Sailing with the Vikings


Norway
© HUR

Leaving from the Arctic city of Tromsø, sail the mythical Trollfjorden and discover the charms of Leknes in the Lofoten Islands. Then take in the coastal beauty of Brønnøysund and Molde, and sail from Geiranger's majestic fjords to the United Kingdom. Explore Kirkwall's ancient heritage, immerse yourself in the culture of Aberdeen and Edinburgh in Scotland, and marvel at Newcastle upon Tyne’s historic charm before your cruise ends in Amsterdam.

Duration: 13 days
Starts: Tromso, Norway
Ends: Amsterdam, Netherlands
Language: English speaking voyage


Included

Itinerary

© PXB

Day 1: TROMSØ:
The Arctic gateway, Tromso at 69 degrees north, is renowned for the midnight sun in summer and the Northern Lights in winter. The Arctic Cathedral, with stained-glass windows, hosts midnight concerts. The Fjellheisen cable car offers panoramic views from Mount Storstei­nen, while the historic centre features old wooden houses. The Polar Museum chronicles early polar explorations, and the thriving Alpine Botanic Garden adds to Tromso's charm.

Day 2: CRUISING TROLLFJORDEN and LOFOTEN
Trollfjorden is unbelievable. A 100 m-wide entrance to a narrow fjord with near-vertical mountainous sides up to 1,100 m high, the passage slices through Austvågøya, on the edge of the Lofoten Islands. As the ship enters the fjord, the silence is only broken by the gentle sound of the ship's engines and the occasional cry of a white-tailed eagle soaring overhead. At the end of the fjord, the ship slowly spins, offering a final captivating view.

In The Lofoten Islands, Leknes, the main town on Vestvågøya island above the Arctic Circle, is nestled on the bay-like Buksnesfjorden. The surreal landscape features red-painted houses against craggy, mountainous isles. In summer, the white sand beaches resemble the South Seas, while the region experiences almost two months of the Midnight Sun. Tours explore the mountainous interior, while whale watching excursions venture out to sea.

Day 3: BRONNOYSUND
A pretty town on a narrow peninsula amid a world of islands halfway up the Norwegian coast. Nearby, Torghatten, a granite dome of a mountain on the isle of Torget, is famed for the hole through the middle, which you can walk right through. Boat trips head to the Vega Archipelago UNESCO site, with shallow waters, fishing docks and nesting spots for down-rich eider ducks. The Norwegian Aquaculture Centre gives guests a taste of salmon farming with aquariums, underwater cameras – and a restaurant.

DAY 4: MOLDE
As Romsdalsfjord nears the open sea it’s a different place, bigger and even more placid yet still wild – from the town of Molde it’s reckoned you can see 222 peaks. From here the Atlantic Road darts across bridges and islands on its extraordinary journey. A replica Viking ship departs for Håholmen island, an 18th-century fishing port. Nearby are the spine-tingling caves of Bergtatt, where marble has been mined for more than 80 years.

DAY 5: GEIRANGER
Geiranger is a small village at the head of Geirangerfjord, a UNESCO heritage site for its staggering mix of snow-capped peaks, clear blue waters, lush greenery, and magnificent waterfalls. The mighty Seven Sisters are a series of seven waterfalls cascading down a steep cliff face. The 1,500 m Geiranger Skywalk at Dalsnibba offers panoramic vistas. In Geiranger, the Norwegian Fjord Centre is the visitor and education hub of the fjord region.

Day 6-7: LERWICK, SHETLAND ISLANDS, SCOTLAND
Nearer Norway than the Scottish mainland, the solid, stone-built town of Lerwick is the capital and only town of the Shetland Islands, a subarctic Scottish archipelago with Viking roots. The port has a Dutch flair with 17th-century Fort Charlotte. In the island's south, Jarlshof Prehistoric and Norse Settlement reveals an exceptional archaeological site spanning 5,000 years of history. Around 1,500 tiny Shetland ponies roam freely on the islands.

DAY 8-9: LEITH, SCOTLAND
Ships dock in Leith, Edinburgh’s port, a mix of old and new with waterfront restaurants and pubs and the Royal Yacht Britannia. In Edinburgh's Royal Mile, attractions run from the King’s official residence in Scotland, Palace of Holyroodhouse, to Edinburgh Castle, sitting on Castle Rock, a volcanic hill. Nearby is the Scottish Parliament building, while the National Museum of Scotland, presents a detailed history of the country.

DAY 10: ABERDEEN, SCOTLAND
Known as the "Granite City" for its grey buildings, Aberdeen is a compact Scottish city awash with cobbled streets and strong North Sea ties. Aberdeen also has a long golden beach and harbour where dolphins sometimes play. It offers access to Scotland's castle and whisky trails, including nearby distilleries like Glenfiddich and Glen Grant, as well as Aberdeenshire's dramatic Dunnottar Castle and numerous other castles.

DAY 11: NEWCASTLE UPON THE TYNE, ENGLAND
Newcastle upon Tyne in northeast England sits on the River Tyne's north bank, spanned by the magnificent Tyne Bridge. Gothic Newcastle Cathedral overlooks the city. Below the streets, The Victoria Tunnel is a remarkable feat of Victorian engineering, used for coal transport and air raid shelters. Beyond the city, Hadrian's Wall, the largest archaeological feature in Britain at 73 miles (117.5 km), guarded the Roman Empire's northern frontier.

DAY 12: SCHEVENINGEN, THE HAGUE
Scheveningen, a lively district in The Hague, Netherlands, exudes urban-seaside vibes with 11 km of North Sea beaches and the De Pier amusement park, including a Ferris wheel. The Hague is renowned for the Gothic-style Binnenhof complex, the seat of the Dutch parliament, and the King's working palace, Noordeinde Palace, surrounded by charming boutiques and galleries. It also hosts the U.N.'s International Court of Justice.

DAY 13: AMSTERDAM
Amsterdam is a gorgeous Dutch city where a boat cruise along the canals gets to the heart of things. Yet, the magic also unfolds while strolling through narrow streets and crossing the hundreds of bridges. It houses a treasure trove of fabulous art museums, including the Rijksmuseum, adorned with Dutch Masters, conveniently located near the Van Gogh Museum. To the south, picturesque stretches of countryside with windmills line the canals.

Itinerary

Day 1: TROMSØ:
The Arctic gateway, Tromso at 69 degrees north, is renowned for the midnight sun in summer and the Northern Lights in winter. The Arctic Cathedral, with stained-glass windows, hosts midnight concerts. The Fjellheisen cable car offers panoramic views from Mount Storstei­nen, while the historic centre features old wooden houses. The Polar Museum chronicles early polar explorations, and the thriving Alpine Botanic Garden adds to Tromso's charm.

Day 2: CRUISING TROLLFJORDEN and LOFOTEN
Trollfjorden is unbelievable. A 100 m-wide entrance to a narrow fjord with near-vertical mountainous sides up to 1,100 m high, the passage slices through Austvågøya, on the edge of the Lofoten Islands. As the ship enters the fjord, the silence is only broken by the gentle sound of the ship's engines and the occasional cry of a white-tailed eagle soaring overhead. At the end of the fjord, the ship slowly spins, offering a final captivating view.

In The Lofoten Islands, Leknes, the main town on Vestvågøya island above the Arctic Circle, is nestled on the bay-like Buksnesfjorden. The surreal landscape features red-painted houses against craggy, mountainous isles. In summer, the white sand beaches resemble the South Seas, while the region experiences almost two months of the Midnight Sun. Tours explore the mountainous interior, while whale watching excursions venture out to sea.

Day 3: BRONNOYSUND
A pretty town on a narrow peninsula amid a world of islands halfway up the Norwegian coast. Nearby, Torghatten, a granite dome of a mountain on the isle of Torget, is famed for the hole through the middle, which you can walk right through. Boat trips head to the Vega Archipelago UNESCO site, with shallow waters, fishing docks and nesting spots for down-rich eider ducks. The Norwegian Aquaculture Centre gives guests a taste of salmon farming with aquariums, underwater cameras – and a restaurant.

DAY 4: MOLDE
As Romsdalsfjord nears the open sea it’s a different place, bigger and even more placid yet still wild – from the town of Molde it’s reckoned you can see 222 peaks. From here the Atlantic Road darts across bridges and islands on its extraordinary journey. A replica Viking ship departs for Håholmen island, an 18th-century fishing port. Nearby are the spine-tingling caves of Bergtatt, where marble has been mined for more than 80 years.

DAY 5: GEIRANGER
Geiranger is a small village at the head of Geirangerfjord, a UNESCO heritage site for its staggering mix of snow-capped peaks, clear blue waters, lush greenery, and magnificent waterfalls. The mighty Seven Sisters are a series of seven waterfalls cascading down a steep cliff face. The 1,500 m Geiranger Skywalk at Dalsnibba offers panoramic vistas. In Geiranger, the Norwegian Fjord Centre is the visitor and education hub of the fjord region.

Day 6-7: LERWICK, SHETLAND ISLANDS, SCOTLAND
Nearer Norway than the Scottish mainland, the solid, stone-built town of Lerwick is the capital and only town of the Shetland Islands, a subarctic Scottish archipelago with Viking roots. The port has a Dutch flair with 17th-century Fort Charlotte. In the island's south, Jarlshof Prehistoric and Norse Settlement reveals an exceptional archaeological site spanning 5,000 years of history. Around 1,500 tiny Shetland ponies roam freely on the islands.

DAY 8-9: LEITH, SCOTLAND
Ships dock in Leith, Edinburgh’s port, a mix of old and new with waterfront restaurants and pubs and the Royal Yacht Britannia. In Edinburgh's Royal Mile, attractions run from the King’s official residence in Scotland, Palace of Holyroodhouse, to Edinburgh Castle, sitting on Castle Rock, a volcanic hill. Nearby is the Scottish Parliament building, while the National Museum of Scotland, presents a detailed history of the country.

DAY 10: ABERDEEN, SCOTLAND
Known as the "Granite City" for its grey buildings, Aberdeen is a compact Scottish city awash with cobbled streets and strong North Sea ties. Aberdeen also has a long golden beach and harbour where dolphins sometimes play. It offers access to Scotland's castle and whisky trails, including nearby distilleries like Glenfiddich and Glen Grant, as well as Aberdeenshire's dramatic Dunnottar Castle and numerous other castles.

DAY 11: NEWCASTLE UPON THE TYNE, ENGLAND
Newcastle upon Tyne in northeast England sits on the River Tyne's north bank, spanned by the magnificent Tyne Bridge. Gothic Newcastle Cathedral overlooks the city. Below the streets, The Victoria Tunnel is a remarkable feat of Victorian engineering, used for coal transport and air raid shelters. Beyond the city, Hadrian's Wall, the largest archaeological feature in Britain at 73 miles (117.5 km), guarded the Roman Empire's northern frontier.

DAY 12: SCHEVENINGEN, THE HAGUE
Scheveningen, a lively district in The Hague, Netherlands, exudes urban-seaside vibes with 11 km of North Sea beaches and the De Pier amusement park, including a Ferris wheel. The Hague is renowned for the Gothic-style Binnenhof complex, the seat of the Dutch parliament, and the King's working palace, Noordeinde Palace, surrounded by charming boutiques and galleries. It also hosts the U.N.'s International Court of Justice.

DAY 13: AMSTERDAM
Amsterdam is a gorgeous Dutch city where a boat cruise along the canals gets to the heart of things. Yet, the magic also unfolds while strolling through narrow streets and crossing the hundreds of bridges. It houses a treasure trove of fabulous art museums, including the Rijksmuseum, adorned with Dutch Masters, conveniently located near the Van Gogh Museum. To the south, picturesque stretches of countryside with windmills line the canals.


© PXB


INCLUSIONS

-Return regional flights to the port of embarkation and/or disembarkation (where specified)
-Group return transfers from the airport to the cruise port (via our included accommodation where applicable)
-One night pre-cruise accommodation with breakfast in a 4/5-star hotel or onboard
-All meals onboard
-Onboard accommodation in a stateroom selected category
-24-hour room service
-Coffee, tea, soft drinks and selected alcoholic beverages available 24-hours per day
-Lecture programmes by our experienced expedition team and guest speakers
-One selected shore excursion/expedition activities per port of call
-Expedition parka and use of rubber boots in Polar Regions
-Standard WiFi
-Onboard gratuities & port taxes

EXCLUSIONS

Any other item not specified in the itinerary


* The prices are per person in US Dollars, unless expressly specified in a different currency. In that case, payment will be in US dollars at the exchange rate of the day.
** All prices will be re-confirmed by email at the time of booking.
NOTE: Embracing the unexpected is part of the legacy—and excitement—of expedition travel. When traveling in extremely remote regions, your expedition staff must allow the sea, the ice and the weather to guide route and itinerary details. This itinerary is a tentative outline of what you’ll experience on this voyage; please be aware that no specific itinerary can be guaranteed.

Gallery



Other options you will like


 



THE POLAR TRAVEL COMPANY LLC
USA

8175 NW 12 ST #120, Doral, FL 33126
Miami - Dade, Florida
Tel: +1 (786) 321-5654
WhatsApp: +1 (786) 705-2241
Email: travel@thepolartravelcompany.com

International Travel Awards - 2023 Winner

© 2020 The Polar Travel Company | All rights reserved | Terms & Conditions
THE POLAR TRAVEL COMPANY LLC is registered with the State of Florida as a Seller of Travel. Registration No. ST42392.

Write us via WhatsApp