Northern Lights Knitting Cruise in Norway
with Jane Crowfoot
Sun 11 to Mon 19 November 2012 12028
Itinerary
Day 1 London – Bergen – Familiarisation Tour – Welcome Dinner
Morning flight from London Heathrow to Bergen (via Stavanger).
Check in at the Clarion Hotel Admiral, charmingly situated on the waterfront. Also take advantage of an orientation tour en route, so you can familiarise yourself with the major landmarks of the city.
A welcome dinner at the hotel will give you the chance to start getting to know the rest of the group.
Day 2 Explore Bergen – Set Sail on the MS Nordnorge
Enjoy the day in bustling Bergen, Norway’s second largest city, with an opportunity to visit wool and fabric shops, take the funicular to the top of Mt Fløyen or simply to stroll along the wharves of this historic Hanseatic port.
In the late afternoon it’s time to board the MS Midnatsol for the start of your voyage.
Set sail at 22.30, heading north.
Day 3 Florø – Måløy – Torvik – Ålesund – Molde
Continue hugging the coast before stopping at Ålesund, with three hours to explore this lovely Art Nouveau town. Its myriad turrets, spires and striking ornamentation gives the town a fairytale appearance – all set against a stunning backdrop of the surrounding
fjords and the Sunnmøre Alps.
Day 4 Kristiansund – Trondheim – Rørvik
Arrive in the thriving cultural hub of Trondheim, Norway’s first capital, with its Gothic cathedral and charming Blakkandet area full of timbered houses, shops and cafés.
Day 5 Brønnøysund – Sandnessjøen – Nesna – Ørnes – Bodø – Stamsund – Svolvaer
After pretty Rørvik, be sure to be on the deck when the ship departs Brønnøysund – you’ll be impressed by the captain’s steady hand!
Pass the imposing Seven Sisters mountains and then cross the Arctic Circle before travelling through the crystalline waters bordered by towering peaks south of Ørnes.
Make a stop at the city of the sea eagle, Bodø and then head on to Svolvaer and
Stamsund, sandwiched between mountains and sea.
Day 6 Stokmarknes – Sortland – Risøyhamn – Harstad – Finnsnes –Tromsø –
Skjervøy
Admire the captain’s skill as he carefully manoeuvres the ship through the shallow waters of the Risoyrenna Channel, where sand banks are visible through sea-green water. Pass through the Lofotens islands with its intricate network of inlets and isles, gliding past jagged peaks, pretty fishing villages and some of the most stunning scenery on this journey.
Dock in the lively city of Tromsø, capital of Northern Norwayand one of the best places to spot the Northern Lights.
Day 7 Øksfjord – Hammerfest – Havøysund – Honningsvåg – Kjøllefjord – Mehamn – Berlevåg
After the old trading post of Skjervøy with its 19th-century houses, cross open water to Øksfjord, where a mountain glacier carves straight into the sea. Then pass Hammerfest, home to the Royal and Ancient Polar Bear Society where reindeer roam the streets, before stopping at Honningsvåg, which claims to be the most northerly city in the world. With its brightly painted wooden buildings, Honningsvåg is surrounded by breathtaking fjords, waterfalls and forests, and is the gateway to the famous North Cape. You’ll also enjoy a visit to the North Cape Museum, charting the area’s fascinating fishing and whaling history.
Day 8 Båtsfjord – Vardø – Vadsø – Kirkenes – Sightseeing Tour to the Russian Border – Lunch – Farewell Dinner
Sail round the beautifully deserted Varanger peninsular before calling at Batsfjord, which has the remains of a Stone Age settlement.
Crossing Varangerfjord, Norway’s only east-facing fjord and a bird watcher’s paradise, arrive in Vardø, the country’s most easterly town.
Arrive in Kirkenes, your final port of call, and disembark the ship at 09.45. Then enjoy a sightseeing tour to the Russian border, which is only 10km away.
Lunch is at the cosy wooden Gabba Restaurant, where traditional meals are prepared on an open fire. Then check into the Thon Hotel Kirkenes, with time at leisure before a chance to say “på gjensyn” (“until we meet again”) at a farewell dinner in the hotel restaurant.
Day 9 Kirkenes – London
Morning flight from Kirkenes to London Heathrow (via Oslo), arriving late afternoon (local time).
