Our Open Villages: A new way to experience coastal Norway
Step into authentic, community-led experiences in Træna, Bessaker and Sæbø - exclusive to our Signature Voyages.
Our Open Village experiences invite you into the heart of three small coastal communities in Norway. These are not tourist attractions – they’re real, working villages that open their doors to share traditions, stories and insights into their everyday life.
Exclusively available on our Signature Voyages, each visit is co-created with the community and included in your journey at no extra cost. And because our smaller ships are the only cruise vessels able to reach these remote villages in summer, you’ll gain access to places that larger ships simply can’t reach.
A different kind of travel
Thoughtfully designed, sustainable experiences
Supporting 12+ local businesses per community
Only accessible by smaller ships
Limited numbers, maximum impact
NOK 250 per guest goes directly to the village
As some of Europe’s best-known destinations struggle with the pressures of overtourism, our approach is deliberately different: slower, more meaningful travel rooted in genuine connection.
Three villages, countless stories
Bessaker
Step off ship to a warm welcome with a festive village parade
Free access to the village’s historical buildings, with locals involved at every step
Enjoy woodcarving demos, live music and free local food like sodd (traditional meat soup)
Sæbø
Enjoy a church concert with local musicians
Visit the Avalanche Centre
Chat with local guides about the area’s natural and cultural history
Træna
Explore one of Norway's oldest fishing communities with an exclusively curated book
Learn more about the village's history at Træna Local Museum
Explore the Petter Dass Chapel and village church
For us in Bessaker, the Open Village contribution is about more than income, it is the foundation for growth and optimism in our community. The ripple effects are wide-reaching, and Hurtigruten’s presence is essential to creating a sustainable, living village and district.
Visit with Hurtigruten
You can visit these villages from May 2026 on The Svalbard Line, our premium, all-inclusive voyage from Bergen to the High Arctic.
