NORTH POLE CRUISE

HIGHLIGHTS

• Be among the few people in the world to go in search of the Geographic North Pole!
• Outings and shore visits in a Zodiac® dinghy or hovercraft with an reinforced team of naturalist-guides.
• Hiking opportunity.
• Landscapes: ice floes, icebergs, polar ice cap… In Spitsbergen, jagged mountains, steep-sided valleys, sheer cliffs, huge glaciers.
• Wildlife: polar bears, Arctic foxes, Svalbard reindeer, Arctic terns, walruses, seals, whales.
• Many activities: kayaking, hiking or snowshoeing, ice fishing, polar plunge without suit, polar swim with drysuit, participative science.

ITINERARY

Day 1: LONGYEARBYEN, SPITSBERGEN
Longyearbyen is the capital of the Norwegian Svalbard archipelago, located on Svalbard’s main island, and is the northernmost territorial capital on the planet. With winter temperatures dropping to below 40°C, the landscapes of this mining town are simply breathtaking. The glaciers, the mountains stretching as far as the eye can see and the untouched nature, make you feel like you’re in completely unexplored territory.

Day 2: AT SEA ALONG SPITSBERGEN
The largest island in the Svalbard archipelago, its name meaning “pointed mountains” in German, Spitsbergen is the last piece of land before the Arctic ice floe. Aboard your ship, you will sail along the extremely spectacular coastline of this icy land. Between millennial glaciers and rugged mountains, you will discover a jagged coastline, hollowed-out by fjords. A unique setting, the refuge of a particularly rich avifauna, offering you the possibility of taking fabulous photographs from the deck of your ship.

Days 3-7: SAILING ICE FLOES
Enjoy the absolutely unique experience of sailing to the heart of the ice floe, this vast expanse of virgin, immaculate ice. The landscapes are constantly changing, shifting from a smooth, flat wilderness to a chaos of ice, then to channels of open water. Your ship will sail along these naturally open channels and through the areas where the frozen layer is thinnest, offering you the chance to experience magic maritime moments in the midst of drifting sea ice. It will also often be an opportunity to see a particular kind of fauna, totally dependent on the ice floe.

Day 8: GEOGRAPHIC NORTH POLE
Defined by a 90° North latitude, the Geographic North Pole lies on the Earth’s rotational axis, at the intersection of all meridians. Plunged into darkness for six months of the year, then lit by the sun for the following six months, this mythical site, permanently covered in ice and remote from any land, has fascinated generations of explorers. So far, only a very few people have ever reached it: an exploit which is now accessible to you aboard the Commandant-Charcot.

Days 9-13: SAILING ICE FLOES
Enjoy the absolutely unique experience of sailing to the heart of the ice floe, this vast expanse of virgin, immaculate ice. The landscapes are constantly changing, shifting from a smooth, flat wilderness to a chaos of ice, then to channels of open water. Your ship will sail along these naturally open channels and through the areas where the frozen layer is thinnest, offering you the chance to experience magic maritime moments in the midst of drifting sea ice. It will also often be an opportunity to see a particular kind of fauna, totally dependent on the ice floe.

Days 14 & 15: AT SEA ALONG SPITSBERGEN
The largest island in the Svalbard archipelago, its name meaning “pointed mountains” in German, Spitsbergen is the last piece of land before the Arctic ice floe. Aboard your ship, you will sail along the extremely spectacular coastline of this icy land. Between millennial glaciers and rugged mountains, you will discover a jagged coastline, hollowed-out by fjords. A unique setting, the refuge of a particularly rich avifauna, offering you the possibility of taking fabulous photographs from the deck of your ship.

Day 16: LONGYEARBYEN, SPITSBERGEN
Longyearbyen is the capital of the Norwegian Svalbard archipelago, located on Svalbard’s main island, and is the northernmost territorial capital on the planet. With winter temperatures dropping to below 40°C, the landscapes of this mining town are simply breathtaking. The glaciers, the mountains stretching as far as the eye can see and the untouched nature, make you feel like you’re in completely unexplored territory.


ATTENTION! The 26th August 2023 departure starts from Paris/Longyearbyen and ends in Reykjavik !! Please ask for more details.

WHAT'S INCLUDED

For your serenity, PONANT selects flights and organises transfers between the airport and the port (and vice-versa). This package is included in your cruise fare.

Embarkation day - Paris/Longyearbyen

Flight Paris/Longyearbyen selected by PONANT.
Approximate flight duration: 4 h 30

We suggest you to be at the check-in counter 2 hours before departure.
We highly recommend you arrive in Paris the day before this flight.

Meet & greet at the airport by our local English-speaking representative.
Transfer to the pier for embarkation.

- Cruise aboard your ship -

Disembarkation Day - Longyearbyen/Paris

Disembarkation
Meet and greet at the port by our local English-speaking representative.
Transfer to the airport in time for check-in of flight Longyearbyen/Paris selected by PONANT.
Flight Longyearbyen/Paris selected by PONANT.
Approximate flight duration: 4 h 30

We highly recommend you stay one night in Paris after this flight.

This programme includes:

• Flight Paris/Longyearbyen and Longyearbyen/Paris selected by PONANT in economy class.
• Transfers mentioned in the programme.
• English-speaking assistance.

This programme does not include:

• Personal expenses.
• Any other service not mentioned in the programme.

Please note:

• Flights included in the programme are as of today, operated in economy class, on a European airline.
• Due to limited local transportation resources, waiting might be generated.
• For passengers in transit in Paris, we recommend staying one night in Paris before and after these flights.
• Programme and flight schedule are subject to change without prior notice.

ADVENTURE OPTIONS

• Hiking Or Snowshoeing
• Kayaking
• Participative Science
• Outings And Shore Visits In Zodiac® Inflatables
• Polar Water Activities
• Ice Fishing