Fjords and glaciers of Spitsbergen

• Somewhere in the high Arctic, between 76 and 80 degrees north, Svalbard awaits you, which literally means "sharp mountains".

• The 8-day expedition in search of wild nature begins in Longyearbyen, the northernmost settlement in the world. The aurora borealis combines with the changeable Arctic weather: a large blue sky, a horizon covered with clouds, shrouding fog that erases the boundary between land and sea: all this creates a magical and almost surreal atmosphere.

• The ship will be accompanied by many local inhabitants: arctic petrels, gulls and arctic terns. On board the ship or in boats, you will admire the power of nature and at the same time realize its fragility: huge glaciers or fjords will make an incredible impression!

• On land you will step onto soft soil known as moraine. Only mosses, lichens and a few rare flowers have managed to adapt and take hold here, forming the tundra. In these lands, reindeer and Arctic foxes coexist with walruses lying on the shore.

• The king of the Arctic, the polar bear, lives very close by.

• The highlights of this expedition are related to searching for and observing wildlife. On board, a team of naturalist guides will scan the horizon so that you can see wild animals and, in particular, the polar bear. The elusive fauna of this region keeps its secrets, and the unpredictable nature of the encounter gives it an indescribable magic.

The route is subject to change according to port permits and government regulations, as well as weather and ice conditions. We are privileged guests in these remote regions, where we are at the mercy of weather, ice, tides and currents. Landings at specific sites and observations of specific species cannot be guaranteed. They change from day to day, making each PONANT expedition truly unique. The captain and expedition leader will do their utmost to ensure that you have the best possible experience, while respecting the safety rules and instructions set by AECO.

L'Austral ship
A magnificent ship with 132 cabins, the result of the craftsmanship of the Italian shipyard Fincantieri and the French sophistication interpreted by the designer Jean-Philippe Nouel. L’Austral remains true to our philosophy of creating a unique atmosphere, a sophisticated combination of luxury and comfort during travels to the most inhospitable regions.