Welcome to Gothenburg, PolarQuest's hometown and the ship M/S Stockholm’s home port! We board at lunchtime and sail off to explore the archipelago of Bohuslän. We sail overnight towards Norway’s southern tip.During an expedition cruise of this kind, we are in the hands of weather and wind, hence the program is kept flexible. This part of Norway has an incredible number of beautiful places to choose from, and those mentioned in the program are just examples of places we can visit.

Around noon, we explore the archipelago outside of Norway’s southernmost community, Mandal. We go ashore and stroll the narrow streets along the characteristic white wooden houses.We sail past Lindesnes lighthouse, which is Norway's oldest lighthouse, built in 1656. Weather permitting, we go ashore and visit the lighthouse and its museum.

Around lunch we reach the fishing community Skudeneshavn, where we visit the museum to learn more about the ancient fishing days and life in the village. We continue into the beautiful Hardangerfjord, 180 km and Norway's second longest fjord. At the far end of Sørfjorda, a branch of the Hardangerfjord, lies the community of Odda. A bus tour guides us through the beautiful surroundings, and we visit the twin waterfall Låtefoss and the beautiful stave church in Røldal. We visit the village Kinsarvik. With its location, where the Hardanger Fjord branches off, it has been an important place since the Viking Age and the small church dates to the 1100’s. Here we can go for a waterfall hike. Along the trail that ends at Hardangervidda there are four different waterfalls. The hike takes 3 - 6 hours depending on when you turn around and how many waterfalls you want to pass.The Hardanger Folk Museum in Utne has since 1911 collected artefacts, buildings and knowledge of the area's rich cultural history. Here you can behold folk costumes, embroidery, violins, historical buildings and art.The small community of Rosendal is beautifully framed by high mountains. We get a private guided tour of the Skaaluren collection, a museum focusing on shipbuilding that has been so important to the area.

Early morning, we arrive in Bergen, get off the ship and start the journey home.

This is a preliminary itinerary. Our exact route will depend on the weather and wind conditions. Please keep in mind that flexibility is the key to a successful adventure!