HIGHLIGHTS
- Discover
four archipelagos on the same cruise: the Hebrides, Shetland Islands,
Lofoten Islands, Svalbard archipelago.
- Outings
and shore visits in zodiac inflatables with a team of experienced
naturalist guides.
- Portree,
the main town of the Isle of Skye, with its lively port and its
cultural centre.
- In
Shetland Islands, discover the Viking heritage and culture.
- Two
brand new ports of call on the Shetland archipelago, the island of
Mousa and the Isle of Noss.
- Cross
the Arctic Circle.
- Landscape:
fjords, vertiginous cliffs, ice floes, jagged mountains, icebergs, ice
caps, steep-sided valleys, sheer cliffs, huge glaciers.
- Wildlife:
Minkewale, polar bears, Arctic foxes, Svalbard reindeer, Arctic terns,
seals, walruses.
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
MAY
4, 2023 - GLASGOW, SCOTLAND
In
the heart of the Clyde Valley, the bustling city of Glasgow contrasts
starkly with the wild beauty of the surrounding countryside. Scotland's
biggest city overflows with landmarks from its extensive artistic
heritage and outstanding architectural tradition. The city's
chequerboard layout makes walking through the major pedestrian
thoroughfares easy: go with the flow and let the lively street
atmosphere take you past the many Victorian monuments. Don't miss the
collections on display in the numerous museums and art galleries. The
Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum is an outstanding example.
MAY
5, 2023 - IONA, HEBRIDES
Of
all the islands in the Inner Hebrides, Iona is by far the most
conducive to contemplation and meditation. And for good reason... it is
here that St Columba landed from Ireland in 563 and undertook to
establish Christianity in Scotland. Now an abbey, the island?s true
spiritual centre stands where the ancient monastery founded by the
Irish missionary was built. Many kings of Scotland, including the
legendary Macbeth, are buried in the nearby cemetery. In sunny weather,
arriving on the Isle of Iona is a stunningly beautiful experience.
MAY
6, 2023 - PORTREE, ISLE OF SKYE
Nestling
in the crux of a gorgeous bay, Portree reflects the magnificence of the
grandiose Isle of Skye as well as being its main town. Apart from the
charm of its colourful houses, the town's outstanding location on the
banks of a loch makes it a very pleasant place to be. From its
colourful harbour bustling with local craftsmen's shops, you can take
in a stunning view of the surrounding hills. Before trekking through
the wilderness and drinking in the natural beauty of the Isle of Skye,
check out some of the beautiful images in the Aros Centre.
MAY
7, 2023 - MOUSA BROCH, SHETLAND ISLANDS
MAY
7, 2023 - ISLE OF NOSS
Many
colonies of birds have chosen to nest on the towering sandstone cliffs
on the eastern coast of the Isle of Noss. The many ledges sculpted into
the rock effectively make for ideal breeding sites for the gannets,
puffins, guillemots, black-legged kittiwakes, razorbills, arctic
fulmars and great skuas that populate this territory. Separated from
the island of Bressay by a sound of only 100 metres (328 feet), this
wild island in the Shetland archipelago has been a national nature
reserve of Scotland since 1955. Make the most of this unique
opportunity you have to discover this isolated Eden, bathed by the
North Sea.
MAY
8, 2023 MAY 9, 2023 - AT SEA
During
your day at sea, make the most of the many services and activities on
board. Treat yourself to a moment of relaxation in the spa or stay in
shape in the fitness centre. Depending on the season, let yourself be
tempted by the swimming pool or a spot of sunbathing. This day without
a port of call will also be an opportunity to enjoy the conferences or
shows proposed on board, to do some shopping in the boutique or to meet
the PONANT photographers in their dedicated space. As for lovers of the
open sea, they will be able to visit the ship's upper deck to admire
the spectacle of the waves and perhaps be lucky enough to observe
marine species. A truly enchanted interlude, combining comfort, rest
and entertainment.
MAY
10, 2023 - REINE, LOFOTEN
Way
beyond the Arctic Circle, Lofoten Islands are truly considered to be in
"another world". A jewel of nature in its most pristine state, this
archipelago with its jagged coastline offers you majestic settings of
high alpine summits, sandy beaches, green prairies and fjords of a deep
blue, where countless bird colonies make their nests. Whether you visit
Å, or Nusjford, listed by UNESCO, enjoy authentic and
memorable moments.
MAY
11, 2023 - TROMSO
In
the north of the Arctic circle you'll discover Tromsø, a
secluded town located in the county of Troms. Norwegians call it the
"Paris of the north". You'll soon see why when you discover its
extensive neoclassical architectural heritage. A stunning example is
the Arctic cathedral, a major monument whose stylistic purity echoes
the outline of the mountains surrounding the town.
MAY
12, 2023 - SAILING BY BJORNOYA (BEAR ISLAND)
Halfway
between Norway and Spitsbergen, you will sail not far from the
coastlines of Bjørnøya, the southernmost island
of Svalbard. From your ship, observe this isolated piece of land
discovered in 1596 by the Dutch navigator Willem Barents, then looking
for the Northwest Passage. Following a tough fight between a polar bear
and the members of the expedition, he dubbed the place Bear Island.
Regularly covered by a thick layer of fog,
Bjørnøya shelters a meteorological station built
in 1923, which is still in operation. Declared a nature reserve in
2002, the island is above all home to an enormous colony of sea birds:
skuas, guillemots, puffins, Tridactyl gulls, petrels, gulls and little
auks all coexist here.
MAY
13, 2023 - ISBUKTA, SPITSBERGEN
Nestling
on the south-east point of the island of Spitsbergen, this small bay
shelters an immense glacier, the Vasil'evbreen, whose front is more
than 20 kilometres long. This is an opportunity for an unforgettable
Zodiac® outing. If the conditions allow it, you will be able to
land directly at the foot of this majestic glacier, so as to discover
the moraine and walk on the first section of the glacier. Depending on
the ice conditions, you will also perhaps be lucky enough to approch
Stellingfjellet, home to one of the largest guillemot colonies on the
archipelago.
MAY
14, 2023 - 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.
MAY
15, 2023 - 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.
MAY
16, 2023 - ISFJORDEN
The
vast Isfjorden is one of the main fjords in Svalbard. These different
branches reach the heart of the island of Spitsbergen. Located deep
inside the Billejforden, the Nordenskiöld Glacier with its
front of ice, nearly 5 km wide, is one of the most spectacular in the
Svalbard Archipelago. You will perhaps have the opportunity to discover
the ghost town of Pyramiden. Constructed at the foot of a mountain in
the form of a pyramid, this former mining town, founded by Sweden at
the beginning of the 20th century before being sold a few years later
to the Soviet Union, and abandoned in 1998, has conserved all the
buildings from its glory days, when it lived off coal mining.
MAY
17, 2023 - 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 a flight and organises the transfer
between the port and the airport. This package is included in your
cruise fare.
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
Longyearbyen/Paris selected by PONANT in economy class.
- Transfer
as mentioned in the programme.
- English-speaking
assistance.
This
programme does not include:
- Personal
expenses.
- Any
other service not mentioned in the programme.
Please
note:
- Due
to limited local transportation resources, waiting might be generated.
- Flight
included in the programme is as of today, operated in economy class, on
a European airline.
- For
passengers in transit in Paris, we recommend staying one night in Paris
after this flight.
- Programme
and flight schedule are subject to change without prior notice.
