Hunting the Lights

DAY 1 Helsinki
Arrive at Helsinki airport and make your own way to you hotel. The remainder of your day is at leisure.

Stay at Original Sokos Hotel Presidentti (4 star) or similar

DAY 2 Helsinki
With a full day to discover Helsinki we recommend an optional Panorama Sightseeing tour where you will have the opportunity to see the city’s most popular sights. In the early evening, make your own way to the railway station to board your overnight train to Rovaniemi, also known as the Santa Claus Express.

Overnight by train
Meals included: Breakfast

DAY 3 Rovaniemi
Early arrival into Rovaniemi, where you will make your way to the hotel for check in. Spend the remainder of your day at leisure in the capital of Lapland and well-known home of Santa Claus, where there are many wonderful experiences to be had.

Stay at Original Sokos Hotel Vaakuna (4 star) or similar

DAY 4 Rovaniemi
Until March 2025 Journey to the frozen waters of the Bothnian Sea to experience the massive ice breaking power of the Polar Explorer Icebreaker. Enjoy floating in the middle of the icy Arctic Sea, walk on sea ice for a great photo opportunity and tour the engine and Captain’s Bridge. After all that excitement, relax in the cosy saloon as your icebreaker makes its way back to land.

From December 2025 Enjoy the day to yourself to explore more of Rovaniemi or alternatively we can recommend a range of exciting optional excursions or things to see and do in the area. Options include a journey to the frozen waters of the Bothnian Sea to experience the massive ice breaking power of the Polar Explorer Icebreaker. A day trip to see the Arctic animals at Ranua Zoo or a safari by reindeer, husky or snowmobile.

Stay at Original Sokos Hotel Vaakuna (4 star) or similar
24/25 Meals included: Breakfast and lunch
25/26 Meals included: Breakfast

DAY 5 Rovaniemi - Saariselka
Journey by bus to the small village of Saariselka, located 200 kilometres north of the Arctic Circle and set against the beautiful backdrop of Urho Kekkonen National Park. On arrival in the village you will then be transferred to the Northern Lights Village nestled amongst the snow covered spruce trees of the picturesque Finnish Lapland. Your stay in the glass-roofed Aurora Cabins will give you clear views of the night sky from the comfort of your cosy bed. What better way to search for the Northern Lights!

Stay at Northern Lights Village, Aurora Cabin (4 star) or similar
Meals included: Breakfast and dinner

DAY 6 Saariselka
Today is yours at leisure to enjoy this beautiful part of the world. You can tailor your Lapland adventure to your own interests with a wonderful collection of optional experiences. You may opt to drive a team of huskies over the white, shimmering fells, an experience you will never forget. Perhaps take a thrilling ride on a snowmobile or power your own exploration with a guided snow shoe hike to a nearby fell where you will build a fire and enjoy the spectacular scenery.
For those interested in photography, there is an optional workshop where you will learn all the tricks you need to capture the Northern Lights and the night sky in such a way that your photos are an accurate representation of reality.

This evening will bring another opportunity to catch a glimpse of the dancing lights.

Stay at Northern Lights Village, Aurora Cabin (4 star) or similar
Meals included: Breakfast and dinner

DAY 7 Saariselka - Kirkenes
Watch the scenic landscape from the comfort of your coach as you travel along small roads in Finland and Norway to arrive in Kirkenes. Enjoy an afternoon at leisure in this small town located in the far northeast of Northern Norway known for King Crabs, wilderness and dramatic WWII history.

Stay at Thon Hotel Kirkenes (3 star) or similar
Meals included: Breakfast

DAY 8 Kirkenes - Berlevag
Your journey aboard Havila's Coastal Journey starts today, first stop Vardø, situated at the far edge of Norway, as far northeast as you can get, right in the middle of spectacular Arctic nature. with colourful houses. This evening there are short stops in the fishing village of Båtsfjord. Up to 10,000 boats come to this small village annually, and large catches are landed at several fishing facilities. The Barents Sea is one of the least polluted seas in the world, and the quality of fish here is second to none.

Overnight aboard Havila Voyage
Meals included: Breakfast, lunch and dinner

DAY 9 Mehamn - Tromso
Stop in Hammerfest today, founded in 1789, over time it became Norway’s polar capital, serving as a base for hunting expeditions into the high Arctic. Here you can see the UNESCO-listed Meridian Column, erected in 1854 to commemorate the first precise, geographic measurement of the globe. Continue south with a brief stop at the old trading post ofSkjervøy. Around midnight, dock at Tromso, one of the best places to view the Northern Lights.

Overnight aboard Havila Voyage
Meals included: Breakfast, lunch and dinner

DAY 10 Finnsnes - Lofoten Islands
Sail through the island groups of Lofoten and Vesteralen offering some of the most stunning scenery you will see during the your coastal voyage. Beneath the jagged mountains lie chalky white sandy beaches and fishing villages with a vibrant fishing industry. Make a short stop in Risøyhamn, a small village with only 200 inhabitants, to deliver passengers, groceries and mail. In the evening, arrive in Svolvær, the capital of Lofoten, home to one of the world's largest cod fisheries.

Overnight aboard Havila Voyage
Meals included: Breakfast, lunch and dinner

DAY 11 Bodo - Brønnøysund - Rorvik
Crossing the Arctic Circle at 66°33’N is an important ‘rite of passage’. As you sail along the Helgeland coast, you pass hundreds of islets, fertile farmland and steep granite walls rich in local lore. On deck you can see the strange mountain Torghatten (rising 258m above sea level), famous for its distinctive hole right through the middle and the Seven Sisters mountain range. Stop this afternoon is in Brønnøysund, located in the middle of the Helgeland Archipelago it is the half way point of the Norwegian coastline.

Overnight aboard Havila Voyage
Meals included: Breakfast, lunch and dinner

DAY 12 Trondheim - Molde
This morning provides an opportunity to explore the picturesque city of Trondheim with its colourful warehouses and the historic Nidaros Cathedral. Back on board, the ship sails along the coast to Kristiansund whose location has steadily provided the town with a wealth of opportunities in the fishing, shipbuilding and oil industries. Kristiansund is today regarded as Norway’s ‘dried cod capital’ because of its long time export of salted dry fish. Experience the ship´s crossing of the open sea on the way to Molde, known as Norway´s ‘City of Roses’.

Overnight aboard Havila Voyage
Meals included: Breakfast, lunch and dinner

At every port there are shore excursions befitting the season of travel, that you may join. We recommend these experienecs which will enhance your coastal journey as you interact more closely with the culture, nature and people of Norway. Ask your consultant today for more information including pricing and pre booking your spot.

DAY 13 Alesund - Bergen
During the night, the ship calls at Alesund, Torvik, Maloy, as the world’s most beautiful voyage draws to a close. Before the ship docks in Bergen, there are some nautical miles of fascinating scenery ahead, including the picturesque Nordfjord below the enormous Jostedal Glacier. In the morning, call at Floro, a modern coastal seaport that is very much alive with a charming high street and good selection of shops. Mid afternoon your ship will come to it's final port of Bergen, the beautiful capital of the fjords. After disembarkation please make your way to your hotel for check in, with the remainder of your day at leisure.

Stay at Hotel Bergen Bors (4 star) or similar
Meals included: Breakfast and lunch

DAY 14 Bergen - Flam
Early departure from Bergen Railway Station to depart on one of the most beautiful trips in Europe; the Norway in a Nutshell tour. This unique and popular excursion takes you through some of the most magnificent scenery to be found on the west coast of Norway. On arrival in Voss take a coach to Gudvangen and board the ferry along the Naeroyfjord, the narrowest fjord in Europe, and the Aurlandsfjord. The Naeroyfjord is now included on the UNESCO World Heritage List and surrounded by mighty mountains up to 1,800 metres high; this branch of the Sognefjord is amazingly beautiful. Along the way there are views of the small traditional farms and villages. On arrival in the idyllic fjord side village of Flam make the short walk to your hotel for check in.

Stay at Fretheim Hotel (4 star) or similar
Meals included: Breakfast

DAY 15 Flam - Oslo
Travel along the Flam Railway, a 20 kilometre long train journey from Flam to the mountain station of Myrdal. On the journey you have views of some of the most magnificent mountain scenery in Norway with an ever-changing panorama of tall mountains and thundering waterfalls. Along the Flam railway the train moves slowly and stops at the best views. On arrival in Myrdal take the main line train to Oslo arriving in the late afternoon.

Stay at Clarion Hotel Oslo (4 star) or similar
Meals included: Breakfast

DAY 16 Oslo
Your tour concludes this morning after breakfast and check out from your hotel. If you have time in Oslo before your departure we recommend a Discovery Tour of the city where you can witness the stunning views over Oslofjord from Holmenkollen Ski Jump, stroll through Vigeland Park encompassing more than 200 sculptures in bronze, granite and wrought iron.

Meals included: Breakfast