Hurtigruten Norway—soon to be rebranded as Hurtigruten—has reintroduced two land and sea tours and one science-based sailing combining the city lights of Nordic capitals with those of the Aurora Borealis and the Midnight Sun.
Two of the itineraries, quite popular pre-pandemic, put the focus on the Nordic culture by land and sea, while a third puts the spotlight on astronomy. One of these is sure to cozy up to clients looking for an off-the-beaten path vacation:
- The 15-day Follow the Northern Lights: Land and Sea Tour, which includes an overland trek of Finland north from Helsinki and then a Coastal Express voyage down the Norwegian coastline to Bergen, with a land tour from Bergen to Oslo, or vice versa. Multiple departures between November and March.
- The 15-day Follow the Midnight Sun: Land and Sea Tour, which takes a similar route but in June and July. It begins with a ferry ride from Stockholm to Helsinki, then heads overland to Finland’s northern regions before setting sail on the Coastal Express voyage down the Norwegian coast to Bergen.
- The 12-day Follow the Stars: Astronomy Tour sails from Bergen and back along the Norwegian coast in November, January and February. Renowned astronomers Ian Ridpath, John Mason, Sadie Jones and Tom Kerss give engaging lectures and guided night sky tours from the ship’s deck.
By the way, for clients headed to Norway during the Aurora Borealis season, Hurtigruten Norway holds to its “Northern Lights Promise,” ensuring travelers witness this natural wonder or receive a complimentary 6- or 7-day Classic Voyage.
Hopping Along the Coast of Norway
The original Coastal Express, which is part of all three itineraries, visits 34 ports, passing by over 100 fjords and over 1,000 mountains, just as it has for 130 years. Optional excursions head to natural treasures and historic icons and take guests snowmobiling or birdwatching. An exclusive visit to the Northern Lights Planetarium in Tromso is also on the itinerary.
For more information, visit hurtigruten.com.
