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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 · 7 nights

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.

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

7 nights, roundtrip from Longyearbyen

Beyond the west coast, into the reserves

Most Svalbard weeks stay on the west coast. This one, new for July 2028, goes around the top of the island into the two great nature reserves of the east. Le Lyrial sails first to Ny-Ålesund and the fjords of the north-west, then north to the edge of the pack ice before turning east along Hinlopenstretet, past the bird cliffs of Alkefjellet, into the Nordaust-Svalbard reserve and the ice cap of Nordaustlandet, whose southern front, Bråsvellbreen, is the longest glacier face in the northern hemisphere. A day further south brings the Søraust-Svalbard reserve and the walrus beaches of Edgeøya, before the ship returns up the west coast to Longyearbyen. Late July is when the eastern ice loosens enough to let a ship through, and it is the best fortnight of the year for polar bears on the floes.

We know this route from the bridge, not the brochure, and it is the Svalbard week we recommend to guests who have already seen the west coast or who want the ice first. Tell us when you can travel and who with, and we tell you which of the five departures we would choose and which stateroom, then build the rest: flights from Australia to Paris, the nights in Paris either side of Ponant’s charter, and the offers we hold for Arctic Cruise guests. One Australian specialist, from the first conversation until you are home.

  • Longyearbyen return
  • Nordaustlandet and Edgeøya
  • 7 nights

Signature moments

Five moments that make the week

The eastern reserves open late and close early, and the ice decides how far the ship gets. These are the moments the voyage is built around.

Guest in an orange Ponant parka at the deck rail facing a glacier front and jagged mountains in Svalbard, on a Ponant Arctic expedition cruise

Ny-Ålesund, 79° North

The research settlement where Amundsen’s airship mast still stands, the first stop and the last post office before the ice.

Day by day

Seven nights, in outline

The ice decides the route around the top of the island. 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. Le Lyrial sails out of Isfjorden in the evening.

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 and a kayak programme take guests off the ship twice a day in Svalbard.

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

Seven nights aboard Le Lyrial, return charter flights between Paris and 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, hotel nights in Paris, kayaking on selected outings, travel insurance, spa treatments and personal expenses.

Ponant includes the return charter flights between Paris and Longyearbyen. We arrange your flights from Australia to Paris and the nights in Paris either side, so the whole journey is one booking.


Further Exploration

Other Arctic itineraries

Le Lyrial also sails the west coast on Fjords and Glaciers of Spitsbergen, and from Svalbard across to Iceland, while Le Commandant Charcot goes north to the ice. 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.

13 Nights
Ponant
From A$20,900

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.

12 Nights
Ponant
From A$53,610

The Geographic North Pole

Longyearbyen to Longyearbyen, through the pack ice to 90° North. Four sailings in 2027, six in 2028, with 2029 to follow. Return charter flights Paris to Longyearbyen included. From A$53,610 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$29,205

Svalbard Odyssey

Oslo to Oslo, with the charter flight to Longyearbyen and a hotel night in Oslo included. Three sailings in 2027, three in 2028, with 2029 to follow. From A$29,205 per person, planned with you by Arctic Cruise.

Polar bear cub nestled against its mother on the snow at the edge of the sea ice, photographed on a PONANT Arctic expedition cruise

Dates & prices

Departures, 2028

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

The first circuit of the season, when the eastern ice has only just loosened and the bears are still on the floes close to the island.

High summer light and the walrus back on the beaches of Edgeøya.

The reserves at their most open, with the best chance of completing the full circuit around Nordaustlandet.

Tundra in flower, guillemot chicks leaving the cliffs of Alkefjellet and long days in the Zodiacs.

The last week of the season, before Le Lyrial sails south to Iceland.

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.