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Ponant 7-Night Fjords & Glaciers of Spitsbergen Arctic Expedition
Operated by Ponant
Tripcode: LY140625
Overview
Destination:
Polar (Arctic/Antarctica),
Svalbard,
Start:Longyearbyen - Svalbard, Norway
Finish:Longyearbyen - Svalbard, Norway
Finish:Longyearbyen - Svalbard, Norway
Duration:8 days
Travel Period
June 2025 - June 2025
Somewhere in the High Arctic, between 76 and 80 degrees latitude North, Spitsbergen, meaning "pointed mountains”, awaits you for seven days of unforgettable travel looking out for wild life.
You will lift the anchor in Longyearbyen, where colourful wooden homes dot the landscape with a human presence that will certainly be the last you see for a while.
The sea rolls on, and the white-striped mountains, which gave the region its name, rise up from deeply tinted waters. The polar light combines with the changing weather of the Arctic, a big blue sky, the horizon scattered with clouds, the enveloping mist erasing the border between the land and the sea: these variations all provide the magical, almost surreal, setting with new nuances.
The ship is escorted by Arctic fulmars. The first ice appears; still discreet, it seems to be dancing around you. At the end of a fjord, you will find yourself before an immense glacier. Black-legged kittiwakes share an iceberg, while Arctic terns fly over the area. Aboard the ship or a Zodiac dinghy, you will admire the power of nature while becoming aware of its fragility. The music of the thaw has begun its soft melody: a combination of cracking, roaring, murmuring and fizzing defies the silence of the polar desert.
On land, you will set foot on malleable earth, known as moraine. Only moss, lichen and a few rare flowers have managed to adapt and to take hold here, forming the tundra. On these inhospitable lands, Svalbard reindeer and Arctic foxes coexist with walruses, lying on the beach. It has been a long time since the Pomor settlers, of which traces remain, came to hunt them.
Here, the lord of the Arctic, the polar bear, is never very far away. The crucial aspects of this cruise involve searching and keeping an eye out. On board, the team of naturalists will scan the horizon so they can provide you with marvellous sightings of wildlife and, in particular, the polar bear. The region’s elusive fauna upholds its mysteries while the uncertain nature of the encounter bestows an indescribable magic upon it.
Please note:
- Price is based per person twin share in a Superior Stateroom.
- Below itinerary dates are based on itinerary LY140625 14 June 2025 departure. Also available: BO150625 (15 June 2025), BO220625 (22 June 2025), LY280625 (28 June 2025), LY290625 (29 June 2025), LY050725 (5 July 2025), LY120725 (12 July 2025), LY190725 (19 July 2025).
- Itinerary is subject to change according to port authorisations and government regulations. We are privileged guests in these remote lands where we are at the mercy of weather, ice, tidal and current conditions. Landings on certain sites and the observation of certain wildlife cannot be guaranteed. They vary from day to day, making each PONANT cruise a unique experience. The Captain and the Expedition Leader will make every effort to ensure that your experience is as rich as possible, while complying with the safety rules and instructions imposed by the AECO.
- For the most up-to-date rates, itinerary, availability, and for more information about shore excursions and the different service levels, please enquire now.
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Standard inclusions
- Flight Paris/Longyearbyen and Longyearbyen/Paris selected by PONANT in Economy class.
- Transfers mentioned in the programme*.
- All onboard meals and an extensive beverage list (selected wines and spirits are additional).
*Please ask your travel consultant for further details.
Itinerary
Expand all 
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Collapse allDay 1: Longyearbyen, Spitsbergen
Embarkation 14/6/2025 From 4:00 pm to 5:00 pm
Departure 14/6/2025 at 6:00 pm
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
Arrival 15/6/2025
Departure 15/6/2025
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
Arrival 16/6/2025
Departure 16/6/2025
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 flobes
Arrival 17/6/2025
Departure 17/6/2025
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
Arrival 18/6/2025
Departure 18/6/2025
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
Arrival 18/6/2025
Departure 18/6/2025
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
Arrival 19/6/2025
Departure 19/6/2025
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
Arrival 19/6/2025
Departure 19/6/2025
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
Arrival 20/6/2025
Departure 20/6/2025
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
Arrival 20/6/2025
Departure 20/6/2025
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
Arrival 21/6/2025 early morning
Disembarkation 21/6/2025 at 8:00 am
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.
Departure dates
Select your preferred date or enquire
Operator
Ponant
Embark on a luxury cruise aboard one of our PONANT ships and experience a truly exceptional sea voyage with a difference. PONANT promises you unforgettable moments aboard our sleek and intimately sized cruise yachts, all of which sail under the French flag. Discover the innovatively designed cruise ship Le Boréal and her three sister vessels: L’Austral, Le Soléal and Le Lyrial. Experience Le Ponant, our famous three-masted ship, with her 16 staterooms, each combining traditional authenticity with modern comfort; and enjoy the pleasures of Le Lapérouse, a technologically cutting-edge cruise ship, the first in the PONANT EXPLORERS series. For 30 years now, our luxury cruise ships have been calling at both famous ports and lesser-known anchorages accessible only to smaller ships. As the number one luxury polar cruise operator, we offer a range of discovery expeditions to the majestic landscapes of the Arctic and the Antarctic. Or you may choose from sunny excursions to the heart of the Mediterranean, sea voyages along Celtic coasts and beautiful getaways to the secret islands of the Pacific. Our themed luxury cruises offering unforgettable experiences designed with special interests in mind. Allow yourself to be tempted by one of our gastronomic cruises featuring cookery workshops hosted by renowned chefs; or a golf cruise in the Caribbean or the Mediterranean. Enjoy the opportunity to visit extraordinary locations on one of our many expedition cruises. Discover multi-faceted continents and forgotten lands endowed with natural treasures while experiencing the refined atmosphere and comfort of life on board. Combining wonderful itineraries with top-of-the-range hotel service, our exceptional luxury cruises à la française have been created to deliver quality and excellence through an unprecedented sailing experience. We invite you to discover the world of PONANT.
Important Information
*Terms and conditions
Please note: We are proud to be an independent agent to travel providers of hotels, flights and other related services. We are not a tour operator. Details and information on the offer are provided by 3rd party businesses and although we do our best to verify the information, we cannot guarantee its accuracy on all occasions. These offers are not available in conjunction with any other offer unless otherwise stated. Pricing and availability are subject to change without notice.
For more information, please see Terms of Use
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