Bergen – Kirkenes – Bergen
The Coastal Express
The original Norwegian coastal voyage – connecting fjords, towns & people since 1893
- Regular departures
- 12 days
- 34 Ports
- Full board
Get up close to Svartisen, Norway's second-largest glacier, on this guided bus and boat excursion from Ørnes.
Highlights
Enjoy a guided bus ride in picturesque surroundings
Take a short boat trip across a fjord
Visit the Svartisen Tourist Center
Pass by the world’s most powerful tidal current, Saltstraumen
How it works
From Ørnes, we’ll board a bus for a guided tour to the small village of Holandsvik, passing gorgeous scenery on the way. From here, we’ll take a 10-minute boat ride across the fjord to the Svartisen Tourist Centre, which has prime views of Norway’s second-largest glacier.
At around 370 square kilometres, Svartisen is a remarkable sight. Despite sitting at the lowest elevation of any glacier on the European continent, it sends some 60 tongues of ice reaching into a mountain landscape of peaks over 1,500 metres high.
Warm up afterwards with a hot drink and a spread of homemade cakes at the centre, before rejoining the coastal road back to Bodø. On our way back to the ship, we’ll also pass Saltstraumen, the world's strongest tidal current.
Before you book
Activity level
Moderate: Some mobility needed
Group size
Groups up to 40 guests
Availability
Summer
Transport
Boat
Food & drink
Coffee / Tea, Pastry / Cake / Chocolate
What to bring
Comfortable shoes, warm and windproof clothing
Good to know
The tour is not suitable for persons with limited mobility We will not go all the way up to the glacier
Voyages with this excursion
This excursion is available on select Hurtigruten voyages along the Norwegian coast. Explore all voyages.
Available: Summer
Bergen – Kirkenes
The Coastal Express – North
The northbound leg of our classic coastal route, from Bergen to Arctic Norway
- Regular departures
- 7 days
- 34 Ports
- Full board
Bergen - Kirkenes - Bergen
The Coastal Express - Northern Lights
Our classic route during aurora season, including direct flights from regional UK airports
- October 2026 - January 2027
- 12 days
- 34 Ports
- Full board
Frequently asked questions
Answers to the questions our guests ask most often
If an excursion is not fully booked, any remaining slots will be available for purchase on board through your Expedition Team. These will be charged in Norwegian Kroner at your ship’s exchange rate.
However, to ensure yourself a spot, we recommend booking in advance.
You will be able to view them all by logging into your booking here.
If you booked through a travel agent, you can reach out to them for this information.
Yes, you will get a full refund to your original payment method. If that's not possible, we will reach out to check your payment details.
Each of our excursions has a rating to illustrate the level of fitness required. There are four categories, with 1 being the easiest and 4 the most difficult.
Level 1 = Easy: suitable for most
Excursions at this level are physically undemanding and suitable for most people. Level 2 = Moderate: some mobility needed
Excursions in this category involve a small amount of physical activity, but on easy terrain with few major challenges. Level 3 = Active: good mobility needed
Excursions in this category are more active and involve outdoor pursuits that require a decent level of fitness. You may be expected to carry your own backpack and equipment. They are not suitable for those with limited mobility.
Level 4 = Challenging: good mobility and fitness needed
These are our most challenging excursions, and require a good level of fitness. They may involve hiking or biking on uneven terrain and may also require specialist equipment. You would be expected to carry your own backpack and equipment. Excursions in this category are not suitable for those with limited mobility.
Prices can vary depending on the season you travel. Costs such as exchange rates and local prices may change from year to year, so we show a “starting from” price as a guide. The exact price will be confirmed when you book.