Having one of our friendly Coastal Experts point out places on the coast that are special to him or her is much more satisfying than a guidebook or a website.Through their hands-on experiences in Norway and along the Norwegian coast, you’ll gain insight and learn about these Norwegian landscapes, culture, and ways of life.

From near and far

Many of our Coastal Experts are local Norwegians, born and raised on the coast and elsewhere in Norway. They’ll likely tell you their childhood memories of our ships, what our service means to their coastal community, and perhaps even how they’ve had generations of their family connected to the Original Norwegian Coastal Express voyage, either as crew or as passengers.

Other Coastal Experts may have lived in Norway for several years, and may come from all corners of the world. Learn about what drew them to Norway and to work on the Norwegian Coastal Express voyage. See the coast through their eyes as they offer details about life here, and share interesting anecdotes about their experiences of Norwegian culture.

Enriching your experience

Coastal Experts enhance your voyage with in-depth knowledge of the local culture, nature, geology, and history. This is knowledge they’ve built up over years. Their repertoire includes a range of specialized and well-researched topics. They are ready to share these with you in lectures and presentations on board, on deck, and ashore.

Amateur photographers will be pleased to know that the Coastal Experts also run a photography program on board. Certified by Canon, this short, informal course is designed to give you the tips you need to capture the coast in all its glory, including how to shoot the illustrious Northern Lights, should they occur.

Dedicated to what they do and to the Norwegian coast, the Coastal Experts add an intimate and personal perspective to your journey. Their passion is palpable, whether they’re on deck talking about points of interest or telling animated stories over a beverage at an evening gathering.

Hikers’ refuge

The exceptionally beautiful landscape of the Norwegian coast beckons you—come explore it with us. Thankfully, our onboard Coastal Experts know the areas we sail better than anyone. They have handpicked a selection of optional hikes for you to enjoy almost every day of your voyage. Each hike is adapted to the current season, with seven hikes during summer and fall and nine hikes from winter to spring, based on a the full 12-day roundtrip voyage.

Embracing friluftsliv

You’ll set off on your hike into the Norwegian wilderness in small, intimate groups led by your Coastal Experts. Learn more about local history, geology, biology, and culture as you hike with them.

Hiking gives you an opportunity to experience friluftsliv, a concept that captures the Norwegian’s quasi-spiritual affinity toward nature and the outdoors. The simple elements of your hike are the most important. Enjoy the fresh air, the crunch of soft snow underfoot, or the warmth of the sun on your skin—these are the pure, simple pleasures of friluftsliv.

Gear up

Hiking involves a high level of physical activity over a few hours, on terrain that may often be uneven, slippery, and steep. You’ll need a reasonable level of fitness and mobility to participate, and the right gear.

You must have shoes of good, substantial quality, but they should already be broken in. Wearing a few layers of clothing is ideal, as well as a wind- and rain-proof jacket with a hood. A small backpack is very handy, too. Don’t worry about shoe crampons, trekking poles, snowshoes, or headlamps. We’ll provide them to you free of charge when the season or weather calls for them.