norway in a big nutshell....including Svalberg(?)

Hi...been doing lots of research. I am plotting my 50th birthday in Norway in early August. I have a good friend who lives in Bergen, and he has helped a bit. I am thinking of flying via Icelandic from Seattle, to Iceland, then onto Oslo. Stay in Oslo and train over to Bergen, then north via Hergebruten ferry to Tromso, fly to Svalbard....or......Oslo to Svalberg, then back to Tromso and come south to Bergen. Wondering if anyone has done this trip, been to Svalbard, etc. I haven't been able to figure out how long, but, thinking 3 weeks. My goal is the midnight sun, and the coast of northern Norway. Its difficult to plan, and the more I read about Svalbard, the more I wish I knew someone who has been there. Can't even fathom a budget, as its all pretty expensive. Any advice is greatly appreciated!

Yes, this is going to be an expensive trip indeed, but you turn 50 only once in life, right?

Prices on the Hurtigruten come down very significantly after August 15th (NOK 6125 v NOK 3520). You have to be in Longyearbyen before the 22nd to see the midnight sun, so I'd consider flying north (from Bergen via Tromsø) and saving the Hurtigruten experience for the return leg. The budget airline Norwegian is very good for inexpensive flights within mainland Norway, but they don't fly to Svalbard, so there you'll have to rely on good old SAS (fares from Tromsø in mid-August are now at around NOK 2500).

Hope that's of some use. You don't say anything about the west coast, but I assume you'll want to see the fjords etc, and that your friend in Bergen will help you organise?

W.

thank you....I am still in the early planning phase....my birthday is 8-8, so I am hoping to be up in Svalbard then. Trying to plan all these "legs" of the trip is quite the task....but the goal is Svalbard for my birthday, with as much Norway as I can afford. I appreciate your advice. Have you been there? I have been reading a lot, and plotting what to do, where to stay, etc....I imagine, once I reserve a place there, and flights to and from Tromso (the most affordable), then the rest will be easier to plan. Thanks again!!!

I have to admit I haven't been to Svalbard yet, principally because for me, living in Bergen, it's more expensive than travelling to New York: if and when I do go, however, one of my main goals will be to see the former Soviet settlement of Pyramiden, which seems rather spectacular and definitely something you should consider looking into.

W.

I am also planning a to fulfill a childhood dream and travel to Svalbard for my 50 birthday. Traveling to Svalbard is expensive but as mentioned before - 50 is once in a life time (BTW, the initial intention was traveling to the north pole but 25,000$ are to expensive....).

I found that the most effective way for exploring to island is by a cruise. The transportation on the island is almost not existence and there are almost no roads (just look in OSM or Google maps).
The best period for such a voyage seems to be the second half of August as the ice and weather conditions allows completion of the voyage.

Currently I found two providers for such a voyage, the price is 5000-7000$ for 10 days, part of them include flights from Oslo.

thanks.....heres a raw plan.....fly to Oslo...stay 1 night or 2, train to Bergen, fly to Tromso, then to Svalbard....4 days (be there on my 50th on August 8th)....back to Tromso....somehow get to Kirkenes, (was somehow hoping to see some Saami culture).. then Hertigruten tour back to Bergen (6 day "southern leg"), with perhaps an overnight stop in Lofoten Island, then Bergen for 2 more days, and onto Iceland and home....I might try and contact a Hertigruten travel agent for help...its all very complicated, and pricey....but, its a big dream!! Trying to figure it out 6 months in advance.

Kirkenes is a coastal town and predominantly non-Sami. If you want to experience Sami culture, Karasjok (where the Sami parliament and museum are both located) or Kautokeino are much better bets. Beware, however, that most Sami live relatively modern lives these days.

Also, and sorry for being a pedant, it's Hurtigruten (lit. "the fast route") not "hertig".

W.