Norwegian Fjords & Spitsbergen

Your journey begins in Bergen where after arriving independently you will be transferred to the port to board your ship in the afternoon. Settle into your new surroundings and prepare for the adventures that lie ahead.

The first stop on your Norwegian Fjords and Spitsbergen adventure will be Flåm, where you can disembark to enjoy an exciting journey on the famous Flåm Railway through the spectacularly scenic valleys and mountain passes to the beautiful fjord of the Flåm district. The Flåm Line is a 20km (12.4 mi) route between Myrdal and Flåm which boasts an incredibly steep gradient and is a popular tourist bucket-list experience. This railway trip is included as part of your package.

This morning your ship will cruise into the scenic Olden Fjord where you can disembark and take a short bus ride to the Briksdal area. The main attraction here is the nearby Briksdalbreen glacier in Jostedalsbreen National Park which is reachable via a 20-30 minute walk. The walk is classified as “moderate to strenuous” with the grade being slightly uphill, but the footing is easy and the views as you reach the glacier lake really are worth the effort! Alternatively you can choose to take a trolley ride which will take you most of the way, meaning you will only need to walk the last quarter of a mile.

Today we will sail deep into the UNESCO World Heritage site of Geiranger Fjord, one of Norway’s most spectacular and most visited fjords. This 15km long fjord is surrounded by mountains, lush green trees, waterfalls, and several farms and affords amazing photo opportunities so have your camera on hand at all times. Here you can enjoy a coach tour to Dalnibba soaking up the incredible views along the way, or the more adventurous can opt for a 10km mountain hike to explore the area and take in the unforgettable spectacle of the view of the fjord from above.

We continue our journey through the stunning Norwegian Fjords as we arrive in Trondheim and disembark to enjoy the sights of this modern city surrounded by beautiful forests and mountains. There is much to explore here and today you can choose between hiking in Bymarka Nature Reserve before visiting the Sverresborg Folk Museum, or enjoying a city tour including the Folk Museum and the elaborate Nidaros Cathedral, built between 1070 and 1300. The afternoon will be at your leisure and you can enjoy the pretty cafes, restaurants, bars and waterfront of Norway’s third largest city.

By now you will well know that the rugged coastline of central Norway features some of the world's most beautiful scenery and one of the highlights of this is Torghatten, one of the most bizarre rock formations in Norway and a significant local landmark. Today you can enjoy a Zodiac excursion to Torghatten and the Treana archipelago and your captain will negotiate with local Norwegian pilots to determine our best Zodiac landing options. Our goal is to visit Torghatten for a hike up to the famous hole in the mountain, which offers breathtaking views of the region.

Throughout your visit your expedition guides will offer information on the area, as well as an insight into Norway's mythical trolls, and your ship's photography expert will be on hand to offer advice on how to capture the perfect shot. Later we plan to Zodiac towards the Treana archipelago that is comprised of over 1000 islands and in the afternoon we will head to the quaint and picturesque UNESCO World Heritage site of Vega Island. Here you can enjoy a wander through the islands tiny and beautiful fishing villages, learn about the area’s history of eider down harvesting and enjoy a guided nature hike.

Today we will visit Svartisen, Lovund, and Vikingen, with the first stop being Svartisen, Norway’s second-largest glacier. Here you can choose to hike to one of the outlet glaciers of Svartisen, Engabreen, which ends at the lowest point of any glacier on the European mainland, at 20 meters above sea level. The first 30 to 45 minutes of the hike are easy with no incline, and the remaining hike is guided in small groups as it can be a challenging and complicated maze of rocky outcroppings leading to a close encounter with the ice. Everyone should reach a beautiful lookout over the lake. You can also opt to visit the café for waffles and coffee.

Later we will visit Vikingen Island, a small island that sits directly on the Arctic Circle and features a small statue of a globe celebrating its position on one of the five major latitude circles.

The morning of day 8 brings us to the Lofoten archipelago, an enchanting area of picturesque villages by the sea backed with jagged peaks. We will make land on the island of Aa and go ashore by Zodiac to enjoy a coach trip through the area. Places you will visit include the Tørrfiskmuseum (Stockfish Museum) where you can learn about the traditional works of the islands, Nusfjord, one of Norway's oldest and best-preserved fishing villages, Henningsvær, Svolvær and the Viking Museum at Bøstad.

After an enjoyable day of sightseeing you will re-board as the ship cruises into one of Norway's most famous fjords, the short yet dramatic Trollfjord. Make sure to be on deck for spectacular photo opportunities and to search the cliffs for Norway’s mythical trolls!

On day 9 we will continue to explore these beautiful islands, spending time on Andenes Island, a spectacular location for spotting marine wildlife.

Today we will arrive in Tromsø, the capital of northern Norway, known as the "Gateway to the Arctic" as it was the embarkation point for many Arctic expeditions. Here you can enjoy a guided tour learning about past Arctic expeditions and taking in the sights including the Arctic Cathedral, whose unique architecture is evocative of snow and icebergs. There will be chance to visit some of the major sites including the Polar and Tromsø Museums and (weather permitting) enjoy a stunning view from a cable car. Alternatively you can choose to hike on the mountain top overlooking Tromsø, or wander the city's streets and enjoy a delicious lunch of traditional open faced sandwiches while gazing over the city.

As we leave the stunning fjords of mainland Norway behind and head towards the pristine wilderness of the Svalbard archipelago your ship will sail past the mist-shrouded Bjørnøya (Bear Island). Weather permitting there may be the chance of a Zodiac excursion along the coastline. Bear Island even from afar has spectacular views and is home to thousands of species of birds like fulmars, kittiwakes, guillemots and gulls. As we continue our sail there will be informative and entertaining lectures and presentations from your onboard experts on everything from the wildlife you can expect on the next part of your journey to the history of Arctic exploration.

As we arrive in the stunning Arctic wilderness of Spitsbergen our first area for exploration will be Hornsund with its deep fjords, mountains and massive ice sheets. A flexible itinerary here will allow for your captain and expedition team to select the best areas to explore by Zodiac in search of wildlife encounters and spectacular photo opportunities. Shore walks and Zodiac adventures bring us up close to mystical landscapes, icebergs, and wildlife including walruses, seals, reindeer, Arctic foxes and, of course, polar bears!

As we sail up the west coast of Svalbard we continue to explore this icy wonderland in search of unique wildlife encounters and scenic experiences. Soak up the sights and sounds of the area, with its wildflowers on the tundra, huge glaciers, nesting birds and sea mammals like polar bears, whales and walruses.

Today your thrilling Norwegian Fjords and Spitsbergen expedition will come to an end as your ship sails through beautiful Isfjorden and into Longyearbyen, the administrative capital of Svalbard. After disembarkation a transfer will be provided to the airport for your homeward travel or to a downtown location should you wish to spend more time in this unique Arctic town. There are a wide variety of Arctic adventures that can be enjoyed in Longyearbyen and please feel free to contact a member of the WILDFOOT team if this is something which may be of interest.