19 Days · 18 Nights · Helsinki to Reykjavík
Three countries, one escorted journey
- Duration19 days, 18 nights
- RouteHelsinki to Reykjavík
- ShipsCoastal Express, varies by date
- SeasonMay to July
- From£6,405 pp
The Grand Nordic Adventure is one of Hurtigruten's most ambitious land and sea journeys, and one that carries on beyond Norway to Iceland. It begins in Helsinki, travels north by train to Rovaniemi, just below the Arctic Circle, and continues by coach through Finnish Lapland to the Norwegian border at Kirkenes. There you join a ship of the Coastal Express for five nights, sailing south along the whole length of the coast to Bergen. Finally, you fly west to Reykjavík for a guided week across south western Iceland.
It is fully escorted. An English speaking Tour Manager travels with the group from the first evening in Helsinki to the last in Reykjavík, sails with you on the ship, and takes care of the hotels, trains, coaches and the flight from Bergen to Iceland. Groups are usually 20 to 30 guests. The journey runs in late spring and high summer, when the nights in the north are light and, on the earlier departures, the sun barely sets at all.
£6,405per person, from
Four departures in 2027: 19 May, 4 June, 17 June and 28 July
The price covers the whole tour as described on this page, including hotels, rail, coaches, the flight from Bergen to Reykjavík and five nights on board ship, per person sharing. It does not include international flights to Helsinki or home from Reykjavík, which we can add from London.
The Journey
How the Grand Nordic Adventure fits together
Think of it as three holidays joined end to end, each in a different landscape. The first week is Finland: two nights in Helsinki with a guided city tour, a long train journey north to Rovaniemi on the Arctic Circle, a reindeer farm, a lake float in a rescue suit, and two nights in glass roofed cabins at Saariselkä Midnight Sun Village with husky hiking and an evening of photography under the midnight light. A visit to the Sámi museum at Inari leads you over the border into Norway.
The middle of the journey is the Norwegian coast. You stay in Kirkenes, visit its Snowhotel, and then board one of the ships of the Original Coastal Express for five nights southbound. The route calls at dozens of small harbours by day and night, passes the Lofoten Islands, the Helgeland coast and Trondheim, and arrives in Bergen, where a guided city tour and a hotel night await. This section follows the same coast as our Classic southbound voyage, with your Tour Manager on board.
The final week is Iceland, a short flight away from Bergen. A tour of Reykjavík, an afternoon at the Blue Lagoon, the waterfalls and black sand beaches of the south coast, and the Golden Circle make for a full and varied finale, ending with a farewell dinner in the capital.
Who suits it? Travellers who want to see a great deal without organising it themselves, who are happy moving on every two or three days, and who enjoy the company of a small group. It is not recommended for wheelchair users or guests with limited mobility, but if you can manage short walks and a few stairs you should be able to join most of the activities.
The Ships
Your Coastal Express ship
The Norwegian section is sailed aboard one of the ships of Hurtigruten's Original Coastal Express, the working route that has linked the coastal communities of Norway since 1893, carrying passengers, cargo and local travellers between 34 ports. Which ship you sail on depends on your departure date: MS Nordkapp on 19 May, MS Nordnorge on 4 June, MS Kong Harald on 17 June and MS Richard With on 28 July. The ship stays the same for the whole of your time on board.
These are comfortable, practical ships with panoramic lounges, restaurants and open decks, carrying up to around 500 passengers. Full board is included while you are on board, with breakfast, lunch and dinner each day, and the ship's Expedition Team give talks and point out sights along the way. Your Tour Manager sails with you, so there is a familiar face on hand.
Watch
Svolvaer and the Lofoten Islands
Hurtigruten's guide to Svolvær, the main town of the Lofoten Islands, which you pass through on the coastal part of this tour.
Video from Hurtigruten's official YouTube channel.
Day by Day
Day by day from Helsinki to Reykjavík
Included visits and meals are described for each day. Optional excursions during the Coastal Express section are listed under the relevant day; they are booked and paid for separately and some run only in certain months. Hotels are of four star standard.
Day 1 · Helsinki, Finland
Today · Arrive in Helsinki
You fly to Helsinki and make your way to a centrally located hotel, where you meet your Tour Manager and the rest of the group over a welcome dinner. Helsinki has been the capital of Finland since 1812, when it took over from Turku, and its centre has the elegant, ordered look of that era. Senate Square and the white, green domed Helsinki Cathedral are only a short walk from most central hotels.
If you arrive early, the leafy Kaisaniemi Park close to the hotel is a pleasant place to stretch your legs, and the harbour and the Market Square are close by. From there, ferries run out to Suomenlinna, the island sea fortress that is one of Finland's UNESCO World Heritage Sites.
Day 2 · Helsinki city tour
Today · Helsinki
A three hour guided tour by private coach shows you the city's highlights with an English speaking guide. It includes the Sibelius Monument, a cluster of more than 600 welded steel pipes in Sibelius Park, created by the sculptor Eila Hiltunen in honour of Jean Sibelius, Finland's best known composer. You also visit the Temppeliaukio Church, the Rock Church, which was carved straight into the bedrock and opened in 1969, its copper dome resting on a ring of glass so that daylight falls on the rough stone walls. Entry depends on the church's opening hours on the day.
The rest of the day is free. Design lovers will want to explore the Design District, and the Esplanadi park with its cafes makes a lovely afternoon stroll.
Day 3 · By train to Rovaniemi
Today · Helsinki to Rovaniemi
After breakfast you board a long distance train for the journey north through Finland's lakes and forests, crossing almost the full length of the country to Rovaniemi, the capital of Finnish Lapland. You arrive in the late afternoon and transfer to the Santa Claus Hotel in the town centre. The evening is free.
Rovaniemi sits where the Kemijoki and Ounasjoki rivers meet. It was almost completely burned by retreating German troops in 1944, and the architect Alvar Aalto drew up the plan for its reconstruction, with main roads laid out in the shape of a reindeer's antlers. The Arktikum science centre and museum explains the town's history and Arctic nature. For a special evening, there is an optional Midnight Sun dinner at the Sky Kitchen and View restaurant, offered from June to August on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays.
Day 4 · Rovaniemi, reindeer and a lake float
Today · Rovaniemi
The morning brings a guided visit to a family run reindeer farm. You will help feed the animals and hear how reindeer herding has shaped life in Lapland for generations. In Finland every reindeer has an owner, and the farm's herders explain the year's cycle of grazing, round ups and earmarking.
After free time for lunch, the afternoon is something completely different: floating on a freshwater lake in a rescue suit, a calm and surprisingly relaxing way to experience the quiet of the Finnish forest from the water.
Day 5 · North to Saariselkä
Today · Rovaniemi to Saariselkä
Today a touring coach takes you north. The first stop is Santa Claus Village, on the Arctic Circle just outside Rovaniemi, where you have free time to cross the line and look around. Further on you visit the old church at Sodankylä, a small timber church completed in 1689 and one of the oldest preserved wooden churches in Finland.
By evening you reach the Midnight Sun Village at Saariselkä, your home for the next two nights in a cabin with a glass ceiling, so you can watch the sky from bed. Breakfast and dinner are at the hotel today, with a stop for lunch on the way. Saariselkä lies on the edge of the Urho Kekkonen National Park, one of the largest protected wilderness areas in Finland.
Day 6 · Husky hiking and Lake Inari
Today · Saariselkä and Lake Inari
The morning is free, or you can join an optional electric fat bike safari on the forest trails. After lunch at the hotel, you set off on a moderate hike in the company of Siberian huskies; you can walk with a dog if you would like to, or simply enjoy the scenery. Depending on the season there may be berries to pick along the way and clear streams to drink from.
In the evening there is a photography expedition beside a lake to capture the low northern light, and the outing continues to a wilderness camp on the shore of Lake Inari, the third largest lake in Finland, scattered with more than 3,000 islands, for a warm drink by the water. Depending on your departure date, the sun either stays above the horizon all night or dips only briefly below it.
Day 7 · Inari and across the border to Kirkenes
Today · Saariselkä, Inari and Kirkenes
A scenic drive brings you to Inari, the heart of Sámi culture in Finland. Three Sámi languages are spoken in the area, and the village is home to the Finnish Sámi Parliament. At the SIIDA Sámi Museum you learn about Sámi history, traditions and art, as well as the nature of the far north, and lunch is included at the museum's restaurant.
In the afternoon you cross into Norway and continue to Kirkenes, close to the Russian border, where dinner is served at your hotel. Kirkenes was one of the most heavily bombed places in Europe during the Second World War and was liberated by Soviet forces in October 1944; the town you see today was rebuilt after the war.
Day 8
Kirkenes and the Snowhotel, then aboard
Today · Kirkenes
After breakfast at the hotel you take a guided tour of Snowhotel Kirkenes 365, built from snow and ice and open all year round, including its carved ice chambers. A welcome drink is served at the Snowhotel, and you have time in the park to meet the reindeer and huskies who live there.
Then it is down to the Hurtigruten pier to board your ship. After the safety briefing, settle into your cabin and step out on deck as the ship leaves the Barents Sea coast behind and begins the long voyage south. This is the first of five nights on board.
Day 9 · Hammerfest and on to Tromsø
Ports today · Mehamn, Kjøllefjord, Honningsvåg, Havøysund, Hammerfest, Øksfjord, Skjervøy, Tromsø
The ship works through the night, calling at Mehamn and Kjøllefjord on the Finnmark coast, then at Honningsvåg and Havøysund in the early morning, close to the northern tip of Norway. In the early afternoon you reach Hammerfest, one of the northernmost towns in the world. Here stands the Meridian Column, one of the points of the Struve Geodetic Arc, a nineteenth century chain of survey points used to measure the shape of the Earth and now a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The town is also home to the Royal and Ancient Polar Bear Society, where you can join and pick up a souvenir, and a path climbs Mount Salen for a view over the harbour.
In the afternoon the ship passes Øksfjord and calls at the fishing port of Skjervøy, with the jagged Lyngen Alps rising to the south, and reaches Tromsø just before midnight. On the May and June departures, the sun stays up all night at these latitudes.
Optional excursions
- Breakfast at the North Cape A six hour early morning excursion from Honningsvåg to the North Cape plateau, with breakfast at the top of Europe. Seasonal.
- Mountain Hike in Hammerfest An hour and a half on foot to the viewpoint above the town.
- The Northernmost Town in the World A guided tour of Hammerfest lasting an hour and three quarters.
Day 10
Vesterålen, the Raftsundet and Lofoten
Ports today · Finnsnes, Harstad, Risøyhamn, Sortland, Stokmarknes, Svolvær
The ship leaves Finnsnes early and calls at Harstad, near Trondenes Church, described as the world's northernmost medieval stone church. Through Risøyhamn and Sortland the scenery shifts from rolling hills to sharp mountains, and at Stokmarknes you reach the birthplace of the Coastal Express. Richard With founded the route here in 1893, and the Hurtigruten Museum on the waterfront has the old MS Finnmarken preserved whole inside a glass hall.
The ship then sails the narrow Raftsundet and, if the weather and the Captain allow, may nose into the Trollfjord, only a short distance across at its entrance. Watch for sea eagles overhead. In the evening you arrive at Svolvær, having sailed past the Lofoten Wall, the line of peaks that rises from the sea along the archipelago.
Optional excursions
- Sea Eagle Safari Two hours by boat from Stokmarknes in search of white tailed eagles.
- Lofotpils Brewery A 40 minute visit and tasting at the Lofoten brewery in Svolvær.
- Lofoten Islands Three and a half hours exploring the islands by road from Svolvær.
- RIB Adventure in Lofoten An hour and a half at speed among the islands from Svolvær.
Day 11
The Arctic Circle and the Helgeland coast
Ports today · Bodø, Ørnes, Nesna, Sandnessjøen, Brønnøysund, Rørvik
After early morning calls at Bodø and Ørnes, the ship crosses the Arctic Circle, marked by a traditional taste of cod liver oil for those brave enough. Beyond Nesna and Sandnessjøen, gateway to the Helgeland coast, the Seven Sisters mountain range comes into view, the subject of a legend about troll princesses turned to stone by the rising sun.
Next is Torghatten, the mountain with a hole right through it, whose story the Expedition Team will tell as you pass. At Brønnøysund you can walk along Havnegata and visit the historic Brønnøy Church before the ship continues to Rørvik in the Vikna archipelago in the evening. The nearby Vega Archipelago is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, recognised for the way its island communities have lived by fishing and by gathering eider down for some 1,500 years.
Optional excursions
- UNESCO Vega Archipelago A five hour excursion from Sandnessjøen to the Vega islands.
- Torghatten Mountain Hike Two hours and 40 minutes from Brønnøysund, hiking up to the hole in the mountain.
- Hike to Torghatten A two hour version of the walk to Torghatten.
- Visit the Salmon Two and a half hours learning about salmon farming on the Helgeland coast.
- Sea Adventure by RIB Two and a half hours among the islands by RIB.
Day 12
Trondheim, Kristiansund and Molde
Ports today · Trondheim, Kristiansund, Molde
The morning is spent in Trondheim, Norway's third largest city and its first capital. Nidaros Cathedral was built over the grave of St Olav, the king who brought Christianity to Norway and died at the Battle of Stiklestad in 1030, and it has drawn pilgrims for nearly a thousand years. Cross the Gamle Bybro, the old town bridge over the River Nid, to the painted wooden houses of Bakklandet, where a coffee and a sweet bun called a bolle is a local ritual, and climb to Kristiansten Fort for the view over the city.
In the afternoon the ship calls at Kristiansund, the bacalao capital, whose wealth was built on klippfisk, salted and dried cod sent to southern Europe. Climb to the Varden viewpoint if time allows. Then comes Molde, the City of Roses, with views of the Romsdal Alps across the fjord; its roses are usually in bloom from mid June to late August, and the town is also known for one of Europe's oldest jazz festivals.
Optional excursions
- Trondheim with Nidaros Cathedral A two hour guided tour of Trondheim and its cathedral.
- The Atlantic Road Four and a half hours from Kristiansund on the Atlantic Ocean Road, the road that hops between islands on a chain of bridges.
- Bergtatt Magnificent Marble Mine Four and a half hours exploring the vast underground halls of a former marble mine.
Day 13
Florø and arrival in Bergen
Ports today · Florø, Bergen
The last day at sea follows the western fjord coast. The ship passes the mouth of the Nordfjord beneath the Jostedal glacier, the largest in mainland Europe, calls at Florø with its harbour and marina, then sails past the Stabben lighthouse and the entrance to the Sognefjord. The final approach to Bergen threads the Hjeltefjord and its skerries.
In Bergen a guided bus tour takes you to St Mary's Church, the oldest surviving building in the city, Haakon's Hall, the fish market and the UNESCO listed Bryggen wharf. You spend the night in a Bergen hotel, and if you have the energy, the Fløibanen funicular up Mount Fløyen is the best way to end the Norwegian part of the journey.
Day 14 · Bergen to Reykjavík
Today · Bergen, Keflavík and Reykjavík
The morning is free for a last look at Bergen. In the afternoon you fly from Bergen to Keflavík, the flight being included in your tour, and transfer to your hotel in Reykjavík. The drive in crosses the Reykjanes peninsula, a landscape of moss covered lava fields where volcanic eruptions in recent years have sent fresh lava across the ground.
Day 15 · Reykjavík
Today · Reykjavík
After breakfast a three hour private tour introduces the world's northernmost capital. It takes in City Hall on the edge of the Törnin lake, the National Museum, and Höfði House, where Ronald Reagan and Mikhail Gorbachev met for their summit in 1986. You will also see Harpa, the concert hall and conference centre on the harbour with its glass facade inspired by basalt columns, and Hallgrímskirkja, the great concrete church whose stepped tower dominates the skyline.
The afternoon and evening are free. Laugavegur, the main shopping street, is good for Icelandic wool and design, and the harbour has plenty of places to try fresh fish.
Day 16 · The Blue Lagoon and Selfoss
Today · Krýsuvík, Blue Lagoon and Selfoss
A day of geothermal Iceland. The coach stops at Krýsuvík, where steam vents, bubbling mud pools and coloured clay show the heat just below the surface. Then comes the Blue Lagoon, with Comfort entry including a silica mud mask at the Mask Bar, a drink and a towel. The milky blue water is warmed by the geothermal power plant nearby. If the Blue Lagoon is closed on the day, you visit the Sky Lagoon instead, with entry, one Skjól ritual and a towel, but no drink.
In the late afternoon you arrive at your hotel in Selfoss, a market town on the Ölfusá river, Iceland's largest river by volume, and a good base for the south coast.
Day 17 · The south coast and Vík
Today · Seljalandsfoss, Skógafoss, Reynisfjara and Vík
The south coast is Iceland at its most dramatic. At Seljalandsfoss a path leads behind the curtain of falling water, so take a waterproof. Skógafoss, a little further east, drops around 60 metres in a broad white sheet, and on sunny days a rainbow often hangs in its spray. At Reynisfjara the black sand beach is backed by columns of basalt, and you can see the great arch of Dyrhólaey along the coast. Take care here; the waves at Reynisfjara are notoriously powerful.
The LAVA Centre explains Iceland's volcanoes and earthquakes through an exhibition and cinema. The afternoon and evening are free in Vík, the southernmost village in Iceland.
Day 18 · The Golden Circle
Today · Gullfoss, Geysir and Þingvellir
The Golden Circle brings together three of Iceland's most famous sights. Gullfoss, the Golden Falls, drops in two tiers into a deep canyon. At Geysir the old great geyser that gave all geysers their name is now mostly quiet, but Strokkur nearby erupts every few minutes, sending a column of water high into the air.
Þingvellir National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is where the Icelandic parliament, the Alþingi, first met around 930, making it one of the oldest parliaments in the world. It also sits in the rift valley where the North American and Eurasian tectonic plates are pulling apart. You return to Reykjavík in the late afternoon for a farewell dinner with the group.
Day 19 · Departure from Reykjavík
Today · Reykjavík
After breakfast the tour ends and you make your own way to the airport for your flight home. If you would like to stay longer in Iceland, we can arrange extra nights, though these are at your own expense.
Fares
Grand Nordic Adventure fares 2027
There are four departures in 2027, each sailing on a different ship of the Coastal Express. The cabin categories in the table refer to your cabin on the ship during the five nights on board, and the price covers the whole tour as described on this page: hotels, rail, coaches, the flight from Bergen to Reykjavík, the included excursions and meals, and your Tour Manager. Prices are per person, two sharing, without international flights.
| Departure date | Ship | Polar Inside | Polar Outside | Arctic Superior | Expedition Suites |
|---|
| 19 May 2027 | MS Nordkapp | from £6,405 | from £6,681 | from £7,103 | Call |
| 4 June 2027 | MS Nordnorge | from £6,453 | Call | from £7,173 | Call |
| 17 June 2027 | MS Kong Harald | from £6,501 | from £7,057 | from £7,242 | Call |
| 28 July 2027 | MS Richard With | from £6,405 | from £6,681 | Call | Call |
Fares are per person in pounds, based on two sharing, and were checked on 20 October 2026. They are subject to availability and may change at any time before booking. Where a category shows Call, it was not available when we checked. Single supplements are available on request. Call 0333 405 0194 for current availability.
Your Tour
What is included
| What's included |
|---|
| Accommodation and meals |
| 13 nights in hotels Four star standard hotels and lodges, including two nights in glass roofed cabins at Saariselkä | Included |
| 5 nights on board a Coastal Express ship Full board, with breakfast, lunch and dinner | Included |
| Meals on land Daily breakfast at hotels, two lunches and five dinners | Included |
| Travel |
| Rail and coach Second class train from Helsinki to Rovaniemi, first class coach transfers | Included |
| Flight from Bergen to Reykjavík With all transfers shown in the itinerary | Included |
| English speaking Tour Manager Throughout the tour, including on board the ship | Included |
| Sightseeing |
| City tours Helsinki, Bergen and Reykjavík | Included |
| Finnish Lapland Reindeer farm visit, husky activity and Lake Inari | Included |
| Iceland attractions Blue Lagoon, the LAVA Centre, Perlan and FlyOver Iceland | Included |
Not included: international flights to Helsinki and home from Reykjavík, drinks unless stated, meals not listed, optional shore excursions during the voyage, travel insurance and gratuities. You can arrange travel insurance online here.
Flights
Flights from London
The tour price covers everything from your arrival in Helsinki to your departure from Reykjavík, including the internal flight from Bergen to Iceland, but not your flights from and to the UK. We can quote a flight-inclusive package from London, flying out to Helsinki and home from Reykjavík on an open jaw ticket, so the whole journey is arranged in one booking.
| Package | Starts / Ends | Included in price | Price |
|---|
Grand Nordic Adventure
Flight Package | Helsinki / Reykjavík | Flight from London to Helsinki and from Reykjavík back to London, added to the full tour as described | Call |
Package prices are per person in pounds, based on two sharing, and depend on your date. Call 0333 405 0194 for a quote.
Questions
Frequently asked questions
How is this different from a Hurtigruten voyage?
This is a guided land and sea journey. Alongside five nights on a Coastal Express ship, it includes hotels, train and coach travel, a flight from Bergen to Iceland and group sightseeing in Finland, Norway and Iceland, all with a Tour Manager.
Is the tour guided?
Yes. An English speaking Tour Manager accompanies the group throughout, from Helsinki to Reykjavík, including on board the ship.
How big are the groups?
Groups are usually 20 to 30 guests. The ship itself can carry up to around 500 passengers, but you travel with your own group and Tour Manager.
Are international flights included?
No. Flights to Helsinki and home from Reykjavík are not included, though the flight from Bergen to Reykjavík and all transfers in the itinerary are. We can quote flights from London.
Which meals are included?
Full board on the ship, daily breakfast at the hotels, two lunches and five dinners on land, including a welcome dinner in Helsinki and a farewell dinner in Reykjavík. Drinks are extra unless stated.
What kind of hotels are used?
Four star standard hotels and lodges, including the Santa Claus Hotel in Rovaniemi and two nights in glass roofed cabins at the Midnight Sun Village in Saariselkä. There are 13 hotel nights and five nights on board.
Which ship will I sail on?
It depends on the departure: MS Nordkapp on 19 May, MS Nordnorge on 4 June, MS Kong Harald on 17 June and MS Richard With on 28 July 2027. The ship stays the same for the whole of the voyage.
Will I see the midnight sun?
On the May and June departures you will be in the far north while the sun stays above the horizon all night. On the late July departure the nights are still very light, but by early August the sun dips briefly below the horizon in northern Norway and Finland.
Is the tour suitable for guests with limited mobility?
It is not recommended for wheelchair users or guests with limited mobility. If you can manage short walks and a few stairs, you should be able to join most activities.
Can I add extra nights?
Yes. We can arrange extra nights before the tour in Helsinki or after it in Reykjavík, at extra cost. Call 0333 405 0194 to discuss.
