Cruising the Norwegian Fjords - with Smithsonian Journeys
In alliance with Smithsonian Journeys.
This cruise is part of a collection of PONANT voyages that are specially-tailored for English-speaking travelers who want to engage with the world. In addition to the usual elements of the PONANT experience, the listed price for these voyages includes transfers to and from the ship, talks and discussions aboard ship by world class experts, and a shore excursion or activity in each port of call that encourages guests to embrace the sights, sounds, tastes, and smells of the local environment and culture.
Join PONANT aboard Le Bellot for an 8-day cruise on an exceptional itinerary to discover the beauty of the Norwegian fjords.
Begin your voyage in Oslo, the vibrant Norwegian capital.
Sail first towards the lively harbor town of Gothenburg, Sweden. As the home of Volvo, the city boasts the World of Volvo, which features interactive exhibits from the brand’s first vehicles through future technological solutions. The stunning Museum of Fine Arts includes works by Carl Larsson, Edvard Munch, Anders Zorn, Van Gogh, Picasso, Chagall, and Monet.
From Arendal, visit the Næs Ironworks Museum, which chronicles how iron production changed between 1665 and 1959, and stop in Tvedestrand, a charming village of white wooden houses. Or visit Raet National Park, which was established in 2016 to protect the region’s unique topography.
Le Bellot then sails to Stavanger. Here, the reconstructed Iron Age village in Ullandhaug introduces you to the life of Norway's earliest inhabitants. The region’s pristine coastal wilderness also offers an opportunity to take an invigorating hike. This afternoon, sail the beautiful Lysefjorden.
Next stop in Alesund, famous for the art nouveau architectural style in which its downtown was rebuilt after a terrible fire in 1904. Here you will also find the Atlantic Ocean Park, a unique aquarium featuring marine life found along Norway’s Atlantic coast.
Be sure to be on the outside decks as Le Bellot traverses the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Geirangerfjord. Explore the fjord region overland – including a stop at the Jostedal Glacier National Park Centre – from Hellesylt.
Your final call is in Olden. From this small and charming village, located a few miles from Jostedalsbreen National Park, home to one of the last ice caps in Europe, you are able to admire the magnificent Briksdal Glacier.
Your cruise ends in Bergen, famous for its Hanseatic wharf, Bryggen, a UNESCO World Heritage site which still carries traces of the rich historic past of the city founded by the Vikings.
When searching for a luxury yacht expedition cruise, there’s one name above all else that you need to know – Ponant Cruises. Founded in 1988 by former French Merchant Navy officers, Ponant combines succulent luxury with authentic adventures on all seven continents.
From classic Mediterranean itineraries and Caribbean sailings, to bucket-list expeditions around Greenland and Antarctica, Ponant cruises proudly counteract the banality of mainstream voyages with a unique take on the concept of small-ship cruising. It’s the absolute trip of a lifetime.
Like the other ships in the PONANT EXPLORERS series, Le Bellot has been designed to provide absolute comfort for its passengers, even at the heart of the world's most remote and isolated regions.
