The Coastal Express – South

Kirkenes – Bergen

The southbound leg on our classic coastal voyage, exploring beautiful archipelagos & fjordlands

MS Richard With sailing through Raftsundet, a 25-mile strait in Norway’s Nordland county

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See Norway’s most dramatic coastal highlights on this southbound sailing, past Arctic landscapes and remote islands

Set sail from Kirkenes in Norway’s far north and journey south to Bergen. Visit Senja’s island wilderness, the fishing villages of Lofoten, and the island maze of the Helgeland Coast. With more time spent in spectacular and remote areas, this is a voyage perfect for nature lovers.

  • From the Arctic through Norway’s wild north

    Sail through tiny Trollfjord and past the famed Torghatten mountain

  • Full-board dining with Norway's Coastal Kitchen

    Enjoy breakfast, lunch and dinner made from the region's finest local ingredients

  • Comfortable cabins with private bathrooms

    Choose from spacious suites to inside or outside cabin options

  • Up to 6 port calls each day

    Short and long stops, offering a deeper look at coastal life

  • Enhance your voyage with optional seasonal excursions

    Such as hiking, dogsledding, boat safaris, e-bike tours and cultural visits

Save up to 25%

-25%

€890

pp

Original price from €1,187

Full board

Lowest rate - Sailing December 2025

MS Trollfjord arriving in the port of Åndalsnes
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Our famous route connecting local communities since 1893

The route

You can drag or zoom in on the map to explore the route in more detail.

What to expect on an Original voyage

Life on our small ships is comfortable, informal and friendly – and Norway’s coast always feels close by.

MS Kong Harald Arctic Superior U2D Double Bed

A calm and cosy space to rest

Feel a sense of koselig – a warm, contented sense of belonging – in your onboard accommodation. Choose between four categories, from cosy inside cabins to spacious suites with sea views.

Dinner in Kysten A La Carte HGR 118705 Agurtxane Concellon

Relaxed dining gives you a taste of Norway

Whether you choose fine dining, crowd-pleasing dishes in the bistro, pastries from the bakery or a little bit of everything on our main restaurant, each morsel you eat on board connects you to the coast.

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Coastal knowledge, always close at hand

Our Expedition Teams share their stories and local insight to help you get even more from your voyage. Learn about the places you visit in a lecture, ask for excursion recommendations or join a guided hike.

Optional excursions and extensions(17)

Choose these and many more when booking your voyage online, or take your time to decide and add them later in MyBooking.

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What's included

On board, you'll enjoy outstanding food, facilities and hospitality, so you can concentrate on simply enjoying the beauty of Norway.

Choice of cabin/suite type

Select your preferred cabin or suite type

Full-board dining

Daily breakfast, lunch & dinner at the ship’s main restaurant, Torget

Unlimited tea & filter coffee

Choose from our selection of teas & on-tap filter coffee, available all day

Suite only

Welcome basket

Kick off your journey in style with sparkling wine and a basket of treats

Suite only

Priority check-in

Enjoy fast-track check-in for a smooth and swift start to your journey

Suite only

Traditional Norwegian wool sweater

A warm, authentic Norwegian welcome gift that you can take home

Our ships sailing this route(8)

Different ships sail this route depending on your departure date – but you’ll stay on the same ship for the whole voyage.

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MS Kong Harald sailing quietly along the Norwegian coast
MS Nordkapp sailing on a summer’s day along the Norwegian coast
MS Nordnorge on a winter sailing near Molde
MS Nordlys sailing past Torghatten, an icon on the Norwegian coast
MS Polarlys sailing past the statue of Fiskerkona as it enters the port of Svolvær
MS Richard With arriving in the port of Finnsnes
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Special Offers(2)

Frequently Asked Questions

Both voyages visit 34 ports between Bergen and Kirkenes, but the experience differs depending on direction.

  • Northbound (Bergen to Kirkenes): This route is ideal if you want to see explore cities like Ålesund, Trondheim and Tromsø, or visit the famous fjords of Geirangerfjord or Hjørundfjord (season depending). You'll also enjoy a long stop in Honningsvåg, with optional excursions to the North Cape.

  • Southbound (Kirkenes to Bergen): This route is great for nature lovers, with opportunities to visit the enchanting Lofoten Islands, the legendary Torghatten mountain island, and magical Trollfjord. Optional excursions include a Sea Eagle safari and visit to the Hurtigruten Museum in Stokmarknes.

Seven ships sail the Coastal Express route, and your ship will depend on your departure date. All offer similar facilities and experiences, though MS Vesterålen is smaller and offers a more classic, intimate feel.

See all Hurtigruten ships

The Coastal Express sails year-round, as it has done since 1893. Summer is the most popular season, with long days to explore under the Midnight Sun, while winter offers the chance to see the Northern Lights. The shoulder seasons of spring and autumn are quieter times to travel, with fewer crowds and spectacular seasonal colours along the coast.

Yes. Breakfast, lunch and dinner are included, and are served in the main restaurant, Torget. Tea, filter coffee and water are also available throughout the day. Additional food and drink packages - such as upgrades to include dining in Kysten - can be purchased online, by calling our Customer Service Centre, or when on board.

Read more about dining on board

There is so much more to do on board than just watch the Norwegian coast sail by. Our Expedition Team run daily lectures, presentations, on-deck talks and evening gatherings tailored to the season. Expect around 10–15 lectures on topics such as history, wildlife, geology and the Northern Lights (in winter) or the Midnight Sun (in summer). You’ll also find a sauna on board (open daily 06:00–22:00 - not on MS Vesterålen) and outdoor hot tubs on certain ships (MS Nordnorge, MS Nordkapp, MS Polarlys and MS Richard With).

Norwegian and English are the official onboard languages. Some members of the Expedition Team, reception staff and service crew also speak German. On board MS Richard With, some of the Expedition Team also speak French. Most of our excursions are guided in two or three languages. Please contact the Expedition Team on board for further information.

No, excursions are not included in the price of the voyage. These can be booked for an additional cost - either when you book your voyage, in the My Booking portal, or with the Expedition Team on board.

Find out more about our excursions

Yes. We have a variety of options available with flights, transfers and hotels. For peace of mind, when you book the whole package directly with Hurtigruten, you’ll have access to assistance 24/7 including while you are travelling. Find out more:

Yes, free Wi-Fi is available throughout the ship - both in your cabin and in communal areas.

Yes. All our ships welcome wheelchair users and have accessible cabins with automatic doors. Passengers need to bring their own wheelchair and, if assistance is required, travel with a companion. Please let us know at the time of booking so we can make the right arrangements.