Norway, between the Scandinavian peninsula and the High Arctic

Set off to discover an unknown and majestic, wild and preserved world between the northerly part of continental Norway and its northernmost archipelago, Svalbard. You will spend nine days travelling aboard Le Lyrial and will be amazed by the landscapes and fauna of the Northern high latitudes.

From Tromso, Le Lyrial will head for 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. Common eiders, greater white-fronted geese, velvet scoters, red-breasted mergansers, to name but a few, inhabit these lands of prairie, marshes and peat bogs, maritime scents and forests of birch trees. You will enter the fjord and sail to its end, and to Lakselv. This small village, whose name means “salmon river”, is the main town in this territory; for you, it is an opportunity to discover local life and customs.

You will head north again to Skarsvag, near the mouth of the fjord. The craggy and rocky landscapes form, with the sea, a dreamlike and exceptional setting.

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.

When you reach the island of Spitsbergen, which is the archipelago’s main island, the landscape will transform. The vegetation has had to adapt to survive in this land, one of the world’s northernmost. A territory at the end of the world, millennial glaciers, spectacular fjords and the pointed mountains that gave it is name, Spitsbergen is also a land of Svalbard reindeer, Arctic foxes, walruses and whales.

Itinerary is subject to change according to port authorizations 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.