The Svalbard Line (South)

Welcome to Svalbard! Here, magnificent brown and green mountains rise and ripple up from the High Arctic tundra while rivers of snow-melt trickle through the valley plains, glistening under the summer sun. Your voyage begins in the Svalbard archipelago's largest settlement. Nestled on the banks of Isfjord, Longyearbyen is a former coal mining colony.

Today, it's better known as a hub for adventure travellers, as well as scientists and engineers attached to internationally vital research projects, like the famous Global Seed Vault. Arrange to arrive a day or two before your voyage to, spend some time strolling around the town and going on excursions into the surrounding landscape. Whatever you do, take a moment to just be here, now, in Svalbard. You're at a latitude more than 78°N and under 1,500 kilometres from the North Pole itself.

The air of this Arctic desert is fresh and pure, and temperatures in summer average between zero and eight degrees Celsius thanks to a warm northern branch of the Gulf Stream. Get settled into your cabin and as afternoon turns to evening – with the sun still high in the sky – watch Longyearbyen fall into the horizon as you sail away into Isfjorden and head even farther north.

At the tip of Brøgger peninsula, on one of Kongsfjord's shores, is Ny-Ålesund. Like Longyearbyen, it began as a coal mine but became host to scientific stations from the mid 20th century. During the summer, there are over a hundred researchers based in the town, representing 20 glaciology and climate institutes from more than 10 countries.

Wander around what is one of the northernmost settlements in the world, drop in at the local museum and souvenir shop, or send a far-flung postcard back to friends and family from the small post office. If you weren't up in time to enjoy the impressive views of Kongsfjord on the way to Ny-Ålesund, make sure you're on deck as we leave. It's one of the largest fjords in the area, with an entrance guarded by two colossal creaking glaciers that regularly deposit ice into the fjord.

This stretch is also a good place to look out for walrus basking on the shores and for many different species of migrating birds, including puffins, king eiders, pink-footed geese, and guillemots. Arctic fox and Svalbard reindeer can sometimes be spotted on land while the white beluga whale has been known to surface in the waters here too. If we're very lucky, we might even see a polar bear prowling the coast for bearded and ringed seals.

It's time for us to say farewell to Svalbard and to Spitsbergen and sail south to mainland Norway. On board the ship, use the day to relax. If skies are clear, enjoy some summer sun out on deck and keep on the lookout for whales, dolphins, and porpoises. For some fascinating insights into local history and wildlife, catch a lecture delivered by the Expedition Team.

Enjoy the sumptuous food and drinks on board, courtesy of our Norway's Coastal Kitchen concept that features the finest, most flavoursome, local Norwegian produce. You can also curl up with a good book in the lounge or chat about your hopes for the voyage ahead with new-found friends in the bar.

After a day at sea, we arrive in mainland Norway. Our first stop of the day is Tromsø, to drop off any cargo from Svalbard and pick up cargo bound for ports to the south, before we continue south to Senja. The island is one of the country's largest, and northern Norway's fast-rising star destination, as you'd expect for a place ranked among CNN's top ten most beautiful islands in the world.

Often proudly described by locals as a ‘mini Norway', Senja has a concentration of diverse landscapes that mirror different parts of the Norwegian coast, from the sandy beaches, turquoise waters and lofty mountains of its northern coast to the rocky coastline and pine forests of southern Senja and Ånderdalen National Park. You'll find rolling hills and birch forests to the east.

Disembark in the charming fishing village of Torsken and explore by bus, e-bike, on foot, or take to the fjords on a wildlife safari on one of the optional excursions.

Start the day with a few hours in Stokmarknes, an historic town with a special place in our hearts. It's the birthplace of Hurtigruten Norwegian Coastal Express. It's a fitting place for the Hurtigruten Museum, where you are immersed in the atmosphere of a different era on our retired 1956 ship, MS Finnmarken, proudly encased in glass on the waterfront. After Stokmarknes, we'll sail via Raftsundet and Trollfjord to Lofoten.

The rest of the day is all about exploring this breathtaking archipelago. Hailed as one of the most spectacular areas in all of Norway, you'll understand why as you see its jagged green cliffs rise dramatically out of the ocean, climbing high into the sky like giant teeth. The beating heart of the archipelago is the town of Svolvær where your ship will be based.

There are shops and restaurants to enjoy, and the hours can be spent exploring and getting to know the town yourself. To experience the mountains, islands, and villages around Svolvær, choose from a variety of handpicked top Lofoten excursions. You can go fishing, kayaking, or sit back and enjoy the incredible scenery on foot or on a bus tour.

From the Lofoten Islands, we head south across the open sea and the Arctic Circle. Soak up the ocean views from the deck or simply soak in the hot tub. You'll catch sight of the beautiful Norwegian coast again about an hour before we arrive in Bessaker, a small village in Trøndelag county.   We'll spend the afternoon at Bessaker. Home to just 200 residents, it's known for its excellent fishing opportunities and the surrounding waters boast plenty of skrei, coalfish and pollock.

The annual fishing festival, held on the third weekend of July since 1979, attracts thousands of visitors.    Explore Bessaker and its impressive natural surroundings at your own pace – you can expect live music, a warm welcome in the museum and tasty coffee and cake in the local pub and cafe to be waiting for you – or opt to join a hike, go on a bus tour to a local organic farm, sail on a nostalgic cutter fishing boat, or enjoy a guided e-bike tour. 

The ship will make a brief stop in the town of Ålesund, known for its Art Nouveau architecture and picturesque position on a peninsula below Mount Aksla. If you're joining the overland excursion to Hjørundfjord and Sæbo, this is where you disembark, or you can explore the town on foot. Near to Ålesund, cutting through the peaks of the Sunnmøre Alps, some 1,700 metres high, is magnificent Hjørundfjord. Its picture-perfect position embedded in the Sunnmøre Alps means it is the area's hidden gem and a secret from most other ships.

On the banks of one of Hjørundfjord's branches is the idyllic village of Sæbø. It's a beautiful spot to enjoy at your own pace – but don't miss the free concert in the church. You can see more of the area on an optional guided walk through the beautiful scenery of the Urke Valley.   We are fast approaching the last day of our voyage. What better way to celebrate our Svalbard Line experience than a farewell dinner on our last night.

We arrive back in Bergen in the morning. It's time to disembark the ship, but not before saying fond farewells to your fellow passengers and to the crew who made your Svalbard Line journey such a comfortable one. You've travelled as part of this historic, iconic voyage to pieces of paradise along the Norwegian coast you won't soon forget. We know you'll take fond memories of Norway's coast and the Svalbard archipelago home with you.