Tucked away on the fringe of the Arctic Circle, the dramatic landscapes of Norway draw travellers from around the world, who come to marvel at the country’s incredible natural beauty. Its stunning fjords are the subject of gaping jaws, gasps and countless photographs, and are not to be missed on a voyage to the European Arctic.
You can experience the majesty of Norway’s breathtaking fjords when you set sail with AE Expeditions. On board Polar Pioneer, you can experience the wonder of the fjords bordered by mountains and glaciers, tasting the crisp Arctic air while you keep an eye out for the wildlife who call these regions home.
Here are some of the fjords you could look forward to discovering with AE Expeditions.
Torghatten
When it comes to cruising Norway, you have a number of itineraries to choose from, with one of them being the 14-day Across the Arctic Circle voyage. Departing Aberdeen in Scotland, you’ll hug the coasts of Norway’s mainland before venturing up to the Svalbard archipelago in the Arctic Circle.
On your journey you’ll see the fjord which meets Torghatten, a great granite mountain rising up out of the water. ‘Torghatten’ means ‘troll’s hat’, with the mountain peak famous for its unique hole bored straight through the middle.
Trollfjord
The Lofoten archipelago is nestled to the north of the Norwegian mainland, and is characterised by tall mountain peaks laced with blissful fjords such as the Trollfjord. A particularly narrow fjord, it branches off from the main Raftsundet strait, stretching 2 kilometres inland. The soaring heights of the mountainous islands which border the fjord only emphasise its relatively narrow breadth — just 100 metres wide at the mouth!
Reinfjord
Also in the Lofoten archipelago, the fishing village of Reine in Norway’s Nordland county is home to one of the country’s most stunning vistas. With its mirror-like surface, the serene Reinfjord is one of the highlights of the voyage.
Smeerenburgfjorden & Bjornfjorden
Read more: 5 things to do on your Norway cruise
On the northeastern coast of Spitsbergen, the cooler temperatures create a wintry chill over the landscape, giving way to magnificent scenery such as Smeerenburgfjorden — a fjord about 4 kilometres wide and 20 kilometres long which connects to the sea via the Danskegattet strait.
Travelling inland along the fjord, you’ll reach Bjornfjorden. Also known as the Bear Fjord, this body of water is home to no shortage of ice, with a glimmering glacier at the head of the fjord.
Raudfjorden
To the east, lies the great Raudfjorden, also reaching some 20 kilometres long. It owes its name, which translates to ‘red fjord’, to the red-coloured rocks that are found along the eastern side of the fjord. According to the Norwegian Polar Institute (NPI), these rocks date back to the Devonian period, which occurred an estimated 416 million to 358 million years ago.
In addition, it is here at Raudfjorden that the NPI reports that Dutch navigator Willem Barentsz and his crew first encountered Spitsbergen in 1596, with the stark mountain peaks and jagged coastline inspiring the name, which means “pointed mountains” in Dutch.
Fuglefjorden
Tucked by the peninsula between the two larger fjords is the tranquil Fuglefjorden. Also known as the ‘bird fjord’, Fuglefjorden is home to range of birdlife from terns, puffins and eiders, to black guillemots, kittiwakes and even barnacle geese. The crowning glory of the fjord is undoubtedly the Svitjod glacier, a stunning wall of glistening ice — if you’re lucky, you might even get to see it calving smaller icebergs into the fjord.
If you want to sail the great fjords of Norway for yourself and discover the magic of the Arctic Circle, don’t miss your chance to do so with AE Expeditions! To find out more about our voyages, you can download a brochure, or get in touch with our friendly team today.
