Known as Svalbard’s southernmost fjord, it is renowned as its most stunning: at the end of its vast bay, eight great glaciers slowly descend to the sea, giving way to icebergs drifting along its cold and mysterious waters. Continue your journey to the Bellsund fjord, tracing the footsteps of the first explorers from the Norwegian coast and the many fur traders seeking game and trophies. Boasting a rich diversity of wildlife, the fjord’s arms separate two lush valleys.

Sailing North, your Captain will navigate up close to the ice floes, weather permitting, take the opportunity to venture out in a Zodiac dinghy for a unique experience amid these floating slabs of ice. This journey through the floes, with their blue-tinged edges and thickness sometimes exceeding 2 meters, provides a chance to observe a distinct type of fauna entirely dependent on the ice floe: birds, seals, and polar bears.

Despite its name, this location is neither in Texas nor a bar; it is an unusual spot in the High Arctic. Texas Bar is a former trapper’s hut, once used by Arctic fox and polar bear hunters. The hut, still standing, has a rudimentary interior with bunk beds and kitchen utensils. Situated at the entrance to Liefdefjorden (the “fjord of love”), it rests peacefully in a landscape of hills covered with moss, lichen, and flowers. Cliffs with ever-changing colours, frequented by birds, add to the beauty of the surroundings. A short hike up the slopes brings you to a superb view of the Monaco Glacier, further south. Located in the northwest of the Svalbard archipelago, the Monaco Glacier is arguably one of Spitsbergen’s most beautiful and majestic sights. Named in honour of Prince Albert I of Monaco, a renowned sailor, it stands as an impenetrable, blue wall of ice, cracking as it breaks free and crashes into the clear water. Here, amongst the magical landscape, you might be fortunate enough to spot bears and whales, as these magnificent creatures are fond of this area.

Raudfjorden, meaning “red fjord” due to the colour of the surrounding sandstone mountains, is a breathtaking destination along the west coast of this 20 km fjord, which is dissected by numerous shallow bays. Here, you can admire some of Spitsbergen’s most spectacular ice formations. At the fjord’s end, two offshoots lead to the magnificent glaciers of Chauveaubreen and Raudfjordbreen, the latter spanning 3 km wide. To the east, Alicehamna Beach in Bruceneset Bay has welcomed trappers, fishermen, and explorers for centuries, as evidenced by “Raudfjordhytta,” the cabin of a Swedish trapper built in 1927. Today we also visit Smeerenburg . Located at the far northwest of the Svalbard archipelago, at the intersection of oceanic and Arctic influences, Smeerenburg is a former Dutch whaling colony on the southern part of Amsterdam Island. The landscape is steep with, lakes, and lagoons, here we will anchor at a sandy beach. Dotted with driftwood and the remains of ovens once used to process whale blubber, this site is one of Spitsbergen’s most important archaeological treasures. At the peak of whaling activity, 200 men worked here, and several are buried on this historic ground.

Continue to Ny-Ålesund, a former mining town transformed into a scientific base. Founded in 1916, this small town was the starting point for many Arctic expeditions, including those of the legendary explorer Roald Amundsen. Don't miss a visit to the museum and its post office, considered the most northerly in the world. Very close to Ny-Ålesund, venture to Kings Bay. Sail through one of Svalbard’s most stunning fjords: Kongsfjorden (the fjord of the King), the gateway to a stunning landscape. Here, snow-capped mountains are mirrored in the water, where icebergs vie for attention, a paradise for photographers. Seals, reindeer, barnacle geese, and black guillemots inhabit this unique place. At the end of the fjord, admire Kongsbreen (the glacier of the King) and its three distinctive rocky points, named after three Scandinavian countries: Svea (Sweden), Dana (Denmark), and Nora (Norway).

On arrival in Longyearbyen, disembark and transfer to the airport for your return flight to Paris.