Hosts of the coast – our Expedition Teams
Sailing with Hurtigruten, you don’t just observe the coast – you will understand and become a part of the landscape through which you sail! The dedicated expedition team has one mission: to enhance your experience by involving you and interpreting the nature, wildlife, culture and natural phenomena you see during your voyage.
PublishedFrom 2018, nine out of our 11 ships along the Norwegian coast have an Expedition Leader, an expedition team and special activities on board like lectures and presentations, on deck guiding, gatherings and environmental actions. These ships function as a “base camp” – the place where you sleep, eat and share experiences - and they are the starting point for all our onshore activities.
Get the spirit of the places you visit
Through guiding, story-telling and lectures, as well as excursions, hikes and “friluftsliv”- activities, they will enthusiastically share their knowledge and passion. Enjoy learning more about subjects such as biology, history, geology, culture and science in an entertaining and informal way. These “coastal aficionados” are handpicked for their local expertise and specific knowledge in relevant fields. They will also be taking you to all the best spots and interesting sites along the coast, most of them are way off the beaten track.
Making the inaccessible accessible
During the summer months you can join our explorer boats for guided nature and culture tours to sights of special interest in the area around Tromsø and Trondheim. These are special small boats that are made to bring you close to the coast and let you explore hidden, less accessible places, all in the spirit of “friluftsliv” and adventure. See Norway through the native eyes of the expedition team. Together with their guidance, you share in new adventures, get closer and deeper into Norway's physical and cultural landscapes, and create personal stories you will remember forever.
Special hikes & Norwegian 'friluftsliv'
Norwegians are known for their obsession with the outdoors. Whether they work in an office or already work outside, they constantly yearn to step out into the great outdoors. This connection with nature is in their blood. This is Norwegian 'friluftsliv'. Sailing along the Norwegian coast, we want to show you what Norwegians love, and hope you will experience at least a touch of that happiness on our excursions, maybe when sitting around a campfire, hiking a trail, or even just by enjoying a cup of coffee or tea together. We want to inspire you with that same sense of 'friluftsliv' when you join our Expedition Team. The purpose of our activities is not only about lectures and facts on local history, but the activity itself. Enjoy the sensation of being outdoors - feeling, smelling, listening and being completely in the moment.
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 utmost to offer parts of the programme in German.