under the dancing Northen Lights and between our to northernmost harbours. The guide meets us on the quay, where the ship docks, and we drive to the snowmobile garage where we put on a snowmobile suit, shoes, gloves and a helmet and are also briefed on driving and safety instructions by our experienced drivers. The snowmobile ride finishes up on the mountain, and we are taken by bus back down the steep slopes to Kjøllefjord. Each participant drives their own scooter. In Kjøllefjord, we change back into our own clothes in the changing room. Warm layers are recommended. Snowmobile suits, shoes, gloves and helmets will be ready for you. You must have a driving licence that allows you to drive in Norway. This excursion goes through an open mountain landscape, and it may be cancelled if the weather is bad.

Direction: Southbound

Disembarkation port: Mehamn

Embarkation port: Kjøllefjord

Time: 00:45-03:00

Meal: Hot drinks

Season: Winter, spring (15 Dec - 30 Apr)

Min/max persons: 4-32

You disembark in Mehamn. The Havila Voyages ship continues along the coast, while you ride through wide valleys and over white, flat expanses. The destination is Kjøllefjord, where you will reboard the ship after the night's adventure.

The distance between the two fishing villages is about 30 kilometres by road. The snowmobile provides quick access to the vast wilderness and is important for transport in the winter among til locals.

The night light from the Northern Lights and the moon and stars create a magical atmosphere over the stark, barren landscape. Towards the end of the journey, the lights from the Havila Voyages ship shine in the distance welcoming you back to the ship and your nice, warm bed.

Explore Brønnøysund on a bike ride that takes you to highlights like the Centrepoint of Norway sign, the dry-fish quay, and Brønnøy Church.

Booking reference: BNNS5

Direction: Southbound

Disembarkation: Brønnøysund

Embarkation: Brønnøysund

Time: 15:05 - 17:15

Meal: Soft Ice and hot or cold beverage

Level: 3

Accessible: No

Season: 1 April - 30 September

Min / max persons: 6-12

Discover Brønnøysund’s highlights on an easy and extraordinary bike ride through this charming coastal town.

Highlights of the Ride

The tour includes visits to many famous landmarks in Brønnøysund, offering a comprehensive look at the town’s most significant and picturesque sites.

Explore highlights such as the Centrepoint of Norway sign, the historical dry-fish quay, and a private visit to Brønnøy Church. These stops provide a unique insight into the town’s rich history and culture.

Visit to Hildurlåven

We will bike south of the town centre to visit local artist Inger Hilde at her farm-turned-workshop, "Hildurlåven." Inger Hilde will present her work, after which you can explore the workshop and the beautiful outdoor area. This location also offers a great photo opportunity with a stunning view of Torghatten.

After the tour, you will leave with a sense of calmness from the serene coastal scenery, a collection of beautiful photos capturing the town's highlights, and a lasting impression of Brønnøysund's rich history and charming atmosphere.

Sample what happens when fresh mountain water from Lofoten combines with malt, hops and yeast to create the taste of Lofoten. We take a short walk from the ship to the brewery where we get a 45-minute guided tour. Afterwards, you can take a walk on your own in the centre of Svolvær for about half an hour before you need to be back on the ship.  

Disembarkation port: Svolvær

Embarkation port: Svolvær

Time: 18:40-19:40

Meal: Beer tasting

Season: All year round

Min/max persons: 8 - 40

In the centre of Svolvær, there is an old fish landing centre from 1937. This is where the Icelander and beer enthusiast Thorvaldur started Lofoten's first brewery.

The local beer supplier will meet you at the Havila Voyages ship and take you to the brewery located on the same quay. The guide will take you on a tour of the brewery. You will learn how the special Lofoten water made it possible to start the brewery, how the beer is brewed and about the history of Lofotpils. The tour ends with a beer tasting, as fresh and refreshing as can be.

After the visit to the brewery, you also have time for a little stroll in the centre of Svolvær on your own before you board the ship again.

Here you will wind your way along the steep Lofoten mountains with views of a myriad of small islands and islets. The guides meet you at the quay in Svolvær where you board the buses. The journey continues on a trip to Henningsvær. By bus onwards to Stamsund, where you reboard the ship.

Direction: Southbound

Disembarkation port: Svolvær

Embarkation port: Stamsund

Time: 18:40-22:15

Season: Spring, Summer (9 Apr - 31 Aug)

Min/max persons: 14/252

On the way we pass Lofoten Cathedral, the largest wooden building and the largest church in northern Norway. With its distinctive appearance and the church's unusual yellow colour.

After that we go to Henningsvær, which is located beyond some small islands. The houses are close together, and there was just enough space for them to fit in a football pitch.

Henningsvær is one of the oldest fishing villages in Norway and is now a port for fishermen and adventure-seekers in Lofoten. You can visit Galleri Lofoten and see Norway's largest art collection of northern Norwegian paintings from the turn of the last century. If you are interested in contemporary art, you can also pay a visit to the art gallery, Kaviar Factory ( available from 01.06.23 )

Then we drive on through the bright summer evening and the green agricultural lands to Stamsund where you reboard the Havila Voyages ship.

Listen to the musical essence of the Arctic in one of Northern Norway's most beautiful churches. As you arrive at Tromsø harbor, the cathedral is easily noticeable, just a short walk across the street. Upon reaching the church, you'll receive the evening's program. The concert features hymns, folk tunes, traditional Norwegian music, ballads, and Sami cultural tunes.

Direction: Southbound

Disembarkation port: Tromsø

Embarkation port: Tromsø

Time: 23:45-01:30

Meal:  None

Season: All year round

Min/max persons: 10-400

For over two decades, Tromsø's midnight concerts have been a sought-after attraction for tourists travelling the coastal route. Attendees are treated to a captivating concert in a candlelit church, introducing them to the cultural tapestry of Norwegian coastal communities. Built with timber from Måselv in Inner Troms in 1861, Tromsø Cathedral is a neo-Gothic, cross-shaped long church. Notably, it's Norway's sole wooden Protestant cathedral. This timber construction provides the church with pleasant acoustics, enhancing the midnight ambiance.

The musical repertoire provides a comprehensive journey through the annals of Norwegian and North Norwegian music, guided by skilled musicians. It features hymns, folk tunes, traditional Norwegian melodies, ballads, and Sami cultural pieces. Although the program may change seasonally, the depth and diversity of the musical experience remain consistent.

Relax, listen closely, and you might just feel the Arctic's pulse.

Hike by the best beach in Europe

Chalky white sand, iridescent green fields and turquoise seas beneath the wild mountains of the Lofoten Islands.  Come on a hike, and enjoy the spectacular views. The route is mostly along an old forest path and good gravel paths, although there are a few short sections on the way down that are slightly more challenging.  Wear comfortable shoes and warm clothes, and bring something to drink.

Direction: Southbound

Disembarkation port: Svolvær

Embarkation port: Stamsund

Time: 18:40 – 22:20

Meal: None

Season: Summer (1 May - 31 August)

Min/max persons: 14 – 45

This trip takes you to two of the best beaches in the Lofoten Islands: Hauklandstranda, which has been named Europe's best beach by Lonely Planet, and Uttakleiva, which many people think is the most romantic beach i Norway because of its combination of fine sand and large rocks.

The beaches are at the far edge of the sea in tiny villages with just a handful of inhabitants. The bus trip goes through the beautiful Lofoten countryside, and you can get out and walk across a low mountain pass between the two beaches.  There are spectacular views in all directions, with plenty of opportunity to take snaps of some of Norway’s most photographed beaches.

The white chalky sands and tempting turquoise sea might make you think you were in the Caribbean, but the proximity of the Arctic Ocean means that only really hardy souls can endure the water temperature.

Explore the natural salmon habitat, gain insights into the fish farming industry, and join an informative guided tour from the fish pens to the processing area with experienced guides. Bus to the facility. Visit the control rooms, gutting rooms, and the outdoor facility before entering the indoor exhibition. Return by bus to your Havila Voyages ship. Please wear comfortable shoes and warm, windproof clothing.

Direction: Southbound

Disembarkation port: Brønnøysund

Embarkation port: Brønnøysund

Time:15:00- 17:15

Meal: Salmon tasting

Season: All year round

Min/max persons: 15/45

The Norwegian coastline, offering plenty of space and clean water, creates perfect conditions for salmon growth. Inside the fjords and along the coast, you'll discover large, circular pens where salmon of all sizes swim freely.

Norwegian salmon is exported to over a hundred countries, and globally, nearly 30 million dinner plates feature salmon each year. Now, you have the chance to explore the salmon's natural surroundings, discover its diet, and learn about its life. Knowledgeable guides will accompany you on a tour where you can observe the facility from the fish pens* to the processing area. They will showcase how underwater cameras and a control room with multiple screens contribute to ensuring the well-being of the salmon.

You are also invited to visit the restaurant and exhibition, and, of course, savor this Norwegian delicacy. This experience offers you a thorough understanding of the entire process from beginning to end.

* All salmon farms are mandated by law to rest their facilities for at least two months between each generation of salmon. This period allows for maintenance, cleaning, disease prevention, or the restoration of environmental conditions in the facility. During these periods, there will be no salmon in the pens.

This will be the northernmost breakfast of your life right on the edge of the European Continent and at the ends of the Earth. Wear comfortable shoes, and warm, windproof clothing. The bus takes you from Honningsvåg via North Cape to Hammerfest where you board the Havila Voyages ship once again. 

Direction: Southbound

Disembarkation port: Honningsvåg

Embarkation port: Hammerfest

Time: 05:45-12:30

Meal: Continental breakfast with a large and varied menu.

Season: Spring, summer, autumn (8 May - 7 Oct)

Min/max persons: 21 - 252

The bus takes you to the flat and barren North Cape Plateau which extends out into the sea before plunging steeply into the sea. You will be served a good breakfast inside the North Cape Hall, and a 180-degree panoramic film about the North Cape and the surrounding area throughout the four seasons will be shown.  Inside you can also visit a chapel, a Thai museum and the souvenir shop that is built into the mountain wall.

Outside, make secure to get a picture with the iconic globe. It stands as a symbol that the North Cape is a place where people from all over the world meet and share their experience of being at the ends of the Earth.

The bus takes you further a 212 metres under the sea via an underwater tunnel, further along the fjord and through a vast mountain landscape to the world's northernmost city, Hammerfest, where the Havila Voyages ship will be waiting to take you further south along the Norwegian coast.

Trondheim with its small town charm and colourful, old wooden houses from the 17th century, is also home to modern sports facilities, educational and research institutions and a lively nightlife. The guides will meet you at the quay. Bus through the city centre into Nidaros Cathedral and then bus back to the quay. The visit in the church lasts for about 40 minutes, included a 20 minute long guided tour.

Direction: Southbound

Disembarkation port: Trondheim

Embarkation port: Trondheim

Time: 07:00 - 09:20

Meal: None

Season: All year round

Min/max persons: 12 -294

On the bus through the city's streets and districts, the guide will tell you more about the history and point out the highlights. You get a great overview with a view across the fjord and the city from the photo stop at "Utsikten".   Here you also see the majestic Nidaros Cathedral, which is a landmark in the city with its towers and 91-metre spire.

Nidaros Cathedral is Norway's national shrine and has been a pilgrimage destination for almost a thousand years. The cathedral was built over the grave of St Olav, the Viking king who brought Christianity to Norway. The church has also been used for the coronation of Norwegian kings and queens right up to the present time.

The last stop on the Trondheim excursion is a visit to Nidaros Cathedral, which is one of the largest cathedrals in Northern Europe. You will have time to discover the church on your own and also to take part in a tour that tells you about the building itself and the church's history. You will receive a beautiful book about the cathedral as a reminder of your visit.

The hiking destination will be customized to align with the guests' preferences and capabilities, while considering the current weather and terrain conditions. The experienced guide will provide valuable insights into the surrounding region of Finnmark, as well as the intricacies of raising and training a pack of Siberian Huskies.  

Direction: Southbound

Disembarkation port: Hammerfest

Embarkation port: Hammerfest

Time: 11:00 - 12:45

Meal: None

Season: Spring, summer, Autumn  (1 May - 31 Oct)

Min/max persons: 2 - 14

 We kick off our adventure with an introduction to the magnificent Siberian Husky breed and the ins and outs of living with these polar dogs. Once we have picked our canine companions for the hike, we will get them harnessed up and ready to go. Our guide will expertly match each guest with the ideal dog, and typically, one dog will be shared between two guests, allowing for seamless rotations during the hike. These well-trained sled dogs make fantastic trail partners, providing endless energy and enthusiasm. We recommend bringing sturdy hiking shoes, a waterproof and windproof jacket, and a refillable water bottle.  The package includes expert guiding, complimentary equipment rental, and delicious dog treats for our furry friends.