Adventure in Greenland

Longyearbyen, the capital of Norway's Svalbard archipelago, is the world's northernmost territorial capital. Located on Svalbard’s main island, this former mining town is surrounded by stunning Arctic landscapes. In winter, temperatures can drop below -40°C, creating a dramatic scene of towering glaciers and endless mountains. The untouched wilderness gives the feeling of stepping into a remote and uncharted world.

Gnålodden Cliff rises over 700 meters and is home to thousands of seabirds. Kittiwakes, northern fulmars, and thick-billed murres dominate the sky, creating a noisy spectacle, especially during nesting season. Polar bears and Arctic foxes are also seen here, making it a paradise for wildlife enthusiasts. Known as the “bird cliff,” its base is covered in lush moss and wild tundra. During your visit, stop by the old hunter’s cabin, which also served as a satellite station in the 1930s.

Surrounded by ancient glaciers and rugged mountains, Spitsbergen is known as "the crown of Arctic Norway" and experiences continuous daylight. Your journey takes you closer to this remarkable archipelago, specifically to the Hornsund fjord. As the southernmost fjord in Svalbard, it is also considered one of the most beautiful. At the end of its wide bay, eight massive glaciers flow into the sea, releasing icebergs that drift gracefully across its cold, mysterious waters.

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 center. Depending on the season, let yourself be tempted by the swimming pool or a spot of sunbathing. This journey without a port of call 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 are 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.

The island of Jan Mayen, belonging to Norway, lies hidden off Greenland’s coastlines, lost between the Arctic Ocean and the North Atlantic Ocean. This small piece of land is inhabited by only a handful of Norwegian meteorologists. Tongues of ice descend from its volcanic summit, which culminates at 2,227 meters and is covered with a thick glacial coat. These tongues join the sea, between ranges of black volcanic rocks at times tinged with red. If the sky is clement, you have the chance to glimpse the summit, decked out in magnificent light. The visit of a small fin whale perhaps enables you to complete this memorable picture.

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 center. Depending on the season, let yourself be tempted by the swimming pool or a spot of sunbathing. This journey without a port of call 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 are 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.

Your ship takes you to the heart of the fjords of North-West Iceland, a wild land of lost valleys and steep cliffs, where man struggles to survive. In this very isolated region you find the Isafjörður fjord, undoubtedly one of the most beautiful in the country, mainly for its relief, forged by many very ancient basaltic flows. The town of Isafjörður, which nestles at the back of its fjord, between imposing mountains, is a delightful little town that lives exclusively from fishing. The capital of the Western fjords, its old wooden houses bear witness to its past as a major fishing port.

Included Excursion - Flowers & Fjords
From the pier, board your local coach for a short drive through a mountain tunnel and across the Westfjords mountains to the fjords of Dýrafjörður and Önundarfjörður. Breath-taking views of spectacular landscape carved out by glaciers ages ago.
First, stop at the botanical garden of Skrúður, a jewel of cultured plants contrasted by the raw sub-arctic landscape. This botanical garden was the first of its type in Iceland, founded by a cultivation pioneer in 1909. Enjoy a guided exploration of the garden.
 
Then, continue to Flateyri village and find out about local history and culture. The village is nestled in the magnificent fjord of Önundarfjörður. Enjoy a live music performance at the charming village church, followed by a short stroll down the main street and along the harbor. Stop for a coffee break with refreshments made locally. Next door to the café you can visit the old bookstore or enjoy the view of the harbor.
Finally, get back to your coach for the transfer back to the pier.

• This tour involves walking approximately 2 km on uneven grounds, gravel, and grass. It is recommended you wear comfortable walking shoes and a windproof jacket.

Included Excursion - Maritime Culture & Traditions
Begin your excursion by driving through the center and taking the narrow coastal road to the tiny town of Bolungarvik, here there is a chance to visit the church. Your next stop is at Osvor, a former fisherman's home that was restored in 1988 and once harbored boats. Osvor is a stunning example of nature's grandeur and perfectly illustrates just how difficult life was for Icelandic fishermen up until the 20th century.
The village of Bolungarvik nestles into the heart of a spectacular bay surrounded by neighboring mountains and bathed by the Isafjardardjup or "Djup" fjord, the biggest on Iceland's east coast. You drive alongside these impenetrably deep waters to return to Isafjördur via the valley of Tungudalur. You enjoy here a short stop to contemplate the valley’s landscapes.
On your return, pass through the historic old town and its 18th-century buildings before visiting the Maritime Museum. This is one of Iceland's oldest houses, a monument in itself, next to three other buildings that have also been renovated and date back to 1780.
A typically Icelandic tasting be served at the end of your visit giving you an opportunity to savor local specialties such as Schnapps, dried fish and locally canned fish cooked the Icelandic way.

• For this excursion, you are advised to wear comfortable shoes, to protect yourself from the sun, and to bring a warm and waterproof jacket. Please note the order of the visits may be reversed.

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 center. Depending on the season, let yourself be tempted by the swimming pool or a spot of sunbathing. This journey without a port of call 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 are 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.

Your ship glides silently towards the Greenland coast, in a setting punctuated by pointed peaks and majestic glaciers… You are on the verge of crossing the Prins Christian Sund, a narrow channel that stretches out and zigzags over some one hundred kilometers between Greenland’s southeast and southwest. Fall under the spell of the primitive beauty of these unique landscapes, including rocky cliffs and waterfalls that are fed by the ice sheet and plunge into the icy waters. Here, bearded seals love to lie on the floating ice to soak up the sunshine.

In the immense and mythical Greenland, in the Prince Christian Sound region, your ship makes its way to the Kujalleq Glacier. You are captivated by this frozen tongue, in front of which dance small icebergs and a few growlers. Growler is the surprising name given to chunks of ice that are smaller fragments of an iceberg. They are either white or, more remarkably, blue-green. Birds fly in your wake and bearded seals observe you from afar, stretched out on granite rocks. Combined with the surrounding ice, these rocks form a magical landscape that immerses you in the polar realm. 

Tasermiut Fjord, a true natural wonder lying at the southern tip of Greenland, is 70 kilometers long. Isolated for much of the year by ice, the fjord cuts deep into the wild tundra, revealing breathtakingly beautiful hidden valleys and varied wildlife. You can also admire immense granite cliffs. The reflections of the mountains in the cold blue waters of the fjord make a magnificent landscape for you to explore in this part of Greenland.

Follow the Davis Strait currents and Qaqortoq, the largest town in southern Greenland, reveals itself in a rocky setting covered in immaculate white in winter and enchanting green in summer. From the moment your ship enters the fjord edging the town, off in the distance you can glimpse the delightful, brightly-colored houses built upon the hillsides surrounding this charming fishing port, the most southerly in Greenland. You have the opportunity to wander around the streets of the town center which have distinct Danish influences and are home to numerous historical buildings and landmarks, such as the country’s famous and oldest fountain, topped with whales. Not far from there, you also have the chance to discover the town’s open-air fish market, where fishermen come to sell the day’s catch.

In the curve of a magnificent, sinuous fjord, you discover the small village of Igaliku, famous for having been the episcopal seat during the Viking period. A red sandstone cathedral dedicated to Saint Nicholas was built in 1126. Its ruins, discovered in 1926, revealed the earlier presence of a pagan sanctuary on this site. A small museum set up in the church presents the origins of the village, which grew after a Danish farmer and his Greenlandic wife settled there in 1782. Igaliku is the starting point of hikes to waterfalls and to Erik’s Fjord or the Narsarsuaq plateau, which affords breathtaking views of the majestic icebergs in the fjord and of the Qooroq glacier.

After sailing in the Kangerlluarssuk fjord, discover the town of Narsaq. You are dazzled by the beauty of the surrounding icebergs − large masses of ice in different shapes and shifting colors. Dominated by lush mountains, this small town is typical of Greenland. It is known for its sheep farming, made possible by the rich, grassy plains to the town’s north. This rather rare activity reflects a past and a technique inherited from the Vikings. Admire the stunning interplay of colors between the multicolored house facades and the glaciers with their myriad shades of blue, and dive into the Scandinavian history of Narsaq by visiting the local museum. A unique experience.

As you sail through the majestic Ikka Fjord in southwest Greenland, you discover over 10,000 years of underwater geology, for mysterious columns up to 20 meters high, formed several millennia ago, rise up from the seabed. Their material, ikaite, gives the fjord its name. Truly magical! You glide over calm, clear waters amidst breathtaking mountains in the endlessly wild, huge area of Greenland.

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 center. Depending on the season, let yourself be tempted by the swimming pool or a spot of sunbathing. This journey without a port of call 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 are 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.

Your ship glides slowly along the water towards the west coast of Greenland, to enter Evighedsfjorden, just a few kilometers south of Kangerlussuaq. Evighedsfjorden means “the fjord of Eternity”, and for good reason: just when you think you’ve reached the end of this stretch of sea measuring over 100 kilometers in length, it seems to go on forever, as though to bring even more pleasure to those sailing in it. The spectacular scenery ranges from glaciers to tundra with abundant flora, and jagged cliffs where numerous bird species have taken up residence. Take the time to observe the white-tailed eagles and the colonies of seagulls and black-legged kittiwakes flying overhead in the area.

From 1941 to 1992, the town of Kangerlussuaq in Greenland was home to an American military base. Nowadays, thanks to its international airport, it has become a transit point for travelers seeking adventure in the Far North. Located to the north of the Arctic Circle, this town is the starting point of magnificent discoveries surrounded by unspoiled nature. Indeed, just a few dozen kilometers from there it is possible to get close to the Greenland ice sheet, the largest body of ice in the Northern Hemisphere. From Kangerlussuaq, admire also the superb landscapes of tundra in autumnal colors, where Arctic hares, musk oxen, Arctic foxes, reindeer, falcons, and eagles live.