Fjords & Spitsbergen

Come aboard Le Boréal for a 11-day cruise exploring Norway's magnificent landscapes in springtime, with its majestic fjords and unforgettable experiences. From Bergen, you sail to fairytale lands beyond the Arctic Circle, where you will discover age-old traditions as you go on this exceptional journey. Your ship first sails into the splendid Geiranger fjord, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, before reaching Alesund. This charming coastal town with its cobbled streets and Art Deco architecture also boasts an attractive hiking trail ideal for admiring the town, as well as Norway's first marine science...read more centre.

Next, you head for the Smola archipelago and a meadow-covered island where sheep graze and majestic sea eagles nest. Le Boréal approaches the charming and historic Bronnoysund: a former Viking city and the gateway to the fascinating Vega Archipelago, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Made up of dozens of islands, reefs and isolated rocks, it is a natural sanctuary for numerous colonies of seabirds, particularly common eider ducks during their nesting season. As the Arctic Circle draws ever closer, an unspoilt natural landscape unfolds before you. The deep blue water contrasts with the heathland, covered with green vegetation at this time of year.

You will marvel at the mysterious charm of the Lofoten archipelago. These islands have a truly other-worldly beauty, alternating between sea, spectacular fjords, mountain slopes and colourful huts on stilts. Your ship then sails into Trollfjorden, bordered by craggy mountains, before heading upstream to Tromso, famous for the architecture of its church, nicknamed the "Cathedral of the Arctic". A typical Lofoten village, Gjesvær was once a trading post.

It was probably the first site in Magerøya to have a permanent settlement. This fishing village was one of the most important in Finnmark from the early Middle Ages until the last century. Here you will find a picturesque church, breathtaking scenery and the Gjesvaerstappen bird sanctuary, ideal for birdwatching. At Hornvika, the more adventurous can disembark and head for the North Cape on a steep hike. This point, considered the most northerly in Europe, can also be reached by bus from Skarsvag.

On this cliff with its iconic monument in the form of an earthly globe, you can contemplate the immensity of the Barents Sea beneath the midnight sun. Le Boréal then heads for Lakselv. This small village, whose name means "salmon river", is the main town in this territory, and provides an opportunity to discover local life and customs. This stopover will be marked by an immersion in the land of the Sami, the indigenous reindeer herding people.

Then you take a trip in the majestic Porsangerfjorden. As you sail, you will fall under the spell of raw and wild nature. The deep blue water contrasts with the land and the season's verdant vegetation. On Reinoya Island, you will criss-cross the nature reserve of the same name and attempt to identify the many species of birds that hide in this rich ecosystem.

It is now time to leave continental Europe to reach the Svalbard archipelago and the High Arctic. Midway between Norway's North Cape and the southern tip of Spitsbergen, you will sail past Bjornoya (Bear Island). Hundreds of seabirds have found refuge in the island's huge rocky cliffs. It is a fascinating sight to observe.