Lorraine Kelly explores Norway’s spectacular coastline in a new Channel 4 travel series filmed in partnership with Hurtigruten. Lorraine Kelly’s Norwegian Odyssey follows her journey by ship through fjords, Arctic waters and remote coastal communities, offering an authentic look at life along the Norwegian coast.
The series highlights why coastal cruising remains one of the most immersive ways to experience Norway, combining dramatic scenery with local culture and slower, more meaningful travel.
Lorraine Kelly’s Journey Along the Norwegian Coast
In the three-part series, Lorraine sails from Ålesund to Tromsø on the historic Hurtigruten coastal route. Operating since 1893, Hurtigruten is more than a cruise line. It is a working coastal service that connects communities along Norway’s shoreline day and night.
Travelling on board ships including MS Richard With and MS Kong Harald, Lorraine journeys deep into Norway’s fjords and north into the Arctic Circle. The route reveals how the landscape, culture and way of life change as the ship travels further north.
Rather than focusing on major tourist attractions, the series centres on everyday life, local stories and Norway’s close relationship with the sea.
Highlights from the Channel 4 Series
The programme showcases experiences unique to Norway’s coastal regions. Lorraine explores Trondheim’s waterways and food culture, visits the Lofoten Islands, learns about Sámi traditions in the north and embraces friluftsliv, the Norwegian philosophy of living close to nature.
A defining moment of the journey is her search for the Northern Lights. Sailing beneath the Auroral Oval and away from land-based light pollution offers ideal conditions to witness this natural phenomenon.
Why Hurtigruten Offers a Different Kind of Cruise
Hurtigruten ships are smaller and purpose-built to navigate narrow fjords and dock at small coastal ports that larger ships cannot access. Passengers travel alongside locals, with the ships transporting goods and supplies to communities along the route.
This creates a more authentic experience and allows access to lesser-seen parts of Norway throughout the year.
Food is also central to the journey. Hurtigruten’s Norway’s Coastal Kitchen focuses on locally sourced ingredients, with fresh produce delivered directly to the ship at ports along the coast. Meals reflect the regions being sailed through, connecting travellers more closely to the landscape.
Seeing the Northern Lights at Sea
Northern Norway is one of the best places in the world to see the Aurora Borealis. Hurtigruten supports this with its Northern Lights Promise. On eligible sailings between late September and March, if the lights do not appear, guests are offered a free future voyage.
How to Experience the Journey Yourself
Inspired travellers can choose from several Hurtigruten itineraries. The classic Coastal Express is a twelve-day round trip calling at 34 ports and remains the most comprehensive way to explore the Norwegian coast. Premium signature voyages offer a slower pace, longer port stays and a more inclusive onboard experience.
Lorraine Kelly’s Norwegian Odyssey airs on Channel 4 from Thursday 15 January at 8pm, with episodes available on demand. The series is a compelling introduction to Norway and shows why a Hurtigruten coastal cruise remains one of the most rewarding ways to experience this extraordinary destination.
