Hurtigruten has launched a new “Open Village” concept aboard its Signature Line coastal voyages in Norway, designed as a thoughtful alternative to the overcrowded destinations that challenge Europe each summer.
This program invites guests into Traena, Bessaker, and Saebo—remote communities that are accessible only aboard smaller Hurtigruten vessels. Each visit is shaped in collaboration with local residents, offering immersive encounters rooted in village life between May and September.
Guests participate in sustainably managed, community-led experiences at no extra cost. Meanwhile, Hurtigruten contributes NOK 250 (~EUR 20) per guest to each village, a mechanism that channels significant economic value directly back into towns with combined populations under 1,000 across the three ports. With up to 500 passengers per call, these visits can generate local revenue in the order of EUR 10,600 per arrival—a vital boon for rural enterprises.
Each village offers a distinct experience. In Bessaker, visitors are greeted with a festive parade and access to heritage buildings, where residents share stories amidst live music, woodcarving displays, and home-made sodd, meat soup, along with coffee and cake.
In Saebo, fjord-side concerts, guided visits to the Avalanche Centre, and discussions of local natural and cultural landscapes provide a substantive cultural immersion. Traena, among Norway’s oldest fishing communities, offers self-guided exploration via curated booklets that lead guests through the local museum, Petter Dass Chapel and village church.
Hurtigruten’s Head of Product Development, Odd Tore Skildheim, has described the initiative as a deliberate departure from conventional high-volume tourism. He emphasised the importance of mutual benefit: guests experience authentic local connections, while communities receive tangible support.
According to Knut Johan Monkan, a community leader in Bessaker, local businesses—including the village bakery and restaurant—depend on the Open Village model for their viability, making the visits instrumental to preserving vibrant community life.
By limiting numbers, choosing quieter destinations, and ensuring direct economic contributions to host communities, Hurtigruten’s Open Village programme presents a model for sustainable coastal tourism. It offers travelers an immersive, respectful option that stands in contrast to crowded cruise itineraries, and supports the long-term resilience of small Norwegian coastal villages.