Follow the Midnight Sun – Norway, Sweden, & Finland

• Visit the North Cape early in the morning

• Enjoy a tasty breakfast buffet while overlooking the Barents Sea

• See a film about how the North Cape changes throughout the seasons

• Admire the majestic Porsangerfjord from the bus

• Disembarking port: Honningsvåg

• Embarking port: Hammerfest

• Available: 8 May - 7 Oct

• Transportation: Bus

• Meals: Breakfast

• Clothes: Comfortable shoes, warm and windproof clothing

• Snowmobile Trip in the Polar Night

The North Cape plateau rises 307 meters (1,000 feet) above the Arctic Ocean. Welcome to Europe’s northernmost point. Unlike the travellers of old who once had to climb up the cliff, we’ll be taking a bus from Honningsvåg all the way to the top. You’ll have time to walk the plateau and pose for photos at the globe monument. 

Enjoy a lavish breakfast buffet in the North Cape Hall while looking out over the Barents Sea, before experiencing the four seasons of the North Cape through a panoramic film. Inside the cliff at the North Cape Hall, you can buy handmade gifts for your loved ones in the gift shop and tour the chapel and small museum.  

On our way back, we’ll drive through an underwater tunnel that connects the island of Magerøya with the mainland. The bus will then take us south along majestic Porsangerfjord, before heading back towards the coast to Hammerfest, one of the world’s northernmost towns.

Excursion is subject to a minimum number of participants.

• Enjoy a scenic bus tour of one of the world’s northernmost towns

• Learn about Norway’s WWII history at the Museum of Reconstruction

• See the UNESCO-listed Meridian Column

• Enjoy breathtaking views from Mount Salen

• Embarking/Disembarking port: Hammerfest

• Available: 2 Jan - 30 Dec, except 24-25 Dec

• Transportation: Bus

• Meals: N/A

• Clothes: Comfortable shoes, warm and windproof clothing

• Snowmobile Trip in the Polar Night

Enjoy a guided exploration of one of the world’s northernmost towns and find out about the historical events that have shaped it. Once we arrive in Hammerfest, the bus will take us to the Museum of Reconstruction for Finnmark and Northern Troms. Here, you’ll come to appreciate the massive efforts that were made to rebuild the region of Northern Norway after WWII. 

We’ll then head over to the Meridian Column, Hammerfest’s UNESCO World Heritage site. This monument marks the northernmost measuring point of the Struve Geodetic Arc, a chain of survey triangulations that established the exact size and shape of the Earth.  

Our last stop on this tour is Mount Salen. On the way up the mountain, you’ll get a chance to learn more about Hammerfest’s unique history from your knowledgeable guide. From the top, you can enjoy gorgeous views of the town below.

Excursion is subject to a minimum number of participants.

• Discover Hammerfest as we walk through the town before and after the ascent 

• Take a guided mountain hike from one of the northernmost towns in the world.

• See the distinctive parish church of Hammerfest and a monument to Ole Olsen

• Get a magnificent view of the area and outlying islands from the mountain’s peak.

• Embarking/disembarking port: Hammerfest

• Available: 1 Jan - 31 Dec

• Walk approx. 2-3 km

• Meals: Warm drink and snack

• Clothes: Hiking shoes, warm and windproof clothing

• We recommend bringing a backpack with water bottle, extra clothing, camera, and sunglasses. The guide will bring necessary safety equipment.

• Minimum age: 16 years old when accompanied by an adult

• Choice of route up to Salenfjellet may vary due to seasonal road conditions

Take a guided hike up Mount Salen, a mountain that rises above one of the world’s northernmost towns, Hammerfest. We’ll set out from the quay and walk to Hammerfest’s distinctive parish church, with a stop at the monument to the Napoleonic Wars. Next, we’ll visit Ole Olsen place, dedicated to the famous composer who was born here, before making our way out of town and following a zigzag path up the mountain.

Walking to the top requires a good level of fitness, but the panoramas from the viewpoint are certainly worth the effort. On a clear day, you can enjoy incredible views of the islands Melkøya, Sørøya, and Seiland down below. Once you’ve taken in the scenery, we’ll take the zigzag path back to the town centre and go past the Arctic Culture Centre before returning to the ship.

Excursion is subject to a minimum number of participants.

• Step inside Tromsø’s splendid wooden cathedral for an unforgettable musical performance

• Hear traditional Norwegian folk songs and hymns performed by professional musicians

• Experience the cathedral´s breathtaking acoustics and enchanting ambience

• Embarking/disembarking port: Tromsø 

• Transportation: On foot 

• The concert is approximately 45 minutes long

• No filming or photography is permitted during the concert

You will be met off the ship and led to the magnificent Tromsø Cathedral. Built in 1861, this impressive structure embraces neo-Gothic style and showcases the finest wood from Målselv. The cathedral’s long, cruciform structure echoes with soft acoustics that lend themselves perfectly to a night of musical enchantment. 

As you arrive, you’ll receive your evening playlist complete with notes to enhance your experience. Prepare to be enchanted by a talented trio of musicians who will take you on a journey through Norway’s musical heritage.  

Though their performance will vary from season to season, it will encompass a delightful blend of Nordic classical masterpieces, familiar melodies, and folk tunes. All in all, it’s a moving way to end the day.

Excursion is subject to a minimum number of participants.

• Admire the stunning scenery of the Lofoten Islands

• Visit the picturesque fishing village of Henningsvær

• Enjoy looking around local boutiques and galleries

• Learn more about Lofoten, its nature, and its history

• Disembarking port: Svolvær

• Embarking port: Stamsund

• Available: 9 Apr - 31 Aug

• Duration: 3 hours 30 min 

• Transportation: Bus

• Clothes: Comfortable shoes and warm clothing

• A Taste of Vesterålen

• Sea Eagle Safari

The Lofoten Islands are known for excellent fishing, extreme and wild nature and small fishing villages. During the guided trip from Svolvær to Stamsund, you get to see sheltered bays, white sandy beaches, and large, green farmland. The scenery, the special light and the fishing have attracted artists from both Norway and abroad for centuries. We stop in Henningsvær, a charming fishing village with 500 inhabitants. In the 18th century it was the most important fishing village in Lofoten. Fishery is still important today, but the beautiful harbour is also full of charming local arts and crafts shops.

Henningsvær became protected in 2022 and is one of our most historically important fishing villages.  

In Henningsvær we will visit Galleri Lofoten, which exhibits one of Norway’s largest collection of paintings from Northern Norway dating back to the turn of the last century – a period by many called the golden age of North Norwegian painting.

 After the visit in Henningsvær, the bus takes you to Stamsund, where the ship awaits.

Excursion is subject to a minimum number of participants.

• Experience breathtaking nature on the island of Gimsøy in Lofoten

• Try horseback riding with your own Icelandic horse

• Ride on white sandy beaches while listening to the waves

• See the Northern Lights on horseback during autumn and winter

• Disembarking port: Svolvær

• Embarking port: Stamsund

• Available: 1 Feb - 31 Oct

• Transportation:  Bus and horse

• Clothes: Comfortable shoes, warm clothing. Riding boots and rainproof outerwear are available

• Max weight of passenger 90 kg. No horse-riding experience necessary

• Minimum age limit: 5 years old when accompanied by an adult

• A Taste of Vesterålen

• Sea Eagle Safari

A short bus ride from Svolvær brings us to Hov on the island of Gimsøy. Considered one of the oldest places in Lofoten, the area has boat mounds and tombs from the Viking Age. We’ll be visiting Hov Hestegård, a horse-riding centre located on a farm with views of Mount Hoven and the ocean. 

It’s now time to meet your magnificent Icelandic horse and saddle up for a horseback ride along a guided trail to the beach. We’ll follow the white sandy beach by the North Sea, passing remains from the Viking era on our way. During fall and winter, we ride through the rugged terrain in darkness, listening to the waves and looking out for the Northern Lights.  

The route and the horses are well suited for both beginners and experienced riders. The Icelandic horse is widely known for its calm temper and comfortable gait, whether at a slow or fast trot.

Excursion is subject to a minimum number of participants.

• Enjoy a sightseeing tour of the town of Harstad

• Visit the medieval church and the historical centre of Trondenes

• Take in the view of fjords, steep mountains, and idyllic agricultural landscapes

• Enjoy a piece of freshly baked waffle, lefse and a cup of coffee as you cross the fjord.

• Disembarking port: Harstad

• Embarking port: Sortland

• Available: 2 Jan - 31 Dec, except 25 Dec

• Transportation: Bus/ferry

• Meals: Coffee or tea and cakes

• Clothes: Comfortable shoes, warm and windproof clothing

• Lofoten Islands

• Sea Eagle Safari

• Lofoten by Horse

• RIB Adventure in Lofoten

• Discover a Fishing Village

We’ll begin our excursion with a short sightseeing tour of the streets of Harstad. This is the third largest community in Northern Norway with a history connected to herring fishing, the military, and in more recent times, offshore oil.  

On a clear day, you should be able to spot Trondenes peninsula to the north of the town. Here, you’ll visit a white 13th century medieval stone church, the northernmost of its kind in the world. We’ll drop in at the Trondenes Historical Centre which displays objects discovered in the region throughout history, from the early Stone Age through to Viking times, the Middle Ages, and the present day.  The museum also has a reconstructed farmstead dating from around 1200 with a granary, forge and stave church.

From Trondenes, the bus will take us for a scenic drive across Hinnøya Island to meet our ferry at Gullesfjord. On board, savour a hot drink and freshly made waffles and lefse along with the views. The tour then continues by bus along Sigerfjord to Sortland where you’ll rejoin your ship.

Excursion is subject to a minimum number of participants.

• Enjoy a scenic boat tour that takes you past islands and mountains around Lofoten

• Sail into Trollfjord and maybe see your Coastal Express ship make an impressive 180° turn

• Spot sea eagles, gulls, and other birds dive and feed on fish near your boat

• Possibility of also seeing whales, porpoises, basking sharks, and seals

• Disembarking port: Tender operation in open sea

• Embarking port: Svolvær

• Available: 24 Mar - 15 Oct

• Transportation: Boat

• Meals: Coffee, biscuits and a taste of stock fish

• Clothes: Comfortable shoes, warm clothing. Life vests are provided

• Hurtigruten ships sail into Trollfjord from the end of April depending on sea and ice conditions

• A Taste of Vesterålen

• Lofoten Islands

• Lofoten by Horse

A smaller boat will meet your ship out at sea to take you on a tour through Lofoten’s fjords, past islands and mountains, towards Trollfjord. Along the way, look for sea eagles in the sky, whales in the water, and seals on the shores. 

Trollfjord only measures 2.5 kilometres in length but has steep, dramatic mountainsides. Your Coastal Express ship may also visit the fjord, squeezing through its 100-metre-wide entrance. From aboard your boat, you’ll have the perfect perspective to photograph and to film the ship turning 180° on the spot to manoeuvre back out.  

When we leave Trollfjord, we’ll start to attract the surrounding birds with fish. Gulls will dive for fish right from your hand, while sea eagles circle the boat a few times first. Throwing the fish into the sea grants awe-inspiring photo opportunities of Northern Europe’s largest eagle flexing their 2.5-metre wingspan to swoop in and grab their meal with their powerful talons.

Excursion is subject to a minimum number of participants.

• See Lofoten’s rugged landscapes from a RIB

• Pass small, sheltered bays and sandy beaches

• Look out for sea eagles during the boat ride

• Embarking/disembarking port: Svolvær

• Available: 9 Jun - 8 Sep

• Transportation: RIB (rigid inflatable boat)

• Clothes: Comfortable shoes, warm and windproof clothing. Life jackets, thermal suits, and gloves are provided

• The excursion is not suitable for guests with back problems.

• Minimum age: 6 years old when accompanied by an adult

• A Taste of Vesterålen

• Sea Eagle Safari

Experienced skippers will first take us to an idyllic lagoon lined with white sandy beaches and surrounded by islands and skerries. Here, you’ll have a good chance of seeing sea eagles, Europe’s largest bird of prey.  

We’ll continue at high speed on Vestfjord to the island of Skrova. Decades ago, the fishing and whaling industry swelled the island’s population to several thousand, but nowadays, the village is home to just under 200 people. Skrova has two nicknames: ‘Photo Island’ because of the permanent outdoor photo exhibitions found throughout the island; and ‘Hawaii Island’ because of its sunny clime and impressive scenery. We’ll stop here to learn about modern-day salmon fishing and the island’s history.  

We’ll then travel to the village of Skjoldvær, before heading back across Vestfjord to Svolvær, where we’ll be greeted at the harbour entrance by the statue of the “Fisherman’s Wife” before re-boarding our waiting ship.

Excursion is subject to a minimum number of participants.

• Visit Lofotpils, a local brewery in the Lofoten Islands.

• Learn about the brewery’s history.

• See how Lofotpils brews its quality beer on site.

• Taste local beer in a beer-tasting session.

• Embarking/disembarking port: Svolvær

• Languages: English and Norwegian

• Available period: 4 Jan - 19 Dec

• Transportation: A short, 275-yard walk

• Clothes/footwear: Comfortable shoes and warm clothing

In 2006, a local beer enthusiast repurposed an old fish-landing facility from 1937 in the centre of Svolvær, turning it into the site of Lofoten’s first brewery. On today’s excursion, you’ll meet the brewery’s owner, Thorvadur, and take a tour of the building.

Our guided tour will take you around Lofotpils, the only craft brewery in Lofoten, where you’ll learn all about the beer-making process, from start to finish. You’ll also hear about the history of the brewery, and how the special conditions of Lofoten’s water made it possible to embark on this ambitious enterprise.

At the end of the tour, you’ll taste some of the beer brewed here in a beer-tasting session. All Lofotpils beer is brewed using fresh water from the Lofoten mountains. This gives the beer a fresh and unique taste, offering you the freshness and beauty of the mountains of Lofoten with every sip.

Excursion is subject to a minimum number of participants.

• Take a short bus tour around the pretty town of Brønnøysund

• Hike up to the hole in the Helgeland coast’s iconic Torghatten Mountain

• Admire impressive views of the Helgeland archipelago from the hole

• Learn about the region’s folklore, inspired by the surrounding mountains

• Embarking/disembarking port: Brønnøysund

• Available: 1 Jun - 31 Oct

• Transportation: Bus

• Meals: Coffee or tea and cake

• Clothes: Hiking shoes, warm and windproof clothing

• We recommend bringing along a backpack with water bottle, extra clothing, camera, sunglasses.

• Your guide will bring any necessary safety equipment

Travelling by bus through the attractive town of Brønnøysund, we’ll head to the foot of Torghatten Mountain. With the distinctive hole that pierces its centre, it is one of the Norwegian coast’s most recognisable and iconic spots. According to local legend, the mountain was once the hat of the Troll King who used it to block an arrow aimed at a young maiden. 

We’ll spend about half an hour gently ambling up the mountain’s rugged natural path to where the hole starts. The hole is 35 metres high, and runs for 160 metres, ranging between 15 and 20 metres wide, big enough for one of Coastal Express ships to pass through it.   

On reaching the hole, we're rewarded with a fantastic panorama of the Helgeland coast below. Taking the same route back down the mountain, we'll end our hike with a warming drink and tasty snack.

Excursion is subject to a minimum number of participants.

• Enjoy views of the beautiful UNESCO-listed Vega archipelago by boat

• Visit the Vega World Heritage Centre which charts the islands’ history

• Learn about the traditional industry of eider duck down harvesting

• Have a complimentary hot drink and local snack in the café

• Disembarking port: Sandnessjøen

• Embarking port: Brønnøysund

• Available:  10 June - 9 Sep 

• Transportation: Boat

• Meals: Local fruit drink, coffee, tea and local snack

• Clothes: Comfortable shoes, warm and windproof clothing

Discover a hidden gem as you tour the UNESCO-listed islands of Vega that sit south of the Arctic Circle. We’ll venture from Sandnessjøen, through the cluster of islands, islets, and reefs by boat while our guide speaks of the fascinating culture of this coastal landscape and its people. 

Coming ashore at Gardsøy, we’ll visit the Vega World Heritage Centre which highlights the outstanding 1500-year-old tradition that is unique to the area. The islanders act as bird guardians for the migrating eider ducks that nest here. They build tiny ‘houses’ for the animals and after the hatchlings have moved out, the highly-prized eider down is collected.  

Through the exhibitions and short film, you’ll be taken on a journey from Stone Age settlements to fish farming of the modern day. Admire the beautiful views from the café while enjoying a hot drink and local snack.  

We’ll sail back along the idyllic Helgeland coast and end our journey in Brønnøysund.

Excursion is subject to a minimum number of participants.

• Take a short journey around the beautiful town of Brønnøysund

• Enjoy an informative tour at the Norwegian Aquaculture Centre at Toft

• Feed the salmon and hear about their marine life from experienced guides

• Have a taste of the fresh local Norwegian salmon, famous around the world

• Embarking/disembarking port: Brønnøysund

• Available: 1 Jan - 31 Dec

• Transportation: Bus

• Meals: A taste of salmon 

• Clothes: Comfortable shoes and warm clothing

After a bus tour around the pretty town of Brønnøysund, we’ll admire the impressive views as we cross the magnificent bridge to the Norwegian Aquaculture Centre in Toft.  

There, our guides will tell the story of Norway’s vibrant salmon fishing culture. Meet the salmon that grow here and see how they live, then take part in feeding these beautiful creatures. You’ll also hear about the different bits of technology that helps the salmon from egg to fish. There’s even an opportunity to try an underwater camera to see the fish up close.  

The Norwegian coast’s cool and clear waters offer the prime conditions for sustainable and responsible aquaculture. As a result, Norway is one of the world’s major exporters of fish and seafood with around 37 million people around the globe enjoying the country’s produce. Sample it yourself as we end the tour with a taste of the salmon that’s so internationally loved.

Excursion is subject to a minimum number of participants.

• Tour the attractive fishing towns of Kristiansund and Molde

• Ride along the world-renowned Atlantic Road in the county of Romsdal

• Discover the impressive 17th century Kvernes Stave Church

• Enjoy a traditional local dish, bacalao, at a charming restaurant

• Disembarking port: Kristiansund

• Embarking port: Molde

• Available: 11 Apr - 10 Sep, except 17 May

• Transportation: Bus

• Meals: Bacalao, bread, caramel pudding, coffee or tea

• Clothes: Comfortable shoes and warm clothing

• Trondheim with Nidaros Cathedral

What has been named ‘the world’s best road trip’ starts with a short tour of picturesque Kristiansund before continuing to Averøy, an island that sits at the entry of ‘The Road in the Ocean,’ The Atlantic Road. This route is one of Norway's most visited attractions and won the title of "Engineering Feat of the Century" in 2005.

Covering over 8 kilometres, this unique highway zigzags along the dramatic coastline, crossing over bridges that connect the series of small islands and islets that decorate the stunning landscape.

Stopping at the unique Kvernes Stave Church, we admire the magnificent view of the fjord and take a peek at the attractive baroque interior.

We’ll stop at a cosy tavern to tuck into a Norwegian specialty, Bacalao. Made from the region's famous klippfisk (salted and dried cod), this hearty stew is influenced by Mediterranean recipes and is a result of extensive trading with southern Europe in the 19th century.

Our scenic route ends with a brief tour around the 'City of Roses,' Molde, before rejoining our ship.

Excursion is subject to a minimum number of participants.