Lofoten & The Fjords - Winter

Welcome to Svolvær, the “Capital of the Lofoten Islands” a small, picturesque fishing village with a charming Scandinavian atmosphere. Here you will find a variety of small galleries, shops and cultural attractions nestled under the town’s landmark mountain, Svolværgeita (the Svolvær Goat), a popular challenge for climbers.

If you arrive early, we recommend walk to the nearby island of Svinøya for a visit to the art museum and fish racks or a stroll around town for excellent views of the sea and surrounding islands, which is especially lovely in the soft winter light.

Spend the night in Svolvær.

Today you can explore Svolvær as you wish. This a great opportunity for photographers to experiment with Lofoten's unique lighting conditions or for nature lovers to enjoy activities like light hiking, a rib boat safari to Trollfjord.

We recommend ending the day with a visit to the “Magic Ice bar” with its many magnificent ice sculptures. Also, optional northern lights excursions are available tonight*.

* Please note that the northern lights are a natural phenomenon and sightings cannot be guaranteed

Spend the night in Svolvær.

Enjoy another day at leisure in this beautiful environment. It’s a great place for winter activities (soft or advanced). In Svolvær it’s a must to take a stroll between stockfish racks and traditional fishermen huts called ‘rorbuer’.

The next leg of your tour, the Hurtigruten Coastal Voyage, begins boarding at 18:30 from Svolvær harbour and departs for its southbound journey at 20:30. The ship will sail into the night south to Stamsund.  You might be able to see the northern lights tonight as the ship sails into the darkness.  

Spend the night on board Hurtigruten.

Today the ship crosses the Arctic Circle, sailing past such highlights as the famed peaks of the Seven Sisters Mountains, Torghatten and the island of Sandnessjøen. The Seven Sisters mountains are around 1000 metres tall, and according to folklore, the mountains are trolls that turned into stone when they looked at the sun. Meanwhile, Torghatten is known for the tunnel that goes through the mountain, which was formed during the Ice Age. The last port of call for the day is the charming town of Rørvik, which is home to several museums.

Spend the night on board Hurtigruten, in a private cabin.

Early in the morning, the ship docks at the fascinating medieval city of Trondheim, where you will have some free time to explore. The voyage then continues down the Trondheim fjord past Hitra Island with a brief stop at Kristiansund and Molde. This journey passes through some breathtaking coastal landscapes, and the final port of the day is a short stop in Ålesund, after midnight.

Spend the night on board Hurtigruten, in a private cabin.

During the night, the ship calls at Torvik, Maløy, and Florø as the journey weaves through islets and stunning landscapes before arriving in Bergen. Here you will disembark at 14:30 to enjoy some leisure time. 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.

Spend the night in Bergen.

Continue to explore beautiful Bergen today. We recommend riding the Fløibanen Funicular to Mount Fløyen to enjoy panoramic views over the city or to take a cable car up Mt. Ulriken. Bergen is known for its museums that cover the city’s history, architecture, music and art. We recommend visiting the KODE art museum, which is Scandinavia’s largest museum for art and music. If you wish to explore the fjords further, an optional winter fjord cruise is available.

Spend the night in Bergen.

Today will be an especially scenic day with a lot of travel. From Bergen, the early Bergensbanen train transports you to Voss, where you will board a bus and continue to Gudvangen. There, you will embark on a scenic 2-hour fjord cruise to Flåm, including a trip through Nærøyfjord, the narrowest fjord in all of Europe. Finally, the boat sails up Aurlandsfjord to Flåm, where you will spend the evening.

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

This morning you’ll get to experience the famous Flåm Railway firsthand as it climbs 900 metres over a span of 20 kilometres up the winding track to the Myrdal Station. Here you will switch to the Bergensbanen train that carries you over the mountainous snowy rooftops of Norway. This ride, voted one of the best railways in the world, will take you through the charming villages of Geilo and Gol before concluding in Oslo, where you will spend your last night in this amazing country.

Spend the night in Oslo.

For transportation to Oslo-Gardermoen Airport, you can take the Flytoget express train from Oslo Central Station or book a private transfer through Nordic Visitor that will deliver you to the airport directly from your hotel. If your flight is in the afternoon, take the opportunity to do some last-minute shopping, visit one of Oslo’s many museums or just relax at a café reflecting on your Norway holiday.