Bergen–Kirkenes–Bergen Coastal Voyage: Self-Launched Norwegian Coastal Round Trip
12 days · Norway
DERTOUR charges £1,435
No-markup version: ~£1,090 per person
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
A self-launched version of DERTOUR's 12-day Havila Voyages Bergen–Kirkenes–Bergen round trip, booked directly with Havila Voyages instead of through the tour operator. You sail the full Norwegian coast — Nordfjord, Ålesund, Trondheim, the Arctic Circle, Lofoten, Tromsø, Hammerfest and Kirkenes — and back again, with long port stops you can explore independently. Book the coastal voyage yourself (Havila's own website sells the "Bergen–Kirkenes–Bergen" round trip at backpacker-friendly rates, especially the cheaper inside cabins; Hurtigruten's classic round trip is the alternative), then layer on self-bookable shore excursions via GetYourGuide, Klook or directly with local providers in each port, plus your own hostel/guesthouse nights before and after in Bergen. All costs are approximate per-person estimates in GBP and assume travelling in shoulder/low season (winter/spring) and sharing a cabin; Norway is expensive, so this is a "budget-comparable" rather than cheap trip.
Day-by-day
Arrive Bergen — Bryggen & embark
Bergen
Fly into Bergen (use Flybussen airport bus ~£9 or the Bybanen light rail ~£4). Drop bags at a hostel in the city centre, then walk the UNESCO-listed Bryggen wharf, the fish market (Fisketorget) and take the Fløibanen funicular up Mount Fløyen for the view (~£9 return). Board the coastal ship in the late afternoon/evening — check-in is typically from mid-afternoon. If you're on a self-booked Havila/Hurtigruten departure, be at the terminal with passport 2 hours before sailing.
🚌Flybussen airport bus ~£9 or Bybanen light rail ~£4; walkable city centre to terminal
🛏Bergen city hostel (e.g. HI Bergen or Marken Guesthouse) — night 1; then onboard ship cabin (shared inside cabin)
- →Walk Bryggen Hanseatic wharf (free)
- →Fløibanen funicular to Mount Fløyen
- →Fish market browse
- →Board coastal ship at Bergen terminal
Nordfjord & Ålesund
Ålesund
Sail north through Nordfjord. The ship calls at Ålesund, Norway's Art Nouveau capital, with a port stop of several hours — walk up Aksla viewpoint (418 steps, free) for the archipelago panorama, wander the Jugendstil streets and grab a cheap seafood lunch at the harbour. Skip the operator's private guided excursions and self-book (or simply do it yourself) — the boat's own optional Geirangerfjord winter excursion can be arranged onboard if the sailing passes that way.
🚌Sail Nordfjord to Ålesund (onboard the coastal voyage)
🛏Onboard ship cabin
- →Walk Ålesund town centre and Jugendstil quarter
- →Climb Aksla viewpoint (free)
- →Harbour seafood lunch
- →Optional: self-booked guided excursion in Ålesund
Trondheim — Bakklandet & Nidaros Cathedral
Trondheim
A long stop in Trondheim (~3+ hours). Walk the old Bakklandet district with its wooden houses, cross Gamle Bybro bridge, and see the Nidaros Cathedral (exterior free; nave entry ~£10, student/concession £7). Ride the free-ish local bus or just walk — the ship terminal is about 30 minutes on foot from the centre. Return to the ship for dinner (if you're on a half/full-board option) or eat cheap at a Trondheim bakery.
🚌Walk or local bus from Trondheim cruise terminal
🛏Onboard ship cabin
- →Bakklandet wooden houses walk (free)
- →Nidaros Cathedral (~£10 entry)
- →Gamle Bybro bridge viewpoint
- →Optional self-booked city walking tour
Arctic Circle, Saltstraumen & Lofoten Islands
Svolvær / Lofoten
The ship crosses the Arctic Circle today (typically a small onboard ceremony and photo at the globe monument), passes the Svartisen glacier and the powerful Saltstraumen tidal stream, and sails the Helgeland coast into the Lofoten archipelago for its Svolvær stop. Go ashore in Svolvær for an independent walk along the harbour and the Lofoten Wall viewpoint. Skip the pricey Viking chieftain's house dinner excursion and instead eat at a Svolvær café — or self-book a 'Lofoten winter photo' small-group tour via GetYourGuide if you want the guided version.
🚌Onboard coastal voyage (Helgeland coast to Lofoten)
🛏Onboard ship cabin
- →Cross the Arctic Circle (onboard)
- →Saltstraumen tidal stream viewing
- →Walk Svolvær harbour and Lofoten Wall viewpoint (free)
- →Optional self-booked Viking museum/dinner trip
Vesterålen to Tromsø — northern lights evening
Tromsø
Sail along the Vesterålen Islands and arrive in Tromsø with roughly a 4-hour stop. The operator's private city tour, dog-sled and snowmobile safaris can all be self-booked: Tromsø is the northern-lights capital, so use the late evening for an independent aurora chase (many local operators on GetYourGuide run ~£90–£120 minibus chases with hot drinks and photo tips). Alternatively, take the free public Fjellheisen cable car route by bus (~£5 bus + ~£18 cable car) up to Storsteinen for the night view. Visit the world's northernmost brewery, Mack (self-guided tour ~£20).
🚌Onboard coastal voyage to Tromsø; local bus in Tromsø ~£5
🛏Onboard ship cabin
- →Explore Tromsø centre and harbour (free)
- →Optional self-booked northern lights chase ~£90–£120
- →Fjellheisen cable car to Storsteinen ~£18
- →World's northernmost brewery Mack (~£20)
Hammerfest & North Cape
Hammerfest / North Cape
The ship calls at Hammerfest, the world's northernmost town, with a long stop. You can take the self-booked excursion to North Cape (Nordkapp) on Magerøya island — book directly with a local operator (search 'Nordkapp tour from Honningsvåg/Hammerfest' on GetYourGuide, roughly £70–£100) rather than through the tour operator. Alternatively, walk Hammerfest's harbour, see the Struve Meridian Arch and visit the Museum of Reconstruction (cheap, ~£7).
🚌Onboard coastal voyage; self-booked North Cape bus/tour
🛏Onboard ship cabin
- →Hammerfest harbour walk (free)
- →Optional self-booked North Cape (Nordkapp) excursion ~£70–£100
- →Struve Meridian Arch (UNESCO) — free
- →Museum of Reconstruction ~£7
Båtsfjord to Kirkenes — the turning point
Kirkenes
Sail the remote Båtsfjord and Varanger peninsula coast, arriving at Kirkenes, the voyage's easternmost point. Simply wander Kirkenes' harbour and Soviet-liberation monument for free. If you want the famous Snow Resort Kirkenes experience (ice hotel, king crab safari), self-book directly with the resort — king crab safaris start around £150–£200, so this is optional. This is where the round trip turns around and heads south.
🚌Onboard coastal voyage (Båtsfjord to Kirkenes, then return south)
🛏Onboard ship cabin
- →Walk Kirkenes harbour and liberation monument (free)
- →Optional self-booked king crab safari at Snow Resort Kirkenes (~£150+)
- →Optional self-booked river/ice fishing
Southbound — Lyngen Alps & Lyngsfjord
Lyngsfjord / Tromsø
The voyage turns south. Pass the Lyngen Alps and Lyngsfjord — one of the most spectacular stretches of the Arctic coast. Because you've already explored Tromsø, this is a good day for rest and onboard photography. Optional: if the ship calls at Tromsø again, self-book a reindeer sleigh / Sami experience via GetYourGuide (~£100–£140) — a more budget-friendly cultural option than the boat's packaged add-ons.
🚌Onboard coastal voyage
🛏Onboard ship cabin
- →Scenic sailing past the Lyngen Alps (onboard/free)
- →Optional self-booked reindeer sleigh with Sami guides ~£100–£140
- →Onboard aurora spotting
Lofoten & Trollfjord southbound
Stamsund / Lofoten
Sail through the Lofoten and Vesterålen archipelagos southbound, through the narrow Trollfjord (weather permitting). Go ashore at Stamsund or another Lofoten stop. If you want to stretch your legs, self-book a short guided hike via a local Lofoten operator — Haukland Beach is a must-see (free if you can get there by local bus). Buy a packed lunch at a Norwegian supermarket (Rema 1000/Coop) to keep food costs down.
🚌Onboard coastal voyage; local bus to Haukland Beach ~£6
🛏Onboard ship cabin
- →Sail Lofoten and Vesterålen archipelago (onboard/free)
- →Trollfjord passage (weather permitting)
- →Haukland Beach hike (free; local bus extra)
- →Optional self-booked sea eagle safari ~£70–£100
Second Arctic Circle crossing & Torghatten
Bodø / Rørvik
Cross the Arctic Circle southbound (a second onboard ceremony), then sail past the hole-in-the-mountain Torghatten and the Seven Sisters mountain range. Stay on deck with a camera; the scenery southbound from Bodø is arguably better lit than northbound. If you want the Atlantic Road excursion (used on the operator's Day 11), skip the packaged version — it can be self-driven only if you have a car, so most backpackers simply enjoy it from the deck.
🚌Onboard coastal voyage
🛏Onboard ship cabin
- →Cross Arctic Circle southbound (onboard/free)
- →View Torghatten mountain from deck
- →See Seven Sisters mountain range
- →Photography and deck walk
Trondheim & Ålesund southbound
Trondheim / Ålesund
The southbound voyage stops again in Trondheim and Ålesund. Now you can do what you skipped northbound: a self-booked guided city tour (~£20–£30 via GetYourGuide) or the Atlantic Road trip (book directly with a Molde/Ålesund provider, ~£60–£80). Grab dinner at a supermarket or cheap café to keep the budget on track.
🚌Onboard coastal voyage
🛏Onboard ship cabin
- →Revisit Trondheim or Ålesund on foot (free)
- →Optional self-booked Atlantic Road excursion ~£60–£80
- →Optional guided city tour ~£20–£30
Nordfjord, Sognefjord & return to Bergen
Bergen
Sail south through Nordfjord beneath the Jostedal Glacier and the island-dotted Sognefjord before docking in Bergen. Have a cheap breakfast onboard, then disembark and catch the Flybussen back to the airport for your flight home. If your flight is late, leave your bag at a Bergen hostel and do a final Bryggen coffee or the free KODE art walk (some museums have free/low-cost days).
🚌Flybussen back to Bergen Airport ~£9
🛏None (flight home) — or one final night in a Bergen hostel if needed (~£35)
- →Cruise Nordfjord and Sognefjord (onboard/free)
- →Disembark at Bergen terminal
- →Optional self-booked Bergen city tour or harbour walk
Self-launched vs. DERTOUR
| This itinerary (self-launched) | DERTOUR | |
|---|---|---|
| Price per person | ~£1,090 | £1,435 |
| Duration | 12 days | 12 days |
| Who books it | You and your group, direct | Tour operator, guided group |
| Savings | £345 per person (24%) | |
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
Want to see more DERTOUR-style trips? Check them out here.~£1,090
estimated per person
You never pay Travel Crew for this — you pay hostels, transport, and activity providers directly, the same as if you'd booked it all yourself.
This publishes your dates so other travellers can find and join you — no tour operator needed.
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Frequently asked questions
How much does Bergen–Kirkenes–Bergen Coastal Voyage: Self-Launched Norwegian Coastal Round Trip cost?+
Doing it yourself with this self-launched itinerary costs an estimated £1,090 per person for 12 days in Norway. This is an AI-generated estimate based on typical budget-traveller prices — actual costs will vary by season and how you book.
Is this cheaper than booking with DERTOUR?+
Yes — DERTOUR charges around £1,435 per person for a similar tour. Doing the same route independently, using the same standard of accommodation and activities, costs an estimated £1,090 — a saving of roughly £345 (24%) per person.
How long is the Norway trip?+
This itinerary runs 12 days, covering 12 day-by-day stops through Norway.
How do I join this trip?+
You can join an existing open departure using this itinerary if one is scheduled, or launch your own departure with your own dates and invite other travellers to join you — no tour operator required.
Isn't it easier to just use a tour operator?+
Well, yes, a tour operator will book all the individual parts of your travel for you and provide a guide. That's obvious, but doing this has the potential to save the group thousands, which can in turn improve your itinerary substantially or save you huge amounts of money. Also, when you launch a departure, Travel Crew has tools in place to help you book the individual sections of the trip or make it easier for you to do this as a group. Really, you do not need a middle man. If you are more comfortable paying more and using a middle man, then you should certainly do this.
Is it safer to book through a tour operator?+
Arguably, there isn't much difference. A self-launched trip runs on the same principle as a group travel crew: collective responsibility, everyone looking out for each other, the same way it would if a group of friends organised the trip themselves — because that's exactly what's happening. You should always take out travel insurance before you go, self-launched or not; that doesn't change either way. Every open departure is published publicly with real dates and a real trip organiser, so it's never an anonymous arrangement, and our support team is reachable any time you need help, including in an emergency while you're away. Longer-term, we're building direct relationships with ground DMCs in popular destinations, offered as an optional paid add-on for extra on-the-ground support. Ultimately, though, the group is responsible for its own conduct and safety on a self-launched trip, same as on any trip you plan yourself.
What kind of trip is this?+
This is a adventure, slow-travel, wildlife trip through Norway, self-launched rather than run by a tour operator — you organise it with a group you find or bring yourself.
Would you like to name the operator, name the trip, or have any suggestions about how to improve this itinerary?
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