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Hurtigruten 12 Day Classic Round Voyage
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Adults from: £1,203pp
Child prices from: Please call for details
Huge, exclusive savings on top of this operators prices! Call Now 0121 213 0012
Based on 2 adults sharing & sub. avail
Offer valid: 14/07/2011 - 14/07/2012
Duration: 12 days
Departure airport: Any UK airport
Board basis: Full Board
A Classic Round Voyage from the cultural centre of Bergen to Kirkenes and back again is the ultimate voyage with Hurtigruten. The complete voyage takes 12 days.
HURTIGRUTEN 12-DAY CLASSIC ROUND VOYAGE:
Duration: 12 days
Dates: All year
Ports visited: 34
Price: from £1203pp*
Price includes:
- Voyage Only
- Full Board basis
- English Speaking Tour Leader on board
- Hurtigruten Guide Book
- Entrance fee to Hurtigruten museum
- Fuel supplement of £55.
Not Included: Flights, Travel Insurance, Optional Excursions, Luggage Handling.
Flights can be included in your package from most UK airports. Please contact us for the best possible price.
Other Norway Classic Voyages and Hurtigruten Cruises.
DAY 1: EMBARKATION IN BERGEN
Ports visited today: Bergen
Before you check in, explore the charming port and Hanseatic city of Bergen. Stroll through the narrow medieval streets of the UNESCO-listed Bryggen quarter, visit the Hanseatic Museum or stroll among the stalls at the fish market. Take the funicular railway 320m up Mount Fløyen, located just outside the city, and you’ll enjoy the best view of Bergen and its fjords. In the evening your Hurtigruten voyage sets off through the Hjeltefjord, following in the wake of the Vikings who sailed from here to the Shetland Islands and beyond.
DAY 2: ÅLESUND & GEIRANGERFJORD
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. Enroute to the end of this beautiful fjord you pass sheer, 800m cliffs and impressive waterfalls.
Available excursions
2A Geiranger panorama 1
2B Geiranger panorama 2
2C Art Nouveau tour, Ålesund
2D Atlanterhavsparken Aquarium and Mount Aksla
DAY 3: THE ROYAL CITY OF TRONDHEIM
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. You then set a course for the northwest, past the beautiful Kjeungskjær lighthouse and thousands of little islands and picturesque rocky outcrops. After passing through Stokksund, the ship will arrive at Rørvik.
Available excursions
3A Nidaros Cathedral & Ringve
3B/11A Trondheim with Nidaros Cathedral
3C/11B Sverresborg Trøndelag Folk Museum
3D/11D Trondheim City Walk
DAY 4: ARCTIC CIRCLE AND LOFOTEN ISLANDS
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. 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. In the evening you reach Svolvær, the main settlement on the Lofoten Islands. 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.
Available excursions
4A Glacier Adventure Svartisen
4D RIB Safari, Saltstraumen
4E Lofotr Viking Feast
4F Lofotr Viking Feast Summer
DAY 5: TROMSØ GATE WAY TO THE ARCTIC
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.
Available excursions
5A The Arctic Capital Tromsø
5B Dog Sledging
5C Scenery & Huskies
5D Polar History Walk
DAY 6: HONNINGSVÅG AND THE NORTH CAPE
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. This evening, as you approach Kjøllefjord, you pass a rock formation that is sacred to the indigenous Sámi people, Finnkjerka.
Available excursions
6A The North Cape
6B Bird-watching Safari
6C A Taste of Lapland
6D Snowmobile Trip in Lapland
DAY 7: KIRKENES, THE VOYAGE TURNING POINT
Ports visited today: Båtsfjord, Vardø, Vadsø, Kirkenes.
The last port on the Voyage North is Kirkenes. And at longitude 30 east, you
are actually further east than Istanbul and St. Petersburg. The well-policed Russian border and the Kola peninsula are close by which explains why the road signs are written in both Norwegian and Russian.
Being at the north-easterly terminus of Hurtigruten, the only choice from here is to set south again but spending a few days in Kirkenes offers you the opportunity to take part in some of the adventurous Arctic activities available nearby.
Available excursions
7A The Russian Border
7B Riverboat Safari
7C Snowmobile Safari
7D Kirkenes Snow Hotel
7E AT V/Quad-Safari to the Russian Border
7F Husky Adventure
DAY 8: HAMMERFEST AND TROMSØ
Ports visited today: Mehamn, Kjøllefjord, Honningsvåg, Havøysund, Hammerfest, Øksfjord, Skjervøy, Tromsø.
Breakfast at the North Cape including a visit to a Sámi family form part of an early morning excursion (at extra cost). Your next stop, Hammerfest, was a settlement back to the Stone Age and is still playing an important role as a fishing port. Founded in 1789 to develop trade with Russia, Hammerfest reconfirmed its position as Norway’s Polar capital of its time, acting as a base for hunting expeditions to the High Arctic. In Hammerfest the Meridian Column, erected in 1854, commemorates the first precise measurement of the globe, an achievement so important that it’s become a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
As early as 1891, wave energy provided power to the first electric street lighting in Northern Europe, and energy innovation is still a signature for Hammerfest with its large Liquid Gas Plant just outside town. From here, your next major stop will be Tromsø where you are invited to take part in a very special musical experience, The Arctic Cathedral Midnight Concert. Or why not head to one of the town’s many friendly pubs and sample the local brew, Mack’s Arctic Beer.
Available excursions
8F Snowmobile Trip in the Polar Night
8A Breakfast at the North Cape
8B The Northernmost Town in the World,Hammerfest
8D Sámi Experience
8E Arctic Energy
8C Midnight Concert in the Arctic Cathedral
DAY 9: VESTERÅLEN AND LOFOTEN ISLANDS
Ports visited today: Tromsø, Finnsnes, Harstad, Risøyhamn, Sortland, Stokmarknes, Svolvær, Stamsund.
The Vesterålen and Lofoten Island are amongst today’s highlights. Before you reach them, you pass through Risøyrenna, a channel that was specially constructed for Hurtigruten, providing the vessels an ‘inside route’ between Harstad and Sortland. Stokmarknes, where Hurtigruten was founded, is the location of the Hurtigruten Museum. Entry is free for all Hurtigruten passengers.
You continue through the narrow Raftsund, the picturesque narrow channel between the Vesterålen and Lofoten Islands, where, time and weather permitting, you’ll take a detour into the spectacular Trollfjord where steep cliffs hug the ship’s sides. Then it’s on to Svolvær, the main settlement on the
Lofoten Islands followed by Stamsund where the majestic peaks of the huge Lofoten Wall can be viewed. You leave the islands during the evening and set course for the mainland.
Available excursions
9A A Taste of Vesterålen
9B Lofoten Islands
9C Sea Eagle Safari
9E RIB-Adventure in Lofoten
DAY 10: ARCTIC CIRCLE, SEVEN SISTERS
Ports visited today: Bodø, Ørnes, Nesna, Sandnessjøen, Brønnøysund, Rørvik.
The Helgeland coast with hundreds of islets, fertile farmland and steep granite walls is worth getting up early to experience. Today will also be your last one north of the Arctic Circle as you cross it between Ørnes and Nesna. This part of the coast is rich in local lore with stories including the legend of the Seven Sisters, a picturesque row of peaks, and the myth about how the arrow from Hestmannen’s bow formed the hole in Torghatten Mountain. The Vega Archipelago, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is close to our call in Sandnessjøen.
The islands were inscribed on this prestigious list due to the unique interaction between man and nature– over centuries the local population have protected the eider duck nests in return for the highly valuable down from the birds.
Available excursion
10B UNESCO Islands Vega
DAY 11: TRONDHEIM AND KRISTIANSUND
Ports visited today: Trondheim, Kristiansund, Molde, Ålesund.
Today gives you another opportunity to explore the city of Trondheim. Nidaros Cathedral, in which three Queens and seven Kings have been crowned, is Scandinavia’s largest medieval building, and Norway’s crown jewels are kept in the adjacent Archbishop’s Residence. Passing the islands of Munkholmen and Hitra you then cross the open sea to Molde, known as the ‘city of roses’ due to its lush Gulf Stream location.
You will notice the steep, grey, pointed peaks of the Romsdal Alps glinting in the sun. The town of Kristiansund, located on the scenic Atlantic Road, holds the rather obscure title of Norway’s ‘cured cod capital’ because of the nature of its main export.
Available excursions
3B /11A Trondheim with Nidaros Cathedral
3D/11D Trondheim City Walk
11C The Atlantic Road
DAY 12: ROCKY ISLANDS, DISEMBARKATION
Ports visited today: Ålesund, Torvik, Måløy, Florø, Bergen.
Today, your Hurtigruten voyage will come to an end when you arrive in the City of Seven Mountains, Bergen. But before that, you still have a few nautical miles of fascinating scenery ahead of you such as the picturesque Nordfjord below the enormous Jostedalsbreen glacier, Norway’s longest fjord - the mighty Sognefjord and the picturesque Bergen Archipelago. Take home your memories of the world’s most beautiful voyage and the many seafaring companions and friends you’ve made along the way.
Available excursion
12A Bergen City Sightseeing
Offer details
A Classic Round Voyage from the cultural centre of Bergen to Kirkenes and back again is the ultimate voyage with Hurtigruten. The complete voyage takes 12 days.