When this far north, it is often difficult to determine when the day begins. Here, the sun is an ever present friend. When waking there is a sneaking suspicion that the sun may actually not have set. These are the gifts of heading toward remote archipelagos. The day began at Vega Island, a locale known for its trade in Eider duck down—a soft and yet surprisingly Velcro like material that the ducks shed naturally. It was famous enough to create a small museum which our guests were able to visit, in order to indulge in the strange and lucrative history that a shedding animal can create. Perhaps the most indulgent item though was the homemade waffles that were served with jam and local Norwegian brown cheese. Some guests were even seen going back for seconds. All the while, the dive team was a mile away exploring what lay below the waterline.

Continuing north, we ventured into Visten National Park which boasted an array of tall peaks as an example of the impressive geology in the area. With erosion coming from both wind and rain, the patterns were quite fascinating and showed fully the extent of what subtle, consistent force can do over time. Most guests took to our Zodiacs to explore the water and the low-hanging wildflowers upon the sheer cliff wall. While others laced up their boots for a long hike through the lush greenery that is provided by the northernmost range of the temperate rain forests flora. Earning our way upward toward our destination, we have certainly learned to appreciate the grandiose portions that the Norwegian coast has to offer.