Ponant : 11D10N Pristine Spitsbergen – with National Geographic

Fly from Paris to Longyearbyen. Upon arrival meet & greet at the airport by our local English-speaking representative. Transfer to the pier for embarkation. Your cruise ship is ready for boarding. Embarkation from 16h00 to 17h00. Departure at 18h00. NOTES: We highly recommend you arrive in Paris the day before this flight.

The vast Isfjorden is one of the main fjords in Svalbard. These different branches reach the heart of the island of Spitsbergen. Located deep inside the Billejforden, the Nordenskiöld Glacier with its front of ice, nearly 5 km wide, is one of the most spectacular in the Svalbard Archipelago. You will perhaps have the opportunity to discover the ghost town of Pyramiden. Constructed at the foot of a mountain in the form of a pyramid, this former mining town, founded by Sweden at the beginning of the 20th century before being sold a few years later to the Soviet Union, and abandoned in 1998, has conserved all the buildings from its glory days, when it lived off coal mining.

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).

Like the other protected areas of Svalbard, the Nordvest-Spitsbergen National Park was established in the early 1970s to protect this exceptional environment against the growing interest of the mining industry. Nunataks, glaciers, islands and large bays, arctic tundra scattered with moss and lichen in shades of silver and gold... This region will fascinate you with its landscapes and with the numerous vestiges that bear witness to the history of the men ─ whale hunters and those involved in the first expeditions to the North Pole ─ who found themselves on these shores from the start of the 17th century. In this pristine environment, you will be able to observe arctic sterns or seals on the rocks that emerge at low tide.

Enjoy the absolutely unique experience of sailing to the heart of the ice floe, this vast expanse of virgin, immaculate ice. The landscapes are constantly changing, shifting from a smooth, flat wilderness to a chaos of ice, then to channels of open water. Your ship will sail along these naturally open channels and through the areas where the frozen layer is thinnest, offering you the chance to experience magic maritime moments in the midst of drifting sea ice. It will also often be an opportunity to see a particular kind of fauna, totally dependent on the ice floe.

Like the other protected areas of Svalbard, the Nordvest-Spitsbergen National Park was established in the early 1970s to protect this exceptional environment against the growing interest of the mining industry. Nunataks, glaciers, islands and large bays, arctic tundra scattered with moss and lichen in shades of silver and gold... This region will fascinate you with its landscapes and with the numerous vestiges that bear witness to the history of the men ─ whale hunters and those involved in the first expeditions to the North Pole ─ who found themselves on these shores from the start of the 17th century. In this pristine environment, you will be able to observe arctic sterns or seals on the rocks that emerge at low tide.

The Sor-Spitsbergen National Park, established in 1973, is the largest national park in Norway and Europe with an area of up to 13,300 km2. Two-thirds of its area is made up of ice and its sublime landscapes are divided between vast plains along the coast, alpine relief and impressive glaciers. You will discover Hornsund, the southernmost fjord and one of the most beautiful fjords in Spitsbergen with a length of 28 km. Its 8 large glaciers extend down to the sea and form an immense 25 km long ice front and important iceberg calvings, making up one of the most spectacular panoramas in Spitsbergen. You will have the opportunity to observe numerous colonies of birds and polar bears living in this nature sanctuary.

Another day for you to observe wildlife animals in their natural habitat and marvel the vast plains along the coast, alpine relief and impressive glaciers in Sor-Spitsbergen National Park.

Another day for you to observe wildlife animals in their natural habitat and marvel the vast plains along the coast, alpine relief and impressive glaciers in Sor-Spitsbergen National Park.

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.

During your day at sea, make the most of the many services and activities on board.

Disembarkation after breakfast. Meet and greet at the pier. Transfer to airport in time for flight back to Paris. Service end in Paris airport. NOTES: We highly recommend you stay one night in Paris after this flight