Hurtigruten is introducing a new travel experience along the Norwegian coast: “Open Village” – a concept designed to connect guests with small local communities while supporting them directly. Between May and September 2025, the coastal villages of Træna, Bessaker, and Sæbø will welcome Hurtigruten’s guests as part of selected voyages.
Up to 500 guests arrive aboard the smaller ships MS Finnmarken, MS Trollfjord, and MS Midnatsol. For every port visit, Hurtigruten donates approximately €20 per passenger directly to the hosting community. Guests don’t pay extra, but the local villages benefit financially and culturally.
On the island of Træna, one of Norway’s oldest fishing communities, guests are invited to explore independently using a discovery booklet that guides them through the village’s chapel, church, and local museum.
In Bessaker, the visit turns into a village celebration with parades, open farms, live music, local crafts and traditional food – including the regional meat soup “Sodd.” According to local coordinator Knut Johan Monkan, twelve small businesses benefit directly from the visits, including an artist studio, a new restaurant, and the award-winning Stokkøy Bakeri, named Norway’s best bakery in 2023.
Sæbø welcomes travelers with guided tours, church concerts, and a visit to the local Avalanche Centre.
“This initiative is about boosting communities that often lie off the main tourist track,” says Odd Tore Skildheim, Head of Product at Hurtigruten. “These villages together have fewer than 1,000 residents – and now they have a real chance to benefit from tourism in a sustainable way.”
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Header: © Michel Afflerbach, Hurtigruten