Tromso

Tromsø is bound to the Arctic. Formerly the headquarters of seal and walrus hunters, this was also the port of departure for Roald Amundsen’s last flight. These links are emphasised in the Tromsø Museum, where you’ll see many interesting exhibitions – geological and ethnological.

The modern architecture of the unique Arctic Cathedral symbolises the immense strength of the pack ice in the Arctic Ocean. As you step inside, take time to admire the beautiful stained-glass window covering the eastern wall, depicting the return of Christ.

Ascend by cable car to the top of Mount Storsteinen to enjoy a bird’s-eye-view of the city and its impressive surroundings.

Your tour will include a drive round the forest-covered island of Troms, passing Lake Prestvatn, where the Northern Lights Observatory is situated. During the tour, you’ll cross the Tromsø Bridge, which connects Troms Island to the mainland.

A warm welcome awaits you at the Tromsø Wilderness Centre where Tove Sørensen and Tore Albrigtsen live with their 3 children and more than 100 Alaskan huskies. Tove regularly takes part in the Finnmark Race with her dogs - a race of 621 miles. Tore has also crossed Greenland on skis and has taken part in the world’s longest dog race. Tore is, in fact, the only person to have completed this race with only one dog. You are sure to be fascinated by the vivid account of their various expeditions, illustrated by a DVD show, and you’ll also have the opportunity to say ‘hello’ to the dogs!

The Polaria Centre shows the polar areas and the Barents region through a series of interesting exhibitions. A spectacular film, shown on a 225° wide screen and taken with 5 cameras, gives an insight into Spitsbergen, its wildlife and its fauna. The interesting aquarium displays the indigenous sea life, while curious seals look down from above as you pass through a tunnel beneath one of the tanks.

A drive through Tromsø takes you towards the university area, where the northernmost university in the world is situated. You’ll pass the Northern Lights Planetarium, Sandnessund Bridge and the Island of Kvaløy before arriving at the polar environmental centre of Polaria.

The Polaria Centre, a fascinating building resembling huge ice blocks, shows the polar areas and the Barents region through a series of interesting exhibitions, an aquarium and a spectacular film. As you proceed along the ‘Arctic Walkway’, you’ll experience the simulated elements of Arctic nature - a snowstorm, a dozing polar bear, the tundra and the Aurora Borealis (Northern Lights). In the aquarium, the main attraction is the arctic bearded seals.

Returning to the city centre, you’ll cross the Tromsø Bridge, linking Troms Island with the mainland for a visit to the Arctic Cathedral.

The ultra-modern architecture of the Arctic Cathedral symbolises the Northern Lights as well as the ‘period of darkness’. The interior is dominated by the beautiful stained glass-window covering the eastern wall, picturing the Return of Christ. The Church was inaugurated in 1965 and is a typical example of a ‘boathouse-church’.

You’ll begin your panoramic discovery of the ‘Capital of the North’ with a drive towards the centre of town, a charming blend of old and new. Modest wooden houses sit alongside the modern architecture of this university city. You’ll pass Tromsø Church, one of the largest wooden churches in the north. Continuing around the forest-clad island, which is 5 times the size of Oslo, you’ll reach the 4,002-feet-long Sandnessund Bridge, which connects Troms Island with Kvaløya (Whale Island). Here you will find Tromsø’s most modern suburb set against a backdrop of impressive mountain peaks.

Returning to Troms Island, the university will come into view. This is the world’s northernmost university, with students from all over Norway and abroad. The next landmark is the Northern Lights Planetarium.

Just over the Tromsø Sound lies the beautiful Tromsdalen Parish Church, also known as the Arctic Cathedral. During this tour you’ll pass many homes and gardens, with a great variety of colourful flowers, which you may be surprised to see at this latitude.

Enjoy a short sightseeing tour of Tromsø before heading towards Sommarøy Island - Summer Island. Cross the Sandnessund Bridge that connects the city of Tromsø with Kvaløy Island, and pass beautiful scenery and several cultural monuments. Reaching Sommarøy, see the beautiful white beaches and rugged mountains that surround the Island; the biggest fishing village of Tromsø with 300 inhabitants.

Enjoy a guided walking tour of this vibrant coastal community, where fishing and hunting has always been the livelihood. See the fishing boats in the pretty harbour and take in the stunning views, with the big Senja Island to the south, the coastal landscapes to the north and the endless ocean to the west. During your visit learn about life on the island, and enjoy refreshments of tea or coffee and waffles at the local restaurant.

Your return trip to Tromsø along the narrow Kattfjord will be scenic, passing the majestic Blåmann, the highest peak on Kvaløy Island.