ARNE & CARLOS Knitting under the Midnight Sun - Svalbard Line

A journey from the fjords of Norway to the Arctic light of Svalbard with ARNE & CARLOS

Along the Norwegian coast, mountains rise straight from the sea, and the coast opens into fjords, islands, and a long summer light that never quite loses its hold. 

From Bergen, the route follows the coastline north, where the landscape changes gradually rather than abruptly. Forested hills give way to steeper mountains, and the scenery grows more expansive as sheltered passages alternate with wider stretches of open water. Seen from the sea, the land remains close throughout, unfolding steadily and without distance between the traveller and the coast.

In summer, light becomes an essential part of the experience. Evenings along the mainland coast do not fall into darkness, but soften into long stretches of twilight. Colours linger in rock, forest, and water, shifting gently with weather and time. The day seems reluctant to end, easing slowly toward morning as light returns again in the early hours.

Beyond the northern edge of the mainland, the journey continues across open water toward the Svalbard archipelago. Here, the atmosphere changes. Svalbard is not part of mainland Norway, but a remote Arctic world of its own. The landscape opens wide into broad valleys, sharply defined mountains, and glaciers descending quietly into dark water. The sense of scale is different here — spacious, still, and deeply absorbing.

In Svalbard, the sun remains above the horizon around the clock. Without night to divide the hours, time feels less structured, and the landscape reveals itself slowly under continuous light. Details emerge with clarity, and the Arctic feels both vast and intimate, shaped by silence, distance, and space.

With days unfolding under constant light and long stretches at sea, a gentle rhythm settles in. Life on board becomes calm and shared, guided by what unfolds outside the windows and often on deck, where the long summer days invite lingering. Knitting slips naturally into everyday life — practical, social, and quietly grounding. Conversations drift and return, stories are shared, and a sense of companionship grows among like-minded people who have come together to experience something meaningful.

From the Norwegian coast to the open stillness of the High Arctic, this journey is about travelling slowly and attentively. It is shaped by remarkable landscapes, by light that refuses to fade, and by the simple pleasure of being together — creating, observing, and forming shared memories stitch by stitch along the way.

Highlights

⁃ The Lofoten Islands, with their dramatic peaks and quiet fishing villages — clear summer light and sea views that feel almost untouched. 

⁃ The unforgettable experience of sailing into the Trollfjord, a narrow, otherworldly passage carved between towering mountains. 

⁃ Fresh, farm-to-table food on board, with daily local specialities inspired by the regions we explore. 

⁃ A cherished tradition on ARNE & CARLOS journeys: visiting Hillesvåg Ullvarefabrikk, Norway’s oldest yarn mill, family-run for four generations. 

⁃ A rare opportunity to visit Ny-Ålesund, the world’s northernmost permanent settlement, surrounded by glaciers and wide Arctic silence. 

⁃ The deep, glacier-formed beauty of Hjørundfjord, framed by the steep peaks of the Sunnmøre Alps. 

⁃ The quiet joy of knitting together — companionship, creativity, and shared presence among likeminded travellers.