Taste of Vesteralen

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Just north of the Lofoten Islands and the Arctic Circle, the archipelago of Vesterålen reaches out westwards from mainland Norway and into the Atlantic Ocean. Since our ship was Hurtigruten MS Vesteralen, we had to sign up for this optional excursion.

Harstad - Trondenes Chruch 

Our tour started with a short sightseeing jaunt through the streets of Harstad before traveling by bus to the Trondenes peninsula. The first stop was at Trondenes Church, a white medieval church, one of North Norway's premier cultural heritage sites from the late Middle Ages.


Trondenes Historical Center


Set in historical surroundings on the Trondenes peninsula, just outside Harstad center, is the Trondenes Historical Center.

After visiting the interior of the Trondenes Church we walked along the pathway to the center building. The sun glistened on the water and snow making for some great photo opportunities.

Once inside the building, we visited an exciting exhibition complete with sounds, smells, and original objects from the region throughout history from the Viking and Middle Ages through today.

Hinnøya Island & Crossing Gullesfjord by Ferry

Our bus tour continued across Hinnøya Island, where we viewed beautiful fjords, steep mountains, and large fertile agricultural fields. We continued through the winding roads until coming to the ferry boarding location.

Our bus pulled onto the ferry, we unloaded, and went upstairs to a cafe where we enjoyed a hot drink and some freshly baked cakest.  It took about 30 minutes to cross the Gullesfjord by ferry, and then we drove off to continue our tour.

Sigerfjord to Sortland 

The tour then continued along the Sigerfjord to Sortland. We stopped at a scenic overlook and then proceeded through the region, where we rejoined the ship. This was a very enjoyable excursion.

For those that opt to stay onboard the ship instead of touring, the island groups of Lofoten and Vesterålen offer some of the most stunning scenery you see during the entire coastal cruise. The Lofoten region is renowned for its natural beauty with steep mountains, wild nature, and small, picturesque fishing villages. The daylight sailing route through the Lofoten Islands is a highlight for many of Hurtigruten's guests.

Additional photos can be found on our Norway Shutterfly page

Harstad
Trondenes Church
Trondenes Historical Center
Hinnøya Island
Gullesfjord by Ferry
Sigerfjord to Sortland





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Harstad to Tromso

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Harstad 

During the night our Hurtigruten ship navigated the narrow Raftsund strait. Day 5 of our voyage began with a stop in Harstad, situated on Hinnøya, the largest island in Norway. It is the third largest city in Northern Norway, and an important center of commerce for the entire region.

Harstad has a sheltered location and a good harbor. Forests, mountains, fjords, islands, and miles of trails offer unforgettable outdoor experiences all year round. Terraced buildings lead up from the harbor, against a backdrop of forests and mountains. Just outside town lies Trondenes Church, the world's northernmost medieval church, dating back to the 13th century.


Since we were only docking there for just over an hour, we decided to take some pictures and then have breakfast.  From here we continued via Finnsnes to Tromsø for a prolonged stay.

After breakfast there was a DVD  video shown in Panorama Lounge on Deck G: Tromso, the Gateway to the Arctic.  We spent a lot of time in this lounge during the cruise - we were able to plug our PC in and work on our pictures.

Finnsnes

Fisheries and agriculture add character to this small town in sheltered waters south of Tromsø 

Finnsnes is a small town located on the mainland in the municipality of Lenvik. Several small boroughs surround Finnsnes, forming one large urban area. It is an important hub for transportation both on land and sea. Tromsø and Harstad can be reached within a little more than an hour by speedboat.

There are several attractions in Finnsnes and for tourists this is the reference point when sightseeing in the region.

Finnsnes has become known as the gateway to Senja - also known as the island of adventure, and "Norway in miniature" with mountains and fjords, small communities, hospitality and go-ahead spirit - and all kinds of weather.

Vesteralen only made a brief stop at this port, so we didn't get off the ship.  Instead, we went for lunch after taking pictures of the town.  Next stop:  extended stay in Tromsø

Additional photos can be found on our Norway Shutterfly page

Harstad - Finnsnes


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