The Norwegian Fjords: Geiranger and the West Coast

Between mid-May and late September, selected Hurtigruten voyages and Signature departures divert from the Coastal Express's standard northbound route to visit Geirangerfjord, a 15-km branch of the Sunnylvsfjord designated a UNESCO World Heritage site in 2005. The fjord is walled by cliffs rising 1,700 metres directly from the water and fed by several waterfalls including the Seven Sisters, the Suitor, and the Bridal Veil.

The surrounding Sunnmøre coast is served by Ålesund, one of Norway's most architecturally distinctive towns: rebuilt in art nouveau (Jugendstil) style after a catastrophic 1904 fire, it offers pastel-coloured stone buildings, ornate spires, and the Aksla viewpoint overlooking the harbour. Signature voyages may also call at Hjørundfjord, a quieter, less-developed fjord prized for its pristine mountain backdrop.