Hosts of the Coast – Our Expedition Teams
Sailing with Hurtigruten, you don’t just observe the coast – you understand and become a part of the landscapes you pass through! Our dedicated Expedition teams have one mission: to enhance your experience by involving you and interpreting the nature, wildlife, culture and natural phenomena you see during your cruise.
Norwegian Coast Expedition Team
Our Expedition Team members are not only coastal experts, they are your onboard and onshore hosts during our coastal program. They give lectures and presentations with one main theme every day. They also take you out on outdoor activities and hikes and inform you on how to make the most out of your stay without disturbing the fragile wildlife and nature. All our Expedition Team members have extensive knowledge on how to conduct environmental friendly tourism in the areas we visit. Our Expedition Teams are carefully selected for their local knowledge, specific expertise in relevant fields and most important of all, their enthusiasm, curiosity and love of the areas we choose to visit on our expeditions. They are modern explorers, willing to share stories, interpret what you see, and guide you to the most interesting sites and experiences.
Our Expedition Teams are also trained within photography and during the cruise will host photo presentations. They can teach you how to take even better pictures as we sail through amazing landscapes – filled with mountains, fjords and sea.
Outdoor Activities & Hikes
We Norwegians are known for our passion to be outdoors in nature. No matter if you work indoors or out, we crave to be outside. It is in our blood. We want to share and inspire you with our passion for the outdoors through a variety of hikes together with the Expedition Teams.
The focus here is not to be lectured and overwhelmed with facts. It is on the hike itself, reaching a viewpoint or encountering an inspiring sight. We focus more on revering nature, often off the beaten track: be it forest, shoreline or windswept mountains - no matter what the weather. Sometimes the roads are completely iced over, the wind is strong enough to topple cows, and fog impairs the view, but the call of the wild, the joy of being outdoors, feeling, smelling, and being in the moment are essential elements of your experience.
Some of the hikes are physically demanding, so good general physical condition is required. The terrain will be variable, uneven, often slippery and at different elevation levels. The hikes are offered presold as a package, sold as packages onboard, or separately booked aboard the ship.
Lasting Memories
Sailing along the Norwegian coast with Hurtigruten, you experience one the world’s most beautiful sea voyages. We explore Norway’s scenic fjords, visit charming ports and see rare wildlife. Our photo-trained Expedition Team capture it all with their camera gear. A copy the photos from your journey are available for purchase on a memory stick at the end of your voyage – creating lasting visual memories for you to take home.
Making the Inaccessible Accessible
During the summer months, you can join our small boats for guided nature and culture tours to sights of special interest in areas around Tromsø and Trondheim. These special small boats are designed to bring you close to the coast and let you explore hidden, less accessible places, all in the spirit of 'friluftsliv' (love of the outdoors) and adventure. See Norway through the eyes of a native Norwegian expedition team member. With the expedition team's guidance, you experience new adventures, get closer and deeper into Norway's physical and cultural landscapes, and create personal stories you'll remember forever.
Norwegian 'Friluftsliv'
Norwegians are known for their obsession with the outdoors. Whether they work inside an office or outside, they constantly yearn to get out into the great outdoors. This affinity with nature is in our blood. Norwegians call it 'friluftsliv'. When sailing with Hurtigruten, we hope you experience at least a bit of that joy on our excursions, perhaps while sitting around a campfire, hiking a trail, or even just enjoying a cup of coffee or tea together in the great outdoors. We want our expedition teams to fill you with – inspire you –with that same sense of 'friluftsliv'. The purpose of our activities is not only about learning facts about a place, but about the joy in the activity itself. Enjoy the sensation of being outdoors – feeling, smelling, listening – and being completely in the moment.
Practical information:
The Expedition teams are present on 9 of our 11 ships along the Norwegian coast (all except MS Lofoten and MS Vesterålen), and are included in your voyage. They are present every day, all year. If you want to do additional hikes with the Expedition Team, this comes at an additional cost.
Themed days:
- Day 1: Welcome on board info
- Day 2: Outdoor nature life “Friluftsliv”/Fjords of Norway
- Day 3: Life of Vikings
- Day 4: Polar History (hunters and trappers)
- Day 5: Sámi Culture
- Day 6: Theme from the relevant topic menu*
- Day 7: Theme from the relevant topic menu*
- Day 8: Polar History
- Day 9: The history of Hurtigruten
- Day 10: Myths and Legends
- Day 11: Topic from the relevant topic menu*
- Day 12: Farewell session
*Relevant topic menu – choices depending on interest, relevance for the season and knowledge of the teams.
- Climate & natural phenomena
- Modern Norway (Fish, oil and industry)
- Biology
- Flora & Fauna
- Photography
- Life along the coast
- Food & Expeditions
- Norwegian ski history
- Life in the North
Recommended Equipment
When going on hikes you should choose your equipment based on the weather and the season.
As a general rule of thumb, you should remember to pack good shoes for walking, such as boots for rainy and muddy conditions. Bring along a wind and waterproof jacket, preferably with a hood. Hiking trousers, gloves, a hat, water bottles and sunglasses are also recommended. It’s also a good idea to bring a pair of lightweight binoculars and a camera.
Languages
Our activities and lectures will be mainly offered in English. A written summary in Norwegian, German and French will be handed out before the lecture starts. When we have German-speaking staff members, we will do our best to offer parts of the program in German.
Disclaimer
Norway is a very long country with varied weather. We reserve the right to select the hikes we offer after evaluating weather conditions, physical skill levels and other unforeseeable factors on all voyages. Nevertheless, we always strive to make the hikes happen. Our guides are experienced and well trained for Norwegian weather. You may experience deep snow, fresh rain or Arctic sunshine. Come and explore with us!
