Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
14
The Route to the North Cape
N
orthern Norway. The name itself
can give you a chill, conjuring up
thoughts of polar bears, the summer
midnight sun, and arctic winters of
total darkness. It is an eerie and fasci-
nating land of deep fjords, snow-
capped mountains, vast open plains,
dramatic island formations, and even
fertile farmland (although the growing
season is short).
Northern Norway is the land of the
Sami
or
Lapps,
where you come face to
face with nature under the foreboding
sky of
Finnmark,
the name of the
region. Rushing rivers and lakes are
teeming with fish, and many tiny,
weather-beaten fishing hamlets depend
almost entirely on the sea for their
livelihood.
For most visitors, the ultimate goal
is the North Cape, or “the end of the
world,” as the ancient Vikings called it.
Traveling in north Norway and
meeting the
Nordlendinger
(northern-
ers) is an adventure in travel. However
it may not be as cold as you think.
Because of the warming influences of
the Gulf Stream, Finnmark has the
longest ice-free coast in the Arctic
region. Finnmark shares the same lati-
tudes as Siberia, Greenland, and
Alaska.
Of course, flying is the fastest way
to get here, but you can also drive
Coastal Steamer: The Way to Go
Coastal steamers are elegantly appointed ships that travel along
the Norwegian coast from Bergen to Kirkenes, carrying passengers and
cargo to 34 ports. A total of 11 ships make the journey year-round.
Along the route, the ships sail through Norway's more obscure fjords,
revealing breathtaking scenery and numerous opportunities for
adventure. At points along the way, passengers have the opportunity
to take sightseeing trips to the surrounding mountains and glaciers,
and to take excursions on smaller vessels.
The chief cruise operator is the
Norwegian Coastal Voyage/Bergen
Line,
405 Park Ave., New York, NY 10022 (
&
800/323-7436
or
212/319-1300; www.coastalvoyage.com). Various packages are avail-
able. Tours may be booked heading north from Bergen, south from
Kirkenes, or round-trip. The 7-day one-way northbound journey costs
$670 to $4,381 per person, including meals and taxes. The 12-day
round-trip voyage from Bergen to Kirkenes and back to Bergen is
$1,100 to $6,538 per person. For information on these and other trips,
including air-cruise packages from the United States, contact the
Bergen Line.
