Hurtigruten Australia

A Hurtigruten voyage along Norway's spectacular coast is one of the most memorable ways to experience Norway. Since 1893, Hurtigruten has sailed between Bergen and Kirkenes, connecting 34 coastal ports along the way. Today, the Coastal Express continues to carry travellers, locals, cars and cargo between bustling Arctic cities, small fishing villages and remote coastal communities, sailing day and night throughout the year.

At 50 Degrees North, we specialise in the Nordic region. Our Australian team has extensive knowledge of Norway and the Norwegian coast, and we can help you choose the right Hurtigruten voyage, cabin, season and excursions for your trip. We can also combine your coastal voyage with hotels, scenic rail journeys and land-based experiences to create a complete Norwegian holiday.

WHY TRAVEL WITH HURTIGRUTEN?

Hurtigruten's Coastal Express is very different from a conventional cruise. The ships are designed for Norway's coastline, travelling through sheltered waters, narrow straits and fjords and calling at an average of six ports a day. Some stops last only a few minutes, while others allow several hours to explore ashore.

This is a journey through living coastal Norway. The ships continue to carry passengers, cars and cargo, meaning you travel alongside Norwegians going about their everyday lives. On a northbound journey, some ports are visited at night, while the same places can be seen in daylight when travelling south, giving you a different perspective on the coastline on your return.

The Coastal Express operates throughout the year, with each season offering a different experience. In spring, the coast begins to awaken with longer days and fresh green landscapes. Summer brings long hours of daylight and the Midnight Sun in northern Norway. Autumn brings changing colours and darker skies, while winter offers snow-covered landscapes, the Polar Night and opportunities to see the Northern Lights.

CHOOSE YOUR HURTIGRUTEN VOYAGE

There are several ways to experience the Norwegian coast.

The Coastal Express Northbound travels from Bergen to Kirkenes over seven days, taking you from the fjords of western Norway into the Arctic. The Southbound journey travels from Kirkenes back to Bergen over six days, while the Full Voyage combines both directions into a 12-day round trip.

You can also travel for just part of the route. Shorter Coastal Express journeys make an excellent addition to a wider Norwegian holiday, whether you want to travel between Bergen and Trondheim, explore the northern coast or combine your voyage with time in Lofoten or Tromsø.

HURTIGRUTEN SHIPS

The Hurtigruten Coastal Express fleet consists of ships with individual characters, layouts and cabin configurations. Some have a more traditional coastal-vessel feel, while others have been modernised with contemporary Scandinavian interiors.

The ship you travel on depends on your departure date, so choosing your sailing date also means choosing your ship. Cabin sizes, facilities and dining options vary between vessels, which is why we recommend checking the ship and cabin category carefully before booking.

Explore the Hurtigruten fleet to see the ships currently sailing the Norwegian coast.

HURTIGRUTEN OR HAVILA?

Hurtigruten is not the only operator sailing Norway's historic coastal route. Havila Voyages also operates modern coastal ships between Bergen and Kirkenes, giving travellers another way to experience this spectacular coastline.

At 50 Degrees North, we work with both operators. This is particularly useful when planning a Northern Lights holiday, as we use Havila on our small group Experience the Northern Lights and Chase the Northern Lights Express journeys.

Our Destination Specialists can help you compare the options and find the coastal voyage that best fits your travel plans.

WHEN SHOULD YOU TRAVEL?

There is no single best time to travel on the Norwegian coast. It depends on what you want to see and experience.

Winter is ideal for travellers hoping to experience snowy landscapes, the Polar Night and the Northern Lights. The further north you travel, the longer the hours of darkness, creating more opportunities for aurora viewing.

Spring brings longer days, changing landscapes and a mixture of snow and emerging greenery.

Summer is the season of long, light days and the Midnight Sun in northern Norway. From June to August, the northbound Coastal Express sails into the UNESCO-listed Geirangerfjord.

Autumn brings colourful landscapes, crisp air and increasingly dark skies. At this time of year, the northbound route includes Hjørundfjord, Urke and Molde rather than Geirangerfjord.

Read more about Hurtigruten's seasons and how the experience changes throughout the year.

FOOD, EXCURSIONS AND LIFE ON BOARD

Hurtigruten's Norway's Coastal Kitchen brings the flavours of the coast on board, using fresh ingredients sourced from local farms, fisheries and bakeries along the route. Seafood features naturally, alongside Norwegian meat, vegetables, dairy products, berries and other regional specialities.

The Coastal Express also offers more than 70 seasonal optional excursions. These range from city and cultural experiences to hiking, kayaking, wildlife safaris, RIB adventures and winter activities. Excursions vary according to the season and voyage.

See Hurtigruten's current excursions.

Life on board is relaxed and informal, with panoramic lounges, outdoor decks and an Expedition Team providing guiding, lectures and activities. There is no traditional cruise-ship entertainment programme – the scenery and the coastline are the main attraction.

HURTIGRUTEN TOURS FROM AUSTRALIA

One of the advantages of booking with 50 Degrees North is that your Hurtigruten voyage does not have to stand alone. We can combine your time on the coast with carefully selected hotels, scenic rail journeys and experiences on land.

Our Nordic journeys have been created from our own experience of travelling throughout the region. They can include time in Oslo and Bergen, the Flåm Railway, the fjords, Lofoten, Tromsø and northern Norway, allowing you to see more than you could from the ship alone.

Some of our current journeys combine the Coastal Express with land-based experiences, including Best of Norway, Norway In-Depth and Norwegian Coastal Voyage & Nordic Capitals.

For winter travellers, our Chase the Northern Lights Express and Experience the Northern Lights small group journeys combine a coastal voyage with carefully planned Northern Lights experiences.

WHY BOOK WITH 50 DEGREES NORTH?

We are a Nordic specialist, not a general cruise company. Our expertise extends across Norway, Finland, Sweden, Denmark, Iceland, Greenland, the Faroe Islands and the Arctic, giving us a much broader perspective when planning your holiday.

Our Destination Specialists have lived, worked and travelled extensively throughout the region. We understand the differences between the seasons, the ships, the routes and the experiences, and we can help you work out what will suit you best.

We can also arrange the land-based elements around your voyage, so you have one specialist helping you put the whole journey together.

Whether you want to sail beneath the Midnight Sun, search for the Northern Lights, explore Norway's fjords or simply experience the rhythm of the Norwegian coast, we're here to help.

Talk to our Norwegian specialists about your Hurtigruten journey.