NEW TRIP
Exploring Remote Northeast Iceland
Iceland: Northern Lights, Hike & Sail Expedition Cruise
Overview
Northern and eastern Iceland are characterized by small villages, dramatic coastlines, narrow fjords, waterfalls, geothermal areas, volcanoes, and mountains. You'll find yourself in the heart of nature here, and the scenery is breathtaking. This voyage aboard the 33-guest Rembrandt Van Rijn is slated for October, which can be a challenging month in terms of weather and sea conditions, but it's also an opportunity to get to know the most remote regions of Iceland after most of its tourism is gone. Cold winds, rough seas, and the first snowfalls can be expected, but there is a good chance you will catch views of the northern lights during clear skies. Excursions are offered regardless of weather (backup plans are in place if the weather is not on our side), and you can opt for an inland excursion by bus, enabling you to fill your days with adventure and exploration. Hikes are offered whenever possible, led by guides who will adjust to the conditions and fitness level of the group.
Arrive: Akureyri, Iceland
Depart: Seyðisfjörður, Iceland
Highlights
- Sail aboard a 33-guest, three-masted expedition vessel around the remote coast of northeast Iceland
- Enjoy daily guided hikes, including one across the Arctic Circle
- Experience the possibility of seeing the Northern Lights
- See humpback and minke whales, white-beaked dolphins, harbor porpoises, and a wealth of birdlife
Itinerary
Note: This trip is not exclusive to, nor operated by, Wilderness Travel, who acts solely as an agent in booking your reservation with the operator. Please download the Rate Sheet in the Dates & Pricing section to see the full pricing details and contact our Cruise Collection Specialists to check availability.
Embark the ship in Akureyri in the late afternoon and meet the expedition team on the ship. Conditions allowing, the ship may sail to Dalvik (about three hours) or spend the night in the harbor of Akureyri. During this first night, you may already see the magical northern lights shining overhead.
In good weather conditions, the ship sails toward the island of Grimsey. The goal is a Zodiac landing and a guided walk across the Arctic Circle, the most northerly of Earth's five major circles of latitude. A sign on the island marks the coordinates at 66'34° north. Overnight at Grimsey, if conditions allow. If not, the ship may sail toward the small town of Húsavík, crossing Skjálfandi Bay, where there is a good chance of spotting whales.
If Grimsey is not possible due to weather, the vessel will have to stay in Akureyri. A coach will be available for a day excursion to Mývatn, where you can see volcanoes, waterfalls, and geothermal areas. Hiking is the focus here. The coach will then return to the vessel in the afternoon.
If Grimsey is not possible due to weather, the vessel will have to stay in Akureyri. A coach will be available for a day excursion to Mývatn, where you can see volcanoes, waterfalls, and geothermal areas. Hiking is the focus here. The coach will then return to the vessel in the afternoon.
Enjoy the morning in Húsavík, with ample free time to explore the town and visit the local whale museum (entrance fee not included). Lunch is served on board. In the afternoon, sail across Skjálfandi Bay, where humpback and minke whales, white-beaked dolphins, and harbor porpoises may appear.
If the vessel has to stay in Húsavík for the day due to weather, a coach will be available in the afternoon for an excursion to Tjörnes Peninsula. There you can observe the local birdlife and impressive geology before moving on to Ásbyrgi, the horseshoe-shaped canyon that is entirely unique in Iceland. The focus will be hiking in this ruggedly scenic area. The coach will later return to the vessel in Húsavík, where there might be time for a relaxing spa session in outdoor pools heated with geothermal energy (admission fees not included).
If the vessel has to stay in Húsavík for the day due to weather, a coach will be available in the afternoon for an excursion to Tjörnes Peninsula. There you can observe the local birdlife and impressive geology before moving on to Ásbyrgi, the horseshoe-shaped canyon that is entirely unique in Iceland. The focus will be hiking in this ruggedly scenic area. The coach will later return to the vessel in Húsavík, where there might be time for a relaxing spa session in outdoor pools heated with geothermal energy (admission fees not included).
In good weather conditions, the ship will sail around northeast Iceland and get to shore in the small town of Raufarhöfn. Within walking distance from town is the Arctic Henge, a well-known Iceland attraction. Still under construction, this monument is intended to be a kind of sundial inspired by Völuspá, a poem from Edda, the medieval Norse mythological text by Snorri Sturluson.
You may like to join a bus excursion that will take you to Dettifoss, the most powerful waterfall in Europe: 200 cubic meters of water surge over its edge every second. Dettifoss is 150 feet high and 330 feet wide. As usual on this expedition, hiking will be the focus. The coach will return to the vessel in the evening.
You may like to join a bus excursion that will take you to Dettifoss, the most powerful waterfall in Europe: 200 cubic meters of water surge over its edge every second. Dettifoss is 150 feet high and 330 feet wide. As usual on this expedition, hiking will be the focus. The coach will return to the vessel in the evening.
Sail from Raufarhöfn to Vopnafjörður. Austurland (East Iceland) is characterized by visually stunning landscapes and small villages. Nature is all around, providing the opportunity for great hikes and other activities.
A coach will be available to take you on an inland excursion if conditions do not allow for the above plan, and the expedition leader will determine which route to take. Reunite with the vessel in the evening.
A coach will be available to take you on an inland excursion if conditions do not allow for the above plan, and the expedition leader will determine which route to take. Reunite with the vessel in the evening.
Sail from Vopnafjörður to Seyðisfjörður, and if conditions allow the ship may halt at Borgarfjörður Eystri, a treasure of Austurland. This fjord gets its name from Álfaborg, the home of the Icelandic elf queen, so it is fitting that the area offers spectacular scenery. Iceland's eastern fjords are still untouched by mass tourism. The nearby village of Bakkagerði has fewer than 100 inhabitants, and the harbor is mainly home to small boats for coastal fishing.
A coach will be available to take you on an inland excursion. The expedition leader will decide the plan, and you will reunite with the vessel in the evening.
A coach will be available to take you on an inland excursion. The expedition leader will decide the plan, and you will reunite with the vessel in the evening.
Disembark in Seyðisfjörður in the morning, taking home memories that will last a lifetime. Bus transport to Egilsstaðir Airport (approx. 45 min.) is available at an extra charge, but must be booked prior to the start of the voyage. You must book the flight from Egilsstaðir to Reykjavik yourself (flight time approx. 1 hour). Alternatively, you can choose your own route back to Reykjavik, making stops along the south coast.
Accommodations
Scroll through our signature accommodations for this trip below. Although it is highly unlikely, we may make substitutions when necessary.
What the Trip is Like
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Itinerary
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Trip Levels
With more than 200 different adventures to choose from, we want to help you find the trip that’s right for you. Our Trip Level system ranks each trip in two ways: a number rating from 1 to 6 according to the activity, and general travel rigors. 1 is the easiest and 6+ the most difficult—see descriptions below for explanations of each number. A plus (+) sign means the trip is a bit more strenuous than other trips of that level. The detailed explanation of each trip—below the bar with the number rating—is perhaps more important, specifying activities, altitudes, hiking, and travel conditions. The Detailed Itinerary, available by download or mail, gives further information. Our Area Managers can also answer questions and guide you to the trip that best suits your interests.
Level 1 – Easiest
Non-camping journeys, optional walks, little elevation gain or loss.
Level 2 – Easy to Moderate
Hotel nights and/or safari-style camping, hikes of two to four hours on some days. Other physical activities are sometimes included, such as optional sea kayaking.
Level 3 – Moderate
Half- to full-day hikes (3-6 hours) over rolling countryside on most days, occasional steep trails. Many of our hotel-based walking tours are in this category, as are our snorkeling adventures.
- Tuscany & the Cinque Terre
- Argentina: Hikes and Estancias of Patagonia
- Palau Snorkeling & Sea Kayaking
- Some trips with minimal hiking but rugged travel conditions or long drives, such as Tribal Ghana, Togo & Benin, are Trip Level 3.
Level 4 – Moderate to Strenuous
Full-day hikes (4-6 hours), mountainous terrain, significant elevation gains and losses (hiking up or down as much as 3,000 feet) on many days. Altitudes no greater than about 10,000 feet.
Level 5 – Strenuous
Full-day hikes (4-8 hours), mountainous, steep terrain (hiking up or down as much as 3,500 feet) on many days. Trips with hiking at average altitudes of 10,000 to 12,000 feet are in this category.
Level 6 – Very Strenuous
Full-day hikes (5-8 hours), mountainous, steep terrain (hiking up or down as much as 3,500 feet) on many days. Most hikes take place at altitudes above 10,000 feet, with some days ascending as high as 18,000 feet.