IN SEARCH OF THE NORTHERN LIGHTS | Further Afield Travel and Tours

Featured Tours

IN SEARCH OF THE NORTHERN LIGHTS

Sailing far north during Norway’s winter, witness snow-covered landscapes dotted with rugged mountains and steep fjords, and seek out the brilliant aurora borealis dancing in the night sky. Delve into Sami legends and World War II history, and pilot a dog sled or snowmobile to further immerse yourself in the Norwegian Arctic as you join us on this illuminating voyage.

Day 1 | LONDON (TILBURY), ENGLAND

Embark your ship and settle into your stateroom. Situated on the north bank of the Thames, Tilbury is steeped in history. The town is most famous as the site of a fortress built by Henry VIII to defend London from invasion by ships coming up the Thames. Upriver, the city is home to iconic power centers—Buckingham Palace, the Houses of Parliament, Westminster Abbey—from which the fate of the British Empire rose and wavered. Today, the city thrives amid a long tradition of arts and architectural innovation—from Shakespeare’s Globe Theater to West End musicals, from Tower Bridge to the London Eye.

Day 2 | Amsterdam (Ijmuiden), The Netherlands

Ijmuiden is a small port city in the province of North Holland and connects to the Dutch capital via the North Sea Canal. Amsterdam is just 11 miles from Ijmuiden, and is famed for its patchwork of charming waterways, elegant gabled houses and splendid museums. The legacy of the Dutch Golden Age lives on in gilded manses and in the lush paintings of Rembrandt and other Dutch masters that adorn the Rijksmuseum. Discovering Amsterdam is a pleasure best pursued on foot; visitors line the tranquil canals and linger over Dutch pancakes, or take a stroopwafel to go.

Day 3 | Sail the North Sea

Cross the North Sea, where Vikings sailed as they established colonies on Scottish islands, coastal France and beyond. As you sail, explore our well-curated Library, tucked in a private alcove of the Living Room, and select from a broad range of titles. Read a book by the Main Pool, a calming oasis in any weather with its retractable roof, allowing for year-round swimming.

Day 4 | Scenic Sailing: Norwegian Inside Passage

The Norwegian Inside Passage is a protected shipping lane that runs from Norway’s capital of Oslo, down the Skagerrak coast and around the country’s southern tip. It continues north along the coastline of the Norwegian Sea, before eventually terminating in the Russian waters of Siberia. It has been used by mariners for centuries, its channels protected from the dangers of the open water by countless skerries and the rugged coastline presenting opportunities for shelter in its many natural bays and inlets.

Day 6 | Tromsø, Norway

Tromsø is Norway’s most northerly city and has long been considered the gateway to the Arctic. During the summer months, pretty wooden houses exude an air of sophistication as they bask beneath the glow of the Midnight Sun. Winter brings pristine landscapes surrounded by snowcapped peaks and the aurora borealis, whose magical lights dance across the nighttime skies. World-renowned explorers have set sail from Tromsø’s shores; Roald Amundsen, Norway’s first son and the first explorer to reach both poles, is commemorated with a bronze statue in the city.

Day 7 | Tromsø, Norway

Tromsø features an array of French Empire, Swiss and neoclassical architecture, earning its nickname “Paris of the North.” Visitors from Southern Europe were surprised that an Arctic city encircled by snowcapped mountains could exude such a cosmopolitan air. By the 19th century, the city was recognized for its polar exploration know-how; expedition crew members were often recruited from here. The 1970s brought a renewed interest in protecting the language and traditions of the Sami culture, ensuring that its cuisine and pastimes are now celebrated cultural treasures.

Day 8 | Alta, Norway

Resting on the stunning shores of Altafjord, Alta is the gateway to some of Europe’s most magnificent natural beauty. With its frequent clear skies, it is an ideal place from which to see the northern lights. Alta is perhaps most known as the site of ancient rock carvings dating back as far as 4200 BC. These fascinating depictions of hunters, gatherers, rituals, animals and geometric symbols are Norway’s only primitive UNESCO World Heritage Site. The Alta Museum was built around the largest concentration of the carvings.

Day 9 |Alta, Norway

The small town of Alta lies in Norway’s largely unspoiled county of Finnmark and is considered one of the world’s northernmost cities. Here, pristine woodlands spill into the stunning Altafjord, which stretches some 24 miles. Perhaps, however, one of Alta’s most striking sights is not natural at all; the boldly designed Northern Lights Cathedral in the center of town is a vision in titanium, with its circular exterior spiraling upward into a narrower cylinder and a breathtaking belfry.

Day 10 – 11 | Scenic Sailing: Norwegian Inside Passage

Norway’s jagged coast was formed as melting glaciers receded, eroding bedrock and creating innumerable valleys and fjords, as well as the characteristic skerries that run along the country’s more than 16,000 miles of shoreline. These thousands of large islands, small islets and reefs shelter the famous Norwegian Inside Passage from the sea’s punishing winds and waves, making the journey along the coast smoother and more comfortable than when traveling on the open waters of the Norwegian Sea.

DAY 12 | Bergen, Norway

Bergen is home to the Hanseatic League’s only kontor (trading enclave) still in existence. Bryggen wharf, a row of timbered Hanseatic warehouses along a quaint quay, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Narrow wooden walkways are flanked by parallel rows of small, vibrantly painted buildings overlooking the picturesque Vågen Harbor. This is perhaps the most charming district of Bergen and a delight to explore, from its tight-knit community of workshops where artisans sell their wares to its cafés where freshly prepared smørbrød, or open-faced sandwiches, are on the menu.

DAY 13 | Bergen, Norway

After breakfast, disembark your ship and journey home.

Viking Inclusive Value: Includes everything guests need - and nothing they do not.

From CAD $7,499 per person based on double occupancy sailing January 22, 2025

2025 Dates:

London (Tilbury) to Bergen

January 10, February 3, February 27

Bergen to London (Tilbury)

January 22, February 15, March 11

2026 Dates:

London (Tilbury) to Bergen

January 17, 27, February 10, 20, March 6, 16

Bergen to London (Tilbury)

January 29, February 8, 22, March 4, 18

Disclaimer: We do our utmost to ensure that the information posted on our website is correct at time of publication, however trip details and promotions are subject to change without notice by the suppliers and operators involved. We update the information as soon as possible when changes are advised to us, however we cannot assume responsibility for such changes made by the suppliers and operators. Terms and conditions per supplier(s). Please confirm details and booking information with your travel advisor. Contact us for the most up to date pricing and availability.

Further Afield Travel and Tours is a retail travel agency licensed under the Ontario Government Ministry of Consumer and Commercial Relations, Travel Industry Act 2002 - Registration No50021919. Funds on deposit are protected by the Compensation Fund, administered by TICO (Travel Industry Council of Ontario) as defined by the Ontario Travel Industry Act 2002 and Ontario Regulations 26/05.

Preferred Supplier: Viking Ocean

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