Northbound Shore Excursions

2B Geiranger with Trollstigen Pass

Geiranger to Molde · Easy · Summer (Jun to Aug) · 6 hours · from £251

See some of the best fjord and mountain scenery Norway has to offer, with world famous views of the UNESCO listed Geirangerfjord. Your day begins with a drive up Ørneveien, the Eagle Road, before a picturesque ferry ride from Eidsdal to Linge and on into the stark, wild high alpine landscape. A highlight of the trip is the series of 11 hairpin bends down the winding Trollstigen Pass, followed by a stop for a hot drink and a bite to eat, the gentler landscape of the Romsdalsfjord and dinner in Molde before you meet the ship again. Please note that only excursion participants can go ashore in Geiranger, and landing is by tender boat.

2C / 2E Art Nouveau Walk, Ålesund

2C · Moderate · Winter (Nov to Mar) · 2 hours · from £83

2E · Moderate · Spring (Apr to May) and Autumn (Sep to Oct) · 1 hour 30 minutes · from £58

Distinguished by its numerous spires, towers and highly detailed ornamentation, Ålesund is renowned across the world for its beautiful Art Nouveau architecture. It owes this to the devastating fire of 1904, after which the entire town was rebuilt in the fashionable style of the time. Your guide takes you on an informative walk through the streets, passing the picturesque fishing port of Brosundet, the Apotekertorget square and the beautifully decorated main street. The winter walk also visits Jugendstilsenteret, the national centre for Art Nouveau (entrance not included).

2D Atlanterhavsparken Aquarium and Ålesund

Ålesund · Moderate · Winter (Nov to Mar) · 2 hours · from £83

Atlanterhavsparken is one of Northern Europe's largest saltwater aquariums, offering close encounters with the marine life found in and around the coastal waters of Norway. The visit includes a spectacular diving show in Norway's largest aquarium tank, where you can watch the fish being hand fed by divers, and the open air pool with its resident penguins, before a look at Art Nouveau Ålesund on the way back to the quayside.

2F A Taste of Norway

Urke · Easy · Spring (Apr to May) and Autumn (Sep to Oct) · 2 hours 15 minutes · from £117

After getting to shore by tender boat you continue by bus through what is often called Norway's narrowest valley, Norangsdalen. Along the way you stop at spectacular places including Lyngstøl Lake, where you can see the sites of ancient settlements in water naturally dammed by a great landslide in 1908. You also visit the historic Hotel Union Øye, which has played an important role in Norwegian history, for local specialities and a drink, before exploring the small community of Urke.

2G Mountain Hike in the Hjørundfjord

Urke · Challenging · Spring, Autumn and Winter · 2 hours 45 minutes · from £108

Put on your boots for a hike into the wonderful surroundings of the Hjørundfjord in the Sunnmøre Alps. The tour starts on a farm road and continues on a tractor path, with a steep climb to the top where the last stretch crosses scree. At the summit you are rewarded with a fantastic view. Before descending, take a coffee break in the Leknes valley overlooking the village of Urke, the fjord arm extending into Øye and the stunning mountains.

2H Hike with a Visit to a Shieling

Urke · Active · Spring, Autumn and Winter · 2 hours 45 minutes · from £108

Join a pleasant hike to the shieling at Haukås, where your welcoming hosts tell you about life on a farm and how, in the old days, the small farms of the village used the outlying areas for summer grazing. The grazing was so far from the village that houses had to be built for the milkmaids so the cows could be milked morning and evening. The old farmhouses were restored in the 1990s, and you will have time to explore the site and sample some local delicacies.

2K Kayaking in Ålesund

Ålesund · Challenging · Winter (Nov to Mar) · 2 hours 15 minutes · from £100

Kayak through Ålesund's waterways, led by certified guides, and discover the town's history and Art Nouveau architecture from a unique perspective. After gearing up and receiving a safety briefing, paddle along the waterside, stopping for photos at the most scenic spots.

2L Alnes Lighthouse

Ålesund · Moderate · 2 Nov to 31 Mar (excluding certain holidays) · 3 hours 30 minutes · from £125

Departing Ålesund by bus, drive over bridges and through subsea tunnels to the island of Giske, birthplace of the Viking chieftain Rollo, ancestor of William the Conqueror, and see the 12th century marble Giske Church from the outside. Continue beneath the sea to the island of Godøy and the pretty fishing village of Alnes, whose charming red and white lighthouse, built in 1876, is a cherished relic of Norwegian culture. Weather permitting, climb the stairs for a fantastic sea view, and pause for coffee and cake in the café before a guided look at Ålesund on the way back to the ship.

2O Hjørundfjord Tastes and Traditions

Ålesund · Moderate · 2 Nov to 31 Mar · 6 hours 30 minutes · four course lunch included · from £209

Step aboard the vintage 1949 motorship MS Bruvik for a scenic cruise along the breathtaking Hjørundfjord, with expert local guides bringing the fjord's history and communities to life as you sail to the village of Sæbø. From there, head to Rekkedal Guesthouse, a 16th century working farm run by the same family for 20 generations. Explore the farmyard before settling in for a four course meal, with drinks, beside the traditional fireplace in a beautifully preserved 1880 barn, with many ingredients sourced from the farm itself.

2S Silent Hjørundfjorden

Ålesund · Moderate · 1 Nov to 31 Mar · 7 hours · lunch included · from £167

Board the classic fjord boat MS Bruvik, in service since 1949, for a tranquil winter cruise into the Hjørundfjord, nestled between majestic snow capped mountains that mirror themselves in the still water. There are no guiding distractions, just the gentle hum of the engine and the soothing splash of waves, letting the landscape take centre stage. A hearty vegetable soup made from locally grown produce, a staple of the fjord region's cuisine for centuries, is included.

2U E-Bike Tour in Hjørundfjorden

Urke · Active · 31 Mar to 30 May and 31 Aug to 30 Oct · 3 hours · from £134

Starting beside the fjord in Øye, this guided e-bike tour takes you through some of the most scenic parts of the majestic Norangsdalen, one of Norway's narrowest valleys. Highlights include the rockfall lake Lygnstøylvatnet and the historic farmhouses at Urasætra and Stavbergsætra. The tour covers 12 to 20km on paved roads, with power assisted bikes to help you make the most of every kilometre, and local snacks and beverages along the way.

3A Nidaros Cathedral and Ringve Museum

Trondheim · Moderate · Spring, Summer and Autumn · 3 hours · from £100

Few large cities have managed to preserve their intimacy and charm like Norway's third largest, Trondheim, founded by the Viking King Olav Tryggvason in 997. From the pier, board a bus with a local guide to the national shrine, Nidaros Cathedral, Norway's only Gothic style cathedral, built over the burial place of St Olav, the country's patron saint. After a guided tour of the cathedral and some free time, the bus takes you to the Ringve Museum of Musical History, a delightful and unique display of special instruments from every corner of the world.

3B Trondheim with Nidaros Cathedral

Trondheim · Easy · Autumn and Winter · 2 hours · from £92

Trondheim is a large city by Norwegian standards, yet it has preserved the charm and intimacy of a small town, with modern buildings standing side by side with monastery ruins, impressive wooden buildings and colourful wharves. Hear about the city's many features as the bus takes you through its streets and boroughs, with a short stop at Utsikten, The View, to admire the city from on high, followed by a guided tour of the magnificent Gothic Nidaros Cathedral, dating back to around 1070.

3D Trondheim City Walk

Trondheim · Easy · All year · 3 hours · from £66

Start your walk at the harbour, developed during the second half of the 19th century, before heading to Stiftsgården, the royal residence in Trondheim, and the market square with its statue of the city's founder, the Viking King Olav Tryggvason. Continue to Nidaros Cathedral, the world's northernmost medieval cathedral, before crossing the old city bridge, known to locals as the portal of happiness, into Bakklandet, where old factories have become desirable housing amid boutique shops and gourmet restaurants, and where you find the world's one and only bicycle lift.

3G Kayaking on the River Nid

Trondheim · Challenging · All year · 2 hours 30 minutes · from £125

Experience Trondheim from a different angle with a kayaking trip along the River Nid, the river that circles the city centre. Paddle into the city's smaller channels and see some of the main sights, including the colourful wooden buildings by the harbour, Nidaros Cathedral and Kristiansten Fortress, all from the riverside.

3H Cycling in Trondheim

Trondheim · Active · Spring, Summer and Autumn · 2 hours 45 minutes · from £75

Trondheim is one of the most bike friendly cities in Norway. Cycle along the fjord and over the cycle bridge with great views of Munkholmen, Trondheim's fortress island, then along the River Nid to the historic Bakklandet district, where you can try the world's only bicycle lift and pause for coffee and pastries, passing old warehouses and views of Nidaros Cathedral before returning to the ship.

4A Svartisen Glacier

Tender transfer to Bodø · Moderate · Summer (Jun to Aug) · 5 hours · from £251

Situated near Ørnes, Svartisen is Norway's second largest glacier. Your Hurtigruten ship makes a stop to allow you and your guide to transfer to a smaller boat, which sails between islets and skerries, in the realm of the sea eagle, Europe's largest bird of prey, while the guide tells you about the area. At the Svartisen Tourist Centre you can admire the beauty of this enigmatic ice world over a warm drink and the centre's varied buffet of delicious cakes, before continuing along the beautiful Helgeland coast to rejoin the ship in Bodø.

4B Arctic Coastal Walk

Bodø · Challenging · All year · 2 hours 10 minutes · from £92

Join a guided hike along the beautiful Norwegian coast. Your experienced guides take you along coastal pathways and across sandy beaches, pointing out special views and wildlife along the way. Discover the geology of the area, learn about local history and the connection the surrounding communities have with the sea, and see one of the many Viking graves discovered in the area.

4C Experience Bodø and Saltstraumen

Bodø · Moderate · All year · 2 hours 10 minutes · from £92

Start with a guided tour around Bodø, the second largest city in northern Norway, before continuing through fantastic landscape to Saltstraumen, where a genuine natural phenomenon awaits: several million cubic metres of water forced through a 150 metre narrow strait, creating the strongest tidal current in the world. After admiring Saltstraumen you receive a complimentary box of salt flakes produced here, an Arctic addition to your cooking to impress your friends back home.

4D RIB Safari to Saltstraumen

Bodø · Active · Spring, Summer and Autumn · 2 hours · from £150

This excursion takes you by rigid inflatable boat to Saltstraumen, the world's most powerful tidal current. On the journey through this wild landscape there is a good chance of observing sea eagles, while taking in the awesome scenery of the Caledonian Fold Belt, mountains dating back over 250 million years. You sit safely in sturdy boats operated by highly experienced pilots, in harmony with nature, eagles and the deep blue sea.

4E / 4F Meet the Vikings

4E Winter · Easy · Winter and Spring · 2 hours 30 minutes · from £167

4F Summer · Easy · Spring, Summer and Autumn · 2 hours 30 minutes · from £167

Travel from Stamsund to Borg, where the largest Viking building ever found has been recreated at the Lofotr Viking Museum. The original Chieftain's house was established around 500 AD and inhabited until about 900 AD, and the rebuilt version exhibits finds from the era. The Chieftain and the Lady of the house invite you to a real Viking feast in the banquet hall, with traditional food, costumes and rituals; on winter departures they make sacrifices to the gods, praying for the sun to return. After the feast you travel by bus to Svolvær to rejoin the ship.

4G Highlights of Lofoten

Stamsund to Svolvær · Easy · Spring and Summer · 2 hours 40 minutes · from £117

From Stamsund, your first stop is Gimsøy Church on the Norwegian Sea island of Gimsøy, a beautiful site with many photo opportunities. Continue to Kabelvåg, the oldest fishing village in the Lofoten Islands, where you visit Gallery Espolin, home to the largest collection of works by Kaare Espolin Johnson, famed for his depictions of the sea, Lofoten and the lives of fishermen. Nearby are the Lofoten Museum, the site of the medieval fishing town of Vågar with its authentic fishermen's cabins and Nordland boats, and finally Vågan Church, known as Lofoten Cathedral, built in 1898 and one of Norway's largest.

4H Lofotpils Brewery

Svolvær · Moderate · All year · 40 minutes · from £46

Visit an old fish landing facility from 1937 in the centre of Svolvær, where local beer enthusiast Thorvardur started Lofoten's first brewery, with a distinctive taste that comes from Lofoten's fresh natural water. Your guided tour takes you around the only craft brewery in Lofoten, covering the beer making process, the history of Lofotpils and how the special water conditions made the brewery possible. The tour ends with a tasting poured straight from the fermentation tank, as fresh as a beer can be.

4I Farm Visit in Lofoten

Stamsund to Svolvær · Moderate · Spring, Summer and Autumn · 2 hours 40 minutes · from £134

Enjoy a visit to Aalan Farm in Lauvdalen, a family run herb and cheese farm in Lofoten. The farm supplies Hurtigruten's ships along the coast with lovely tea and cheese throughout the year, and is the only local food supplier to Hurtigruten that can be visited during a voyage. Learn about real life on a farm, taste cheeses, herbs and other products made from scratch, and meet the farm's goats, dogs, cats, miniature pigs, ducks and chickens.

4L Sámi Adventure

Bodø · Easy · 1 Nov to 15 May · 1 hour 45 minutes · from £142

A short bus journey from Bodø quay brings you to the Saltfjellet wilderness, where the Oksal family welcome you to their traditional camp for an intimate glimpse into the nomadic world of the Sámi people. Gathered around the fire inside the lavvu, their traditional tent, you share their culture and history over a cup of chaga tea, brewed from a birch fungus revered by the Sámi, and hear joik, an ancient and deeply personal form of Sámi song. Before returning to the ship you are welcome to meet the reindeer that roam the camp and feed them lichen by hand.

5A The Arctic Capital: Tromsø

Tromsø · Easy · All year · 3 hours 30 minutes · from £142

Get acquainted with the Paris of the North, lying between the Arctic Ocean and towering mountains. As the largest town above the Arctic Circle, Tromsø combines modern urban pleasures with a rich trading and seafaring history, from Arctic hunting to the Pomor trade, that has turned it into an advanced research and education centre. Take the famous cable car up to Storsteinen, 421 metres above sea level, for spectacular panoramic views over the town, islands, mountains and fjords, visit the Polaria Centre with its aquarium and panorama cinema, and stop at the town's landmark, the Arctic Cathedral, with its fantastic glass mosaic.

5B Dog Sledding

Tromsø · Active · Winter (Nov to Mar) · 3 hours 30 minutes · from £260

Experience the thrill of adventure in Norway's northern winterland. The tour heads to the island of Kvaløya, where you change into warm clothing and meet the eager huskies waiting to pull the sledges across the frozen landscape. In the deep dark of winter, the only light comes from your head lamps and the starry sky, and the mood is magical as the dogs run almost silently over the snowy plains with the chance of Northern Lights above. The trip closes in a well heated lavvo, a Sámi tent, with an open fire and a hot drink.

5D Polar History Walk

Tromsø · Moderate · All year · 2 hours 30 minutes · from £92

Tromsø is a town brimming with history. Your guide takes you past the statue of Roald Amundsen, the hunting monument and the market square, with its wonderful view of the Arctic Cathedral, to the Polar Museum and its exhibits from Norway's proud polar history. The tour continues to Ølhallen, Tromsø's oldest pub and a popular meeting place for fishermen, hunters and polar explorers, where you can taste beer from the world's northernmost brewery, Mack, while a local tells stories of the old days.

5M Cross-Country Skiing

Tromsø · Active · Winter and Spring · 3 hours · from £150

A fantastic introduction to cross-country skiing for beginners. Learn basic skills from experienced ski instructors before setting off along flat terrain, mostly on prepared trails, across the top of Tromsøya Island just a short drive from the city centre. As your confidence grows the instructors introduce more techniques, so by the end you can even challenge yourself on small hills. Afterwards, take a break beside a bonfire with a hot drink and lefse, a local snack.

5N Snowshoeing in Tromsø

Tromsø · Challenging · Winter and Spring · 3 hours · from £150

Take the short journey to Tromsøya Island and its winter landscape of birch and spruce forests. Equipped with modern snowshoes, follow your guide through the forest to a clearing, where you can help build the campfire, learn about the local nature and everyday life in Tromsø, and even speed down the hill on a toboggan like a local. Finish around the fire with hot drinks and a sweet snack.

Explore Tromsø by E-bike

Tromsø · Spring and Summer · 3 hours · from £150 · call for booking code

Hop on an electric bike to explore the Paris of the North with ease. Enjoy a local's eye view as you discover little known sights and admire the gorgeous Arctic scenery around the city.

6A The North Cape

Honningsvåg · Easy · All year · 3 hours · from £150

Today you cross the 71st parallel, something few can claim, and enjoy the magnificent sub Arctic landscape of Finnmark on the journey to the North Cape, the northernmost point of the European continent. In summer you may see herds of grazing reindeer and Sámi camps; in winter you might find yourself following a snowplough for the final miles up to this world famous cliff. The North Cape plateau rises more than a thousand feet almost vertically from the icy Arctic Ocean. In North Cape Hall you can enjoy a panoramic film about Finnmark, explore the tunnel lined with scenes from the area's past, visit the chapel and the post office, where letters are franked with a genuine North Cape postmark, then step outside and brace yourself against the wind beside the famous globe. Few people on earth can say they stood at the top of Europe.

6B Birdwatching Safari

Honningsvåg · Moderate · Spring, Summer and Autumn · 3 hours · from £192

Travel to the small fishing village of Gjesvær, with an introduction to the local flora and fauna on the way, before a short boat trip puts you in the heart of the Gjesværstappan Nature Reserve, one of the world's most exciting birdwatching sites. From the vessel you can study Finnmark's largest colony of puffins together with kittiwakes, guillemots, razorbills, cormorants, Arctic skuas, northern fulmars and gannets, while mighty sea eagles hover above in search of prey. Weather and time permitting, the crew stop at their secret favourite places, where there is often a good chance of seeing seals playing around the boat.

6C Sámi Culture

Kjøllefjord to Mehamn · Easy · Spring, Summer and Autumn · 2 hours 30 minutes · from £113

Discover the exciting history of Norway's multi ethnic Arctic coast on this fascinating excursion in Finnmark, along Europe's northernmost shores. After a drive through the fishing village of Kjøllefjord, with a stop for pictures, you continue into the mountains to the highland camp of a traditional Sámi reindeer herding family. Dressed in local costume, they invite you into their lavvo to enjoy reindeer bouillon and coffee while listening to Sámi joiks, and afterwards you can visit their reindeer and even try throwing a traditional lasso.

6D Snowmobile Trip in the Arctic

Kjøllefjord to Mehamn · Active · Winter and Spring · 2 hours 30 minutes · from £327 · valid driving licence required

Join an unforgettable snowmobile trip through one of Europe's most extreme and exciting natural areas, travelling from the old trading post and fishing village of Kjøllefjord over the mountains to Mehamn. Along the way the guides tell you about the Sámi people, life on the Finnmark coast and how the local population use nature in summer and winter. Some of Norway's best instructors provide proper training before you set off through snow clad valleys in the fresh winter air, with perhaps the mesmerising Northern Lights in the clear, starry sky above.

6H Fishing Village Visit

Honningsvåg · Moderate · All year · 3 hours · from £117

Journey from Honningsvåg through the superb scenery of the island of Magerøya to the fishing villages of Kamøyvær and Skarsvåg, with information about the nature, culture and history of the area en route. At Skarsvåg, the world's northernmost fishing village, visit the Christmas and Winter House with its homely atmosphere of Christmas music, decorations and locally produced ornaments. In Kamøyvær, with its fish processing plants, small fishing fleet and picturesque harbour, visit artist Eva Schmutterer in her little gallery East of the Sun, with arts and crafts inspired by Magerøya and the changing seasons. Weather permitting, there is a short photo stop at the Tufjorden viewpoint with a glimpse of the North Cape.

7A The Norwegian Border

Kirkenes · Easy · All year · 3 hours · from £113

Kirkenes is the turning point of the Hurtigruten voyage and the only town in Norway where East meets West. On this exploratory excursion you start with a short tour of Kirkenes, including a Second World War bomb shelter, before travelling by bus through surprisingly fertile landscape of green hills dotted with scrub, birch and pine that survive despite the harsh Arctic climate. The history of the region is dramatic and truly stimulating, and you eventually arrive at Storskog, the border station between Norway and Russia, where you are permitted to take pictures although you cannot cross. A fascinating excursion for travellers interested in Scandinavian history and culture.

7B Riverboat to the Norwegian Border

Kirkenes · Moderate · Summer and Autumn · 2 hours 30 minutes · from £142

In this exciting exploration of Finnmark, riverboats take you upstream along the Pasvik river, whose cultural history dates back thousands of years, on the frontier between Norway and Russia. Learn about the Sámi people, the region's original inhabitants, the sacred princes Boris and Gleb, and St Trifon, the monk who attempted to convert the Sámi to Christianity in the 1500s, while observing the rich animal and plant life, from reindeer and fish to the occasional wandering bear. At the border you go ashore to learn more about Norway's relationship with its eastern neighbour, with a serving of local cloudberries with cream.

7C Snowmobile Safari

Kirkenes · Active · Winter and Spring · 2 hours 30 minutes · from £209 · driving licence required to drive

Snow and horsepower are a fabulous combination. On a frozen fjord in Norway's Sámi region, drive snowmobiles, two people per vehicle, across a vast, bright white landscape, travelling around 14km in Arctic winter temperatures. Along the way your guides tell you about Sámi history and culture, the Arctic climate and its animal life, and all participants receive instruction in snowmobile safety at the start. Afterwards, enjoy dried reindeer meat and a hot beverage in a well heated lavvo.

7D Kirkenes Snowhotel

Kirkenes · Moderate · All year · 3 hours · from £117

Kirkenes Snowhotel is set in idyllic surroundings next to Gabba Reindeer Park. Your adventure begins with a stroll up to the hotel and into Norway's largest ice bar, before the guide shows you around the Snowhotel, including some of its magnificent suites. After the tour it is time to meet the reindeer, an excellent photo opportunity, and you can also visit Gabba Kennel and its many resident huskies.

7E ATV/Quad Safari to the Norwegian Border

Kirkenes · Challenging · Summer and Autumn · 2 hours 30 minutes · from £159 · two per vehicle, drivers need a valid licence

Your guide meets you at the quay and takes you through the day's programme, starting with a test drive in a low traffic area before heading up to the Kjerringstupet viewpoint near Kirkenes. You then drive through the town centre, stopping at a viewpoint overlooking the Sydvaranger mines, and continue to the Norwegian border, where your guide explains the history and culture of the area over coffee and muffins at the border station. Finally you return to Kirkenes via Prestfjellet Mountain, with magnificent views of both the town and your Hurtigruten ship.

7F Husky Tour

Kirkenes · Active · Winter and Spring · 3 hours · from £251

Drive to the Snowhotel, next to Gabba Reindeer Park, where warm outdoor clothing, snow overalls, shoes, gloves and hats are all provided. The huskies are harnessed to your sledge, eagerly waiting to transport you across the frozen landscape. There are two passengers per sledge, each travelling with its own musher, many of them active racers with years of experience, so you can relax and enjoy the ride along a 5km track set against the most picturesque of landscapes. You also have the option to visit the Snowhotel or the reindeer enclosure.

7H King Crab Adventure (Summer)

Kirkenes · Easy · Summer (Jun to Aug) · 3 hours · from £209

Join this excursion for a fantastic visit to the first king crab restaurant in Norway. Accompanied by expert fishermen, walk out onto a fishing pier on the Barents Sea, where they show you how to catch a king crab and share the history of this monster of the deep. You can help pull up the crab cages and land your catch, before the fishermen prepare it in the local way and serve it in the idyllic fjordside restaurant, with a fantastic view and a great atmosphere.

7M King Crab Adventure (Winter)

Kirkenes · Easy · Winter and Spring · 3 hours · from £234

Ride a snowmobile drawn sleigh across the frozen landscape by the Barents Sea, surrounded by Arctic scenery. Learn about the giant red king crab from an experienced fisherman, help haul the crab cages through the ice, and then enjoy a hearty meal at the Snowhotel restaurant, feasting on your freshly caught catch.