Alta Museum & the Petroglyphs
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Port
Hammerfest, Norway
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Activity Level
Moderate
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Excursion Type
All
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Wheelchair Accessible
No
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Starting At
$249
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Minimum Age
Information Not Currently Available
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Duration
Approximately 7 Hours
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Meals Included
Meals included
Alta, a 2½-hour drive from Hammerfest, is the commercial center at the head of Altafjord and is situated at Latitude 69°58′36″N — the northernmost place on earth where it is possible to grow barley.
Upon arrival in Alta, you will visit the Alta Museum, which houses, among other things, historical exhibits on the Komsa culture, dating back 8,000 to 10,000 years. Excavations around Alta's Komsa Mountain in the 1920s revealed that humans have lived here since the Stone Age. There are many theories surrounding the lifestyle of these hunter-gatherer people. Did they come from Mongolia, or did they come from the south, along the coast? Today, archaeologists consider the latter to be more likely.
You will also visit the amazing rock carvings along the walkway outside the Alta Museum. Discovered purely by accident in 1978, the carvings are believed to be between 1,800 and 4,200 years old. They are very detailed and represent human beings, boats, weapons and hunting scenes. The Alta rock carvings are the largest petroglyph findings in Europe and are a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Stop at a local hotel for a traditional small, snack-size lunch of fish soup and bread.
Return to Hammerfest (2½ hours) via the same road.
Notes:
Terrain is uneven. Not advisable for guests with mobility limitations. Wear comfortable walking shoes. You may wish to eat a large breakfast on the ship before setting out on tour; the lunch provided is a relatively light snack. Children under the age of 3 must be secured in a child's car seat on the transportation. These are not available through the tour operator; you must bring your own from home.