Fjords & Spitsbergen

Norway’s beauty shines brighter than ever in Bergen, where colourful wooden buildings line every street. From the historic wharf called the Bryggen to the neighbouring fjords just waiting to be explored, a day in Bergen makes for a fun mix of city and seclusion, outdoor adventure and arts and culture. Ships will dock at the Skolten cruise port.

Top Things to Do in Bergen:

• take in the views from atop Mount Floyen
• visit the Bryggens Museum
• explore the famous fish market
• fly over Hardangerfjord in a seaplane

Olden is located in the midst of incredible natural beauty at the end of the scenic Nordfjord. Visit the nearby Briksdal Glacier, where an easy hike or troll car ride brings you close to the icy beauty. The Loen Skylift provides spectacular views of the Nordfjord from 1,011 meters above sea level. Explore peaceful Olden Church or take a scenic boat ride along the fjord’s deep blue waters.

Hellesylt is a picturesque village nestled at the head of Sunnylvsfjord. One highlight is the stunning Hellesylt Waterfall, which dramatically cuts through the center of the village. A gateway to the Geirangerfjord, Hellesylt offers excellent hiking, including trails to the scenic viewpoint of Ljøbrekka or to ancient farms like the UNESCO-listed Skageflå. A ferry ride to Geiranger also reveals some of Norway’s most impressive fjord landscapes.

Geiranger nestles in a valley at the inland tip of Geirangerfjord, which is unabashedly called 'the most beautiful fjord in the world.' The scenery here is stunning, snow-mantled mountains rise from the glacier-carved fjord, waterfalls burst forth from the cliffs and emerald-green forests blanket the hillsides. Ships will anchor offshore and tenders will be provided to the pier.

Top Things to Do in Geirangerfjord:

• view the fjord from atop Mt. Dalsnibba
• drive up the Eagle Road
• discover the fjord up close by kayak
• hike Westerasfjellet Mountain

During your journey 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 journey without a port of call will also be an opportunity to enjoy the conferences or shows proposed on board, depending on the activities offered, or 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.

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.

Top Things to Do on the Lofoten Islands:

• visit the Svolvaer Magic Ice Bar and Gallery
• explore the preserved Nusfjord fishing village
• take a boat tour among the Lofoten Skerries
• visit the Gallery Lofoten House

Leknes is blessed with some of the most spectacular scenery in Norway. Pretty red houses lay dotted on the green covered hills, while jagged mountains soar behind in a magnificent backdrop. Ships will anchor offshore and tenders will be provided to the pier.

Top Things to Do in Leknes:

• explore the UNESCO listed Nusfjord
• visit the 18th century Flakstad Church
• trek from Utakleiv to Haukland Beach
• visit the Viking Museum in Borg
• look for sea eagles along the Leknes coast

According to legend, Trollfjord was named after the mythical creatures that guarded this narrow two kilometre strip of the Raftsundet Strait. Bright and verdant in the warmer months, snow-capped and glacial in the cold frost of winter, experience out of this world beauty no matter what time of the year you visit.

This breathtaking passage has the largest sea eagle population in the world, listen to the call of these majestic birds while keeping your eyes peeled for puffins clinging to cliffs. In the water below, otters and seals play in surf teeming with fish and the occasional porpoise or whale.

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.

Halfway between Norway and Spitsbergen lies Bear Island or Bjørnøya, the southernmost island of Svalbard. Observe this isolated piece of land discovered in 1596 by Dutch navigator, Willem Barents. 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. The island was declared a nature reserve in 2002 and is home to an enormous colony of sea birds - skuas, guillemots, puffins, gulls, petrels and little auks all coexist here.

During your journey 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 journey without a port of call will also be an opportunity to enjoy the conferences or shows proposed on board, depending on the activities offered, or 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.

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.

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.

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.