Why Norway Is The Perfect Destination For Small-Ship Cruising

The Vikings knew what they were doing: their smaller, narrow ships were ideal to navigate Norway’s lacy coastline (and ultimately to surprise their enemies). So it’s time for you to take a page out of their book. Sure, commandeering a Viking ship may be a tad hard, but small-ship cruising may be one of the best ways to get the most out of your trip to Norway. Here’s why.

The fjords

Created when the glaciers retreated and the valleys were flooded with seawater, Norway’s fjords are so beautiful that some of them are considered UNESCO World Heritage sites. There are just so many things happening all around you while you cruise on their waters. Think neck-stretching mountain peaks, lush forests, cascading waterfalls, picturesque coastal towns, and small, roadless hamlets that you wouldn’t be able to access any other way.

Here’s a tip: apart from Næroyfjord – the famous arm of Sognefjord that should definitely be on your list – Aurlandsfjord is also breathtaking. It’s home to one of the most beautiful vantage points in all of Norway (the Stegastein viewing platform) and will also give you the chance to explore Flåm and perhaps board the iconic train when you’re ready to be on dry land again.

Norway is equally blessed in the archipelagos department. There is the Svalbard archipelago, with its icebergs and polar bears and where the sun doesn’t come out for months during the winter; the Lofoten archipelago, whose small fishing villages and majestic mountains look as if they were created specifically to never need an Instagram filter; and then there’s also the very little known Vega archipelago, which is actually another UNESCO World Heritage Site in the western coast of Norway where 6,500 islands, reefs and skerries have been home to fishermen since the Middle Ages. What do all these magnificent destinations have in common? To be able to properly navigate them and see as many of their marvels as possible, you’re gonna need a smaller boat.

Magical places like Reine in Lofoten can be better accessed by a smaller ship

So many port cities

But it’s not just about access. It’s also about a way of life. Norway has always been a nautical land, with the vast majority of its big cities built around the country’s coast. Coastal culture is important and celebrated. Hopping on a boat to go anywhere is encoded within the Norwegian DNA and sailing is one of the favorite national pastimes – even for the King, who has been dubbed “Sailor King”. Historical ports like Skudeneshavn are being preserved and celebrated, bringing together sailing and cruising enthusiasts from all over the country and abroad. Small-ship cruising in Norway is not just smart, it’s also culturally relevant.

Since you are here, we would like to share our vision for the future of travel - and the direction Culture Trip is moving in.

Culture Trip launched in 2011 with a simple yet passionate mission: to inspire people to go beyond their boundaries and experience what makes a place, its people and its culture special and meaningful — and this is still in our DNA today. We are proud that, for more than a decade, millions like you have trusted our award-winning recommendations by people who deeply understand what makes certain places and communities so special.

Increasingly we believe the world needs more meaningful, real-life connections between curious travellers keen to explore the world in a more responsible way. That is why we have intensively curated a collection of premium small-group trips as an invitation to meet and connect with new, like-minded people for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in three categories: Culture Trips, Rail Trips and Private Trips. Our Trips are suitable for both solo travelers, couples and friends who want to explore the world together.

Culture Trips are deeply immersive 5 to 16 days itineraries, that combine authentic local experiences, exciting activities and 4-5* accommodation to look forward to at the end of each day. Our Rail Trips are our most planet-friendly itineraries that invite you to take the scenic route, relax whilst getting under the skin of a destination. Our Private Trips are fully tailored itineraries, curated by our Travel Experts specifically for you, your friends or your family.

We know that many of you worry about the environmental impact of travel and are looking for ways of expanding horizons in ways that do minimal harm - and may even bring benefits. We are committed to go as far as possible in curating our trips with care for the planet. That is why all of our trips are flightless in destination, fully carbon offset - and we have ambitious plans to be net zero in the very near future.