Beyond the inhabited world

Perched on the seaside in the shadow of ice-capped Sermitsiaq Mountain, Nuuk is the world’s smallest capital city by population, with some 19,000 inhabitants experiencing tremendous cultural and economic growth. Watch for harp seals as you enter the harbor, and hear from local residents to learn how the community has changed over the generations. At the National Museum, examine the extraordinary 15th-century Qilakitsoq mummies found near Uummannaq—a discovery that was featured in a National Geographic magazine cover story in 1985. The Arctic ice preserved these mummies so well that researchers have been able to study their tattoos, their medical conditions and even what they ate.

Spend exceptional moments sailing aboard Le Commandant Charcot, the world’s first luxury polar exploration vessel and the first PC2-class polar cruise ship capable of sailing into the very heart of the ice, on seas and oceans which the frozen conditions render inaccessible to ordinary ships. Le Commandant Charcot is fitted with oceanographic and scientific equipment selected by a committee of experts. Take advantage of the on-board lectures and opportunities for discussion with these specialists to learn more about the poles. Participate in furthering scientific research with PONANT and let us discover together what these fascinating destinations have yet to reveal to us.

Well beyond the Arctic Circle, in the majestic landscapes of Greenland’s Northwest, you will find the village of Kullorsuaq, the last bastion of Greenland’s traditional hunters. Here is where you will find Greenland’s true character… Vast mineral expanses, sumptuous mountains, impressive glaciers and, above all, the local population which still lives off fishing and seal or bear hunting. Hospitality and respect for nature are essential elements in the daily lives of these men, who live an austere life. When we drop anchor in this remote part of the world, set off to discover these friendly people who are also talented craftsmen, deftly sewing the furs and skins of marine mammals. This will be a unique and authentic experience.

Baffin Bay is a vast Arctic waterway known for its dramatic ice formations, towering glaciers, and extraordinary polar wildlife. Located between Canada and Greenland, it offers rare opportunities to witness icebergs, whales, seals, and migrating seabirds in a remote and pristine environment. Its raw beauty and ever-changing sea ice create a powerful sense of exploration at the edge of the Arctic world.

One of the northernmost permanently inhabited settlements on Earth, Siorapaluk is home to a small community of Polar Inuit who have called this remote Arctic outpost their home for centuries. Life here revolves around the rhythms of the sea and seasons — dog sledding, hunting and fishing remain central to daily existence. A visit to Siorapaluk offers a rare and humbling encounter with a culture that has thrived at the very edge of the world, maintaining traditions largely unchanged despite the passage of time

A natural waterway separating northwestern Greenland from Canada, the Nares Strait runs for several hundred kilometres between the Arctic ocean and Baffin Bay. Sailing at the entrance to this endless white environment, rarely used by ships in this season, you will discover little-known panoramas and fully experience the extreme isolation of the Far North. In this icy desert where absolute silence reigns, only disturbed by the mysterious cracking of the ice floe, keep your eyes peeled! You may get a glimpse of the Lord of the Arctic, the polar bear.

Nestling between northwestern Greenland and Ellesmere Island (Canada), Pikialasorsuaq - ‘the place that never freezes’ - is the largest polynya in the Arctic. This area of open water remains free of ice even in the depths of winter, playing a veritable role as an oasis in the heart of the ice floe. A source of life and a strategic hunting ground for Inuit societies for thousands of years, the polynya shelters an exceptional ecosystem in which life develops quickly, nourished by the light. In the heart of this rich yet fragile Arctic sanctuary, you will perhaps be lucky enough to observe some of the emblematic polar fauna: narwhals and belugas, seals, walruses and seabirds...and, maybe, a polar bear!

Baffin Bay is a vast Arctic waterway known for its dramatic ice formations, towering glaciers, and extraordinary polar wildlife. Located between Canada and Greenland, it offers rare opportunities to witness icebergs, whales, seals, and migrating seabirds in a remote and pristine environment. Its raw beauty and ever-changing sea ice create a powerful sense of exploration at the edge of the Arctic world.

Perched on the seaside in the shadow of ice-capped Sermitsiaq Mountain, Nuuk is the world’s smallest capital city by population, with some 19,000 inhabitants experiencing tremendous cultural and economic growth. Watch for harp seals as you enter the harbor, and hear from local residents to learn how the community has changed over the generations. At the National Museum, examine the extraordinary 15th-century Qilakitsoq mummies found near Uummannaq—a discovery that was featured in a National Geographic magazine cover story in 1985. The Arctic ice preserved these mummies so well that researchers have been able to study their tattoos, their medical conditions and even what they ate.