Fjords & Spitsbergen (Ponant)

Located at the end of Byfjord, Bergen was the capital of Norway in the 12th and 13th Centuries and has preserved some very beautiful monuments from the time when it was home to royalty. Wandering through Bergen’s streets means going back in time, in search of the hidden treasures that have been listed as World Heritage Sites by UNESCO. A veritable openair museum, Bergen is home to a thriving artistic community of painters, potters, jewellers. The Bergen cable car offers you a splendid panorama over the port and the surrounding fjords. Do not miss the visit to the old quarter with its narrow streets, a testimony of the power of the hanseatic League that controlled trade in Northern Europe at the end of the Middle Ages.

Listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2005, Geirangerfjord is part of the West Norwegian Fjords. Located in the south-west of Norway, to the north-east of Bergen, the fjord stretches from Stavanger in the south to Andalsnes, 500 km north-east. It is one of the longest and deepest fjords in the world and considered to be one of the most spectacular landscapes on the planet. You will admire the exceptional natural beauty of its narrow and steep-sided crystalline rock walls, rising to a height of 1,400 m and extending 500 m below sea level. Numerous waterfalls are part of the great variety of natural terrestrial and marine phenomena to be found at this site.

ALESUND

Surrounded by a multitude of islands, fjords and majestic mountains, the town of Ålesund surprises many visitors. In fact, it is internationally renowned for its Art nouveau architecture. After the terrible fire of 1904 which reduced a large part of the town to ashes, Norwegian architects inspired by the Art nouveau style contributed to its reconstruction, with a very picturesque result. Not far from Ålesund, you will also discover Giske, the native island of Rollon, the great Viking leader who commanded the Norse expeditions to Normandy, or the beautiful island of Godoy and the village of Alnes, which offers a grandiose panorama over the Atlantic Ocean and the surrounding islands.

A natural paradise, Smøla is an island surrounded by an archipelago of thousands of small islands, islets and reefs, all bathed in an extraordinary light. The sheep freely graze the moorland. Ocean and fresh water meet, forming bays, ponds and pools of brackish water conducive to the development of a high biodiversity. In winter, the island serves as a refuge to numerous seabird species. One of these is the sea eagle, or white-tailed eagle – a protected species of which the densest population is found here. The island’s inhabitants subsist primarily on fishing and will share their culinary traditions with you by introducing you to some local products. If you are feeling adventurous, you can even try your hand at fishing in the crystal-clear waters or you can visit the island of Hitra.

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.

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.

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.

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.

You cannot fail to be enchanted by the wild lands of this small Viking port in Finnmark county in the north of Norway, thanks to the beauty of the preserved landscapes or the observation of the birds that have come to nest in this fantastic paradise with nutrient-rich waters and sheer cliffs bordering the sea. You will have the opportunity to take an excursion to the neighbouring island of Gjesvaerstappen, one of the largest reserves in Europe, where you will be able to admire the many migratory birds... The small village of Gjesvaer has kept its yesteryear soul, with its pretty church and its colourful wooden houses.

HORNVIKA

Like the first explorers, disembark on the ancestral land of the North Cape, in Hornvika, the world’s northernmost fishing village. For centuries, this Norwegian jewel nestling in the fjords remained the only entrance to the North Cape, only accessible to members of the royal family and great explorers, and only by boat. You will also have the opportunity to go on a hike where you will be able to admire exceptional wild landscapes as well as Arctic wildlife in all its riches. Let the adventure begin here, on the North Cape.

At the far north of continental Norway, in Finnmark county, Skarsvag can claim to be one of the world’s northernmost villages. A land of fishermen on the island of Magerøy, the village is inhabited by a handful of men and women who share their territory with wild reindeer — indeed, it is not uncommon to come across these animals at a street corner. The short vegetation of this hilly landscape bestows a charming monotony, interrupted only by its jagged shores.

LAKSELV

Discover Lakselv, whose name means “Salmon River”, lying at the end of the immense Porsangerfjorden. As its name indicates, this small village is renowned for the salmon fishing in the waters of its river, which are brimming with this fish and others. The village is ideally located, offering privileged access to the surrounding magnificent nature. In particular, it retains traces of the last ice age in Trollholmsund, where dolomites with dreamlike silhouettes can be seen. Do not miss this extraordinary sight!

SAILING IN PORSANGERFJORDEN

During an exceptional sailing experience in the Porsangerfjorden, discover the fourth-longest Norwegian fjord (measuring 123 kilometres - 76 miles). This real labyrinth will show you the region’s craggy coastlines, which extend into a background of Finnmark’s snow-covered mountains. The southern part of the fjord has been designated an Important Bird and Biodiversity Area (IBA). In particular, it is home to the lesser white-fronted goose, the common eider and the purple sandpiper in its unique and varied ecosystem, which is made up of moors, meadows, peat bogs and forests of birch trees.

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.

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.

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.