The southbound half of the classic voyage, from the Arctic far north back to the green fjord country, calling at all 32 ports between Kirkenes and Bergen. Ideal if you cannot spare the days for the full round voyage.
The 6 day Coastal Express South is very popular among travellers who cannot spare the time for the full Coastal Express Round Voyage but still wish to watch the gradual transition from the sparse, wild landscapes deep within the Arctic to the populated, lush fjord country of the south. Joining the ship in Kirkenes, you sail south for six days and five nights, calling at 32 ports and finishing in Bergen, gateway to the fjords.
A special feature of the southbound voyage is the daytime sailing through the Lofoten Islands, for many the highlight of the whole coast. Other highlights include Hammerfest and the North Cape, the medieval city of Trondheim and the crossing of the Arctic Circle. If you would prefer to sail the other way, see the Coastal Express North.
Your southbound voyage starts at Kirkenes, the far eastern turning point of the coastal route, closer to Murmansk than to Oslo and further east than St Petersburg. Fly in from the UK by way of Oslo, and if you arrive early there is time for one of the Arctic adventures the town is known for, from a king crab safari to a visit to the Snowhotel, before you board. As the ship casts off at midday and turns south, the ports the northbound ships pass in darkness are yours to see by daylight. In the afternoon you dock at Vardø, the easternmost town in Norway, then round the Varanger peninsula by way of Båtsfjord to reach Berlevåg in the evening.
The day opens among the stark, treeless headlands of Finnmark, with an early call at Honningsvåg, the port for the North Cape, where a sunrise excursion to the plateau and a Sámi encampment can be arranged. At Hammerfest, one of the oldest towns in the north, look for the Meridian Column, a UNESCO listed marker of the nineteenth century survey that first measured the exact shape of the earth. The town lit its streets by electricity as early as 1891, and today a great gas terminal on its doorstep keeps that pioneering spirit alive. By evening the ship reaches Tromsø.
Today is one of scenery rather than long hours ashore. Between Harstad and Sortland the ship uses the Risøyrenna, a channel dredged especially for Hurtigruten to keep to the sheltered inside passage. At Stokmarknes, the birthplace of the coastal service in 1893, passengers can visit the Hurtigruten Museum free of charge and see a whole retired ship preserved indoors.
The highlight comes in the Raftsund, the slim strait dividing Vesterålen from Lofoten. Conditions permitting, the ship noses into the Trollfjord, barely wider than the vessel itself, its walls rising sheer on either side. Beyond lies Svolvær and the great granite rampart of the Lofoten Wall before the islands slip astern into the evening.
The Helgeland coast is reason enough to rise early, a scattering of hundreds of islets set against farmland and grey granite peaks. Somewhere between Ørnes and Nesna you recross the Arctic Circle, leaving the land of the midnight sun behind. This stretch is thick with legend, from the row of summits known as the Seven Sisters to the curious tunnel pierced clean through Torghatten mountain, said to be the track of a troll's arrow.
Near your call at Sandnessjøen lies the Vega Archipelago, a UNESCO World Heritage Site honoured for a thousand years of quiet partnership between islanders and eider ducks, who nest under human protection and give up their prized down in return.
A second chance to see Trondheim, Norway's first capital, where Nidaros Cathedral has crowned kings and queens for centuries and still guards the national regalia in the neighbouring palace. Sailing on past the islet of Munkholmen, the ship crosses open water to Molde, the town of roses, warmed by the Gulf Stream and framed by the jagged Romsdal Alps on the horizon. Kristiansund, further down the coast, made its fortune on dried and salted cod and sits astride the famous Atlantic Road.
The final day saves some of the finest coast for last. The ship passes the mouth of the Nordfjord beneath the vast Jostedalsbreen, the largest glacier on the European mainland, threads the islands off Måløy and Florø, and skirts the outer edge of the mighty Sognefjord before the skerries of the Bergen archipelago close in. In the afternoon you arrive back in Bergen, city of seven mountains, with a camera full of coastline and a good many new friends made along the way.
All prices are in pounds per person, based on two people travelling together and sharing a twin cabin, voyage only. The ship departure date determines the price. The price you pay depends on when you book; early bookers get the from price shown, and as cabins fill the price rises, so booking early is strongly advised. See fare options for what each fare includes.
Departure month
Polar Inside
Polar Outside
Arctic Superior
Expedition Suites
July 2026
from £2,064
from £5,155
from £2,711
from £3,689
August 2026
from £1,778
from £1,858
from £2,396
from £3,619
September 2026
from £1,622
from £1,732
from £2,278
from £3,712
October 2026
from £1,298
from £1,454
from £1,961
from £3,056
November 2026
from £1,012
from £1,134
from £1,528
from £2,650
December 2026
from £1,012
from £1,134
from £1,528
from £2,335
Departure month
Polar Inside
Polar Outside
Arctic Superior
Expedition Suites
January 2027
from £1,182
from £1,324
from £1,738
from £2,799
February 2027
from £1,332
from £1,492
from £2,011
from £2,983
March 2027
from £1,389
from £1,555
from £2,097
from £3,111
April 2027
from £1,147
from £1,555
from £1,692
from £2,569
May 2027
from £1,389
from £1,556
from £2,265
from £3,334
June 2027
from £1,638
from £1,767
from £2,481
from £3,815
July 2027
from £1,544
from £1,729
from £2,285
from £3,706
August 2027
from £1,499
from £1,678
from £2,218
from £3,596
September 2027
from £1,344
from £1,537
from £1,989
from £3,225
October 2027
from £1,180
from £1,321
from £1,746
from £2,831
November 2027
from £907
from £1,015
from £1,342
from £2,175
December 2027
from £907
from £1,015
from £1,328
from £2,678
Departure month
Polar Inside
Polar Outside
Arctic Superior
Expedition Suites
January 2028
from £1,116
from £1,250
from £1,652
from £2,678
February 2028
from £1,253
from £1,403
from £1,854
from £3,006
March 2028
from £1,296
from £1,454
from £1,921
from £3,115
Not all cabin categories are available on all ships or departures. Single supplements are available on request. Prices shown are the lowest available in each cabin category.
Your Fare
What is included
Every fare covers the voyage itself in your chosen cabin category on a full board basis, with an English speaking tour leader on board. Beyond that, what you get depends on whether you book the Basic or Select fare, or an Expedition Suite. Anything shown as an upgrade can be added to your booking for an extra charge, so just ask when you book.
What's included
Basic Cabin assigned at check in
Select Choose your cabin
Suite Expedition Suites
Food and drink on board
Full board Breakfast, lunch and dinner throughout the voyage
Included
Included
Included
Unlimited tea and filter coffee A selection of teas and on-tap filter coffee, available all day
Not included
Included
Included
Welcome basket Sparkling wine and a basket of treats on arrival
Upgrade
Upgrade
Included
Flexible dining times Pick the dining slot that suits you
Not included
Not included
Included
Dinner in the fine dining restaurant Kysten Dishes built on the best ingredients of the Norwegian coast, on ships that carry Kysten
Upgrade
Upgrade
Upgrade
Accommodation on board
Choice of cabin or suite type Select your preferred cabin or suite type. On the half voyages this is an upgrade rather than an inclusion, because choice of cabin is included only on voyages of more than 11 days
Not included
Upgrade
Upgrade
Priority check-in Fast-track check-in for a smooth start
Not included
Not included
Included
Life on board
Free WiFi In your cabin and throughout the ship
Upgrade
Included
Included
Knowledgeable Expedition Team Insights, guidance and activities, on board and ashore
Included
Included
Included
Access to the Photo Programme and app Share your photographs with fellow passengers and enter the daily competitions
Included
Included
Included
Traditional Norwegian wool sweater A warm Norwegian welcome gift to take home
Not included
Not included
Included
Because this is a half voyage rather than the full round trip, choosing your cabin type is an upgrade on every fare, and the Northern Lights Promise does not apply; the promise covers voyages of 11 days or more, so for that you would need the 12 day round voyage. Not included: flights and transfers, travel insurance, optional excursions, luggage handling, gratuities and fuel surcharges. You can arrange travel insurance online here, and it is a condition of booking that every passenger has cover in force.
Getting There
Flights and packages
Booking a complete package gives you everything organised from start to finish, with the protection of Hurtigruten's ATOL licence. Flights can be arranged from a wide choice of UK airports including Aberdeen, Birmingham, Bristol, Cardiff, Edinburgh, Gatwick, Glasgow, Heathrow, Leeds Bradford, Liverpool, Manchester and Newcastle, with connections and airlines varying by route. If you prefer to book your own flights, transfers can still be arranged on certain routes, along with pre and post tours, excursions and hotels.
Package
Arrival in Norway
Departure from Norway
Price
Classic Voyage South
Flight UK to Oslo, one night B&B at an Oslo airport hotel, flight Oslo to Kirkenes, transfer to ship
Transfer ship to airport, flight Bergen to UK
Call
South with Bergen extension
Flight UK to Oslo, one night B&B in Oslo, flight to Kirkenes, transfer to ship
Transfer ship to hotel, one night B&B in Bergen, transfer to airport, flight Bergen to UK
Call
South across the Roof of Norway
Flight UK to Oslo, one night B&B in Oslo, flight to Kirkenes, transfer to ship
Rail Bergen to Oslo with seat reservation, one night in Bergen and one in Oslo, transfers, flight Oslo to UK
Call
Prices are per person based on two sharing. Extra nights in Bergen can be booked, prices on request. Call 0333 405 0194 for a tailored quote.
