Hurtigruten
Norway - Excursions Northbound
New Hurtigruten winter excursions 2008
NEW Lofoten Viking Feast
Experience Viking life with this new excursion. Travel to the Lofoten Viking Museum at Borg, where the largest Viking building ever found has been recreated. The original 83 m long chieftain house has been established since around 500 AD and was inhabited until 900 AD. You are invited in by the lady of the house to join a Viking feast in the banquet hall where you will learn more about the customs and legends of Viking life while traditional food is served in this authentic atmosphere. After the meal you return to Svolvær where you re-join the coastal ship. Warm clothes and comfortable shoes are recommended as there is a short walk to the Viking house.
NEW Polar History walk Tromsø
On this walking tour of Tromsø you’ll learn about the importance of the town for polar exploration and visit the Polar Museum as well as Mack Brewery, Tromsø’s oldest pub. Your guide will take you from the quay through the centre of Tromsø with views of the famous Arctic Cathedral and a stop at the statue of Roald Amundsen. During the visit of the Polar Museum you can view numerous artefacts related to the polar expeditions that started from here as well as the hunting traditions of past centuries.
You then continue to walk through the main pedestrian street to “Mack Ølhallen” where a stop for a glass of local beer is scheduled before returning to the ship. Warm clothes and comfortable shoes recommended.
NEW Scooter trip in Lapland
After being kitted out for your snowmobile adventure in snowmobile overalls, special boots, hat, gloves and helmet you are taken to the starting point of the trip. Your guide will tell you something about life on the Finnmark coast and the Sami that live here along the way.
After receiving driving instructions form our guides you the start the drive to Mehamn through the snow covered landscapes of the Finnmark all the way to the Hurtigruten quay in Mehamn (weather permitting). Every participant will drive their own snowmobile, driving license required.
NEW Excursion to Kirkenes Snow Hotel
After a short drive through Kirkenes you arrive at Gabba Reindeer Park where the snowhotel is situated. Here you have a guided tour of the hotel with the beautifully decorated snow suites before you are invited to a drink in Norway’s biggest Ice bar. Afterwards there will be time to meet the reindeer before you head to Gabba restaurant to warm up by the fire and enjoy a snack before returning to the quay to re-join your ship.
Northbound
Please click on the excursions link below left for further information on the excursions, including prices and duration.
2A Geiranger Ålesund
National Geographic Traveller Magazine voted the Norwegian Fjords the 'most unspoilt travel destination in the world' in December 2004. Let us show you why. At the heart of Geirangerfjord country the dizzying Eagle Road route offers a dramatic bird's eye view of the fjord which contrasts with the more gentle scenery along the coast. Gaily painted farms and villages, country churches, rivers and waterfalls complete the picture of a rural idyll as you continue by coach and boat to beautiful Ålesund. The journey ends at the top of Aksla Mountain from where there are splendid views over the town and the magnificent Sunnmøre Alps.
2B Geiranger - Molde
Visit Eagle's view, Mount Dalsnibba, the spectacular Seven Sisters waterfalls and the famous ‘Trollstigen’ or ‘Trolls’ Road’ - the drive takes you to 900m above sea level and includes a series of hairpin turns. The wide Romsdalsfjord lies in gentle contrast to the mountains. Dinner will be at Rica Seilet Hotel and a tour of the City of Roses will uncover the delights of historical Molde, largely rebuilt after 1945 and set in a landscape of soaring peaks.
2C Walking Tour of Ålesund
A guided walk through this charming town is the best way to appreciate its history and architectural highlights. Ålesund is spread over three islands, linked by bridges, at the entrance to four fjords. Rebuilt after a fire in 1904 destroyed the city centre, inspired architects made full use of the prevalent trend for Art Nouveau. Your guide will bring alive the history of the town, recount stories about the inhabitants and help you decipher the symbolism in the decor of the buildings.
3A Trondheim
Sightseeing tour including Nidaros Cathedral & Ringve Museum. There is an intimacy and charm about Trondheim that few large towns can match, perhaps because so many of the fine buildings are constructed of brightly painted wood. The medieval Nidaros Cathedral is a shrine to the history of Norway and the Museum of Musical History at Ringve Gård, sited in a fine manor house, contains a marvellous collection of 2,000 musical instruments from around the world. In this beautifully furnished house demonstrations are given on some of the instruments as you wander through the history of European music.
3B 1,000 Years of Trondheim
Sightseeing tour including Nidaros Cathedral. A coach tour through this handsome, historically important city includes a visit to the famous Nidaros Cathedral, Norway's largest medieval church. Built on the burial site of St Olav, this is a national shrine with some sections of the building dating from the 11th century. Fire has destroyed parts of the building on at least five occasions during the centuries and the restoration, which continues to the present day, displays a range of influences. We pass the royal residence of Stiftsgården, one of Scandinavia’s largest wooden buildings, while the delightful old bridge into the city vies for attention with bridges dating from the 18th century which cross the river Nidelven.
3C Sverresborg & Trøndelag Folk Museum
From Trondheim NEW
This excursion takes you to one of Norway’s largest open air museums, Trøndelag Folk Muesum at Sverresborg.
The tour starts with a visit to Haltdalen Stave Church, the northermost in Norway. You’ll hear about the history of the church and life in the Middle Ages before we continue our tour with visits to a farmhouse, cookhouse and smithy.
In the old town part of the museum buildings that previously stood in the centre of Trondheim can be found as well as an exhibition exploring life in this part of Norway over the past 150 years.
We return by coach to the Hurtigruten quay afterwards.
Period of operation*: 30 May – 28 Sep 2008
Prices: GBP 24.00
4A Svartisen Glacier, Ørnes
This excursion reveals why Norway's second largest glacier has been drawing tourists for over a century. South of Ørnes you will board a boat to sail through the narrow straits, past small islands and skerries, to the Svartisen Pavilion, where you can take in a fantastic view of the glacier. The journey onwards is along the beautiful coast of Helgeland. Weather permitting, we will visit one of the local fishing villages on the island Støtt. From here we continue to Bodø, home of the awesome sea eagle, and rejoin Hurtigruten.
4D Bodø - Saltstraumen - Sea Eagle Safari
The world's strongest tidal current. We travel by Zodiac at a steady speed to bring us close to the powerful, wild forces of nature in this rugged landscape. Four times a day millions of gallons of water are forced through the 150m wide strait, spanned by a magnificent bridge, at an average speed of 29 km per hour. Overhead soar sea eagles, their wingspan over two metres. Thermal clothing can be provided.
5A Tromsø Sightseeing
The gateway to the Arctic, the island city of Tromsø, occupies an imposing position between the mountains and the sea, joined to the mainland by a splendid bridge. Experience the Arctic from the comfort of Polaria, an interactive exhibition devoted to the exploration of the icy wastes, housed in a building inspired by that landscape. Inside, a thrilling ?lm sets the scene for a walk across the polar region to view creatures large and small and see the impact our way of life has on the environment. Later you will cross the bridge to Tromsø's highest attraction, the Arctic Cathedral, rising like a mountain of ice. One of its 40 metre high walls is a remarkable, triangular stained glass window.
5B Dog-Sledding in Tromsø
If you are travelling early or late in the season you will have the opportunity to join this exhilarating excursion which takes you by huskydog sleigh across the open plains close to Tromsø. The beautiful husky teams strain in their harness waiting to speed through the silent world of snow. After this thrilling ride welcome refreshments are served in a Lavvo (Sami tent) around the open fire. Warm clothing is provided.
5C Tromsø Wilderness Centre
Located just half an hour outside Tromsø, Kvaløya is a beautiful site framed by mountains, sea and plains. Enjoy a guided walk through the history, flora, fauna and birdlife of the region or visit two of the country's best known sleigh drivers, Tove Sørensen and Tore Albrigtsen, and their 150 huskies. Here you will learn the basics of dog sledding and watch a fascinating film of the world's longest dog-sled race across Alaska, as experienced by Tove and Tore themselves.
6A North Cape - Europe's Northernmost Point
From Honningsvåg we travel by coach through the Arctic scenery of the island of Magerøya, which provides summer grazing for over 4,000 reindeer, to the North Cape Plateau. At 307 metres above sea level the views are unforgettable. Early travellers had to climb the cliff paths, helped by local sailors, and their names can still be seen scratched into the rock. Today every comfort is provided. In the North Cape Hall perched on top and carved into the side of the cliff, Ivo Caprino’s widescreen film portrays the North Cape above and below the waves. There is time to explore the North Cape tunnel, lined with scenes of the area's historic past, and the lovely chapel, which leads to the café/bar and viewing platform. There is a souvenir shop, a small museum commemorating the visit of a king of Thailand, a café and a post office where postcards are franked with a unique North Cape stamp.
6B Honningsvaåg - Gjesvær Bird Watching
Travel across the dramatic landscape of Magerøya Island to the little fishing hamlet of Gjesvær (population: 120). Here you board a boat for the journey to the nature reserve of Gjesværstappan, home to a large colony of puffins, flocks of kittiwakes, as well as guillemots, cormorants, razorbills, gannets and skuas. In the autumn, Europe’s smallest sea bird, the storm petrel, joins the throng. Unsurprisingly, the majestic sea eagle prefers to hunt here too, and if we are lucky we may see several circling high overhead.
6C – A taste of Lapland NEW
Experience the exciting story of the coast of the Arctic Ocean in this fascinating and educating excursion through nature that varies from verdant valleys to the grey stone desert of the Finnmark plateau.
This excursion provides you with an opportunity to meet a Sami family of reindeer herders and also visit the Foldal Coastal Heritage centre where you can gain an insight into the history of the Finnmark area.
The tour starts with the visit to Foldal Coastal Heritage centre and after some time here we continue through Kjøllefjord and into the mountains to a Sami camp and the Utsi family. Inside a traditional lavvo we’ll hear about Sami traditions and their way of life whilst being served boullion and coffee. You will also have the opportunity to hear the traditional joik (Sami songs), meet reindeer and try your hand at lasso throwing. After our stop in Kjøllefjord we return by coach to the port of Mehamn.
Period of operation*: 26 April – 5 Sep 2008
Prices: GBP 55.00
7A Kirkenes and the Russian Border
The strategic importance of the border with Russia has given the region a dramatic history. During World War II, this was the base of a German garrison, from which an offensive was launched to capture Murmansk. The journey will take you through Kirkenes – the only town in Norway where West meets East – to Storskog, the border station. Russian souvenirs will remind you of this stimulating day. At Sydvaranger, you can discover iron ore at the disused mines and a stop will be made at Prestfjellet to see the wonderful views of Kirkenes and the fjord area.
7B Kirkenes - River Boat Safari to the Russian Border
The Pasvikelva River has witnessed the long and often turbulent history of the area. As you travel upstream through wonderful scenery, the guide will tell you stories of the eastern Sami people, the saintly princes Boris and Gleb,and the holy monk St Trifon of Pechenga. Coffee will be served ashore in a lavvo (Sami tent). Warm clothing will be provided.
7C Kirkenes - Barents Safari
A fascinating insight into Sami life,this is an activity excursion available in the early and later parts of the season. An invigorating snowmobile safari, with you in the driving seat, across the plains of Kirkenes, and if time permits a session of kick sledding and reindeer lassoing are followed by refreshments served in the warmth of the Lavvo (Sami tent). Activities and availability are dependent on weather conditions. Warm clothing is provided. Do not forget to bring your driving licence.
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