HIGHLIGHTS
- Sail
along the base of the Lyngen Alps, across the Lyngen fjord
- Stay
for the night in Hamnnes, an ancient trade and fishing settlement
originating in the 17th century, with typical wooden warehouses where
residents store dried cod. (In fact, the town still exports this cod
for the traditional Mediterranean dish, Bacalhau.)
- Visit
Uløya which offers good hiking, often on snowshoes
- Spend
the night in one of the scenic fishing villages, such as
Skjervøy, Seglvik, Reinfjord, or Burfjord
- Stay
for the night in Finnkroken, a tiny hamlet that gives you a solid
chance of seeing the northern lights
DATES / RATES
Rates are listed per person in USD
|
| Start Date | End Date | Triple Private Porthole | Twin Private Inside | Twin Private Porthole |
|---|
Rates are listed per person in USD
|
| Start Date | End Date | (Starting from)
Triple Private Porthole | (Mid-range)
Twin Private Inside | (High-end)
Twin Private Porthole |
|---|
Day
1: Paris of the North
Your
adventure begins in Tromsø, nicknamed the “Paris
of the North,” located in an area rich with Norse and
Sámi history. Enjoy exploring this sub-Arctic Norwegian
town, said to have been inhabited since the last ice age. We aim at
departing from Tromsø in the evening, sailing through
Grøtsundet and Ullsfjorden toward the northeast. All
passengers are kindly asked to board the vessel by 17:00.
Day
2: Lighting out toward Lyngen
You
arrive in the Nord-Lenangen fjord, just under Lyngsfjella (Lyngen
Alps), and the ship may stay there for the night. If conditions permit,
you may also make a walk along the coast of the fjord, after which
evening glimpses of the northern lights may appear, if the sky is clear
enough.
Day
3 – 6: Into the Nordic fjords
You
then sail along the base of the Lyngen Alps, across the Lyngen fjord,
and may stay for the night in Hamnnes, on the island of
Uløya. Hamnnes is an ancient trade and fishing settlement
originating in the 17th century, with typical wooden warehouses where
residents store dried cod. (In fact, the town still exports this cod
for the traditional Mediterranean dish, Bacalhau.) Uløya
offers good hiking, often on snowshoes.
From
Hamnnes, you sail farther northeast into the Kvaenangen Fjord. Part of
the day you sail through the fjords, and in the afternoon you find a
harbor to spend the night in one of the scenic fishing villages, such
as Skjervøy, Seglvik, Reinfjord, or Burfjord. There are good
hiking possibilities in the area, for example on the Island of Spildra,
where we might climb the 240-meter-high (788 feet) Staurhammaren, with
expansive views over the fjord. Great hikes can also be made in
Burfjord, just 50 km (31 miles) from the northerly town of Alta. During
the evenings and nights, there are fine opportunities to see auroras if
the sky is clear enough.
Day
7 – 8: Below the northern lights
Your
next objective is to sail back toward the southwest, staying for the
night in Finnkroken, a tiny hamlet that gives you a solid chance of
seeing the northern lights. In the morning you embark on a final hike,
hopefully with snowshoes, to the 315-meter-high (1,033 feet)
Småvasshaugen. On day seven, you sail back to
Tromsø and arrive around midday. You will have enough time
to shop for souvenirs in town, visit a museum, or simply take a walk in
the fresh winter air. After spending the last night on board, you
disembark on day eight (Saturday) with memories that will accompany you
wherever your next adventure lies.
Additional note:
Hiking / snowshoeing (two hiking options to choose from)
At
the beginning of the season, there is still snow on the coastline,
valleys, and in the mountains. For this reason, we offer the option of
snowshoes during our hikes on this voyage.
Snowshoeing
is easy for anyone in good physical condition and requires no technical
knowledge. With the use of snowshoes, you can move faster and safer on
the snow. Snowshoes are available on board (free of charge) and fit all
shoe sizes.
As
a rule, daily hikes of two to three hours are planned, in the morning
and / or afternoon. Approximately 100 to 200 meters (330 to 660 feet)
of altitude may be climbed per day, depending on the hike.
At
midday hikers return for lunch aboard the vessel, but in the event of a
full-day hike, participants receive a packed lunch.
For
all hikes, guests (maximum of 33) are split into two groups under the
guidance of experienced guides who take into account the interests and
physical fitness of the participants. Hiking routes cannot be
determined in advance, because local conditions (ice, weather, etc.)
influence the final program. The map outlines a possible but not final
itinerary, as all itineraries are subject to change.
North route: The
programs and routes described here serve only as a rough guide
The
overall program, such as the hiking program on land and the itinerary
of the ship at sea, will adapt to the local weather, sea, and snow
conditions, and may vary considerably from the route shown.
Availability of landing sites also plays a role in the selection of the
program. The program may also be changed in response to interesting
wildlife observations (e.g., whale sightings). The final decision as to
where and in what way the hikes will be implemented is ultimately made
by the expedition leader on board. For the hiking program, it is
recommended that you bring ankle-high, sturdy boots with gaiters. For
wet shore landings via our Zodiac boats, please bring insulated rubber
boots with anti-slip soles. Hiking poles with deep snow plates are also
required. See our equipment list for more details.
The
Northern Norway coastline is renowned for its beauty, a forested
terrain contoured with rugged mountains and vast fjords that has twice
been voted the best travel destination in the world by National
Geographic. And it’s not just during the summer months that
Norway shows off its splendors, but the winter as well: The mountains
are capped with snow, the sun hangs heavy on the skyline, and
everything is embraced in a lustrous coat of frost. In the far north,
about 500 km (310 miles) northeast of the Arctic Circle, the Lyngen and
Kvaenangen fjords can be found, between which we find steep mountain
ridges, remote islands, and a wealth of hiking opportunities. These
areas provide the ultimate wilderness experience, as ideal for
exploration by foot as by sail.
Our
itinerary depends largely on weather conditions and the amount of
daylight during the voyage. These conditions dictate the route, sailing
hours, and our harbors for the night. We intend to explore the fjords
and islands by sail and also on foot. In case of heavier snow, we will
use our onboard snowshoes.
In
winter the amount of daylight is limited, providing about 10 hours of
light by the end of February. The dramatic landscape under the low sun
and long sunrise / sunset offers great opportunities for photography
enthusiasts, but the dark hours will not be wasted: Northern Norway is
one of the best areas in the world to see the northern lights, also
known as the aurora borealis. This amazing phenomenon can only be seen
when the sky is dark and clear. In good weather conditions, this voyage
offers ample opportunities to admire and photograph the northern lights
from the remote fishing villages and bays where we stay the night.
During the voyage you may also see white-tailed eagles, one of the
largest birds of prey in Europe, and the more-skittish fish otters.
Both species are year-round residents of the Norwegian fjords.
Rembrandt Van Rijn (Expedition, 33-guests)
Rembrandt Van Rijn is well suited for expedition cruising among small islands and offers good open-deck viewing areas, also when under sail. The 2 inflatable rubber crafts (zodiacs) enable landing and wildlife viewing opportunities in otherwise inaccessible areas.
It has an experienced crew of 12 persons on board including 2 tour guides. The ship can accommodate a maximum of 33 passengers in 16 cabins. 1 Triple Private cabin (with shower and toilet and porthole), 6 Twin Private Inside cabins (with shower and toilet, no porthole), 9 Twin Private cabins (with shower and toilet and porthole).
(Click image to view Ship details)
WHAT'S INCLUDED
- Voyage
aboard the indicated vessel as indicated in the itinerary
- All
meals throughout the voyage aboard the ship including snacks, coffee
and tea.
- All
shore excursions and activities throughout the voyage by Zodiac.
- Program
of lectures by noted naturalists and leadership by experienced
expedition staff.
- Free
use of snow shoes.
- All
miscellaneous service taxes and port charges throughout the programme.
- AECO
fees and governmental taxes.
- Comprehensive
pre-departure material.
OPTIONAL ACTIVITIES
Adventure
Options
