North Norway, Aurora Borealis, Hike & Sail
Admire the Northern Lights on this trip to Northern Norway aboard the Rembrandt van Rijn Arctic Cruises
Price: Upon request
North Norway, Aurora Borealis, Hike & Sail
A 8-day long expedition cruise
1 Reviews
A 8-day long Cruise
1 Reviews
The Trip Highlights
The coasts and fjords of Norway
Discover the "Paris of the North", Tromsø
Photograph polar wildlife
Spot whales in their natural habitats
Your Polartours 'Plus' Experience
Be under the northern lights!
Two hiking options to choose from
Your trip is 100% carbon offset
Polar experts to answer all your questions
Join us on a true expedition cruise adventure to a world of immense scope and truly unique landscapes. Visit Norway's most picturesque fjords, villages and natural sites, watch whales in their natural habitat and experience the mystical atmosphere of the Aurora Borealis. This 8-day expedition will take you to the unforgettable "Gateway to the Arctic".
Your ship: Rembrandt van Rijn
Sailing vessel Rembrandt Van Rijn has a wonderful history. She was originally built as a herring lugger in 1947. In 1994 she was rebuilt as a three-masted passenger sailing schooner in the Netherlands. She then sailed in Spitsbergen between 1994 and 1996 and in the Galápagos from 1998 to 2001. She then underwent another complete rebuild and interior refurbishment before her relaunch in 2011. Her communication and navigation equipment has always been updated according to the latest SOLAS regulations. She is a well-traveled and beautiful intimate arctic cruise vessel.
An arctic cruise aboard … Read more about Rembrandt van Rijn
Amenities
Observation Deck
Zodiac Fleet
Food & Drinks
Three simple and tasty meals of international cuisine per day are served buffet style in the restaurant and prepared by our cook.
Select Tour Dates
Polar Snowshoeing
Optional activities during your cruise
Day 1 • Your adventure begins in Tromsø, nicknamed the “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 • Sail 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.
Often the start of an East-West journey along the Northeast Passage, or as the start and finish of a trip to Svalbard, this region is dominated by absolutely stunning coastal landscapes.
Molded over millennia by the ice of glaciers, the fjords and inlets of the Scandinavian coastline are renowned as some of the most beautiful waterways in the world.
With a rich mix of cosmopolitan cities, arctic wilderness, forests, tundra, and a variety of cultures, Norway makes a wonderful destination of its own or as several additional stops on your arctic cruise itinerary.
Day 7 • Under 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.
Day 8 • Your incredible Arctic adventure comes to an end in Tromsø
Disembarkation in the port of Tromsø at 9:00 a.m. at the latest. Transfer to the airport on your own (not included). Individual journey home with scheduled flight via Oslo back home (flights not included in the cabin price).
Reviews
Deanna Rieden
May 2022
This was the trip of a lifetime. Our final continent. Once we arrived in Punta Arenas, we were met at the airport by Paula from Aurora who took us to hotel. My baggage was lost by airline and she gave me a coat to wear immediately. Shout out to Paula and Michael for tracking my Luggage. Once we transferred to Antarctica we were met by ship crew with drinks and smiles. The week was packed with excursions and amazing information presented by scientists in different aspects of expertise. The ship staff was friendly, personable making the trip an amazing adventure. The fly and cruise is the way to go!
Marion K
May 2022
It was an AMAZING journey through one of the most spectacular landscapes I have ever scene (if not the most). The boat was top of the line, the professional crew incredibly professional, knowledgeable and fun to hang out with. The service crew took well care of us during all the journey. The kayak pack is specially recommended and if you are lucky you will also a face to face hunch whale experience you will remember as your top wildlife adventure for life (copied from Trip Advisor)
Doug Beham
May 2022
Couldn't be better! This company checks all the boxes: well-planned expeditions, pristine ship, and skilled & courteous service from all the employees. Best cruise company I have traveled with by far. (Copied from Google)
Cristian Coudeu
May 2022
Impressive trip, a beautiful destination that thanks to A21 becomes unforgettable. The concern for every detail, the professional level of the team, the joy with which they do their work make this experience something unique. Discovering Antarctica with A21 is a dream that we should all have. (copied from Trip Advisor)
Till K
April 2022
We booked the 2.5 week trip incl. Antarctic peninsula and South Georgia. We received good information on clothing, recommended literature, itinerary etc. previously. The one night in Punta Arenas extended due to fog around the antarctic landing strip to three days, with an OK emergency program. The difficulty to get to Antarctica shows that it a somehow adventurous place and not normal tourism. Once arrived on board, we were welcomed nicely and shown the beautiful new vessel, the Magellan Explorer. The expedition staff and the crew are very friendly and professional. The cabins and excellent, all have balconies, mini bars are refilled all the time. Food on boards in really good and varied every day. Wine is OK. The expeditions are what you came for. Protocols are very strict, in order to protect wild life. Whats you see is totally amazing, in Antarctica the icebergs and white sceneries, later on in South Georgia the immense amount of king penguins, seals with puppies, etc. During the days of pure navigation, you can spot whales, albatrosses etc., and get very interesting lectures of Antarctic related topics (history, political situation, animals, etc.). Lecturers are excellent professionals, some are also funny. What could be improved? On our specific trip, the three days lost in the beginning were cut off just from the Antarctic peninsula part of the trip, nothing from South Georgia. Could have been more balanced. And in general, on zodiac tours without landing, people could be grouped by interest (photographers have other needs than the rest, some older people get cold earlier than some younger, etc.). Overall… a trip of the lifetime. I intend to do the pure Antarctic trip with the same company and the same vessel. (Copied from Trip Advisor)