HIGHLIGHTS
- A
cruise to discover the countless riches of Svalbard.
- Outings
and shore visits in Zodiac® inflatables with a team of
experienced naturalist guides.
- Hiking
opportunity.
- Enjoy
intense sailing experiences in the search for pack ice.
- Sailing
in Spitsbergen's fjords and towards the ice floe.
- Landscapes:
ice floes, jagged mountains, icebergs, ice caps, steep-sided valleys,
sheer cliffs, huge glaciers.
- Wildlife:
polar bears, walruses, Arctic foxes, Svalbard reindeer, cetaceans, sea
birds.
DATES / RATES
Rates are listed per person
|
Start Date | End Date | From EUR | From USD |
Rates are listed per person
|
Start Date | End Date | From EUR | From USD |
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 - HORNSUND
Nestling
between millennial glaciers and carved mountains, and considered to be
"the crown of Arctic Norway", Spitsbergen is a place that never sees
the night. Your ship will take you closer to this fascinating
archipelago and, more particularly, the Hornsund fjord. Considered to
be Svalbard's southernmost fjord, it is especially reputed to be its
most stunning: at the end of its vast bay, 8 great glaciers slowly make
their way down to the sea before giving way to the many icebergs
elegantly drifting along its cold and mysterious waters.
Day
3 - BELLSUND, SPITSBERGEN
You
will head to the Bellsund fjord to follow in the footsteps of the first
explorers who came from the Norwegian coast, or those of the many fur
traders seeking game and trophies. Boasting an astonishingly rich
wildlife, the arms of the fjord separate to form two lush valleys. Give
free rein to your imagination in the heart of this majestic natural
environment where time seems to stand still.
Day
4 - SAILING TOWARD THE ICE FLOES
Your
captain will sail right up to the limit of the ice, to the edge of the
ice floe. Weather conditions and state of the ice allowing, you will be
able to go out in a zodiac dinghy for a unique experience in the middle
of these floating slabs of ice. In addition to this grandiose journey
through the middle of these floes with their cut and blue-tinged edges,
sometimes over 2 metres thick, it is also often an opportunity to see a
particular kind of fauna, totally dependent on the ice floe: birds,
seals and polar bears.
Day
5 - MAKEOYANE, SPITSBERGEN
Måkeøyane
is a small archipelago in the heart of the Woodfjorden, whose names is
a reference to the large quantities of driftwood washing up on the
beaches. It is located at the intersection between the Bockfjorden and
the Liefdefjorden which leads to the Monaco Glacier, one of the most
beautiful in Spitsbergen. As you sail around these little islands, you
will be able to observe Arctic terns whose eggs sometimes attract polar
bears.
Day
5 - MONACO GLACIER, SPITSBERGEN
Located
to the North-West of the Svalbard archipelago, the Monaco Glacier is
probably one of Spitsbergen's most beautiful and majestic. Named in
honour of Prince Albert I of Monaco, a sailor, it stands as an
impenetrable, blue-tinged jagged wall, the last glacier before reaching
a latitude of 80° North. Imagine the sound of the ice cracking
as it breaks free and crashes into the transparent water. And to make
the magical landscape even more perfect, you might be lucky enough to
spot bears and whales, as these two animals have a special fondness for
this area.
Day
6 - RAUDFJORDEN, SPITSBERGEN
Raudfjorden
means "red fjord", from the colour of the sandstone of the surrounding
mountains. Along the west coast of this 20 km fjord, dissected by many
shallow bays, you will be able to admire some of Spitsbergen's most
spectacular ice formations. At the extremity of the fjord, two
offshoots lead to the magnificent glaciers of Chauveaubreen and
Raudfjordbreen which is 3 km wide. To the east, Alicehamna Beach in
Bruceneset Bay has seen trappers, fishermen and explorers arrive for
centuries, as evidenced by the "Raudfjordhytta" - the cabin of a
Swedish trapper built in 1927.
Day
6 - SMEERENBURG, SPITSBERGEN
Located
at the far north-west of the Svalbard archipelago, at the intersection
of oceanic and Arctic influences, Smeerenburg is a former Dutch whaling
colony on the southern part of Amsterdam Island. In a landscape of
hills with steep slopes, plateaux, lakes and lagoons, you will anchor
at a sandy beach. Dotted with driftwood and the remains of ovens that
were used to melt the whale blubber, this is one of Spitsbergen's most
important archaeological sites. At the height of the whaling activity,
200 men worked here and several are buried here.
Day
7 - NY-ALESUND, SPITSBERGEN
During
your cruise, discover Ny-Ålesund, a former mining town that
has been transformed into a scientific base. Founded in 1916, this
small town was the departure point for many Arctic expeditions,
including those of the famous explorer Roald Amundsen. Don't miss a
visit to the museum and its famous post office, considered to be the
most northerly in the world!
Day
7 - KONGSFJORDEN (KING BAY), SPITSBERGEN
Very
close to the former mining town of Ny-Ålesund, set off to
discover Kings Bay. Your ship will sail in one of the most beautiful
fjords in Svalbard: Kongsfjorden (the fjord of the King), a gateway to
grandiose landscapes. Here, the snow-capped mountains are reflected in
the water where superb icebergs try to outdo each other in their
beauty, a delight for photographers. Seals, reindeer, barnacle geese
and black guillemots frequent these places that have a unique
atmosphere. Once you arrive at the end of the fjord, admire the
Kongsbreen (glacier of the King) and its three characteristic rocky
points, which take their names from three Scandinavian countries: Svea
(Sweden), Dana (Denmark) and Nora (Norway).
Day
8 - 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.
(Click image to view Ship 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.