Savour the Northern Lights

Welcome to Norway. First stop: Norway’s thriving capital, Oslo. If you have time before you board your ship for the voyage ahead, you’ll want to explore the many charms this cosmopolitan capital has to offer. Make your way to the city centre, where you can take snaps of the architecturally distinct Rådhuset town hall, Royal Palace, and Oslo Cathedral.As afternoon turns towards evening, board your ship, MS Trollfjord. Once we’ve welcomed you and you’ve settled into your cabin or suite, you’ll meet your Coastal Experience Team. You’ll get to know each member of the team as they give lectures and organise onboard activities throughout your voyage. Meet your fellow guests in the ship’s two-storey panorama lounge and watch as the capital’s twinkling lights fade into the distance.

Spend today relaxing on board and getting a taste of our Norway’s Coastal Kitchen cuisine in the ship’s three restaurants and bar.

You’ll have time to simply watch Norway’s spectacular southern coast glide by. Take it all in from the expansive Observation Deck, from the comfort of your ship’s two-storey lounge and bar, or from the panoramic sauna.

As well as the views, this stretch of coast is home to history and stories. Find out more about Norway’s coast and the voyage ahead in the lectures, presentations, and onboard activities planned for today.

Today, you’ll wake to views of the beautiful Lysefjord. The 42-km-long fjord is home to one of Norway’s most famous sights: Preikestolen (The Pulpit Rock), which towers 604 metres above the fjord’s shimmering waters.

Kjerag mountain, at the end of the fjord, reaches even higher. Along the way, watch for mountain goats, waterfalls, and the famous Kjeragbolten, a glacial boulder wedged high up in a crevasse.

You’ll spend the rest of the day in Stavanger, a colourful waterside city with an international ambience and a lively cultural scene. Discover the architectural relics of Gamle (Old) Stavanger, which includes Northern Europe’s best-preserved collection of wooden houses, and Norway’s oldest cathedral, dating from the 12th century.

You can also visit the Norwegian Petroleum Museum, browse the local boutique shops, or simply enjoy a drink on the waterfront.

After breakfast on the ship, we’ll dock at a town on a small peninsula surrounded by beautiful mountains and islands.

Many of the buildings here, from the bright colours to the rounded spires, were inspired by the Art Nouveau style, which was popular in the early 1900s. You can get impressive photos of the archipelago from the nearby Mount Aksla viewpoint.

You can also visit the Atlantic Sea Park, Norway’s first marine science centre. This is one of Northern Europe’s largest saltwater aquariums, providing a home to seals, otters, and crabs, as well as many other kinds of marine life. You can even see Humboldt Penguins here, a species otherwise absent north of the equator.

Join an optional excursion to explore Ålesund on foot or by bus, as your guide reveals the town’s surprising secrets to you.

The cosy fishing port of Rørvik in the picturesque Vikna archipelago may look small but it has a huge history that is told through both the landscape and the town’s collection of museums.

Here, you can join an optional excursion and time travel through the last 10,000 years and get a glimpse of the future, thanks to the Ice Age-carved landscape, carefully preserved 19th-century living rooms, and the ingenuity of Norwegian salmon production – each preserved and explained in three excellent museums.

In the afternoon, we’ll continue sailing north through the Vikna archipelago made up of 6,000 islands, islets and reefs. The local gardens bloom with plum and apple blossoms in the spring, even at 65°N, thanks to the maritime climate.

As we sail through the night, we’ll leave the Helgeland coast behind us as we cross the Arctic Circle.

On the penultimate day of your voyage, we explore Lofoten. As soon as you see the towering peaks with fishing villages clinging to their sides, you’ll understand why this island chain is praised as one of Norway’s most stunning locations.

We’ll dock in the town of Svolvær mid-morning. Located on the island of Austvågøya in the heart of Lofoten, Svolvær is the biggest town of the archipelago, humming with shops, restaurants, galleries, and cafés to enjoy. You can also admire views of the Svolvær Goat, a nearby mountain named for resembling a goat and its horns.

A variety of optional excursions are available from Svolvær, including winter fishing, paddling along the coastline in a kayak, or embarking on a bus tour to learn more about Lofoten’s history.

We can’t visit the area without spending a couple of hours in Stokmarknes. It was here that the Original Coastal Express was founded in 1893 by shipping pioneer Richard With. On the waterfront, you’ll find our 1956 ship MS Finnmarken, encased in the Hurtigruten Museum’s glass building like a ship in a bottle.

Tromsø, often called the ‘gateway to the Arctic’, is also named the ‘Arctic Capital. Sitting around 217 miles north of the Arctic Circle, the city is known for great winter activities and for chances of seeing the Northern Lights.

Once you’ve arrived and disembarked the MS Trollfjord, you will meet your tour manager and fellow travelers before setting off from Tromsø in your private first-class coach.

Your land-based adventure begins as you head east into the majestic Lyngen Alps, with scenic fjord crossings on local ferries. You’ll drive along one of Norway’s most breathtaking roads, following the stunning Lyngen Fjord.

Arriving in Skibotn, you'll journey southeast, crossing into Finland and reaching the picturesque Finnish resort village of Kilpisjärvi, just 8 kilometers from the Norwegian border.

After breakfast, set out on an unforgettable winter safari. Glide across a pristine frozen lake and through enchanting snowy birch forests aboard a snow sleigh or snowmobile.

Your journey will lead you to Koltavuoma, where the distinctive yellow border cairn marks the world’s most tranquil border between Finland, Sweden, and Norway.

This popular 3-hour adventure, covering approximately 30 km, lets you traverse three countries in under a minute. The tour includes expert guiding, warm thermal outfits, professional photos by the guide, and a drink and pastry at the hotel to round off your experience.

The remainder of the day is yours to explore the surroundings at your own pace. In the evening, enjoy dinner at the hotel restaurant, followed by an exciting Northern Lights excursion with the tour managers. Weather permitting, you’ll venture out with the group in search of the mesmerising Aurora Borealis.

After breakfast, board a private coach and journey southeast along the picturesque Swedish-Finnish border. You’ll arrive in the resort of Levi for two enchanting nights in a private Aurora Cabin, otherwise called a Glass Igloo. This unique accommodation, nestled away from light pollution, provides clear views of the night sky and maybe even the Northern Lights right from your bed.

Upon arrival and check-in, enjoy a delightful dinner at the hotel restaurant. As evening falls, embark on a magical 3-hour heated snowmobile sleigh safari through moonlit, snow-covered forests, all the while looking out for the aurora.

This unforgettable experience includes expert guiding, hot drinks, cookies, and marshmallows by the fire, thermal clothing, and the perfect opportunity to witness and photograph the Northern Lights in all their glory.

After breakfast, you’ll swap snowmobiles from the night before for husky sleds. The energetic team of dogs will take you on a 5 km sleigh ride through Lapland's pristine forests. This unforgettable adventure begins in front of an Aurora hut and promises a fast-paced, memorable journey through the winter wonderland.

Following the safari, enjoy the remainder of the day at your leisure, with options to join additional activities such as a reindeer or snowmobile safari (weather permitting). End your day with dinner at the hotel restaurant.

After breakfast, board a private coach for a scenic journey from Levi to Kemi, with a brief stop in Rovaniemi. Arrive at the Experience 365 winter resort and check into the unique Glass Villas, where you’ll spend the night later enjoying panoramic views of the snowy landscape.

In the afternoon, head to Ajos pier on Bothnian Bay where you’ll board an icebreaker ship. It’s a thrilling experience as the icebreaker ploughs powerfully through the frozen sea. If you’re brave and bold, take a refreshing dip in the icy waters while wearing a full-body waterproof survival suit. Return to the resort for a delicious dinner to complete your day.

Travel by train from Kemi to Helsinki. Widely regarded as one of the world’s best cities to live in, Helsinki is vibrant and colourful, offering a balance of historic architecture and contemporary living. With many trails nearby, the city is also known for its incredible natural scenery.

A two-hour city tour will take you to explore key landmarks including City Hall, the Parliament buildings, Finlandia Hall, the Opera House, and, weather permitting, the famous Sibelius Monument. A highlight of the tour is a visit to the remarkable Temppeliaukio Church (Rock Church). As its name implies, this wonderful building and testament to Finnish artistry is carved into solid rock.

In the evening, enjoy a farewell dinner at the hotel with your fellow travellers.

Sadly, today marks the end of your journey with us. After breakfast at the hotel, say your goodbyes to the crew and your fellow travellers.

From the far south of Norway up to its northernmost city, then down through Finnish Lapland – you’ve been on quite the journey! You’ve travelled across three Scandinavian countries, with the Northern Lights hopefully making a pleasant appearance not just one but a few times.

The memories you’ve collected throughout your time with us will remain with you for years to come. You’ll also likely be going home with plenty of photos from various activities and places that you can share with family and friends.

Thank you for coming with us on this Signature tour. We hope to see you again soon for another adventure.