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  3. Hosts of the coast – our Expedition Teams
Updating your booking
  • A group of people in the water
    1/10 Photo: Karsten Bidstrup Photo
  • A group of people posing for a photo
  • Robert Hunter et al. posing for the camera
  • A man and a woman standing in front of a mountain
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  • Photography course with the Expedition Team
    6/10 Photo: Agurtxane Concellon Photo
  • A man standing on a rocky hill
  • A man standing on top of a snow covered slope
  • A close up of a person wearing a red hat
  • A group of people walking in the snow

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. 

  • Read more about the Outdoor Activity Pass
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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!

Related cruises

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    The Classic Roundtrip Voyage

    • Discover our entire original coastal route with 34 ports of call, sailing past more than 100 fjords and 1,000 mountains
    • Cross the Arctic Circle and hunt the Northern Lights in winter, or enjoy 24 hours of daylight under the Midnight Sun in summer
    • Spring and Autumn voyages showcase the brilliant colours, magical light and fascinating culture of Arctic Norway
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    Classic Voyage South

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    • Search for the Northern Lights in winter, and the Midnight Sun in summer
    • Join exciting sea and land-based activities
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    Classic Voyage North

    • Discover countless fjords, mountains, islands and waterfalls
    • Cross the Arctic Circle to hunt the Northern Lights in winter, and enjoy around the clock daylight under the Midnight Sun in summer
    • Enjoy adventurous and exciting land and sea excursions
    • Learn from our Hurtigruten Guides as they lead lectures and activities both at sea and on shore
    Price from
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Further reading

  • The Northern Lights
  • The Norwegian Fjords

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This curious chinstrap penguin is stopping by to wish you a happy Monday! 😄
📷: Ken Louie / Hurtigruten
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#penguin #weexplore #hurtigruten #penguins #wildlife #antartctica When the sky is more beautiful than any Instagram filter😍 
📷:: Irene-Maria Eich / Hurtigruten
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#hurtigruten #weexplore #norway #sunset #cruise #travel #skyporn #nofilterneeded #beautifuldestinations Happy International Polar Bear Day! 🐻‍❄️ Did you know that the Latin name for polar bears is "ursus maritimus," which means sea bear? In Inuit mythology, the polar bear is called Pihoqahiak, the "ever-wandering one. Where do you have to travel to see the King of the Ice? 📷: Dominic Barrington / Hurtigruten

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#hurtigruten #weexplore #polarbear #internationalpolarbearday #wildlife #svalbard

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