NORWAY - 7 DAY Bergen To Kirkenes

HIGHLIGHTS

• The half coastal cruise from Bergen to Kirkenes.
• 34 ports of call.
• Cross the Arctic Circle.
• Sail north of the most northerly point of the European continent.
• Sail through the Lofoten archipelago.
• Opportunity to visit four UNESCO World Heritage sites.
• Opportunity to experience the Northern Lights in winter or
  the midnight sun in summer.

ITINERARY

DAY 1   Bergen

Day 2   Florø-Måløy-Torvik-Ålesund-Geiranger*/Hjørundfjorden*-Ålesund-Molde

Day 3   Kristiansund - Trondheim - Rørvik

Day 4   Brønnøysund - Sandnessjøen - Nesna - Ørnes - Bodø - Stamsund - Svolvær

Day 5   Stokmarknes - Sortland - Risøyhamn - Harstad - Finnsnes - Tromsø - Skjervøy

Day 6   Hammerfest - Havøysund - Honningsvåg - Kjøllefjord - Mehamn - Berlevåg

Dag 7   Båtsfjord - Vardø - Vadsø - Kirkenes

DAY 1
Port: Bergen

The journey starts in Bergen, the capital of western Norway, with the colourful and UNESCO-listed warehouses in Bryggen. Take the funicular railway, Fløibanen, up to one of the lookout points, sample the seafood at the fish market or take a stroll through the narrow streets and along the quays of the lively harbour. Bergen is the gateway to the Norwegian fjords and the start of your coastal adventure.

Excursions

• Norway in a nutshell, Bergen
• Experience Bergen by sailboat, Bergen
• Sea kayaking in Bergen, Bergen

Day 2
Ports: Florø-Måløy-Torvik-Ålesund-Geiranger*/Hjørundfjorden*-Ålesund-Molde

After the first night on board, you can start your day by waving to the Havila Voyages headquarters just off Torvik. Ålesund, is renowned for its art nouveau architecture with beautiful brick houses and warehouses. In the summer, you can continue to the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Geiranger Fjord, which has steep mountainsides and dramatic waterfalls.

*Geiranger visited 01.06–31.08
*Hjørundfjorden visited 01.09-31.10

Excursions

• Art nouveau walk, Ålesund
• Atlanterhavsparken Aquarium, Ålesund
• Kayaking in Alesund, Ålesund
• Hiking at Sukkertoppen, Ålesund
• Geiranger and Trollstigen, Geiranger*

Day 3
Ports: Kristiansund - Trondheim - Rørvik

It is morning when we dock in the historic city of Trondheim, which was founded over a thousand years ago. Nidaros Cathedral is the landmark of the city; it is Norway's national shrine and one of the largest cathedrals in Northern Europe. After our visit here, the voyage continues out into the fjord, into an abundant archipelago and heads for northern Norway.

Excursions

• Trondheim and the Nidaros Cathedral, northbound
• Trondheim and Nidaros by vintage tram
• Historical city walk in Trondheim
• City cycling in Trondheim

Day 4
Ports: Brønnøysund - Sandnessjøen - Nesna - Ørnes - Bodø - Stamsund - Svolvær

On this stretch, we mark crossing the Arctic Circle with a ceremony and continue onward into the Arctic regions. It means midnight sun in the summer, while winter days are merely a shade less dark than night-time and, possibly, Northern Lights in the evenings. Nature is powerful with northern Scandinavia's largest glacier, the world's strongest tidal current and encounters with the majestic sea eagle. In the evening, Lofoten's fishing villages, steep mountains and Vikings await.

Excursions

• Moose, Svartisen and Saltstraumen, Ørnes
• Experience Bodø and Saltstraumen,Bodø
• RIB-safari to Saltstraumen and the sea eagles, Bodø
• Feast with the Viking chieftain, Stamsund
• Meet the people of Lofoten, Stamsund
• Brewery visit and beer tasting, Svolvær

Day 5
Ports: Stokmarknes - Sortland - Risøyhamn - Harstad - Finnsnes - Tromsø - Skjervøy

The voyage continues on through narrow fjords and past wild mountains to Tromsø, a city characterised by hunting and fishing, polar expeditions and courage. Now you have also reached the land of the Sami, Norway's indigenous people. Meeting the Sami and their reindeer while hearing about the Sami culture is a unique experience you will remember.

Excursions

• Tromsø – Capital of the Arctic, Tromsø
• Dog sledding and huskies, Tromsø
• Visit 300 huskies, Tromsø
• Reindeer sledding and Sami visit
• Walking theater in Tromsø

Day 6
Ports: Hammerfest - Havøysund - Honningsvåg - Kjøllefjord - Mehamn - Berlevåg

As far north as you can get - by land and sea. For many, the visit to the North Cape is a high point and a goal for voyages along the Norwegian coast. Up here in the polar landscape, nature is at its harshest and most desolate, but between bare plains and rugged cliffs people cling on and reap nature's bounty. You can also have a taste of the catch. How about some king crab?

Excursions

• The North Cape plateau, Honningsvåg
• North Cape plateau ATV Summer Safari, Honningsvåg
• North Cape plateau ATV Winter Safari, Honningsvåg
• King crab experience, Honningsvåg
• Snowshoeing and ice fishing in the Arctic, Honningsvåg
• Visiting a Sami family, Kjøllefjord
• Autumn visit to the Sami, Kjøllefjord
• Snowmobiling in the Polar Night, Kjøllefjord

Dag 7
Ports: Båtsfjord - Vardø - Vadsø - Kirkenes

You are now as far east on your voyage as you can go. The border with Russia is only a few kilometres away, and the road signs in Kirkenes are in Norwegian and Russian. You can go as far as the border on one of our excursions, or how about a visit to the Snowhotel where everything is made of ice and snow?

Excursions

• Snowhotel Kirkenes
• King crab with a snowmobile on the frozen fjord, Kirkenes
• Dog sledding in the Arctic, Kirkenes
• Snowmobile safari in the Arctic, Kirkenes
• The Russian border, Kirkenes
• King crab fishing in a RIB, Kirkenes

Day 8
Ports: Mehamn - Kjøllefjord - Honningsvåg - Havøysund - Hammerfest - Øksfjord - Skjervøy - Tromsø

The polar landscape changes as we sail towards the west and south again. The great expanses are replaced by steep peaks, and in the evening we sail into Tromsø. You can go to a midnight concert in the Arctic Cathedral, or take a stroll in the midnight sun or under the Northern Lights and explore the nightlife of the city dubbed "The Paris of the North".

Excursions

• Snowmobile trip in the polar night, Mehamn
• Breakfast at the North Cape Plateau, Honningsvåg
• Midnight concert in the Arctic Cathedral, Tromsø

Day 9
Ports: Finnsnes - Harstad - Risøyhamn - Sortland - Stokmarknes - Svolvær - Stamsund

We return to the wild, idyllic Lofoten Islands . Beneath the jagged mountains lie chalky white sandy beaches and fishing villages with a vibrant fishing industry and locals using the coastal ships for everyday trips and transport. If the weather permits, we will enter the narrow Trollfjord. There is a strong possibility of spotting sea eagles here.

Excursions

• A taste of Lofoten, Harstad
• Experience Lofoten, Svolvær
• Golfing at Lofoten Links, Svolvær
• Horse riding in Lofoten, Svolvær
• Meet the people of Lofoten, Svolvær
• Feast with the Viking chieftain,Svolvær
• Brewery visit and beer tasting, Svolvær
• Sea eagle safari in a RIB, Svolvær
• Sea Eagle Safari in Trollfjorden, disembarkation from the ship

Day 10
Ports: Bodø - Ørnes - Sandnessjøen - Brønnøysund - Rørvik

Now we have come so far south that we're crossing the Arctic Circle and sailing away from the polar night and the sunlit nights. But you can still see the Northern Lights in the winter, and it is never completely dark during the summer nights. Here you sail past a myriad of small islands, islets and skerries and past the special mountain, Trollhatten, which has a hole in the middle. If you wish, you can also go on the trip to the mountain and enter the hole.

Excursions

• Hiking at Torghatten, Brønnøysund
• The Norwegian salmon adventure, Brønnøysund
• Experience the World Heritage listed Vega Islands, Brønnøysund

Day 11
Ports: Trondheim - Kristiansund - Molde - Ålesund

We sail through the wide Trondheim fjord that is bounded by rolling farmland on both sides and return to the coast and the open sea. You can disembark in Kristiansund and be driven along the Atlantic Ocean Road, which has been called the world's most beautiful drive. The road meanders along islets and skerries, and afterwards you can re-embark in Molde.

Excursions

• Trondheim and the Nidaros Cathedral
• Experience the Atlantic Road, Kristiansund
• Atlanterhavsveien and Bergtatt marble mine, Kristiansund
• The Atlantic Ocean Road with curvy roads and bridges.
• Ports: Trondheim - Kristiansund - Molde - Ålesund

Day 12
Ports: Torvik - Måløy - Florø - Bergen

The last day of the tour takes you through a diverse coastal landscape of bare rocky mountains and a maze of sounds and waterways between many islands. The great fjords and glaciers are situated inland. Bergen awaits at the end of the voyage. We hope you have many good memories from your journey along the Norwegian coast with Havila Voyages, and we look forward to seeing you again.

Excursions

• Norway in a nutshell, Bergen
• Experience Bergen by sailboat
• Sea kayaking in Bergen

WHAT'S INCLUDED

• Welcome package
• Access to breakfast at the Hildring Fine Dining restaurant
• Free wifi