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Peregrine Travel Centre

Norway, Between the Scandinavian Peninsula and the High Arctic

Norway, Between the Scandinavian Peninsula and the High Arctic

From AUD $11,930

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Description

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.

Trip Name
Norway, Between the Scandinavian Peninsula and the High Arctic
Days
9
Overview
Vessel Type: Luxury Small Ship Length: 142 metres Passenger Capacity: 224 Launched: 2015 A sleek silhouette, a welcoming intimate atmosphere, discover aboard this new ship the philosophy that has made our sisterships such a success: the spirit of Yacht Cruises. Sailing under the French flag, this magnificent yacht of only 122 staterooms and Suites, with balconies, will join our fleet in April 2015. You will be enchanted by the contemporary decor inspired by the our destinations and the blue light of the Vega star in the Lyra constellation. The result is a subtle variation around a palette of blues, ranging from the  luminous delicate grey-blue of the Polar ice to splashes of the vivid turquoise blue found in  Mediterranean coves A refined ambiance is enhanced by the quality of the workmanship and materials: white Corian counters in the lobby contrast with the warmth of leather to recall a boat’s hull, while the central sculpture of enamelled pieces takes its inspiration from the sea. In the loungebar, the carpet picks up a tennis stripe theme symbolising a certain idea of cruising, one synonymous with French elegance and a chic seaside spirit.

Itinerary



Day 1 - Day 1 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 2 - Day 2 SAILING IN PORSANGERFJORDEN & REINOYA ISLAND
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.The small Reinoya Island, measuring scarcely 3.35 km2 (1.3 square miles), will welcome you for an unforgettable moment in the very heart of the Porsangerfjorden. Although this nature reserve is not very big, it boasts many treasures. Here, wild nature can be discovered in the greatest tranquillity. Contemplate the island’s geology, rendered so particular by the whiteness of the dolomite, and the thousand-year-old traces of the last ice age during a hike or a Zodiac outing. The rare and scattered vegetation of the island is also a major point of interest at this singular site.
Day 3 - Day 3 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!
Day 4 - Day 4 SKARSVAG
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.
Day 5 - Day 5 SAILING BY 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 6 - Day 6 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 7 - Day 7 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 8 - Day 8 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 9 - Day 9 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.
Day 10 - Please Note:
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.

Trip Dates

StartEndPrice FromRoom Type
20-05-202428-05-2024AUD $11,930Superior Stateroom
20-05-202428-05-2024AUD $12,870DeLuxe Stateroom
20-05-202428-05-2024AUD $34,840Owner’s Suite
20-05-202428-05-2024AUD $14,200Prestige Stateroom - Deck 4
20-05-202428-05-2024AUD $14,870Prestige Stateroom - Deck 5
20-05-202428-05-2024AUD $15,670Prestige Stateroom - Deck 6
20-05-202428-05-2024AUD $21,580Deluxe Suite
20-05-202428-05-2024AUD $24,520Privilege Suite
20-05-202428-05-2024AUD $28,940Prestige Suite - Deck 5
20-05-202428-05-2024AUD $30,150Grand Deluxe Suite
20-05-202428-05-2024AUD $31,080Grand Privilege Suite

Inclusions

    • A brand-new expedition cruise, discovering the jewels of northern Norway, from Tromso and the continent, up to the island of Spitsbergen in the Svalbard archipelago.
    • Outings and shore visits in zodiac inflatables with a team of experienced naturalist guides.
    • In Lakselv, a new port of call, only a few kilometres from the mythical North Cape, considered the northernmost point of the European continent.
    • A brand-new cruise into the Porsangerfjorden to explore Reinoya Island and its nature reserve as well as the village of Lakselv, at the southern end of the fjord.
    • Sailing into the heart of the Spitsbergen fjords to discover majestic glaciers.
    • Landscapes: fjords, sheer cliffs,agged mountains, icebergs, ice caps, steep-sided valleys, huge glaciers.
    • Wildlife: Minke whales, Arctic foxes, Svalbard reindeers, Arctic terns, walruses, Atlantic puffins and numerous sea birds.

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