Arctic Norway Frontier - Svalbard, Fjords & Oslo

Enjoy your luxury airport lounge access before you depart Australia.

Upon arrival in Longyearbyen, you will be met and transferred to your hotel for check in.  In the evening join the group and your tour escort for a delicious ´Full Experience´ dinner at Funken Lodge. The restaurant here provides a fine dining experience that is unmatched in Longyearbyen, with the kitchen presenting intriguing flavour combinations inspired by international cuisine. You’ll enjoy an unforgettable culinary experience while admiring the amazing views over Longyearbyen.

Today you’ll go on an unforgettable Wildlife and Glacier tour. After breakfast, board the MS Bard, a hybrid electric catamaran. For the next few hours, you’ll experience Svalbard's beautiful scenery up close.  Glide silently along the ice edge of Billefjorden, taking in the breathtaking Nordenskiöldbreen glacier and the ghost town of Pyramiden.

After this special cruise, there’s time to relax and perhaps explore the town on your own.

In the early evening, we head to Camp Barentz – a cluster of cabins, including a replica of the one where Willem Barentz, Svalbard’s discoverer, overwintered in 1596. You’ll be greeted by your knowledgeable host, who’ll be armed with polar bear protection, and welcomed into the warmth of the firelit cabin. Over drinks, homemade reindeer bidos, coffee, and dessert you’ll learn fascinating facts and stories about the ‘King of the Arctic.’ Afterwards, step outside to photograph the wild landscape, perhaps spotting reindeer, grouse or foxes before returning to your hotel in Longyearbyen.

Spend this morning at leisure before you are transferred in the afternoon to the ship.  Take a moment to just be here, now, in Svalbard. You’re at a latitude more than 78°N and under 1,500 kilometres from the North Pole itself. In the evening, your ship will cast off from Longyearbyen and your sea voyage begins.

Get settled into your cabin, and with the sun still high in the sky, watch Longyearbyen retreat into the horizon as you sail away into the spectacular Isfjord and head even further north.

Explore one of the world’s northernmost settlements—visit the local museum and souvenir shop or send a postcard from the tiny post office. Note this is a radio-silence zone, so mobile phones must be switched off—perfect for enjoying the peaceful surroundings. 

If you missed the views of Kongsfjord on arrival, head on deck as we depart.  One of the region’s largest fjords, its entrance is framed by two vast, creaking glaciers that calve ice into the water. Watch for walrus along the shore, seabirds like puffins, king eiders, pink-footed geese, and guillemots, and possibly Arctic fox, Svalbard reindeer, beluga whales—or even a polar bear.  We then leave Ny-Ålesund and set course across the Barents Sea toward mainland Norway.

Today is a day at sea – a chance to slow down and simply enjoy life on board. If the weather is kind, step out on deck to soak up the Arctic summer light and keep an eye out for whales, dolphins or other sea life breaking the surface.

Join one of the Expedition Team’s talks in the main hall for fascinating stories of Norway’s history, culture and wildlife, or unwind with a drink and good conversation in the bar.

Meals on board celebrate Norway’s Coastal Kitchen, showcasing fresh local ingredients and authentic regional flavours. Later, you might find a quiet corner in the lounge, book in hand, as the ship glides steadily south.

Today we arrive in mainland Norway.

Our first stop of the day is Tromsø, to drop off any cargo from Svalbard and pick up cargo bound for ports to the south, before we continue south to Senja. The island is one of the country’s largest, and northern Norway’s fast-rising star destination, as you’d expect for a place ranked among CNN’s top ten most beautiful islands in the world. Often proudly described by locals as a ‘mini-Norway’, Senja has a concentration of diverse landscapes that mirror different parts of the Norwegian coast, from the sandy beaches, turquoise waters and lofty mountains of its northern coast to the rocky coastline and pine forests of southern Senja and Ånderdalen National Park.

Disembark in the charming fishing village of Torsken and explore by bus, e-bike, on foot, or take to the fjords on a wildlife safari on one of the optional excursions.

Start the day with a few hours in Stokmarknes, an historic town with a special place in our hearts. It’s the birthplace of Hurtigruten Norwegian Coastal Express. It’s a fitting place for the Hurtigruten Museum, where you are immersed in the atmosphere of a different era on our retired 1956 ship, MS Finnmarken, proudly encased in glass on the waterfront.

After Stokmarknes, we’ll sail via Raftsundet and Trollfjord to Lofoten. The beating heart of the archipelago is the town of Svolvær where your ship will be based. There are shops and restaurants to enjoy, and the hours can be spent exploring and getting to know the town yourself. To experience the mountains, islands, and villages around Svolvær, choose from a variety of handpicked top Lofoten excursions. You can go fishing, kayaking, or sit back and enjoy the incredible scenery on foot or on a bus tour.

From the Lofoten Islands, we head south across the open sea and the Arctic Circle. Soak up the ocean views from the deck or simply soak in the hot tub. You’ll catch sight of the beautiful Norwegian coast again before we arrive in Bessaker, a small village in Trøndelag county. Home to just 200 residents, it’s known for its excellent fishing. 

Explore Bessaker and its impressive natural surroundings at your own pace – you can expect live music, a warm welcome in the museum and tasty coffee and cake in the local pub and café to be waiting for you – or opt to join a hike, go on a bus tour to a local organic farm, sail on a nostalgic cutter fishing boat, or enjoy a guided e-bike tour.

The ship will make a brief stop in the town of Ålesund, known for its Art Nouveau architecture and picturesque position on a peninsula below Mount Aksla.   Near to Ålesund, cutting through the peaks of the Sunnmøre Alps, is magnificent Hjørundfjord. Its picture-perfect position means it is the area’s hidden gem and a secret from most other ships. On the banks of one of Hjørundfjord’s branches is the idyllic village of Sæbø. It's a beautiful spot to enjoy at your own pace – but don’t miss the free concert in the church. We are fast approaching the last day of our sea voyage.

What better way to celebrate our Svalbard Line experience than a farewell dinner on our last night.

We arrive in Bergen early in the morning. After one last hearty breakfast, it’s time to bid farewell – to the ship, the crew who made your Svalbard Line voyage so memorable, and the fellow travellers who shared it with you. Together, you’ve journeyed along Norway’s legendary coast, through landscapes that linger as memories forever. But your adventure isn’t over.

A transfer will take you to your hotel in the heart of Bergen, where you’ll spend the night surrounded by the city’s impressive history and charm. Founded in 1070 CE, Bergen still wears its heritage proudly. Wander through the UNESCO-listed Bryggen district, where colourful wooden wharfs recall the city’s Hanseatic past. Explore cobbled alleyways, stop by a cosy café, or ride the Fløibanen funicular for sweeping views of the city and sea. Don’t miss the lively fish market – alive with the scents and sounds of Norway’s famous coastal tradition.

After breakfast you start your captivating rail journey through the breathtaking landscapes of western Norway. Sit back and enjoy panoramic views of cascading waterfalls, deep fjords, and stunning nature.

You arrive in Voss after a good hour's drive and change from Bergen train to a bus. This bus trip is through the heart of Norway's fjord country. Along the route you will see stunning vistas of lush valleys, cascading waterfalls, and towering cliffs.

On arrival in Gudvangen, a tiny village nestled in the Nærøyfjord, embark on your fjord cruise. In the narrow and stunning fjord, you will be treated to breathtaking views of towering cliffs, pristine waters, and charming villages. After this unforgettable journey, end in Flåm, a small fjord village in the Aurlandsfjord.  After checking in at your hotel you will have the rest of the day at leisure.

Today, another highlight awaits you. The famous Flåm Railway is one of the most incredible railway journeys in the world. The scenic railway takes you on a captivating journey with unrivalled views of cascading waterfalls, deep ravines and lush landscapes along the way. The journey takes around an hour and ends in Myrdal, where you change again to the Bergen train - with Oslo as your final destination.

Your journey comes to an end today. Please make your way to the airport for your onward flight.