Travel around the top of the Norwegian peninsula for a very special Northern Lights adventure. Snowmobile across Norwegian tundra; fish for king crabs; sail along the Norwegian coast to the Russian border; sleep on ice in the world’s most northerly snow hotel. Enjoy fish straight from the sea in a quayside restaurant and reindeer cooked over an open fire in a traditional Sami Teepee. And much more besides.
DAY 1 UK – TROMSO
Scheduled SAS flight(s) via Oslo to Tromso on the edge of Norwegian Lapland. Self transfer to & overnight at Hotel With. Buffet supper at the hotel.
DAY 2 TROMSO
Day at leisure in this uni town set down by Tromso Sound: the Arctic and Polaria museums and Fjellheisen cable car with its seascape view of the city and Tromso Sound are all worth it. And of course you shouldn’t leave Tromso without having fish in one of the quayside restaurants. Early evening departure by Hurtigruten sailing north along the coast to Honningsvag with overnight accommodation in an inside 2 berth cabin with private WC/Shower.
DAY 3 HONNINGSVAG – NORTH CAPEKJOLLEFJORD- MEHAMN
Late morning arrival in Honningsvag and then by bus north to the vertiginous cliff face, christened North Cape and labelled Europe’s northernmost point (even though it isn’t!) by English explorer Richard Chancellor. On arrival toast your intrepidity in champagne and gaze out across the eerie Arctic Ocean before returning to Honningsvag and re-embarking on your ship. Sail across the Kjollefjord, clad yourself in thermal outerwear and snowmobile with your guide across the Nordkyn peninsula to the tiny fishing village of Mehamn. Dinner and overnight in a waterside Rorbu.
DAY 4 MEHAMN – KIRKENES
Time to savour this uniquely remote spot and its rugged surroundings before re-embarking on the Hurtigruten and cruising overnight above the 70th parallel to Kirkenes on the Norwegian/Russian border.
DAY 5 KIRKENES – SNOW HOTEL
Disembark early morning and transfer to Rica Arctic Hotel. Early afternoon husky safari over by the Russian border with a hot snack lunch en route. Upon return transfer to the Kirkenes Snow Hotel with a guided tour on arrival followed by dinner in a nearby Kota followed by a night sleeping on ice in one of the hotel’s exquisitely sculpted snow suites.
DAY 6 KIRKENES – UK
Warm up with a sauna before breakfast and transfer to the airport for return flight to the UK.
The Hotel With is down close to the quayside in the city centre with Tromso Sound on one side and the city’s historic centre on the other. Close by are the Arctic Botanical gardens, Mack Brewery, Arctic Cathedral and several restaurants and bars. All 76 rooms have air conditioning.
~ Waterfront location ~ Non smoking rooms ~ Restaurant
Norway’s everyday maritime bus service dropping off people, post and packing cases all along the coast.
The ships in Hurtigruten's 11-strong fleet vary in size and age but they all maintain the same welcoming, relaxed and intimate atmosphere on board. From the larger, more modern Trollfjord and Midnatsol (2002/3) to the traditional heritage vessels Nordstjernen (1956) and Lofoten (1962), every ship provides its own intimate and unique travel experience.
From the privacy and comfort of your cabin to the open spaces of the public decks, the emphasis of every Hurtigruten voyage is informality, relaxation and enjoying the spectacle of the ever-changing scenery.
Whilst the level of service and your experience are the same, the ships differ from each other greatly. The older heritage vessels will take you back to the golden age of Hurtigruten with their wooden panelling and more classical design whilst the artwork, facilities and size of the larger, newer vessels give you more deck space, larger public areas and even the opportunity to enjoy out outdoor Jacuzzis when you are deep in the Arctic Circle.
December - April ~ Daily
Hotel With
Hurtigruten
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