Kirkenes and the Snowhotel

Norway'S Town On The Russian Border And The End Of The Coastal Voyage; The Snowhotel, King Crab Safaris And Aurora · Kirkenes, Finnmark

Kirkenes is a small Arctic port town on the Bokfjord in the far north-east of Norway, a few kilometres from the Russian border and farther east than Istanbul, as locals like to point out. It is the end of the line: the Hurtigruten and Havila coastal ships turn around here after the long voyage from Bergen, and street signs are in Norwegian and Russian. People come for winter adventures packed into a few days: a night in the Snowhotel, rebuilt from snow and ice each winter about 10 km outside town; king crab safaris by snowmobile across the frozen fjord (by boat in summer); husky sledding; and the northern lights over a dry, cold inland climate. There is also hard history. Kirkenes is often described as one of the most bombed places in Europe in the Second World War, and the Andersgrotta shelter and the Borderland Museum tell that story. The honest caveat: the town itself is plain and rebuilt, the experiences are expensive packages, and the border is closed to casual crossing - look, never step over.

Kirkenes town on the Bokfjord, Sor-Varanger; Snowhotel Kirkenes at Sandnes, about 10 km outside town, Kirkenes, Finnmark, Norway

Kirkenes is open all year. Snowhotel Kirkenes runs roughly from December to April, depending on snow and cold - confirm the season before booking; day visits and guided tours of the snow halls are usually offered too. King crab safaris run all year (snowmobile on the ice in winter, boat in summer). Aurora season is roughly September to early April. Andersgrotta tours and the Borderland Museum keep daytime hours, reduced outside summer - confirm. Arrive by flights from Oslo (direct or via Tromso) to Kirkenes airport, or on the coastal voyage. Book the Snowhotel, safaris and transfers well ahead.

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