Trailing the Midnight Sun
- Tour ID: GH1
Tour Info:
- Duration: 15 Days / 14 Nights
- Seasons: Summer
- Travel Style: Cruise, Group Tours, Multi Country
- Countries: Finland, Norway, Sweden
- Available: 2027: May 30 | July 1
Bask in long, summer days as you explore the Finnish Lapland and take in Norwegian coastal towns on this escorted small-group tour.
From Stockholm, an overnight ferry brings you to Helsinki and onwards to Rovaniemi, the home of Santa Claus, and Saariselka, the cultural centre of the indigenous Sámi.
Crossing over to northern Norway, you’ll join the ship in Kirkenes for a southbound voyage along the Norwegian calling in at a number of ports and experiencing the beauty of the Lofoten islands and Helgeland coast before reaching your final destination – Bergen.
Highlights:
- Explore Stockholm, Helsinki & Bergen
- MIdnight Sun
- Cruise the Finnish Archipelago
- Stay in Aurora Glass Cabin
- Cruise the coast of Norway
Price Includes:
Accommodation based on twin/double share. Solo Supplement on request. * Final pricing dependant on date and category available at time of reservation. Hurtigruten has a flexible pricing system and all prices are capacity controlled and subject to availability.
- 8 nights in selected hotels and Arctic accommodation
- 2 nights in a glass-roofed Midnight Sun cabin in Saariselkä
- 1 night onboard the Stockholm to Helsinki ferry in a cabin
- 5 nights aboard the Hurtigruten Coastal Express from Kirkenes to Bergen
- Classic Cabin with Window aboard Hurtigruten – price based on this cabin category
- Breakfast as specified throughout the itinerary
- Welcome dinner in Stockholm
- Buffet dinner onboard the Stockholm–Helsinki ferry
- Included lunch and dinner in Saariselkä on Day 6
- Lunch at the SIIDA Museum on Day 7
- Dinner in Kirkenes on Day 7
- Farewell dinner in Bergen
- Four-hour guided Stockholm city tour by private coach
- Entrance to Stockholm City Hall
- Transfer from Stockholm hotel to ferry terminal
- Three-hour guided Helsinki city tour by private coach
- Train from Helsinki to Rovaniemi
- Transfer from Rovaniemi railway station to hotel
- Coach transportation through Finnish Lapland
- Visit to Santa Claus Village
- Visit to Sodankylä
- Husky wilderness hike in Saariselkä
- Midnight Sun Photography Expedition
- Visit to Lake Inari
- Guided visit to SIIDA Museum
- Coach from Saariselkä via Inari to Kirkenes
- Guided visit to Snowhotel Kirkenes 365 with welcome drink
- Transfer to the Hurtigruten pier in Kirkenes
- Hurtigruten coastal voyage from Kirkenes to Bergen
- Private coach sightseeing tour of Bergen
- Services of a Tour Manager during the escorted land portion of the journey
Price Excludes:
- Items not listed under Inclusions
- Flights
- Travel Insurance
Itinerary:
Welcome to Sweden and its elegant capital, Stockholm.
On arrival at Stockholm Arlanda Airport, make your own way to your hotel and check in. Depending on your arrival time, enjoy some time relaxing or begin exploring this beautiful waterfront city at your own pace.
This evening, meet your Tour Manager and fellow travellers before enjoying an included welcome dinner at the hotel.
Accommodation: Stockholm
Included meals: Dinner
After breakfast, discover Stockholm on an included four-hour guided sightseeing tour by private coach.
See many of the city’s highlights and explore the atmospheric streets of Gamla Stan, Stockholm’s historic Old Town. Visit impressive Stockholm City Hall, with admission included, and see the magnificent Golden Hall and Blue Hall associated with the annual Nobel Prize celebrations.
After some free time, transfer by coach to the ferry terminal and board your overnight ferry to Helsinki. Sail through the beautiful Stockholm archipelago and towards the Åland Islands while enjoying an included buffet dinner onboard.
Accommodation: Overnight ferry cabin
Included meals: Breakfast and dinner
The Stockholm sightseeing, City Hall admission, transfer and overnight ferry are all specified in the original itinerary.
Enjoy breakfast onboard before arriving in Helsinki.
Meet your local English-speaking guide and set out on an included three-hour sightseeing tour by private coach. Discover some of the Finnish capital’s best-known landmarks, including the striking Temppeliaukio Rock Church and Sibelius Monument.
The tour concludes at your hotel, after which the afternoon is yours to explore independently. Perhaps visit Senate Square, Helsinki Cathedral, the harbour or the city’s shops and cafés.
Accommodation: Helsinki
Included meals: Breakfast
The tour ends at your Helsinki hotel for check-in. Spend the afternoon exploring more of the city at your leisure, and discover the many hidden gems dotted around the centre, such as Senate Square and Helsinki Cathedral.
After breakfast, walk to the nearby railway station and board the train north to Rovaniemi.
Spend the day travelling through Finland as the scenery gradually changes from southern landscapes to the vast forests and wilderness of Lapland. Cross the Arctic Circle as you travel into Finland’s far north.
On arrival in Rovaniemi, transfer by private coach from the railway station to your hotel. The remainder of the afternoon and evening is at leisure.
Optional: Enjoy dinner at one of Rovaniemi’s restaurants while experiencing the extraordinary light of the Midnight Sun.
Accommodation: Rovaniemi
Included meals: Breakfast
The rail journey from Helsinki to Rovaniemi and private arrival transfer are included in the supplied itinerary.
You’ll be free to use the rest of the afternoon and evening however you like. Why not enjoy a dinner at Sky Kitchen & View Restaurant with the Midnight Sun still shining high above.
This morning, board your touring coach and visit magical Santa Claus Village on the Arctic Circle.
Enjoy time exploring the village before continuing north through Finnish Lapland. Stop in Sodankylä, where you can see the historic Old Church, dating from 1689 and one of Finland’s oldest surviving wooden churches.
Continue through the beautiful northern landscapes to Saariselkä.
For the next two nights, stay in your own Midnight Sun cabin, featuring a spectacular 360-degree glass roof designed to make the most of the Arctic summer skies.
Accommodation: Midnight Sun cabin, Saariselkä
Included meals: Breakfast
Enjoy a leisurely morning surrounded by the tranquillity of Finnish Lapland.
After an included lunch, meet some of Lapland’s energetic Siberian huskies for an included wilderness adventure. With your husky attached to a waist belt, hike through the beautiful Arctic landscape accompanied by your guide.
Learn about local wildlife and plants while following the trail through pristine wilderness. The route includes a moderate climb and is best suited to travellers who are comfortable hiking.
After dinner at the hotel, head out again for an included Midnight Sun Photography Expedition. Stop beside picturesque Lake Inari before continuing to a wilderness camp on the lakeshore. Enjoy a warm drink and traditional Lapland midnight snack while watching the sun hover close to the horizon.
Optional: Electric fat-bike safari during your free morning.
Accommodation: Midnight Sun cabin, Saariselkä
Included meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner
After breakfast, depart Saariselkä by private coach and continue through Finnish Lapland.
Stop in Inari to visit the renowned SIIDA Museum, where a guided tour introduces the history, culture and traditions of Finland’s Sámi people. Enjoy an included lunch at the museum restaurant.
Continue north, crossing the border from Finland into Norway before arriving in Kirkenes during the afternoon.
Check into your hotel and enjoy dinner this evening.
Accommodation: Kirkenes
Included meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner
After breakfast, visit the fascinating Snowhotel Kirkenes 365.
Explore this extraordinary hotel made from snow and ice on an included guided tour and enjoy a welcome drink. You’ll also have the opportunity to see the resident huskies and reindeer.
Transfer to Kirkenes pier and board your Hurtigruten ship for the start of your southbound voyage along Norway’s legendary coastline.
Settle into your Classic Cabin with Window and begin discovering your home for the next five nights.
Accommodation: Hurtigruten – Classic Cabin with Window
Included meals: Breakfast and meals aboard as applicable to your voyage
Hurtigruten notes that porterage is not available at Kirkenes pier and that the Tour Manager leaves the group after embarkation.
Wake to the spectacular landscapes of northern Norway.
During the night and early morning, the ship calls at several small coastal communities before arriving in Hammerfest in the early afternoon.
Spend time exploring independently. You may wish to see the UNESCO-listed Meridian Column, visit the Polar Bear Society or walk to the viewpoint on Mount Salen.
Continue south past Øksfjord and Skjervøy towards Tromsø, with views towards the impressive Lyngen Alps along the way.
The ship arrives in Tromsø shortly before midnight, giving you the unusual opportunity to experience the city beneath the Midnight Sun.
Optional: Midnight boat excursion around Tromsø.
Optional: Candlelit classical concert in Tromsø Cathedral.
Accommodation: Hurtigruten – Classic Cabin with Window
The optional Tromsø boat trip and classical concert are identified as optional excursions in the Hurtigruten itinerary.
Today brings some of the most spectacular scenery of the voyage as you sail through the Vesterålen and Lofoten archipelagos.
Pass through the narrow Risøyrenna channel and continue towards Stokmarknes, the birthplace of the Hurtigruten Coastal Express.
Sail into beautiful Raftsund, surrounded by mountains rising dramatically from the sea. Conditions permitting, the ship will enter magnificent Trollfjord, where sheer mountain walls tower above the narrow waterway.
Later, arrive in Svolvær, the colourful capital of the Lofoten Islands.
Optional: A Taste of Vesterålen excursion from Harstad.
Optional: A selection of shore excursions from Svolvær.
Accommodation: Hurtigruten – Classic Cabin with Window
The Vesterålen excursion and Svolvær activities are optional rather than part of the included tour.
Today, cross the Arctic Circle as the voyage continues south.
Celebrate this milestone on deck before sailing along the magnificent Helgeland Coast.
Look out for Torghatten, famous for the enormous natural hole through the centre of the mountain, and admire the distinctive Seven Sisters mountain range.
Continue via Nesna and Sandnessjøen before reaching Brønnøysund.
Optional: Visit the Norwegian Aquaculture Centre for an insight into Norway’s salmon-farming industry and a taste of fresh salmon.
Accommodation: Hurtigruten – Classic Cabin with Window
Arrive in the historic city of Trondheim this morning, with time to explore independently.
One of the city’s highlights is magnificent Nidaros Cathedral, built over the burial site of King Olav II.
Continue sailing south past islands and small coastal communities towards Kristiansund and Molde.
Optional: Atlantic Road excursion from Kristiansund.
Optional: Bergtatt marble mine experience.
Those remaining aboard can enjoy the open-sea journey towards Molde and views towards the dramatic Romsdal Alps.
Accommodation: Hurtigruten – Classic Cabin with Window
Both the Atlantic Road and Bergtatt mine experiences are presented as excursions rather than inclusions in the supplied itinerary.
Enjoy the final morning of your Hurtigruten coastal voyage.
Sail past more of western Norway’s spectacular coastal scenery, including glimpses towards Nordfjord and the vast Jostedal Glacier region. Call at Florø before continuing through islands and skerries towards Bergen.
Arrive in Bergen during the afternoon and bid farewell to the ship.
Board a private coach for an included city sightseeing tour. Explore UNESCO World Heritage-listed Bryggen on foot and see landmarks including St Mary’s Church and Håkon’s Hall.
The tour concludes at your Bergen hotel, with the remainder of the day at leisure.
Accommodation: Bergen
The included Bergen sightseeing tour takes place after disembarkation and includes a walking tour of Bryggen, St Mary’s Church and Håkon’s Hall.
Enjoy a full day at leisure in beautiful Bergen, often called the Gateway to the Fjords.
Explore colourful Bryggen, wander around the Fish Market or discover the shops, cafés and restaurants surrounding Market Square.
Optional: Take the Fløibanen funicular to the top of Mount Fløyen for spectacular views over Bergen and its surrounding waterways. You may also wish to visit the KODE museums and galleries.
This evening, rejoin your fellow travellers for an included farewell dinner at a local restaurant.
Accommodation: Bergen
Included meals: Breakfast and farewell dinner
After breakfast, your Scandinavian journey comes to an end.
Check out of your hotel and make your own way to Bergen Airport in time for your onward flight.
Included meals: Breakfast
The tour concludes in Bergen, with airport transportation made independently.
Map:
Important Info:
An itinerary and quotation will be prepared for your consideration. Once accepted, a deposit is required to secure the booking.
For each traveller, we require:
- Full name exactly as shown on passport
- Date of birth
- Contact phone number
- Dietary, medical or other special requirements
No services are held at quotation stage and remain subject to availability until booked and confirmed. If a quoted service becomes unavailable, we will offer a suitable alternative where possible.
Deposit amounts vary by tour and supplier and will be advised before booking. Some accommodation, cruises, Christmas/New Year arrangements and special services may require higher deposits, full payment or non-refundable payment at booking.
Final payment is generally due 90 days before travel, unless an earlier date is required by a supplier. Your booking invoice will confirm the applicable payment schedule.
Where final supplier rates have not yet been released, provisional pricing may be provided. Any applicable conditions will be explained before booking.
Your confirmed itinerary will specify all inclusions. Unless stated otherwise, prices generally exclude:
- International flights
- Travel insurance
- Meals not listed
- Optional activities
- Personal expenses
- Services not specifically listed
Comprehensive travel insurance is strongly recommended as soon as the deposit is paid, particularly where components are non-refundable.
Clients receive a 20% discount with GO Insurance. Please request a quotation.
Traveller names must exactly match the passport used for travel, including all given names and surnames. Incorrect details may result in fees or difficulties with travel arrangements.
Travellers are responsible for ensuring passports meet the validity and entry requirements of all countries visited. For the Schengen Area, Australian passports generally must:
-
- Be valid for at least 3 months after departure from the Schengen Area
- Have been issued within the previous 10 years
We recommend having at least 6 months’ passport validity remaining wherever possible. Travellers are responsible for obtaining required visas, travel authorisations and other entry documents. Requirements should be checked with relevant government authorities before travel.
Nordic itineraries may involve walking on snow/ice, uneven surfaces, stairs, boats, snowmobiles, carrying luggage and extended periods outdoors in cold weather. Activities may have age, height, health, mobility or licensing requirements.
Medical conditions, mobility limitations and accessibility needs should be advised at booking so suitable arrangements can be considered.
Dietary requirements and allergies should be advised at booking. We will make reasonable efforts to accommodate them, but cannot guarantee this, particularly in remote or wilderness locations. Travellers with serious allergies should also confirm requirements directly with meal providers.
Travellers on self-drive itineraries are responsible for holding the appropriate licence for the destination and rental provider. A valid physical licence may also be required for activities such as snowmobiling.
Accommodation will be booked in the room category shown on your confirmed itinerary. Scandinavian rooms may be smaller than Australian equivalents and configurations can differ.
Twin rooms commonly have two single beds, sometimes positioned together. Additional beds may be sofa or rollaway beds. Double rooms may also use two single beds together, with separate doonas.
If accommodation must change due to circumstances outside our control, we will seek a similar or higher standard wherever possible.
Porterage is generally not included. Travellers should be comfortable managing their own luggage.
Some trains, flights, coaches, ferries, transfers and vehicles have luggage limits. Any applicable restrictions will be advised in your travel documents. One manageable suitcase per person is recommended. Excess luggage charges are the traveller’s responsibility.
Scandinavian and Lapland travel can involve very cold temperatures, snow, ice and rapidly changing weather. Appropriate thermal layers, waterproof outerwear, gloves, hats and suitable footwear are essential. Summer weather can also change quickly, so rain protection is recommended.
Weather, road conditions or operational issues may require activities or transport to be delayed, modified, rescheduled or replaced. Safety takes priority, and suitable alternatives will be arranged where reasonably possible.
The Northern Lights are a natural phenomenon and cannot be guaranteed. Sightings depend on solar activity, weather, cloud cover and darkness. Tours are designed to maximise viewing opportunities but cannot guarantee a sighting.
Weather, transport schedules, supplier operations and other circumstances may require changes to accommodation, transport, activities or itinerary order. Where possible, comparable alternatives will be arranged and significant changes communicated.
Changes and cancellations are subject to supplier conditions and may incur fees. Some services are non-refundable from booking, with Christmas/New Year arrangements often having stricter conditions.
Please refer to the full Terms & Conditions and quotation for applicable cancellation conditions.
Unused services are generally non-refundable, including those missed due to late arrival, early departure or choosing not to participate. Where services are missed due to circumstances outside the traveller’s control, we will assist where reasonably possible, subject to supplier conditions.
A live digital itinerary will be provided before departure with confirmed arrangements, important information, contacts and relevant documents/vouchers. It may be updated in real time if arrangements change.
We recommend it is kept accessible and checked regularly. If an issue occurs during travel, contact the relevant supplier and our team as soon as possible so we have the best opportunity to resolve it. Delayed reporting may limit what can be done.
Travellers should provide a mobile number that will remain active while overseas. Suppliers such as hotels, transfer companies and activity providers may use this number to contact you.
WhatsApp may not be available with all suppliers, so travellers may sometimes need to make a direct local or international call. Before departure, check roaming, international calling, SIM and eSIM options with your mobile provider.
All phone, roaming, SIM and international calling costs are the traveller’s responsibility.
Price Includes:
Based on 3* twin share. Request pricing for other categories.
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