Another stunning morning awaited us on our travels along the Norwegian coast. We visited the Vega Archipelago, which is a group of islands in Nordland county, just south of the Arctic Circle.

Under the blue skies of a pleasant spring day, we explored the island on different hikes. We were all invited to visit the Vega World Heritage Centre on the small island of Gardsøya, just off the main island of Vega. Here, we learned about the natural history of the archipelago as well as the centuries old tradition of eider down collection. Before we left, we were served delicious Norwegian waffles with jam, sour cream, and the famous Norwegian brown cheese.

We were invited back onboard National Geographci Resolution for a barbeque lunch, which many of us enjoyed outside on deck 8, appreciating the sunshine and the view overlooking the many islands and the mountain range of the Norwegian mainland.

During the afternoon and evening, we continued our sail northwards. Two presentations awaited us, one given by National Geographic Photographer Tommy Heinrich, the other by Underwater Specialist/ Diver Gail Ashton who talked about the kelp forests of Norway. We listened while we sailed through the picturesque scenery of the fjords of Western Norway, enjoying stunning views and great weather.