Spectacular Scandanavia
My first experience was dog sledging on the outskirts of the city and I was fortunate enough to drive the sledge myself, something which I can highly recommend; followed by a traditional Norwegian meal in a Lavvo (looks like a wigwam) and finished off by an impressive display of the Northern Lights.
Back in Tromso, we waited for our Southbound Hurtigruten Ship the MS Trollfjord for embarkation around midnight. Once on board you were greeted with a friendly welcome and immediately felt the relaxed yet efficient way of life that ensued for the next few days, not to mention the excellent food.
The following day we were up early and off out for our Harstad excursion, taking in the sights of a very old church, the local museum and some of the most amazing scenery I have ever seen. Even the local reindeer and moose were out in force along with a very obliging golden eagle who posed for some time at the top of a tree.
Dotted around the various lakes and mountains were the Norwegian summer cabins, used mainly by owners earlier in the year then rented out in the summer months. Part of the tour included a ferry trip from Refnes to Flesnes then onto Sortland, reached by an impressive bridge; the driver of the coach expertly timed the crossing over the bridge with the ship sailing underneath.
Back on board we set off to take in more of the stunning scenery. One of the highlights was the passage through the three kilometre long Trollfjord, where once the famous “Battle of Trollfjord” took place in the late 19th century, a rare experience in the winter months due to the risk of avalanche.
The day grew to an end with a visit to Magic Ice, an Ice Bar featuring ice sculptures and topped off by another appearance of the spectacular Aurora Borealis.
The following day we made our way to the various ports along the southbound route, getting on and off at leisure to take in the sights of the local towns. Once again the scenery was stunning, part of which was a mountain with a hole straight through the middle.
Our final day took in the sights of Trondheim, a surprisingly large town, dominated by the majestic Nidaros cathedral. A river winds through the city’s downtown district and past many of the original wooden buildings of old. Destroyed by fire in 1681 it was rebuilt in a Baroque style with wider streets to prevent fire from spreading, but still retains some of its narrow streets and alleys dating back to the middle ages.
Norway was very beautiful and although expensive (£10 for an orange juice and a prawn sandwich), you soon get used to the cost of living. An all year round destination with many diverse activities, from cycling to skiing and from the Aurora Borealis to The Land of the Midnight Sun I would certainly return.