Norway & the Northern Lights

Steeped in myth and legend, the Arctic region of Norway also offers dramatic scenery, colourful ports and the Aurora Borealis (‘no pencil can draw it, no colours can paint it, and no words can describe it in all its magnificence’). There is a good chance of seeing the Northern Lights, at their most dramatic, during the period November to March, as you cross the Arctic Circle by ship and from Tromsø. Norway’s mountainous landscapes stretch over 1,000 miles North-South, making communication difficult until a coastal ‘fast route’ or ‘Hurtigruten’ was created in 1893. Whilst some longer stops are made, a feature is stops of 10 - 45 minutes at smaller ports. The ship sails through sheltered waters between islands and even into fjords. The on board atmosphere is unique with local Norwegians hopping from port to port mingling with international travellers, with commerce in the ports revolving around the ships. Bergen is a UNESCO World Heritage city, closely linked to the sea, whilst Tromsø is the capital and port of Arctic Norway.

The chronicle of Bergen, now a UNESCO World Heritage city, is closely linked to the sea, dating back to the ancient Vikings. The capital of Norway in the 12th century was a Hanseatic port with sharply gabled houses on the picturesque harbour front. An 18th-century merchant timber warehouse is now the Hanseatic Museum. Archaeological discoveries are in the Bryggen Museum and models of Viking ships in the Maritime Museum. A visit is included to the less easily reached lakeside home of Norway’s national composer, Edvard Grieg, at Troldhaugen. Tromsø is the capital and main port of Arctic Norway and was the start point of Amundsen’s and Nansen’s polar expeditions, as detailed in the fascinating Polar Museum. The start of direct flights between Tromsø, Bergen and London have enabled this rewarding winter itinerary.