Ponant's Explorer Series yachts stand out for their sophisticated styling, innovative ""green"" technology, and attentive service, providing a refined small-ship cruising experience.
The six passenger decks feature a panoramic main dining room, a casual restaurant, a main lounge, a pool with a counter-current swimming system, a solarium, and an outdoor bar and lounge.
Le Lapérouse is equipped with the world's first multi-sensory underwater lounge, Blue Eye, designed for an exceptional acoustic and visual experience while observing the marine biosphere.
Day 1 Oslo
Oslo, Norway’s capital and largest city, is encircled by wooded hills and snowcapped peaks. The city displays a mixture of several architectural styles. A full range of activities includes art galleries, museums, restaurants, theaters and nightclubs. Other points of interest include Royal Palace; Frogner Park, known for its famous Vigeland sculptures; Holmenkollen, where international skiing events take place; imposing Åkershus Castle; and Bygdøy Peninsula, home to some of Oslo’s most important museums. Many attractions can be explored on foot. Oslo's City Hall ranks as the most distinctive part of Oslo’s waterfront. The art portrays the country's different historical and domestic phases. Munch Museum, which is dedicated to the life work of Norway’s famous painter, contains more than 5,000 drawings and paintings. National Gallery has the nation’s largest collection of Norwegian art and some of Munch’s best-known works. Åkershus Fortress & Castle, transformed into a Renaissance palace in the 17th century, houses Norway’s Resistance Museum.
Day 2 Oslo
Oslo, Norway’s capital and largest city, is encircled by wooded hills and snowcapped peaks. The city displays a mixture of several architectural styles. A full range of activities includes art galleries, museums, restaurants, theaters and nightclubs. Other points of interest include Royal Palace; Frogner Park, known for its famous Vigeland sculptures; Holmenkollen, where international skiing events take place; imposing Åkershus Castle; and Bygdøy Peninsula, home to some of Oslo’s most important museums. Many attractions can be explored on foot. Oslo's City Hall ranks as the most distinctive part of Oslo’s waterfront. The art portrays the country's different historical and domestic phases. Munch Museum, which is dedicated to the life work of Norway’s famous painter, contains more than 5,000 drawings and paintings. National Gallery has the nation’s largest collection of Norwegian art and some of Munch’s best-known works. Åkershus Fortress & Castle, transformed into a Renaissance palace in the 17th century, houses Norway’s Resistance Museum.
Day 3 Skagerrak Strait
Day 3 Gothenburg
Located at the mouth of the Göta River, Gothenburg (Goteborg), Sweden’s second largest city, is the busiest port in Scandinavia and one of Sweden’s prettiest and friendliest cities. Its town center, crisscrossed by canals, allows pedestrians to enjoy many traffic-free streets. Cultural events include the National Orchestra of Sweden at the Concert Hall or opera and ballet at the Opera House. The local clubs stage many international and Swedish artists. Shops in the city range from high street chains to exclusive boutiques. Sample one of the best cuisines in Europe. Visit picturesque cafés and sample some of the best food in Europe or visit one of the 17 museums in the city.
Day 4 Arendal
Arendal is a small town in the county of Aust-Agder, Norway. It was originally called the Venice of Scandinavia because the town is built on seven islands, with a network of canals surrounding it. Sailing, riding, canoeing, fishing and other sports are also available here. Arendal is also home to several popular music festivals including the Hove Jazz Festival and Canal Street, a blues and rock restival.
Day 5 Stavanger
Founded in the 8th century and one of Norway's oldest towns, Stavanger is situated along the Byfjord, an arm of the Stavangerfjord. A bishop ruled the city from the twelfth through seventeenth centuries. At the end of the eighteenth century, Stavanger had developed a successful merchant shipping fleet and during the next century developed herring fishing and canning industries. Appealing echoes of that proud heritage live on amid the evocative cobbled streets of Gamle (Old) Stavanger, whose whitewashed 18th century houses are probably northern Europe's best-preserved community of wooden houses. It has a well-preserved 12th century stone church.
Day 5 Lysefjord
Day 6 Nordfjord
Nordfjord is a gateway to the majestic glaciers of Norway and truly an outdoor lovers paradise. Adventure tours lead groups into the spectacular Boldasbreen Glacier for glacier hiking, downhill skiing, rafting, kayaking, and much more. Nordfjord is also the perfect place to explore Norway's rich cultural history through the local folk museum, churches, and medieval Viking sites. Natural Wonders are to be found all over the fjord including, waterfalls, mountains, rivers, and the scenic National Park.
Day 6 Mt. Hoven
Day 7 Geiranger Fjord
The Geiranger Fjord is a unique and exceptionally beautiful fjord – which is why this fjord landscape is included on UNESCO’s World Heritage List.
Day 7 Hellesylt
One of the highlights of the fjordland, tiny Hellesylt lies at the head of
Sunnylvenfjord. Near the village, a glacier-fed stream plunges over the sheer
granite face of the fjord, cascading in thousands of feet of rainbows and foam.
This majestic area, with its breathtaking glaciers and mountain lakes, inspired
Henrik Ibsen's immortal drama Brand
Day 8 Alesund
The region is famous for its beautiful scenery with high mountains and blue fjords, of which the Geiranger fjord is one of the most attractive tourist places in Norway. The climate is less severe than might be expected from its geographical location, with mild winters and cool summers. Ålesund, with its unique architecture, is the center of business and industry in Møre and Romsdal. As the sea, the woods and the mountains are easy accessible, the possibilities for outdoor and sports activities are excellent, both in the summer and winter season.
Day 9 Bergen
With its spectacular setting among seven hills, Bergen is one of the most beautiful and enjoyable cities in Norway. Most sites are within an easy walk from the harbor. From fine surviving medieval buildings to a series of good museums such as Fishery Museum and Old Bergen open-air museum, Bergen offers a wide variety of attractions. Its scenic beauty can best be appreciated from Mt. Floyen and is captivating. Enjoy this lovely city by taking a stroll to the old part of town, passing impressive 12th-century Bergenhus fortress. Old Hanseatic Wharf, called Bryggen, is where reconstructed gabled buildings house workshops, boutiques and restaurants. St. Mary's Church is Bergen’s oldest building and one of the finest Norman churches in Norway. Rasmus Meyers Collection is a rambling townhouse featuring one of the best collections of Norwegian art, including an upper floor devoted almost entirely to Munch. Bergen boasts numerous historic buildings dating from medieval times: Bergenhus Fortress; Rosenkrantz Tower; Haakon’s Hall.
Day 10 Bergen
With its spectacular setting among seven hills, Bergen is one of the most beautiful and enjoyable cities in Norway. Most sites are within an easy walk from the harbor. From fine surviving medieval buildings to a series of good museums such as Fishery Museum and Old Bergen open-air museum, Bergen offers a wide variety of attractions. Its scenic beauty can best be appreciated from Mt. Floyen and is captivating. Enjoy this lovely city by taking a stroll to the old part of town, passing impressive 12th-century Bergenhus fortress. Old Hanseatic Wharf, called Bryggen, is where reconstructed gabled buildings house workshops, boutiques and restaurants. St. Mary's Church is Bergen’s oldest building and one of the finest Norman churches in Norway. Rasmus Meyers Collection is a rambling townhouse featuring one of the best collections of Norwegian art, including an upper floor devoted almost entirely to Munch. Bergen boasts numerous historic buildings dating from medieval times: Bergenhus Fortress; Rosenkrantz Tower; Haakon’s Hall.