Explore More - 2019

In Search of the

In Search of the NORTHERN LIGHTS Experience a land where dawn and twilight merge on the edges of the long Arctic night. See snow-dusted landscapes, cities hushed in slumber and the luminous aurora borealis on this ocean cruise with Viking 20 VIKING.COM | EXPLORE MORE 2019

London (Tilbury), England The historic town of Tilbury enjoys a position on the Thames River, and serves as a major port for London and the southeast of England. After embarking, this is the perfect time to settle in to your veranda stateroom and get to know your ship before you set sail on your Norwegian adventure. Stavanger, Norway The best place to begin exploring is in the beautiful old quarter, Gamle Stavanger, which is comprised of wooden buildings from the turn of the 18th century. Another highlight is Preikestolen, or Pulpit Rock, jutting out nearly 2,000 feet above the fjord. One of Norway’s most famous natural attractions, it can be visited by a cruise on the Lysefjord. Make sure you do not miss out on the award-winning Norwegian Petroleum Museum, which tells of the dangers of offshore oil drilling—considered an important industry for the local economy. Bodø, Norway Bodø is home to the world’s strongest maelstrom, Saltstraumen, the Keiservarden mountain plateau and a masterful cathedral. Lying north of the Arctic Circle, the city was rebuilt after its destruction in World War II. You will have the chance to see the majestic Customs House, the Norwegian Aviation Museum, opened by King Harald V in 1994, and the Gothic Bodø Cathedral with its detached steeple and ten tapestries from Nordlund. Rønvikfjellet mountain affords magnificent views over snow-covered roofs. perfect backdrop to enjoy many outdoor activities, including sledding and hiking. On an included tour along heated sidewalks, you can admire its blend of wooden structures and neoclassical buildings. Here you can see the Arctic Cathedral with its striking triangular shape—the city’s most recognizable symbol. Tromsø is situated in the middle of the auroral oval, the area with the highest probability of seeing the northern lights, so a visit is a must if you have yet to tick that off your bucket list. Alta, Norway Located on the shores of Altafjord, Alta is the city from which you can experience Sami culture up close by visiting the nearby Sami community of Máze. As part of this tour, you can enjoy a lunch of authentic local dishes and an exciting ride in a reindeer-drawn sleigh. In Alta, you can also see rock carvings that have been given UNESCO status owing to the amazing rock art that bears traces of a settlement dating to circa 4200 to 500 BC. Visit the Alta Museum for fascinating exhibits on salmon fishing and the northern lights. You may wish to explore the town independently, perhaps visiting the Northern Lights Cathedral. Marvel at its steeple, which is designed to resemble Facing page, clockwise from top left: The aurora borealis over Tromsø; a whirlpool in the Norwegian Sea; typical Nordic wooden houses; dramatic scenery of Lysefjord; an Arctic wolf in Narvik Below: Tromsø’s beautiful Arctic Cathedral a flame, and enjoy the ethereal strains of its organ. Even more adventurous travelers might enjoy an exciting snowmobile ride to the Igloo Hotel at Sorrisniva, an amazing structure molded and sculpted out of 250 tons of ice and 25,000 cubic feet of snow. Narvik, Norway Home to a former Viking settlement, Narvik is an important industrial town in Norway because of its ice-free port, which helps the town prosper as an exporter of Swedish iron ore. The city also enjoys clear skies, making it a great destination for observing the northern lights. View some of the “residents” of the far north, including Arctic wolves, at the expansive Polar Park, or enjoy the wilderness during a sleigh ride. Bergen, Norway Founded more than 900 years ago, Bergen can trace its roots back to the Viking Age. It is a city famous for its picturesque location surrounded by mountains, the historic Bryggen wharf and the iconic fish market. From here you can visit Norway’s cosmopolitan capital of Oslo. Go online: Watch a video of In Search of the Northern Lights at voc.com/videos Tromsø, Norway The “Gateway to the Arctic,” Tromsø’s historic center is spread over an island surrounded by snowcapped mountains. Its breathtaking scenery offers the EXPLORE MORE 2019 VIKING.COM 21