Norwegian Coastal Voyage & Nordic Capitals

Arrive in Stockholm any time and make your own way to our centrally located hotel.

Sweden's Capital is charming, vibrant and surrounded by beauty and water - hence its nickname, Venice of the North. Stockholm offers interesting museums and castles & charming small alleyways. Be sure to make time for the new ABBA museum, opened May 2013, if you are a fan.

There are many great guided walks to do in Stockholm - ABBA walking tour, Stieg Larsson’s Millennium trilogy, ghost walks, Viking walks and even a walk that guides you to the best places to take photos.

In the morning catch a 6-hour train ride through the Swedish countryside to the Danish capital. Copenhagen has a long history, and many delightful attractions and sights - you will never run out of something to see or to do. The city is small and cosy, an ideal way to explore the city is by foot, and public transport. You will have a Copenhagen Card on hand allowing you to free travel on buses and trains within the city metropolis, as well as free entrance to over 70 museums and attractions.

The morning and early afternoon is free in Copenhagen before boarding the overnight voyage to Oslo. Accommodation in seaside cabins with shower/WC.

Arrive Oslo in the morning. The Norwegian capital has a great deal to offer the discerning traveller, and you have two full days to discover the city with the help of an Oslo Pass. We can recommend visiting some of the Oslo highlights, including the Viking Ship, Kontiki & Fram museums, the Vigeland Sculpture Park and the Holmenkollen Ski Jump and Museum. A walk around the centre of town to view the Parliament, the Castle, the Harbour area and the new Opera House is well worth it.

Over the next couple of days you will experience Norway’s most popular round trip; Norway in a Nutshell. The excursion takes you through some of the most beautiful scenery in Norway's fjord region.

After breakfast, make your own way to the Oslo Central Railway Station and depart Oslo by train across the Hardanger Plateau, with its highest point at Finse (1222m), and to the village of Myrdal. At Myrdal you will change trains and board the Flåm Railway taking you from a height of 900 metres above the Sognefjord, through wild and beautiful mountain scenery with waterfalls and steep mountainsides to the fjord village of Flåm. There is no other adhesion railway in the world running on normal tracks that are so steep over a long distance.

Wander along the edge of the fjord, pick apples growing wild along the village roads or climb to the local waterfall.

NOTE: Your luggage will be transferred from Oslo to Bergen, so please bring a 1-night overnight bag for this exclusive fjord experience.

This morning, continue by boat to Gudvangen and further by coach up the steep and spectacular hairpin bends to Voss.

Train to Bergen, the capital of the fjords with a free day to explore this old Hanseatic harbour city. Recommended sights of interests are the Hanseatic harbour ‘Bryggen’, Fløibanen Funicular, Edward Grieg’s house at Troldhaugen and the Fish & Flower market.

After a leisurely breakfast on the harbour, it is time to explore the historical centre of Bergen where you'll be transported back to a time when Bergen was the centre of political power and trade for the entire North Atlantic. It was the Capital of the Kingdom of Norway for a short period, before the capital was moved to Oslo in 1299, and the town grew to become the largest in Scandinavia. The Hanseatic League established itself here in 1350 and had a trade monopoly that lasted 200 years.

While in Bergen you might wish to visit the UNESCO heritage listed historical area around the harbour known as the Bryggen district, and the home of Edvard Grieg, Troldhaugen, Norway's internationally famous composer.

Board the Norwegian Coastal Voyage in the evening.

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

Your ship navigates the skerries and islands further north before reaching Ålesund. Marvel at the inspiring architecture in the Apotekergate and Kongensgate pedestrian precinct, perfect examples of the Art Nouveau style. Don’t miss out on the view from Mount Aksla but beware, there are 418 steps to the top! In the summer months, the next destination will be the spectacular UNE SCO-listed Geirangerfjord. En route to the end of this beautiful fjord you pass sheer, 800m cliffs and impressive waterfalls.

In Autumn, you will explore the Hjørundfjord, amidst the majestic Sunnmøre Alps. Its seclusion and unspoiled natural landscape are what give this fjord its special character.

Optional Excursions depending on the season: Geiranger with Trollstigen Pass, Art Nouveau Tour and Atlanterhavsparken Aquarium and Mount Aksla and the A Taste of Norway which visits the historic Hotel Union.

Ports visited today: Kristiansund, Trondheim, Rørvik.

When visiting the old royal city of Trondheim, be sure to get a good view from the Gamle Bybrua (“Old Town Bridge”). Dating from 1861, this neo-gothic wooden bridge used to be the only way into the town centre. Nidaros Cathedral, built between1070 and 1300, is Norway’s largest Gothic religious edifice. In the neighbouring Archbishop’s Palace, the Norwegian Crown Jewels are kept. In Trondheim itself, the Hanseatic, waterside storehouses built on wooden stilts are just as charming as the Rococo-style Stiftsgården, the largest wooden building in Norway and residence for the Royal Family when visiting Trondheim. New optional activities will have you kayaking on the river Nid and into the city's smaller channels or during winter time, you have the opportunity to try typical Norwegian winter activities such as skiing, tobogganing and sledding.

You then set a course for the northwest, past the beautiful Kjeungskjær lighthouse and thousands of little islands and picturesque rocky outcrops. In autumn, you will learn more about navigation and lighthouses along the Norwegian coast during the Captain's talk. After passing through the narrow Stokksund, the ship will arrive at charming Rørvik.

Optional Excursions depending on the season: Nidaros Cathedral and Ringve Museum, Trondheim with Nidaros Cathedral, Munkholmen boat trip & the new cycling and kayaking tours.

Ports visited today: Brønnøysund, Sandnessjøen, Nesna, Ørnes, Bodø, Stamsund, Svolvær.

This morning, between Nesna and Ørnes, you pass a globe on a small islet, which heralds your crossing of the Arctic Circle. The Arctic Circle marks the border of the the Arctic region. In summer this means 24-hour daylight - often referred to as the 'Midnight Sun'. During autumn and winter, being above this degree of latitude gives you the best chance of experiencing the Northern Lights.

Passengers sailing in Arctic waters for the first time are given an Arctic Circle baptism by Njord, the ruler of the Seven Seas. This comes in the form of an ice cube down your front or back, but is entirely optional. This ceremony is tremendous fun to watch on the deck.

In the afternoon, your ship gradually closes in on the 3,280 feet high Lofoten Wall towering above the tiny and colourful fishing villages of the Lofoten Islands. This is an extraordinary place to disembark and take a stroll.

These islands are renowned for their small, picturesque fishing villages with their bohemian atmosphere surrounded by majestic granite cliffs and white sandy beaches. Complete your visit with a stroll between the stockfish racks and ‘rorbuer’, the traditional, red fishermen’s residences. The Lofoten Islands are a truly extraordinary experience.

Optional Excursions depending on the season: Glacier Adventure, Winter Hike, Rib Safari to Saltstraumen & Meet the Vikings.

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

During the night the ship navigates the narrow Raftsund strait. After a stop in Harstad, situated on the largest island of Norway, Hinnøya, you continue via Finnsnes to Tromsø for a prolonged stay. Many of the epic Arctic expeditions used Tromsø as a starting point; the famous explorer Roald Amundsen sourced both crew and supplies here. With the presence of the Norwegian Polar Institute, the city has cemented its position as the Polar Capital of Norway.

Ishavskatedralen, the Arctic Cathedral, is the most famous landmark with its modern design and extraordinary stained glass window. Tromsø is also home to the world’s northernmost university and the large number of people arriving here has created a vibrant cultural scene with numerous restaurants and cafes constantly teeming with life.

After Tromsø, we continue our northbound journey. In winter the Captain invites guests to taste stockfish on deck. The ship now sails inot the area along the coast where you have the best chance of seeing the Northern Lights between September and March, and we gather on deck to search for this breathtaking phenomenon.

Optional Excursions depending on the season: Wilderness Adventure Camp, the Arctic Capital Tromsø, Dog Sledding, Scenery and Huskies, Mountain hiking, Polar History Walk and Kayaking.

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

Following the scenic sailing through Magerøysund and after an early stop in Hammerfest, you arrive in Honningsvåg. This small port is the gateway to the wonders of the spectacular North Cape which rises 300m from the ocean, and at 71° 10’ 21” north it puts you a mere 2,000 kilometres from the Geographical North Pole.

Standing atop the North Cape Plateau you’ll get the eerie feeling of being at the end of the world. The area is also known for its birdlife, and Gjesværstappan, a bird sanctuary with up to 250,000 seabirds is home to some High Arctic species that can only be observed here on the Norwegian mainland, including the ever cute puffins. In summer, you might see herds of reindeer and campsites belonging to the indigenous Sami people. In winter, experience the snow-clad valleys, the fresh winter air and your best chances to see the mesmerizing Northern Lights.

During winter and spring, if you are lucky, local fishermen from the village of Kjøllefjord visit us to share their catch of the day (King Crab & cod).

This evening, as you approach Kjøllefjord, you pass a rock formation that is sacred to the indigenous Sámi people, Finnkjerka.

Optional Excursions depending on the season: The North Cape, Birdwatching Safari, A Taste of Lapland, Sami Autumn and Snowmobile trip in Lapland.

Disembark in Kirkenes and transfer to Inari in Finnish Lapland. Inari is a beautiful Finnish town rich in Sami Culture with many handicraft stores and places to visit.

Enjoy the Lapp town of Inari in far north Finland where you have a chance to meet the Sami people and make a visit to a reindeer farm.

A local bus takes you south to Rovaniemi, the capital of Lapland in Finland. There is time to visit the Arctic Centre, Santa Claus Village and Provincial Museum hosting interesting exhibitions year round.

After a short flight to Helsinki you have near two full days to explore this fabulous eastern Nordic capital. We recommend a walking tour of the city, which is known for its great mixture of neo-classical buildings, orthodox style churches and chique bars and restaurant scene. You have the opportunity to visit the Senate Square, Uspenskij Cathedral, Parliament House, New Opera House, Sibelius Park & Monument and the Underground Temple. The included Helsinki card offers free entrance to almost 50 museums and use of public transportation.

Day trip to Tallinn

On one of your days in Helsinki we have included return tickets for the ferry from Helsinki to Tallinn. Your trip to Tallinn would normally take a full day departing Helsinki at 07:30 in the morning and arriving back in Helsinki at 19:30. The ferry trip each way takes 2 hours and suddenly you are at the shores of this Eastern beauty. The infinitely charming medieval Old Town is well worth the visit. The cobblestone streets and medieval buildings are a whole world away from what you can expect from the other capitals that you have seen so far. Tallinn feels distinctly Eastern, its architecture reminding the visitor of other beautiful Eastern European Old Towns, such as those of Prague and Riga. Through its history, culture, and location, Estonia connects Eastern Europe, Central Europe, and Scandinavia, offering something altogether different to your itinerary so far.

Let us know if you would like to book a three hour minivan/walking tour with us for this day.

Our services end after breakfast.