Overnight: Akyan Hotel (or similar) – D

Your tour continues to the spectacular Cathedral of the Spilled Blood with its colourful onion domes and magnificent mosaics covering its walls and open to the public after years of restoration. After, continue to lunch at the city’s Museum of Vodka, learning about the history of Russia’s national drink. Take an appreciation class to sample different varieties with traditional Russian snacks. This evening, enjoy a lively folklore show featuring Russian dances, traditional songs and musical instruments.
Overnight: Akyan Hotel (or similar) – B,L

After lunch, continue to the magnificently restored Shuvalovsky Palace, home to the world’s largest collection of pieces manufactured by the Tsar’s famous jeweller, Peter Carl Fabergé, including nine imperial Easter eggs.
Overnight: Akyan Hotel (or similar) – B,L

Overnight train – B,L,D

Return to your hotel for an evening at leisure to enjoy a sauna or swim in the hotel’s fitness centre. As we are now in the Arctic Region, the opportunity to see the magnificent Aurora Borealis (Northern Lights) will increase substantially. You will be advised in the evening if the weather is optimal and we will go chasing the lights. Please note, this can happen on any evening when guides deem the weather is optimal to give us the best opportunity for magnificent pictures to capture the lights.

Overnight: Tirvas Health Hotel (or similar) – B,L,D

After lunch proceed to a Siberian Husky Farm. Here you will meet the friendly dogs that play such an important part of life in the Arctic and take an exhilarating husky ride. In the afternoon continue your journey to Murmansk with an evening arrival to check in to your hotel where you will have dinner tonight.

Overnight: Azimut Hotel (or similar) – B,L,D

Join your local guide for a comprehensive city tour including a visit to the harbour and the first nuclear icebreaker, “Lenin”. After lunch, visit the Regional History Museum with its exhibitions of flora and fauna of the Kola Peninsula and learn about the history and culture of the Russian North, some of which you would have just travelled through. Another highlight of the city is the WWII War Memorial, “Alesha”. The majestic monument is for the Defenders of the Arctic. Return back to your hotel for dinner and overnight.

Overnight: Azimut Hotel (or similar) – B,L,D

*All shore tours are suggestions only and are not included in tour costs.

Sail on to Øksfjord, stopping briefly at the old trading post of Skjervøy. Dock at Tromsø, in time to enjoy a magical Northern Lights concert at the Arctic Cathedral. You can join a midnight excursion under the Midnight Sun to explore Tromsø by sea in a small boat. You may want to drop by Ølhallen to enjoy a beer and a chat with friendly locals.*

Get ready now for some amazing scenery as you sail through the world-famous islands of Lofoten and Vesterålen. Lofoten is known for its natural beauty, steep mountains, wild nature and picturesque fishing villages. Our daylight sailing route through the region is the voyage highlight for many.

After a short stop at the tiny village of Risøyhamn, continue to Stokmarknes – where Hurtigruten began more than 125 years ago. You can visit the Hurtigruten Museum here.

Continuing south, it will look like you’re headed into a mountain wall, but don’t worry. You are in fact sailing through a passage into the narrow Raftsund, flanked by peaks rising 1,000 metres out of the sea. You now arrive at amazing Trollfjord. If conditions allow, the ship will sail between sheer cliffs that seem close enough to reach out and touch. It’s an unforgettable experience!

Next, arrive in Svolvær, where you can choose from several excursion options. Go horseback riding along a beach at sunset, head out on spectacular hikes, join a fast-boat tour on the fjord, or relax in town at one of many cafés, pubs and restaurants.*

Another highlight is sailing past the Seven Sisters mountain range. It is easy to see how the peaks influenced ancient legend. The story goes that seven beautiful troll sisters were caught out at sunrise and turned to stone, thus creating the seven beautiful mountaintops.

Next the ship will briefly stop at the idyllic trading post of Nesna before moving on to Sandnessjøen. From here, you can join an optional excursion to a UNESCO World Heritage site, the Vega Islands. The UNESCO status is due to the unique centuries-old interaction between the islanders and eider ducks. Learn how the locals sustain a livelihood of making down-filled duvets.

In Brønnøysund, join an excursion to the Norwegian Aquaculture Centre for an informative tour and taste of fresh salmon, from April through October. Even though you’re south of the Arctic Circle, there are still good chances to see the Northern Lights.*

Another interesting excursion is to the Bergtatt marble mine, which takes you inside a mountain and across an illuminated subterranean lake before serving you a meal in the mine´s ‘Grand Hall’.

Those who remain aboard at Kristiansund will experience the ship´s open sea crossing towards Molde – Norway´s ‘City of Roses’. From there, you can see the distant pointed peaks of the Romsdal Alps across the fjord, called ‘the Molde Panorama’.*