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 We have offered summer trips to Iceland for over twenty-five years, showing many of you the unique and unending wonders of this remote land of fire and ice. But some experiences can be enjoyed only as the days get shorter: the aurora borealis radiating across the night sky, whales and dolphins swimming around our three-masted sailing ship and enjoying the vistas from hikes through the least-visited landscapes of Iceland. Join our Iceland Northern Lights Gay Cruise to immerse yourself in Iceland’s picturesque autumn landscape and coastline.
Join our Iceland Northern Lights cruise on a 3-masted wooden sailing vessel as we explore the northeast corner of Iceland. Depending on the weather conditions, we will have Zodiac excursions from our ship or take hikes into Northeast Iceland’s pristine wilderness, returning to our ship for dinner. Colder autumn temperatures bring humpback and minke whales, white-beaked dolphins, and harbor porpoises to the waters that we traverse. On a clear evening, we have high odds of a tremendous Aurora Borealis display with no interference from ambient light.
• Sail on an historic 3-masted sailing vessel, with a motor but under sail when the weather allows.
• Board Zodiacs to explore the bays of Northeast Iceland.
• Hike along rugged trails in the least-visited corner of Iceland.
• Watch for whales and dolphins swimming around our ship.
• Observe grand displays of northern lights in the open skies to our north (weather permitting).
• Enjoy this unique cruise itinerary with a friendly group of gay men, lesbians, family, and friends. (Please note that this is not a charter, so our group will be among other passengers on our sailing vessel.)
Day 1 -
Meet our driver in Reykjavik for a 6-hour drive to Akureyri, Iceland’s largest city outside the Reykjavik region and only major port on Iceland’s north coast. In the afternoon, embark onto the s/v Rembrandt van Rijn to meet our expedition team and fellow passengers, enjoy our first dinner together, and set sail.
Each evening and night, our attentive crew will alert us if the Northern Lights emerge from the clouds. There is very little artificial light in this region to obscure our view when the Aurora Borealis is visible.
Day 2 -
Our Captain will have a Plan A and a Plan B for each day depending on weather and sea conditions. Plan A will be more boat-centered visiting remote harbors and nearby islands. Or, Plan B will allow hikes in this mountainous region while the ship traverses rougher seas to our next rendezvous point.
Plan A: if conditions allow, we will sail to the island of Grimsey, about 20 miles offshore from the main island. We will board our Zodiacs to get to shore, then visit a marker for the Arctic Circle, the northernmost of Earth’s five major circles of latitude. Grimsey is known for its steep cliffs, the perfect summer nesting area for vast numbers of puffins. (They will have migrated south by the time of our visit.)
Plan B: our vessel will stay in the sheltered harbor of Akureyri, and we will board a bus for a day of hiking in nearby Myvatn. This national park is home to volcanoes, waterfalls, and geothermal areas. We’ll return to our sailing ship for dinner.
Day 3 -
Plan A: spend the day near the village of Husavik, considered to have the highest concentration of whales of any location in Iceland. The first house in Iceland was built by a Swedish Viking in 860 AD, but the most famous landmark visible today is a wooden church built in 1907. A minor claim to fame is that the 2020 Netflix film Eurovision Song Contest: The Story of Fire Saga was filmed here.
Weather permitting, in the afternoon we will sail across the bay on the lookout for porpoises, dolphins, and humpback and minke whales.
Plan B: if weather conditions keep our ship docked in Husavik, we will take a bus to the Tjornes Peninsula for a hike to see the area’s birdlife and unique geology. We will continue on to Asbyrgi, a forested horse-shoe-shaped canyon.
After returning to Husavik, we’ll have time to relax in outdoor pools heated with geothermal energy (on your own).
Day 4 -
Plan A: sail around the northeast corner of Iceland to the village of Raufarhofn. Near the town is a monument called Arctic Henge. It has been under construction for over 20 years, with the goal of creating a sundial inspired by a description in a medieval Norse poem.
Plan B: take a bus excursion to Dettifoss, with a larger water flow than any other waterfall in Europe. We will hike to get a closeup view of this magnificent 150-foot high and 330-foot-wide waterfall. We’ll return to our vessel in the evening.
Day 5 -
Plan A: spend the day sailing along Iceland’s East Coast (Austurland) from Raufarhofn to Vopnafjordur. From the ship and on land, we’ll take in the natural beauty of the rugged landscape and the charm of the region’s small hamlets.
Plan B: if the seas are not conducive to sailing along the coast, our bus will take us on an inland excursion to explore this unique landscape.
Day 6 -
Plan A: set sail from Vopnafjordur to our destination of Seydisfjordur. Subject to weather conditions, we will also stop at Borgarfjordur, known for its eider down, considered one of the finest downs in the world. The is collected from the nests of eider ducks after the adults and their chicks leave the nests in the late spring. We will also see hamlets whose harbors protect small fishing boats.
Plan B: we will take an inland excursion before returning to our ship for our final evening. We will have our farewell dinner on board with our new friends.
Day 7 -
We will conclude our Iceland Northern Lights cruise as we disembark in Seydisfjordur early in the morning. Anyone reserving the tour with us will be provided a complimentary 45-minute bus transfer to Egilsstadir Airport (EGS) for a 1-hour morning flight to Reykjavik’s domestic airport (RKV). There are direct buses from RKV airport to Reykjavik’s international airport at Keflavik (KEF). If you have the time, we recommend that you spend a couple of days in Reykjavik before heading home or to your next destination.
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• Group bus transfer from Reykjavik to Akureyri (about 6 hours);
• Transfer from our ship to Egilsstadir Airport on departure day;
• 6 nights on the historic s/v Rembrandt van Rijn sailing ship in selected cabin type, all with a private shower and toilet;
• Two onboard tour guides accompanying the group at all locations;
• All meals while on the ship;
• All shore excursions, Zodiac and bus rides, sightseeing, and hiking as listed;
• Services of a knowledgeable gay tour host (with a minimum number of participants).
• We provide complimentary Medical & Evacuation Insurance for every US Resident on our group tours who does not have other coverage.
• Airfare between home and Reykjavik (KEF);
• Airfare from Egilsstadir Airport (EGS) to Reykjavik’s domestic airport (RKV);
• Airport transfers in Reykjavik/Keflavik;
• All meals before and after our cruise;
• Souvenirs, snacks, admissions not listed here or if listed as on your own;
• Alcoholic beverages; Gratuities for guides and host.
The cruise starts in downtown Reykjavik with a 6-hour bus transfer to our ship in Akureyri Harbor.
It ends at Egilsstadir Airport for flights to Reykjavik's domestic airport.
Our activities will often take us out in the elements for a few hours at a time, with warm breaks in between! We may encounter clear days, wind, rain, snow, ice, and even ice at times, or all three. Guests on this tour need to be able to hike over uneven and sometimes slippery surfaces.
The Northern Lights are a natural phenomenon requiring a combination of atmospheric conditions, and therefore cannot be guaranteed. They require clear dark skies, usually chillier nights, and solar activity coming from the sun that reacts with the Earth’s magnetic field, causing glowing folds and ribbons of light in that dark sky. They are usually various shades of soft green but occasionally they express themselves in red. And they may be fleeting or may linger. While these reactions happen year-round, they are usually not seen in the summer because of the 24-hour light. In winter, especially around the Arctic Circle, skies can gleam with these wonders. While not guaranteed, every night of our cruise offers an opportunity to see the Aurora Borealis with little ambient light.
The odds are that you’ll experience a full gamut of temperatures here in the changeable Arctic region. Typical early October temperatures are in the 30s and 40s F in northeast Iceland. We can expect a mix of clear and cloudy days, with occasional rain and even the first snow of the year. Strong winds are also not unusual in the fall.
You will want warm winter clothes to enjoy hikes on cooler days and to stand on deck to observe whales and other wildlife. However, you won’t need full-on polar expedition clothing. Always dress in layers, including an outer layer to protect from rain and wind. Broken in hiking boots or strong-soled shoes are also a must. And perhaps surprisingly – don’t forget your swimsuit in case we’re able to enjoy a geothermal hot springs bathing area!
Our ship is a 3-masted wooden sailing vessel. It was built as a boat for herring fishermen in 1947, then converted into a passenger vessel in a Dutch shipyard in 1994. After a decade-long rebuilding process, it returned to service with state-of-the-art equipment in 2011.
The Rembrandt van Rijn is an expedition ship. This means that the emphasis is on the experience of its travelers in the natural environment. Therefore, there are none of the trappings of a cruise ship (casino, multiple bars and restaurants, lavish entertainment, upscale shopping, etc.). Instead, you will go ashore every day to witness and beauty and culture that make Northeast Iceland special.
As is typical of older sailing vessels the cabins are relatively compact, with various room configurations fitting around the curvature of the ship. All passenger cabins have a private toilet and shower. Some rooms for 2 or 3 passengers have bunk beds to maximize use of the space.
Perfect for expedition cruising among small islands
The ship is well suited for expedition cruising among small islands and offer good open deck viewing areas, also when under sail. The two inflatable rubber crafts (Zodiacs) enable landing and wildlife viewing opportunities in otherwise inaccessible areas.
Comfort and Character
Rembrandt van Rijn measures 49,50 meters in length, 7 meters in width, and has a draft of 2,8 meters. The average cruising speed on engines is 6,5 knots. 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. It has one Triple Private cabin (with shower and toilet and porthole), six Twin Private Inside cabins (with shower and toilet, no porthole), and nine Twin Private cabins (with shower and toilet and porthole).
Catering
Three simple but good meals of international cuisine per day are served buffet style in the restaurant and is prepared by our cook.
Dress code
In keeping with our expeditions atmosphere, dress on board is informal. Bring casual and comfortable clothing for all activities. Keep in mind that much of the spectacular scenery can be appreciated from deck, which can be slippery. Bring sturdy shoes with no-slip soles and make sure the parka is never far away in case of the call "Whales!" comes over the loudspeaker and you have to dash outside. Wear layers since it is comfortably warm aboard the ship - and often cold on deck.
Electric Current
The electrical supply aboard the ship is 220 volt 50hz. Electrical outlets are standard European with two thick round pins. U.S. passengers may need a 220v/110v converter.
Excursions & Landings
Every day there will be excursions on land, weather and ice permitting. The landings will take three to six hours per day over untracked area. According to circumstances (the weather, the ice-situation or the passengers´ wishes) the program can sometimes be adjusted. Ample time will be devoted to wildlife, vegetation, geography and history.
Your physical condition
You must be in good general health and you should be able to walk several hours per day. The expedition is ship-based and physically not very demanding. Although we spend as much time as possible ashore, you are welcome to remain aboard the ship if you like. To join most excursions, you must be able to get up and down the ladder from the ship to the water level to board the Zodiacs. Staff will assist you in and out of the boats. This will become progressively easier with practice. Ashore it can be slippery and rocky. You are travelling in remote areas without access to sophisticated medical facilities, so you must not join this expedition if you have a life-threatening condition, or need daily medical treatment.
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