Norway Cape to Cape – Beyond the Arctic Circle

Known for the Kiel Canal and Kiel Week, the city boasts an important maritime history. Kiel is also a great place to sight-see, do some shopping and take part in one of the many festivals taking place there.

Gateway to the north

Kiel is a true maritime hub on the Northern coast of Germany. For generations, it's been the starting point for voyages to the North Atlantic, Baltic Sea, and beyond. Today, it’s your journey that begins here.

Before you embark the ship, take some time to stroll along the wide promenades of Kiel, appreciating the unique German and Scandinavian culture that's been carved out over countless generations of maritime travel.

MS Fram is waiting for you. Get familiar with your ship and its crew as anticipation builds for the adventure ahead.

Explore the largest fjord system in Norway

Sognefjord has earned its reputation as one of the world's most celebrated fjord systems. Pretty villages, towering mountains, and deep blue waters, all heightened by the late autumn light, create views that demand your attention from the deck.

We'll spend the day exploring in true expedition style. The Expedition Team will share insights on the geology and wildlife along one of Norway's longest fjords, and we'll stop at a small coastal community to get a sense of local life. As the light fades to twilight, this is a good moment to pause and take it all in.

A small town in Norway’s fjord country, Åndalsnes is a gateway to the rugged wilderness of the Romsdalfjord. Known as the 'village between the mountains and the fjords', it typifies Norway's striking natural beauty with its setting on a promontory lined by alps and set at the mouth of the Rauma River. The town itself is tucked under the lofty mountain peaks, backed by lush, green scenery. Nearby is the impressive Trollveggen, or 'Troll Wall', which at 6,000 feet is Europe's highest vertical cliff face and is often topped by cloud. The precipice is said to be the ultimate trial for rock climbers, who regularly flock here to accept the challenge. Åndalsnes is also the terminus of the famous Rauma Railway which runs 70 miles alongside the emerald-green Rauma river and through some of Norway’s most spectacular scenery to Dombås (2160 feet above sea level) where it then connects to the main Oslo to Trondheim line.

Explore a spectacular small town

Set between the vast mountains of the Romsdal Alps and deep waters of the Romsdalsfjord, Åndalsnes is one of Norway’s most striking small towns. At the start of winter, soft lighting glows in windows and candles flicker on tables, creating an atmosphere of calm that seeps into everything.

Around you, crisp mountain air and gently lapping fjord waters encourage deep relaxation. It's an opportunity to slow down and embrace the Scandinavian art of comfort and contentment, known as ‘hygge’.

Discover Norway's second-largest glacier

Today we sail into Holandsfjord, off the rugged Helgeland coast, making our way towards the Svartisen glacier, which straddles the Arctic Circle. Raise a glass to commemorate the crossing, then head ashore with the Expedition Team. From a jetty landing, they'll lead you on a hike that culminates in a panoramic view of this extraordinary ice field.

Covering around 370 square kilometres with 60 glacier 'tongues', Svartisen is Norway's second-largest glacier. Its name means 'black ice', and it's made up of two separate glaciers, Vestisen and Østisen, divided by the Vesterdalen valley. Look closely: the ice ranges from turquoise to dark blue, but never quite as black as the name suggests.

Experience dramatic panoramas

Anticipation builds as we search for the dramatic peaks of Lofoten. Head to the deck and look out for sea eagles as we glide past this world-famous coastline, with its emerald-blue fjords, wind-lashed islands, and sheltered bays.

If conditions allow, we'll bring you ashore to explore the Arctic landscape. You'll see how centuries of fishing have shaped daily life here, and hear stories from the communities that still call these islands home. As evening sets in, the islands sit in prime position for the Northern Lights, so wrap up warm and settle in on deck with the Expedition Team.

Embrace a day of adventure

Today there are more striking views to appreciate from the deck, as we sail from Lofoten to Vesterålen, gliding through narrow fjords where cliffs stretch high above, the rockface seemingly close enough to touch.

Our end point is Vesterålen, a place of snow-cloaked landscapes – perfect for adventurous expedition activities. This is part of our friluftsliv experience, which is the Norwegian philosophy of embracing the outdoors. This may include hiking in the snowy mountains, travelling by Zodiac to remote beaches, and enjoying a bonfire, hopefully as the Northern Lights dance overhead. Each activity gives you the opportunity to soak in the spectacular scenery in your own way.

Please note, this text is a guide. Conditions may shift our course, but that’s true expedition travel: adapting in real time to make the most of every opportunity.

Searching in 1553 for a northeast passage to India, British navigator Richard Chancellor came upon a crag 307 yards above the Barents Sea. He named the jut of rock North Cape, or Nordkapp. Today Europe's northernmost point is a rite-of-passage journey for nearly all Scandinavians and many others. Most cruise passengers visit Nordkapp from Honningsvåg, a fishing village on Magerøya Island. The journey from Honningsvåg to Nordkapp covers about 35 km (22 miles) across a landscape characterized by rocky tundra and grazing reindeer, which are rounded up each spring by Sami herdsmen in boats. The herdsmen herd the reindeer across a mile-wide channel from their winter home on the mainland. Honningvåg's northerly location makes for long, dark winter nights and perpetually sun-filled summer days. The village serves as the gateway to Arctic exploration and the beautiful Nordkapp Plateau, a destination that calls to all visitors of this region. Most of those who journey to Nordkapp (North Cape), the northernmost tip of Europe, are in it for a taste of this unique, otherworldly, rugged yet delicate landscape. You'll see an incredible treeless tundra, with crumbling mountains and sparse dwarf plants. The subarctic environment is very vulnerable, so don't disturb the plants. Walk only on marked trails and don't remove stones, leave car marks, or make campfires. Because the roads are closed in winter, the only access is from the tiny fishing village of Skarsvåg via Sno-Cat, a thump-and-bump ride that's as unforgettable as the desolate view.

Explore Europe’s northernmost point

The North Cape sits on the northern coast of Magerøya island and is widely regarded as Europe's northernmost point. This rugged promontory genuinely feels like the end of the Earth. Today, you'll experience it for yourself.

We'll venture across the wild Arctic landscape to the cape's cliff edge, which rises around a thousand feet above the Barents Sea. The panoramas speak for themselves. Take your time to look around, reflect on the journey so far, and visit the North Cape Hall to learn more about the history of this site, with the Expedition Team on hand for questions.

With its centre located on the island of Tromsø, the municipality of Tromsø is more than five times the size of Norway’s capital, Oslo, and is the world’s northernmost university city. Lying 200 miles inside the Arctic Circle, it is known as the 'Gateway to the Arctic' because it was used as a starting point for hunters looking for Arctic foxes, polar bears and seals. In the 19th century it was a base for explorers on Arctic expeditions – a history that is remembered in the city’s Polar Museum, which you can visit on an excursion. Also commemorated in the area is the history of Norway’s indigenous people, the Sami. Visitors can learn about the traditions, heritage and modern preservation of the Sami culture at the Tromsø Museum. Nowadays, Tromsø is a charming mix of old and new, with wooden buildings sitting alongside contemporary architecture such as the impressive glacier-like Arctic Cathedral, which features one of the largest stained glass windows in Europe. Looking down on the city is Mount Storsteinen, and a cable car runs to the top, giving wonderful views over the surrounding countryside of forested peaks and reindeer pastures.

Explore this Arctic city

Your expedition ends today in Tromsø. After bidding farewell to fellow travellers and crew, take the opportunity to ride the Fjellheisen cable car for wide views over this city, located some 200 miles north of the Arctic Circle. Stroll past the modernist Arctic Cathedral, duck into cosy cafés glowing with festive lights, and keep one eye on the water: whales are sometimes spotted offshore, and the Northern Lights may put on one final show.