HIGHLIGHTS
- A cruise to discover the riches of Svalbard, in search of
mysterious wild fauna, in the comfort of an exceptional ship.
- Outings and shore visits in zodiac inflatables with a team
of experienced naturalist guides.
- The possibility of hiking on the island, between tundra,
beaches and glaciers.
- The history of Spitsbergen connected to hunting and
fishing, the mining industry and polar exploration, with the
possibility of discovering Ny-Alesund.
- Discovering the incredible geology of Spitsbergen, easily
observable with the naked eye due to the archipelago’s short
vegetation.
- Scenic sailing past glaciers or cliffs, inside huge fjords,
between dazzling blue sky or mysterious polar mist.
- Landscapes: rugged mountains, icebergs, ice caps, deep
valleys, striated cliffs, vertiginous walls, gigantic glaciers, glacier
fronts, tundra and the possibility of observing the ice floe.
- Wildlife: polar bears, Arctic foxes, Svalbard reindeer,
walruses, bearded seals, harbour seals, Arctic fulmars, Arctic terns,
black-legged kittiwakes, eiders, guillemots, blue whales, minke whales,
orcas.
DATES / RATES
Rates are listed per person
|
| Start Date | End Date | From EUR | From USD |
|---|
| Jun 15, 2025 | Jun 22, 2025 | 11,720 |
12,090 |
| Jun 22, 2025 | Jun 29, 2025 | 0 |
0 |
| Jun 29, 2025 | Jul 06, 2025 | 11,170 |
11,523 |
Rates are listed per person
|
| Start Date | End Date | From EUR | From USD |
|---|
| Jun 15, 2025 | Jun 22, 2025 | 11,720 |
12,090 |
| Jun 22, 2025 | Jun 29, 2025 | 0 |
0 |
| Jun 29, 2025 | Jul 06, 2025 | 11,170 |
11,523 |
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 : Texas Bar, Liefdefjorden
Despite
the name given to the place, we are neither in Texas nor in a bar; it
is actually an unusual place in the High Arctic. Texas Bar is a former
trapper’s hut that was used by Arctic fox and polar bear
hunters in the past. The hut, still in place, has a rudimentary
interior with bunkbeds and kitchen utensils. Located at the entrance to
Liefdefjorden (the “fjord of love”), it stands
peacefully in a landscape of hills covered with moss, lichen and
flowers. The cliffs with their changing colours, very frequented by
birds, complete the beauty of the panorama. Take a little hike up the
slopes and admire the superb view over the Monaco Glacier, which is
further south.
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.
Le Boreal (Luxury Expedition, 264-guests)
Le Boreal embodies the subtle alliance between luxury, intimacy and wellbeing which is PONANT's signature. The elegance of her exterior and interior lines and her intimate size (only 132 staterooms and suites) make this a rare and innovative yacht on the cruise market. Superior materials, discreet elegance and a tasteful decor reflect a nautical mood subtly revisited. Aboard, soothing neutral grey tones are enlivened by splashes of red, our signature theme linking tradition and innovation to create personal touches in the spirit of a private yacht.
(Click image to view Ship details)
WHAT'S INCLUDED
- Flight Paris/Longyearbyen and Longyearbyen/Paris selected
by PONANT in economy class.
- Transfers mentioned in the programme.
- English-speaking assistance.
Excluded
from this voyage:
- Personal expenses.
- Any other service not mentioned in the programme.
