fbpx

Peregrine Travel Centre

Polar Lights: From North Cape to the Lofoten Islands Luxury Cruise

Polar Lights: From North Cape to the Lofoten Islands Luxury Cruise

From AUD $19,840

Book Now Request a callback
Email Us Print

Description

With featured guest Ian Dawson, British Photo Ambassador.
Winter is silently approaching, and near the Arctic Circle daylight is slowly fading, giving way to the long twilight that precedes the darkness. From the welcoming comfort of Le Commandant Charcot, take time to discover the shores of Norway, including the breathtaking Lofoten archipelago. See the North Cape, the tip of mainland Europe, and explore the rugged coastline at the edge of the Arctic and the natural sanctuaries of Norway: dolomite cliffs, an archaeological site dating from the Bronze Age, pine forests, and Lapland, home to the Sami, one of Europe’s last indigenous communities.

Trip Name
Polar Lights: From North Cape to the Lofoten Islands Luxury Cruise
Days
9
Overview
Vessel Type: Polar Luxury Expedition Passenger Capacity: 135 cabins Length: 149.9 meters Built: 2018/2019 Le Commandant Charcot is a purpose-built polar exploration vessel engineered for extreme environments, operating with a hybrid electric–LNG system that reduces noise, vibration and emissions while pushing deeper into ice than conventional ships. Interior spaces follow a restrained, insulated design philosophy that supports comfort in high-latitude conditions: multiple lounges, refined dining rooms, theatre, boutique and extensive wellness areas arranged to maintain warmth, calm and controlled movement throughout the ship. Accommodation spans 123 staterooms and suites, all with balconies, with upper-tier suites extending up to 115 m². The vessel integrates dedicated scientific infrastructure into its core layout, including laboratories and working spaces that support ongoing polar research. Field operations and environmental systems are engineered from the ground up for low-impact navigation, aligning with the ship’s mandate to access remote polar areas responsibly. A full virtual deck plan and live bow-mounted webcam reinforce the ship’s emphasis on landscape immersion and transparency of experience. Read About Our Experience on Board Le Commandant Charcot It’s All About the Destination… And This Ship  

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 - Honningsvag
If you feel like you have arrived at the end of the world in Honningsvåg, it is because this is the case. Halfway between Oslo and the North Pole, it competes with Hammerfest for the status of “the northernmost town in Continental Europe”. Colourful houses light up this charming and typically Norwegian fishing port nestled in the hollows of the region’s mountainous terrain. Travellers come to stay in the village to go to the North Cape. At the end of the road, you will see the globe that indicates that you are at the very end of Europe. At this point, only the Svalbard archipelago separates you from the North Pole. There is sea as far as the eye can see. The Northern Lights, the view of the immense cliff plunging into the sea, the thousands of puffins, gannets and cormorants that spin around you: everything here is grandiose.
Day 3 - Day 3 - Sailing along 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 4 - Day 4 - Alta
Beyond the Arctic Circle, Alta, in the far north of Norway, is the biggest city in Finnmark county. Alta will reveal itself to you at the end of the eponymous fjord, Altafjorden. The region offers a mix of forest, mountainous and coastal landscapes. It is on the verge of obtaining the “sustainable destination” label, a national label awarded to destinations that are committed to a sustainable approach to tourism for the long term. Alta invites you to experience unique moments, whether meeting the Sami people ─ reindeer herders who have ancestral traditions and yet embrace modernity ─ or during walks, snowshoe hikes or dog sledding, depending on the season.
Day 5 - Day 5 - 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 6 - Day 6 - Harstad
Beyond the Arctic Circle, north of the Norwegian Sea and at the gateway to the Vesterålen archipelago and the sumptuous Lofoten islands, surprising Harstad enjoys an extraordinary natural setting. A favoured destination for its gentle way of life, the small town and surrounding area are a concentrate of the northern Norway’s finest features: majestic coniferous forests, rugged mountains, bewitching fjords and preserved archipelagos. As inhospitable as they are magnificent, these lands still bear traces of the Bronze Age. For example, work tools, jewels and cairns sheltering many tombs that date back several millennia have been discovered during archaeological excavations.
Day 7 - Day 7 - Leknes, Lofoten
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.
Day 8 - Days 8 - 9 - Narvik
Beyond the Arctic Circle, you will discover Narvik, nestling in the heart of impressive mountains that plunge into the Ofotfjord. It is on the verge of obtaining the “sustainable destination” label, a national label awarded to destinations that are committed to a sustainable approach to tourism for the long term. You will be mesmerised by its scenery. From Narvik, it is possible to take the Ofoten Line towards Sweden. This historic railway once linked the mineral-rich mines of Kiruna in Sweden to the ice-free port of Narvik. You will experience unique moments whether meeting the Sami people ─ reindeer herders who have ancestral traditions and yet embrace modernity.
Day 9 - Please note:
The itinerary may be altered based on port approvals and to comply with applicable government regulations  The sailing programme, shore visits, activities and wildlife sightings cannot be guaranteed and are subject to weather conditions.
Day 10 - Please Note:
Itineraries are subject to change.

Trip Dates

StartEndPrice FromRoom Type
24-10-202601-11-2026AUD $19,840Prestige Stateroom Deck 6
24-10-202601-11-2026AUD $20,170Prestige Stateroom Deck 7
24-10-202601-11-2026AUD $42,800Duplex Suite
24-10-202601-11-2026AUD $50,460Owner's Suite
24-10-202601-11-2026AUD $20,530Prestige Stateroom Deck 8
24-10-202601-11-2026AUD $21,020Deluxe Suite Deck 6
24-10-202601-11-2026AUD $21,890Deluxe Suite Deck 7
24-10-202601-11-2026AUD $22,560Deluxe Suite Deck 8
24-10-202601-11-2026AUD $28,350Prestige Suite Deck 7
24-10-202601-11-2026AUD $29,200Prestige Suite Deck 8
24-10-202601-11-2026AUD $30,050Grand Prestige Suite
24-10-202601-11-2026AUD $31,740Privilege Suite Deck 8

Inclusions

    • With featured guest Ian Dawson, British Photo Ambassador.
    • A PONANT Explorations journey into the heart of Norway’s northern coasts, from the North Cape to the Lofoten Islands, as daylight fades with the approach of winter.
    • The keen eye and sound advice of our photo ambassador, a special opportunity to immortalise your journey with a programme of workshops, lectures, and personalised advice to improve your photographic skills.
    • Aboard Le Commandant Charcot, a warm and refined cocoon that opens onto the exterior enjoy a unique experience in complete communion with the surrounding landscape.
    • Immerse yourself in the coastline, the fishing villages, and the magnificent landscapes of Norwegian Lapland.
    • Discover the Lofoten archipelago, a jewel offering wild nature and a Viking heritage.
    • Varied landscapes: archipelagos, coastal panoramas, snow-covered peaks and expanses home to reindeer and seabirds.
    • The possibility of observing the spellbinding Northern Lights.
    • Enjoy one included excursion* per person per stop during your cruise, from a selection curated by our destination experts.
    • Sail to the North Cape, an emblematic site and the northernmost point of continental Europe.

Map

Related products

Recent Blog Posts

Browse Trips in

Norway
More of activity:
Northern Europe Cruises