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Complete Norway - Winter

(13 days / 12 nights)

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Oslo to the Arctic, by Rail and Sea

This 13-day self-guided tour is a combination of what many consider to be the world’s most beautiful cruise voyage and rail excursion—the Norway in a Nutshell® train journey and the Hurtigruten Coastal Voyage. You will spend 7 days cruising the Norwegian coastline where you will visit both big towns and small fising villages, cross the arctic circle and sail even further north. You will experience diverse nature, deep fjords, UNESCO protected areas and get the opportunity to join optional shore excursions. If you are in luck, you may see the northern lights make an appearance during your cruise.

Looking for the summer version of this tour?

13 days / 12 nights

Price p.p. from

EUR

The amount will be charged in EUR

Approx 6631 EUR

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— Why book with Nordic Visitor

  • Hassle-free & seamless travel experience
  • Tailored tour options
  • Value for your money
  • Specialists in cruise & train tours
  • Great customer reviews 

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Tour Highlights

  • Enjoy a full-board 7-day Hurtigruten Coastal Voyage from Bergen to Kirkenes
  • Searching for the majestic northern lights in northern Norway
  • Board the Norway in a Nutshell® tour to experience breathtaking landscapes
  • Complete your northern adventure by sailing across the Arctic Circle
  • Experience the legendary Flåm railway, one of the world’s steepest railway line
  • Explore the colourful, charming cities of Bergen, Trondheim and Oslo
  • Cruise through dramatic fjords like Aurlandsfjord and Næroyfjord
  • Experience life in the northern towns of Honningsvåg and Tromso

Travel style

Independent Cruise i

Interest

Culture and History i, Fjords i, Hurtigruten cruise i, Northern Lights i, Soft Activities i

Season

Oct - Apr

Departure

Daily

Interest

Culture and History i, Fjords i, Hurtigruten cruise i, Northern Lights i, Soft Activities i

Itinerary

A day-by-day plan to guide your journey.

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  • Day 1: Welcome to Oslo

    When you arrive at Oslo‘s Gardermoen Airport, make your way into Oslo‘s city centre. Many travellers opt to take the express train to Oslo Central Station, but we can arrange a private transfer for you (at additional cost). For those arriving early, we recommend exploring Oslo by foot, spending the afternoon at sights including the Munch Museum, Akershus fortress, Oslo Opera, and the Aker Brygge area.

    Spend the night in Oslo.

    Attractions Attractions Optional Extras

  • Day 2: The Highlights of Oslo

    This morning, get an early start to explore the Norwegian capital. We recommend booking a guided bus tour that will take you along the famous landmarks of the city. Highlights include the beautiful Vigeland Sculpture Park, the Royal Palace, and Oslo City Hall. Another option is to tour Oslo on your own visiting some of the above attractions, or others like the Fram Polar Ship Museum and Karl Johans street.

    Spend another night in Oslo.

    Attractions Attractions Optional Extras

  • Day 3: Norway in a Nutshell - The Flåm Railway in Winter

    Get an early start and head to Oslo Central Station, where you’ll begin the Norway in a Nutshell® railway journey towards Bergen, with an overnight stop in Flåm. This train ride takes you over Norway’s “mountainous rooftops”, through charming villages like Gol and Geilo.

    In Myrdal, you’ll switch trains to the famous Flåm Railway (Flåmsbana) for an incredible ride to the beautiful village of Flåm, which is especially lovely in winter. Enjoy a relaxing day in Flåm, where you can follow one of the many hiking trails in the mountains around the village, or participate in an optional activity such as a winter fjord safari.  

    Spend the night in Flåm.

    We highly recommend booking our luggage transfer for the travel between Oslo and Bergen.

    Attractions Attractions Attractions Attractions Optional Extras

  • Day 4: Norway in a Nutshell to Bergen

    In the morning, you’ll board a boat to sail through Aurlandsfjord into the World Heritage-listed Nærøyfjord, the narrowest fjord in all of Europe. This is perhaps the most beautiful arm of Sognefjord, with its mighty waterfalls and small farms clinging to the steep mountainsides. The boat docks in Gudvangen, and from there the journey continues by bus through Nærøydalen, with its charming villages and scenic winter landscape. The bus will arrive in Voss, where you continue the tour by train on the Bergen Railway to Bergen.

    Spend the night in Bergen.

    Attractions Attractions Attractions Attractions Attractions Attractions

  • Day 5: The Capital of the Fjords

    Despite being an international city, Bergen, “The Capital of the Fjords”, has all the charms of a small town. Here you’ll find Bryggen, a UNESCO World Heritage site, along with remarkably preserved old houses, a lively fish market, cable cars offering stunning views, great museums and more. We recommend riding the Fløibanen Funicular to Mount Fløyen to enjoy the panoramic winter view of the city or a cable car up Mt. Ulriken. Bergen is also known for its museums dedicated to history within trade and fisheries, architecture, musical art and contemporary art.

    Spend another night in Bergen.

    Attractions Attractions Attractions Attractions Attractions Attractions Attractions Optional Extras

  • Day 6: Hurtigruten Coastal Voyage

    Enjoy the early part of the day exploring Bergen. In the evening, you’ll enter the next stage of your journey as you embark on the Norwegian Coastal Voyage with Hurtigruten. Norway’s dramatic 2,000-kilometre west coast is one of Europe’s great attractions, and for more than 100 years, this popular journey has been offering travellers a unique combination of history, culture and incredible views.

    After your fjord cruise sets sail, you will enjoy a tasty Norwegian dinner buffet consisting of the best ingredients from the coast and you can spend the rest of your evening at leisure. Onboard you’ll stay in a comfortable outside cabin with private facilities. 

    Spend the night on board Hurtigruten

    Please note that you can board Hurtigruten as early as 16:00 or as late as 21:00 for the 22:30 departure.

    Attractions

  • Day 7: Journey to Ålesund

    You will continue your scenic winter coastal voyage today from Florø to Molde. This morning, you can enjoy the breathtaking beauty of the Nordfjord, followed by a delicious breakfast. As the ship sails past the West Cape, you will enter the open ocean before reaching Ålesund, which is known for its beautiful Art Nouveau architecture. You will get a chance to explore Ålesund during a 3-hour stop.

    Spend the night on board Hurtigruten.

    Attractions Attractions

  • Day 8: Historic Town of Trondheim

    Early in the morning, the ship pulls in to the historic city of Trondheim. Here you will have about 3.5 hours to explore the city on your own or take an optional sightseeing tour. Trondheim is the original capital of Norway, and until the 16th century, the city was known as Nidaros. Here you will find Nidaros Cathedral, which is one of Scandinavia’s largest buildings from the Middle Ages, along with tiny, picturesque old wooden houses. From Trondheim, the ship sails on to Rorvik, where the southbound and northbound coastal ships meet.

    Spend the night on board Hurtigruten.

    Attractions Attractions Optional Extras

  • Day 9: Over the Arctic Circle & Northern Lights

    Today you will cross the Arctic Circle while enjoying spectacular sights, including islands and skerries with interesting rock formations jutting out of the deep waters. The ship will dock in Bodo for 2.5 hours, which is a lovely place to wander, catching glimpses of sea birds and rolling nature.

    In the evening, the ship will make a 1-hour stop in Svolvær, Lofoten, a small, picturesque fishing village with a charming Scandinavian atmosphere. You can take a stroll between stockfish racks and traditional fishermen huts called ‘rorbuer’, and for people that wish to spend more time in Lofoten, optional shore excursions are available. Note that once the ship crosses the Arctic Circle, your chances of spotting the northern lights increases, so keep your eyes peeled at night*.

    Spend the night on board Hurtigruten

    *Please note that the northern lights are a natural phenomenon, so sightings cannot be guaranteed.

    Attractions Attractions Attractions Optional Extras

  • Day 10: Tromsø, "Paris of the North"

    In the morning, you’ll pass Risøyhamn, Harstad, and Finnsnes before sailing across the Vagsfjord to a magnificent archipelago in the north. Later today, the ship stops in Tromsø, where you will explore the lively town in northern Norway, which is beautiful in the soft winter light. Nicknamed "the Paris of the North”, this city was a major port of call for Arctic expedition and hunting ships in the 19th century--a part of history that is still evident here. Throughout the year, you can join guided hikes and discover more of Tromsø and its surroundings. After an exhilarating day in Tromsø, you will board the ship and continue your northbound journey.

    Spend the night on board Hurtigruten.

    Attractions Attractions

  • Day 11: The Beauty of North Cape

    Finnmark's landscape is not to be missed with rugged bird cliffs and vast snowy terrain. The ship stops at Honningsvåg today, and we recommend that you board a bus for a short optional excursion to the famous North Cape. After this shore stop, the ship navigates east toward the pretty fishing villages of Kjollefjord, Mehamn, and Berlevag (the heartland of the Sámi people). You can experience snowy valleys, fresh winter air, and perhaps even the mesmerizing northern lights in the starry sky.

    Spend the night on board Hurtigruten.

    Attractions Attractions Optional Extras

  • Day 12: Reaching Cosy Kirkenes

    Enjoy one last breakfast at sea before the ship docks in Kirkenes around 9:00 this morning. This Arctic town lies on the borders of Russia and Finland and is home to some 3,300 inhabitants, including the Sámi, the native people of Lapland. For such a small town, Kirkenes offers an impressive range of things to see and do, and the rest of the day is free for you to try out an optional excursion or just relax in the town. It is here that your cruise up north comes to an end.

    Spend the night in Kirkenes.

    Attractions Attractions Optional Extras

  • Day 13: Return to Oslo & Departure

    After an incredible time in Norway, it's time to head home today. Your tour will conclude at Kirkenes Airport, where you will fly to Oslo-Gardermoen Airport at noon, and connect to your flight back home.

    Note: If you do not have enough time between flights, or you would like more time to explore the capital, an additional night in Oslo can be added to your package. Please contact your travel consultant for details.

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Map

Here’s a map of your travel route, to help put things in perspective.

What's included

Don’t worry, we’ve got this covered.

Included

Not included

Optional Extras

13 days / 12 nights

Price p.p. from

EUR

The amount will be charged in EUR

Approx 6631 EUR

Book with confidence
Find your price
Request info

Essential information

We recommend that you read carefully through the following information before booking this train and cruise tour in Norway. We’ve answered the most frequently asked questions here so you know what to expect. You’ll also find more practical advice and attraction recommendations in our online Norway Travel Guide.

We recommend you wait to book flights to Scandinavia, and other parts of your travels, until we can confirm your desired travel dates for this tour. This is due to varying availabilities aboard Norway cruises, as included in this package. Contact us for more details.

On a train and cruise tour of Norway, Nordic Visitor takes care of your local transportation, accommodation and excursions for a relaxed self-guided travel experience. This might include trains, cruises and/or internal flights, as specified in the itinerary.

You will follow an itinerary that’s been pre-planned and booked for you before you arrive in Norway. This means you can take advantage of Nordic Visitor’s insider knowledge while exploring at your leisure. 

Ahead of your arrival, you’ll receive personalised information via email, including an itinerary, map and detailed Norway Travel Guide. 

During your tour, you’ll always be able to reach us by calling our 24/7 helpline. 

The transfers between your hotel and train stations or cruise ports are not included with this package. Usually your accommodation will be within short walking distance. You could also get a taxi from your hotel if you prefer.

Please wait to book flights to Scandinavia until we can confirm your desired travel dates for this tour. This is due to varying availabilities on the Hurtigruten Norwegian cruises included in this package. 

After making a booking with Nordic Visitor, it might take a few weeks to confirm your travel arrangements. We recommend booking your flights once your personal travel consultant gets in touch to confirm your itinerary.

If you have any questions about your flights and itinerary, please contact us for more details.

Yes, you can customise this tour online. During the booking process, you can add extra nights to your itinerary as well as optional day trips, excursions and upgrades. 

If you have something specific in mind, get in touch with your travel consultant and they’ll create your dream trip.

This tour includes the famous Norway in a Nutshell® tour from Oslo to Bergen. This is one of Norway’s most iconic journeys. You’ll travel by train, bus and ferry, seeing beautiful landscapes of steep mountains, cascading waterfalls, shimmering fjords, charming villages and scenic coastline.

The first leg of the journey is from Oslo to Flåm and the approximate timings will be:
• Departure from Oslo Central Station: 8:11 AM
• Arrival in Flåm Village: 2:25 PM
• Duration: 6 hours 15 minutes

The next day you’ll travel from Flåm to Bergen:
• Departure from Flåm: 11 AM
• Arrival in Bergen: 5 PM
• Duration: 6 hours

The connections will be announced and clearly explained in your travel documents. You will receive a ticket with all the information about transfer points and timings with your final travel documents.

On this itinerary, you will hop aboard a Hurtigruten cruise along the Norwegian west coast. The cruise includes an outside cabin (unspecified cabin with windows or port holes) with private facilities.

You will have full board for the duration of the cruise. That means you can expect to have all your meals included (breakfast, lunch and dinner) as well as drinks (not including alcoholic beverages). 

You can buy drinks and snacks from the cafeteria. Please check on board for opening hours, but the cafeteria is usually open 24/7

This is a ‘basic’ Hurtigruten, meaning the cabin number, grade and dining time will be assigned onboard. If you wish to choose your cabin number and dining time, you can upgrade to a ‘select’ fare by asking your travel consultant.

The coastal voyages are not like conventional cruises as there are 11 different ships in use. They all vary in size and facilities. That said, all Hurtigruten ships have restaurants, a cafeteria, laundry room, WI-FI and onboard activities.

Optional shore excursions are available during your journey. You should pre-book the activities you are most interested in ahead of time.

This package includes a domestic flight in Norway between Kirkenes and Oslo. Given the limited flights available from Kirkenes, arrival in Oslo is likely to be around 2 PM.

As this is on your last day in Norway, we recommend making sure your connecting flight home is in the evening. Or you could request an additional night in Oslo, which we will happily plan for you.

On your Norway tour, you’ll stay in accommodation that’s been hand-picked by our travel experts. We’ve partnered with local businesses and selected hotels and guesthouses based on excellent ratings, comfort and our personal experience. 

During the booking process, you can select whether you want Comfort Plus or Superior accommodation. Comfort Plus usually consists of standard rooms in good quality and comfortable 3-star hotels. Superior is standard rooms in 4-star hotels combined with Superior rooms in premium 3-star hotels.

You will also be able to choose between single, double or triple rooms. Please note that in Norway room types are based on European standard sizes, which means they are smaller than in North America. 

For example, a double bed often consists of 2 single beds pushed together. Twin rooms are 2 separate single beds. Triple rooms include a double bed along with an extra single bed, rollaway or sofa bed. And single rooms are often smaller than the standard double.

If you have anything specific in mind, please contact us to discuss customising your accommodation options.

By booking with Nordic Visitor, you’ll have peace of mind knowing that there’s always someone there for you throughout your trip.

For support and advice during the day, you can call our office. And if anything unexpected happens outside working hours, you can reach us on our 24/7 helpline. 

During your tour, there will always be a travel expert on call to handle any unforeseen situations, such as unusual weather or events.

If you have a passport from Canada, the United States, the United Kingdom, Australia or New Zealand, you won’t need a visa to visit Norway. This visa-free entry is valid for up to 90 days.

Visiting from another country? You can find out whether you require a visa to enter Norway on the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs website. Select your home country to view details. If you do require a visa, you will be directed to your local embassy website to learn about the visa requirements.

Your passport must also be valid for at least 3 months from your departure from Norway. It’s good to check your passport expiry date early in case you need to renew it.

Travelling with your kids? No problem! You'll be able to enter your infants’ ages during the booking process. This lets us know whether to arrange either a baby cot or roll-away bed for your trip.

Only you can pick the best time to visit Norway for your trip. It’ll depend on how much time you have to explore and what you want to see and do in Norway.

During the summer months, June, July and August, you’ll have the warmest temperatures and longest daylight hours of the year. This is ideal for outdoor excursions and taking full advantage of your days for sightseeing.

If you’d like to experience the top attractions with fewer visitors around then you could book a summer itinerary in May or September. These shoulder season months generally have more tour and attraction availability.

Please note that if you travel in spring, end of March through April, you’ll find that many attractions and museums are operating on reduced winter hours. 

The winter months are also popular, but generally quieter. Travel to Norway at this time of year to see snowy mountains, cruise along frosty fjords and chase the magnificent northern lights. 

If you head north in December and January, you could experience the polar night. At this time of year, the conditions are also ideal for winter activities such as dog sledding, snowmobiling and more.

Read more about the best time to visit Norway on our blog.

Because of its northerly location close to and inside the Arctic Circle, Norway has limited daylight in winter. 

In the south, you can expect more daylight than in the north. For example, in Tromsø, you’ll have less than 7 hours of daylight from late October. Then from late November to mid-January, the sun never rises. This is called the “polar night”.

In Oslo and Bergen, you’ll get 5–10 hours of daylight across the winter. 

The beauty of these extended hours of darkness in Norway is that you’ll have a better chance of seeing the northern lights.

Find out what the daylight hours will be during the month of your visit in this guide to time and daylight in Norway.

Yes! Wintertime is the right season to visit Norway if you want to see the northern lights (or aurora borealis). You can experience the northern lights in the north of Norway between October and March, with peak visibility from December through February. 

For the best chances of seeing them, head into the Arctic Circle, to locations such as Tromsø, Kirkenes and the Lofoten islands. With Nordic Visitor, you can also pick from a selection of Norway northern lights tours.

Please note that the northern lights are a natural phenomenon, so sightings cannot be guaranteed. Even if you go out on a specific northern lights excursion, you might not see them, depending on the conditions or cloud cover. 

Read our Norway northern lights guide to learn more.

During the summer months, you can expect fairly stable weather in The winter climate in Norway is generally cold, but the weather will vary greatly depending on where you visit. 

From November, the temperatures fall and around the country you can expect averages between 1–5°C (34–41°F). This is also the time of year where snow starts falling and you’ll be able to admire the white-topped mountains.

For the rest of the winter, December until March, you’ll probably experience temperatures below freezing, around 0 to -7°C (31–19°F). This means you should come prepared with warm, insulated clothes and outer layers.

Read Norway weather conditions for more information on the local climate. 

Please note that sightseeing is dependent on weather and road conditions. Your itinerary might need to be altered if these conditions are not favourable during your visit. 

During Norway’s winter season, you can expect temperatures below freezing. For that reasons, you’ll want to pack and dress with plenty of layers to keep yourself warm and dry.

Here is an essential winter packing list for your trip to Norway:

  • Insulated and waterproof jacket
  • Cosy wool or fleece jumpers
  • Snow or waterproof trousers depending on your destination
  • Warm gloves, hat and scarf
  • Insulated boots
  • A few pairs of thermal socks
  • Sunglasses and sunscreen
  • Electronic gear such as smartphone, external powerpack, and travel adapters
  • and don’t forget your camera!
     

If you’re heading north and plan on taking part in winter excursions, you could also bring glove liners and heat packs for extra warmth.

Some day tour operators will provide you with thermal suits for your comfort. To find out if equipment is provided check the details of each activity before you leave for Norway, or get in touch with your personal travel consultant.

For more information, check out this Norway packing list.

In most major Norwegian cities and towns you will be able to find coin-operated launderettes, with self-service facilities, and dry cleaners. Most hotels on your trip will also offer a laundry or dry cleaning service for an additional cost.

If you would prefer not to use this service, we recommend bringing or buying a small pack of detergent. This way you can hand wash your items in your hotel bathroom.

When you travel with Nordic Visitor, breakfast at your Norway accommodations is always included.  For the rest of your meals, the amount of spending money you need will depend on the standard of restaurants you decide to go to. 

That said, we recommend budgeting between 100–400 NOK for lunch per person, each day. Dinners at casual restaurants might cost between 500–1,000 NOK. Meanwhile, at upscale restaurants, you can expect to pay 1,500 NOK or more. This does not include the cost of alcoholic beverages. 

It’s best to book as soon as you can to secure your preferred travel dates. Once you have picked your tour, check the availability calendar to see which months are open for booking. Then, select the date you want and complete your booking. 

If a cruise is included on your tour, please wait for a confirmation from your travel consultant to ensure your travel dates are available. You’ll then be able to purchase your flights with confidence.

If you like to plan well ahead, you’ll find that it’s possible to book many tours  for the following year. And if you have any questions or need advice, you can always contact us. 

After booking your tour package online, you will be contacted within 2 business days by your own dedicated travel consultant. They will be your point of contact for all your travel needs before, during and even after your trip. 

We aim to complete bookings within a few weeks. During this time we take care of booking your accommodation, activities, and transport, confirming all parts of your journey. Once this is done, your travel consultant will provide you with all the details of your trip. 

When we get back to you might depend slightly on how far ahead you’ve booked your travels and other tours running at the time. 

If you have any questions before your trip, you can get in touch with our Norway travel experts. The live chat option is useful for getting a quick reply as someone answers live every day during office opening hours.

Once you’ve booked, we’ll provide you with a travel guide packed full of local tips and top attractions for your visit. You can also check out our online Norway Travel Guide where we’ve compiled useful information about topics, including:

After you have booked your tour, it will only take a few days to confirm its availability. But it may take a few weeks to create your itinerary and book everything. 

Once your trip details are finalised, we’ll send you e-copies of your travel documents. This will include your personalised itinerary, our Norway Travel Guide and your service vouchers. We recommend printing your tickets and vouchers to bring with you to Norway.

So when do you check in? And what can you expect when you land in Norway?
 
After picking up your luggage, you’ll make your way to your accommodation. Public transport is easy to access and convenient in Norway. Or you could catch a taxi.
 
Check-in times vary between hotels and guesthouses, but it normally starts between 2–4 PM. 
 
You are welcome to request an early check-in for an additional fee. Although this isn’t always available, you’ll be able to store your luggage at the hotel until check-in. Please contact your travel consultant well in advance of your trip if you’d like an early check-in.

When you depart may depend on the time of your return flight. Check out early if you’re heading to the airport for a morning flight. On the other hand, if you’re flying home later in the day, you might like to enjoy a leisurely day or visit one more attraction.

You will usually need to check out from your room around 10–11 AM. If you’re staying in town longer, you will be able to store your luggage at the hotel reception. Simply return later to collect your bags before making your way to the airport.

This tour requires a non-refundable deposit payment of 50% of the total price at the time of booking. You can view more about the deposit and cancellation fees here.

All bookings are billed in Euro (EUR). Prices displayed in other currencies are indicative only and based on the daily exchange rate. This means conversions from EUR to other currencies will fluctuate from day to day.

Accommodation

Sleep soundly, in the accommodation type of your choice, and wake up ready to enjoy another day of exploration.

Comfort Plus

Standard rooms in good quality and comfortable three-star hotels in combination with charming country hotels.

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Superior

Standard rooms in four-star hotels in combination with Superior rooms in premium three-star hotels.

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Price per person from

EUR

The amount will be charged in EUR

Approx 6631 EUR

Book with confidence
Request info

Monthly price comparison

Our best price per person when booking for two.

2023
2024

Optional extras

Customise your adventure with these Optional Extras.

Day One

Service

Private Airport Transfer - Oslo Arrivals

Duration 1 hour
Price p.p. from

79EUR

EUR

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Service

Private Airport Transfer - Oslo Arrivals

Duration 1 hour
Price p.p. from

79EUR

EUR

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Activity

Oslo Sightseeing Tour

Duration 3 hours
Price p.p. from

59EUR

EUR

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Service

Luggage transfer between Oslo and Bergen
Price p.p. from

37EUR

EUR

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Activity

Stegastein Viewpoint

Duration 1 hour 30 minutes
Price p.p. from

40EUR

EUR

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View all extras

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