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Polar bear walking across the pack ice in low sunset light, photographed from PONANT's Le Commandant Charcot on an Arctic expedition cruise

Ponant · Le Lyrial · 13 nights

From Svalbard to Iceland

Longyearbyen to Reykjavík aboard Le Lyrial, by way of the north-west fjords of Spitsbergen, Jan Mayen and Scoresby Sund in East Greenland. One sailing, 4 to 17 August 2028, with the Paris to Longyearbyen charter flight included. From A$20,900 per person, planned with you by Arctic Cruise.

Whale tail fluke rising from blue water as it dives off Svalbard, Norway, photographed on a PONANT Svalbard expedition cruise

13 nights, Longyearbyen to Reykjavík

Three Arctic worlds in one crossing

This is the voyage for guests who want Svalbard and Greenland in a single journey without flying between them. Le Lyrial spends five days in the north-west of Spitsbergen, Ny-Ålesund, Liefdefjorden, Raudfjorden and the edge of the pack ice, then sails south-west across the Greenland Sea to Jan Mayen, the Norwegian volcanic island that almost no ship is permitted to land on. Two days follow in East Greenland: the settlement of Ittoqqortoormiit, where sled dogs outnumber people, and Scoresby Sund, the largest fjord system on earth, where icebergs the size of city blocks drift between basalt walls. A last sea day brings the ship to the north coast of Iceland, Húsavík and its whales, Grundarfjörður under Kirkjufell, and Reykjavík.

We have sailed Scoresby Sund in August and it is the finest iceberg scenery in the Arctic. This crossing sails once, in August 2028, and the suites are the first to go. Tell us who you are travelling with and we tell you which stateroom we would choose and why, then build the rest: flights from Australia to Paris, the night in Paris before Ponant’s charter, Reykjavík at the end, and the offers we hold for Arctic Cruise guests. One Australian specialist, from the first conversation until you are home.

  • Longyearbyen to Reykjavík
  • Jan Mayen and Scoresby Sund
  • 13 nights

Signature moments

Five moments that make the crossing

Two archipelagos, a volcanic island and the largest fjord on earth. These are the moments the voyage is built around, each set by the ice and the swell on the day.

Guests in red parkas spread across the sea ice beneath a striped snowy mountain in Scoresby Sund, East Greenland, on a PONANT Le Commandant Charcot cruise

The north-west fjords

Five days among the glacier fronts, bird cliffs and walrus beaches of the north-west, with a day in the pack ice beyond the island.

Day by day

Thirteen nights, in outline

The ice in Svalbard and the swell at Jan Mayen decide the days. The outline below is the plan Le Lyrial works from and the captain and expedition leader reshape it around the conditions. The full programme comes with the proposal we write for you.

Charter flight from Paris to Longyearbyen, transfer to the pier and embarkation in the late afternoon.

Aboard Le Lyrial

Le Lyrial is the youngest of Ponant’s four sister ships, launched in 2015 with 122 staterooms and suites for 245 guests and an Ice 1C hull. Every stateroom has a balcony or a private terrace, the restaurants are run in the Ponant style with French wines in the open bar, and a fleet of eleven Zodiacs takes guests off the ship twice a day wherever a landing is possible.

Le Lyrial
Furnishings inside of a suite on Ponant's Le Lyrial, which cruises to Antarctica.

Refined and elegant furnishings

The deck of Ponant's Le Lyrial, which cruises to Antarctica.

Open to the horizon

The deck of a Ponant ship that sails expedition cruises

Eleven Zodiacs

A table setting on board Le Lyrial, a Ponant ship sailing to Antarctica.

French gastronomy

A passenger aboard a Ponant cruise getting a massage at the on-board spa.

Spa and well-being

We want to make your journey as easy as possible

Thirteen nights aboard Le Lyrial, the charter flight from Paris to Longyearbyen with transfers, all meals and 24-hour room service, open bar and in-room minibar, Zodiac outings, landings and hikes led by the expedition team, the lecture programme, Wi-Fi, gratuities, port taxes and the polar parka to keep.

Flights from Australia to Paris and home from Reykjavík, hotel nights in Paris and Reykjavík, kayaking on selected outings, travel insurance, spa treatments and personal expenses.

Ponant includes the charter flight from Paris to Longyearbyen and the transfer to the ship. We arrange your flights from Australia to Paris, the night in Paris, and the journey home from Reykjavík, so the whole journey is one booking.


Further Exploration

Other Arctic itineraries

Le Lyrial also sails Spitsbergen in a week and West Greenland in September, and Le Commandant Charcot sails the same waters between Svalbard and Greenland in June. Each has its own page, and we are happy to tell you which suits you.

All expeditions
7 Nights
Ponant
From A$15,660

Fjords and Glaciers of Spitsbergen

Longyearbyen to Longyearbyen aboard Le Lyrial: Hornsund, the edge of the pack ice, Liefdefjorden, Raudfjorden and Ny-Ålesund in a single week. Six departures in 2027 and four in June 2028, return charter flights from Paris included. From A$15,660 per person, planned with you by Arctic Cruise.

7 Nights
Ponant
From A$15,770

Unexplored Svalbard

Longyearbyen to Longyearbyen aboard Le Lyrial, around the north of Spitsbergen to the nature reserves of Nordaustlandet and Edgeøya. Five departures from 30 June to 28 July 2028, return charter flights from Paris included. From A$15,770 per person, planned with you by Arctic Cruise.

13 Nights
Ponant
From A$18,810

Expedition to the Edge of the Ice Sheet

Reykjavík to Greenland aboard a Ponant sister ship: Tasiilaq and the east coast, Prins Christian Sund, the Norse ruins of the south, Nuuk, Disko Bay and the Eqi glacier. Four sailings across 2027 and 2028, the Greenland to Paris flight included. From A$18,810 per person, planned with you by Arctic Cruise.

16 Nights
Ponant
From A$53,550

In the Ice of the Arctic: Svalbard and Greenland

Reykjavík to Longyearbyen in June, or Longyearbyen to Reykjavík. Sailings in 2027, with 2028 to follow. Paris charter flight included. From A$53,550 per person, planned with you by Arctic Cruise.

10 Nights
Swan Hellenic
From A$23,725

Ultimate Svalbard

Longyearbyen to Longyearbyen, Copenhagen charter flights included. Sailings in 2027 and 2028, with 2029 to follow. From A$23,725 per person, planned with you by Arctic Cruise.

10 Nights
Aurora Expeditions
From A$19,812

Iceland and East Greenland, Under the Northern Lights

Reykjavík to Reykjavík in September, with a hotel night in Reykjavík included. Sailings in 2027 and 2028, with 2029 to follow. From A$19,812 per person, planned with you by Arctic Cruise.

Polar bear lying flat on a snow-covered ice floe beside open water, photographed from PONANT's Le Commandant Charcot on an Arctic cruise

Dates & prices

Departure, August 2028

Thirteen nights aboard Le Lyrial, Longyearbyen to Reykjavík. Fares are per person, twin share, in Australian dollars, with Ponant’s Paris to Longyearbyen charter flight included. Ask us before you compare: our offers for Arctic Cruise guests come on top, and we tell you which stateroom is the best value for the way you want to travel.

The only sailing of this route, at the point in August when the Svalbard ice has loosened and the Scoresby Sund icebergs are at their largest. Tell us the stateroom you have in mind and we hold your place on our list.

Made to measure

Tell us your Arctic, we build the rest

Every guest sails differently. Tell us what you are hoping for, the ice, the wildlife, the light, who you are travelling with, and we match it to the right sailing, the right stateroom and the right year, with flights from Australia and our own offers included. One Arctic Cruise specialist stays with you from the first call until you are home.