Hi everyone - my husband and I are planning a trip to Norway this February, and plan to take a hurtigruten from Bergan to Kirkenes. We'll be flying into Oslo and will do the Norway in a Nutshell to get from Oslo to Bergen. The question is, how do we get back?

We have a 7:00pm departure time from Oslo, and the ship gets into Kirkenes at 10:00am. Normally I would think 9 hours is plenty of time but I'm finding it very difficult!

Kirkenes to Oslo flights, even the layover ones, are rare and expensive ($300pp), and don't often meet the timing. Trains don't seem to run as far north as Kirkenes, and I can't find much on buses.

Do I just have to pay the high airfare?

Thanks!
- Pam

Kirkenes is a small town north of the Arctic circle. It won't have frequent or cheap flights to anywhere. In February, it will be cold, and all tourist facilities will be closed.
I'd suggest changing your itinerary: either do a round trip on Hurtigruten, or do a one-way trip to somewhere south of Kirkenes - there's nothing much to see there.

Have you only checked SAS for flights, or also Wideroe?

The latter airline has one-way non-stop flights from Kirkenes to Oslo starting at appr. $100 pP in February.

http://www.wideroe.no/?language=en

I just did a quick check on Wideroe, expedia, and travelocity. The fares vary widely, depending on the exact day. The times I found may be a problem.

We stayed over a night in Kirkenes, and took a morning flight to Oslo. Can you get a package with Hurtigruten?

Have you checked with Bergen Lines? We made all arrangements -- land, sea, and air -- with them, including returning from Kirkenes to Oslo by air.

We did the Hurtigruten the other way, starting in Kirkenes, but we traveled by car, train, and bus for a few weeks getting there mainly up through Finland. But after booking the Hurtigruten, we received information about air fare prices to get to Kirkenes. I agree with the others, to check with them.

All tourist facilities will NOT be closed. National Geographic listed Kirkenes as one of the top 25 adventure trips in the world
http://www.nationalgeographic.com/ad...pe/norway.html

Take a look at:
http://www.arctic-adventure.no/
http://www.barentssafari.com/
http://www.birkhusky.no/english/english.htm
http://www.radius-kirkenes.com/engelsk-index.html

I found airfares from 110.79 USD in February on http://www.sas.no/Default.aspx?epslanguage=EN

Not too expensive in my opinion when you think of the distance between Kirkenes and Oslo. I'll guess my reply came too late for you to change your plans, so maybe next time

Hi all - just wanted to post a follow up. We ended up booking the airfare (~$250pp for the flights that met out time requirements). In retrospect, should have perhaps tried to book everything at once.

Thanks! - Pam

Pam

In future, if you need to get around Norway cheaply try Norwegian.no. They are a low cost operator, we used them to get to Tromso and they were very effecient and cheap. They show fares of 60 euros for your route but the timetable only starts in June 2008. They seem to be just getting their comprehensive network up and running.

The low fare airline Norwegian flies Kirkenes-Oslo. On way fare in february as low as NOK 497,- (approx 90 USD)
www.norwegian.no

I know that Hurtigruten as special deals with SAS re. flying back to Bergen or Oslo. Check with Hurtigruten at:www.hurtigruten.com

Geir