Hosts of the coast – our Expedition Teams
Sailing with Hurtigruten, you don’t just observe the coast – you understand and become part of the landscapes you sail through. Our dedicated Expedition Teams have one mission: to enhance your experience by involving you and interpreting the nature, wildlife, culture and natural phenomena you see during your voyage.
Norwegian Coast Expedition team
Our Expedition team members are not only experts on the Norwegian coast, they are your on-board and onshore hosts throughout your journey of discovery’. They will give lectures and presentations with one main theme every day. They also take you on outdoor activities and hikes and guide you on how to make the most out of your stay without disturbing the fragile wildlife and nature.
All our Expedition team members have extensive knowledge on how to organise environmental friendly tourism in the areas we visit. Our Expedition teams are carefully picked for their local knowledge, specific expertise in relevant fields and most important of all, their enthusiasm, curiosity and love for the areas we visit on our expeditions. They are modern explorers, willing to share stories, explain what you see, and guide you to the most interesting sites and experiences.
Our Expedition teams are also trained in photography and during the voyage they will hold photo presentations. They can teach you how to take even better pictures as we sail through amazing landscapes – filled with mountains, fjords and ocean.
Outdoor Activities & Hikes
Norwegians are known for their passion for being outdoors in pristine nature. We would like to share this passion for the outdoors through diverse and intimate hikes together with the Expedition teams.
The focus here is not to be lectured and overwhelmed with facts. It is on the hike itself, reaching a viewpoint or facing an interesting sight. We focus more on the reverence of nature, often off the beaten track: be it forest, shoreline or windswept mountains - no matter what the weather. Sometimes the roads are icy, the wind is strong and fog impairs the view, but the call of the wild, the joy of being outdoors, feeling, smelling, and being in the moment are the essential elements of your experience.
Some of the hikes are physically demanding, so good general physical condition is required. The terrain will be variable, uneven, often slippery and at different elevation levels.
The hikes are offered presold as a package, sold as package on board, or separately booked on board.
Practical information:
The Expedition teams are present on 9 of our 11 ships along the Norwegian coast (all except MS Lofoten and MS Vesterålen), and are included in your voyage. They are present every day, all year. If you want to do additional hikes with the Expedition team, this comes at an extra cost.
Themed days:
- Day 1: Welcome on board info
- Day 2: Outdoor nature life “Friluftsliv”/Fjords of Norway
- Day 3: Life of Vikings
- Day 4: Polar History (hunters and trappers)
- Day 5: Sámi Culture
- Day 6: Theme from the relevant topic menu*
- Day 7: Theme from the relevant topic menu*
- Day 8: Polar History
- Day 9: The history of Hurtigruten
- Day 10: Myths and Legends
- Day 11: Topic from the relevant topic menu*
- Day 12: Farewell session
*Relevant topic menu – choices depending on interest, relevance for the season and knowledge of the teams.
- Climate & natural phenomena
- Modern Norway (Fish, oil and industry)
- Biology
- Flora & Fauna
- Photography
- Life along the coast
- Food & Expeditions
- Norwegian ski history
- Life in the North
Recommended equipment
When going on hikes you should choose your equipment based on the weather and the season.
As a general rule of thumb, you should remember to pack good shoes for walking, such as boots for rainy and muddy conditions. Bring along a wind and waterproof jacket, preferably with a hood. Hiking trousers, gloves, a hat, water bottles and sunglasses are also recommended. It’s also a good idea to bring a pair of lightweight binoculars and a camera.
Languages
Our activities and lectures will be mainly offered in English. A written summary in Norwegian, German and French will be handed out before the lecture starts. When we have German-speaking staff members, we will do our utmost to offer parts of the programme in German.
Lasting memories
Sailing along the Norwegian coast with Hurtigruten, you will experience the world’s most beautiful sea voyage. We explore Norway’s scenic fjords, visit charming ports and see rare wildlife. Our photo-trained Expedition team capture it all with their camera gear, and their beautiful photos on a memory stick are available for purchase at the end of your journey – creating lasting memories for you.
Disclaimer
Norway is a very long country with varied weather. We reserve the right to select the hikes we offer after evaluating weather conditions, physical skill levels and other unforeseeable factors on all voyages. Nevertheless, we always strive to make the hikes happen. Our guides are experienced and well trained for Norwegian weather. You may experience deep snow, fresh rain or Arctic sunshine. Come and explore with us!
