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.
- In the Shetland Islands, discovering Viking heritage and
culture with the port of call on the island of Mousa.
- Cross the Arctic Circle.
- Landscape: fjords, vertiginous cliffs, ice floes, jagged
mountains, icebergs, ice caps, steep-sided valleys, sheer cliffs, huge
glaciers.
- Wildlife: Minke whale, Arctic foxes, Svalbard reindeer,
Arctic terns, seals, walruses and the possibility of seeing polar bears.
DATES / RATES
Rates are listed per person in USD
|
| Start Date | End Date | Superior Stateroom | Deluxe Stateroom | Prestige Stateroom-I | Prestige Stateroom-II | Prestige Stateroom-III | Deluxe Suite | Prestige Suite | Privilege Suite | Grand Deluxe Suite | Grand Privilege Suite | Owner's Suite |
|---|
| May 25, 2025 | Jun 07, 2025 | 10,860 | 11,640 | 12,750 | 13,310 | N/A | N/A | 25,010 | 26,230 | 29,900 | N/A | 49,830 |
Rates are listed per person in USD
|
| Start Date | End Date | (Starting from)
Superior Stateroom | (Mid-range)
Deluxe Suite | (High-end)
Owner's Suite |
|---|
| May 25, 2025 | Jun 07, 2025 | 10,860 | N/A | 49,830 |
Day
1 : 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.
Day
2 : 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.
Day 3 : CALLANISH, OUTER HEBRIDES
In
Scotland’s Outer Hebrides, on the legendary Isle of Lewis,
Callanish dazzles and surprises, fascinates and questions. On the
eastern coast of the island, where land and sea rub shoulders and clash
in the tumult of wild nature, discover the Callanish Stones megalithic
site. No fewer than 51 stones stand in the middle of the peat fields.
Deliberately arranged about 5,000 years ago, they are a mysterious
testimony to the Stone Age. There are many theories as to the purpose
of these stones — a place of worship, a lunar calendar, an
astronomic observatory or a healing centre — but they remain
an enigma. The singular atmosphere of this site lends itself to all
sorts of interpretations, to all sorts of dreams and musings.
Day 4 : MOUSA BROCH, SHETLAND ISLANDS
A
conical dry stone tower dating back to the end of the Iron Age, the
Broch of Mousa is one of the many buildings constructed in the
Highlands and in the Hebrides, Orkney and Shetlands archipelagos to
fend off invaders. Constructed circa 100 BC, it is the tallest broch
still standing, at 13 metres (almost 43 feet), and the best-preserved
in Europe. Its excellent state of perservation can be explained among
other factors by its isolated location and its massive construction: it
has a single entrance passage and thick walls, with a diametre that is
smaller than that of other brochs. The building was used over the
centuries and is mentioned in the Norse sagas, Egil's Saga and the
Orkneyinga Saga.
Day
5-6 : AT SEA
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.
Day
7 : BRONNOYSUND
Nestling
on the Torget peninsula a short distance from the Arctic Circle, not
far from the mythical Torghatten granite dome, Bronnoysund invites you
on an unforgettable journey into the heart of wild nature, between
chains of rocky, green and snow-covered islets. The port of call in
this former Viking city will also be an opportunity to discover the
Vega archipelago, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Its 6,500 or so islands
will offer you indelible moments in this natural setting, where time
seems to stand still. Surrounded by high mountains that drop sharply
into the Norwegian Sea, these insular natural sanctuaries are home to
many species of seabirds, like the common eider.
Day
8 : 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.
Day
8 : SAILING IN TROLLFJORDEN
According
to legend, trolls were the guardians of this 2-km long fjord accessible
via the Raftsund Strait, between the Vesterålen Archipelago
and the Lofoten Islands. Dominated on both sides by vertical rock faces
that stand up to 1,000 metres high in parts, Trollfjorden welcomes you
in a magical atmosphere which its narrowness helps to create. During
this unforgettable journey, you will indeed have the impression that
you’re grazing the surrounding mountains and that
you’ll never see the end of this marine cul-de-sac. After a
delicate U-turn, your ship will finally head back in the opposite
direction: this will perhaps be the opportunity to observe, for want of
trolls, seals and eagles, which are often present in this site, unique
on earth.
Day
9 : 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.
Day
10 : SAILING ALONG 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.
Day
11 : 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.
Day
12 : 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
13 : 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
14 : 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 Lyrial (Luxury Expedition, 260-guests)
Le Lyrial 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 122 staterooms and suites) make this a rare and innovative yacht on the cruise market.
(Click image to view Ship details)
WHAT'S INCLUDED
- Flight Longyearbyen/Paris selected by PONANT in economy
class.
- Transfer as mentioned in the programme.
- English-speaking assistance.
Excluded
from this voyage:
- Personal expenses.
- Any other service not mentioned in the programme.
