HIGHLIGHTS
- Experience
the exceptional: meet the Inuit people at the end of the winter, to
share unique moments on the ice floe, discover their spring traditions
and let yourself be transported during a dog sled outing.
- Aboard
Le Commandant Charcot, a polar exploration vessel opening to the
exterior, take time with these unique moments of exploration and
observation, in the silence and respect of fragile landscapes and
encountered species.
- Set
off on the trail of the great explorers who attempted to navigate the
eastern coast of Greenland, a region that long remained isolated due to
being hard to reach and only accessible at this time of year thanks to
Le Commandant Charcot.
- Experience
the dog sled, at the heart of Inuit culture, an activity designed with
our hosts.
- Travelling
across the Denmark Strait with the possibility of seeing blue whales
and humpback whales.
- Exploring
the region of Ammassalik, on board or on the ice floe, from alpine
terrain to landscapes of ice sculpted by the elements.
- The
Blosseville Coast and its ice cap that comes straight from the North
Pole.
- The
landscapes: alpine landscapes, polar ice cap, winding fjords, icebergs
caught in the ice, calving glaciers, patches of ice floe drifting from
the North Pole, compression ridges, broken-up ice floe.
- The
wildlife: blue whales, humpback whales, polar bears, seals, sea birds.
- Many
brand-new activities*: dog sledding, kayaking, hiking or snowshoeing,
ice fishing, polar diving, participative science.
DATES / RATES
Rates are listed per person
|
| Start Date | End Date | From EUR | From USD |
|---|
Rates are listed per person
|
| Start Date | End Date | From EUR | From USD |
|---|
ITINERARY
Day
1: Reykjavík
Iceland's
capital stretches along the edge of a vast bay in the west of the
country. Perlan, the “Pearl of
Reykjavík”, a museum located on 'Oskjuhlið
hill, offers a panoramic view of the lush, green landscapes. A little
further, one can easily spot the signpost showing the way to the
evangelical Hallgrímskirkja church, and to the historical
centre where one can stroll along the
Skólavördustígur and the Laugavegur, two
lively streets with charming small shops. For some relaxation just
outside of the city, visitors have the opportunity to visit the
Reykjanes peninsula and its famous thermal lagoons of the Blue Lagoon.
Day
2: Sailing through the Denmark Strait
Lying
between Greenland and Iceland, the Denmark Strait was crossed for the
first time by theVikings in the late 10th century, during Erik the
Red's expeditions. In the Second World War, its waters were the theatre
of a battle between the Kriegsmarine and the Royal Navy, on 24 May
1941. In the wintertime, extremely dense pack ice forms along the
Greenlandic coasts and, while the Transpolar Drift sweeps icebergs
along throughout the year, the strait is generally clear of ice during
the summer. In the depths of the strait lies the world's largest
waterfall, an undersea cataract formed by the difference in temperature
between the cold waters of the Greenland Sea and the warmer waters of
the Irminger Sea. Numerous cetacean species thrive in this rich
ecosystem.
Days
3-8: Exploration of Ammassalik Region
Still
relatively unknown just a century ago, the east coast of Greenland
remains the most authentic and majestic region in the Arctic. Explore
this part of the world where the alpine mountains merge intimately with
the sea and the fjords are adorned with high, snow-capped peaks and
icebergs drifting or trapped in the pack ice. You will slowly immerse
yourself in the heart of frozen landscapes of surreal beauty. The
infinite variety of textures in the different types of ice creates an
ever-changing scenery. Follow in the wake of the famous Pourquoi Pas?,
the ship of Captain Jean-Baptiste Charcot who set off with his crew in
1934 to land Paul-Émile Victor in Ammassalik. A small island
of primitive and wild beauty, for his first ethnographic mission,
during which he would study the Ammassalimiut, a little-known Inuit
community. In this deceptively frozen landscape, the silence is broken
only by the sounds of dogs and the grating of sled runners against the
ice. You will receive a warm welcome in villages still protected by the
fast ice. You will have the opportunity to discover the Inuit culture's
ancestral traditions during joyous and authentic moments shared with
the communities.
Day
9: Blosseville Coast
Aboard
your ship, follow in the footsteps of Jules Poret de Blosseville, a
French explorer and sailor. In 1833, aboard La Lilloise, he set off to
discover this isolated and unexplored part of eastern Greenland and
gave French names to various sites on the coast. The adventure probably
has an unfortunate outcome, since the crew was never found. This
uninhabited territory, which now bears his name, lies to the south of
Scoresby Sund. Surrounded by ice, icebergs and pieces of pack ice,
Blosseville Coast is one of these wild and hard-to-reach places that
very few people are lucky enough to explore.
Day
10: Sailing through the Denmark Strait
Lying
between Greenland and Iceland, the Denmark Strait was crossed for the
first time by theVikings in the late 10th century, during Erik the
Red's expeditions. In the Second World War, its waters were the theatre
of a battle between the Kriegsmarine and the Royal Navy, on 24 May
1941. In the wintertime, extremely dense pack ice forms along the
Greenlandic coasts and, while the Transpolar Drift sweeps icebergs
along throughout the year, the strait is generally clear of ice during
the summer. In the depths of the strait lies the world's largest
waterfall, an undersea cataract formed by the difference in temperature
between the cold waters of the Greenland Sea and the warmer waters of
the Irminger Sea. Numerous cetacean species thrive in this rich
ecosystem.
Day
11: Reykjavík - Disembarkation
(Click image to view Ship details)
WHAT'S INCLUDED
At
PONANT, the "all-inclusive" includes:
- accommodation
in stateroom,
- the
full meal plan,
- the
Open Bar: beginning with boarding, and during the duration of the
cruise, a wide selection of drinks (mineral water, soft drinks, wine,
beer, Charles Heidsieck champagne, spirits, coffee, tea) is served on
request and at any time of the day. Certain premium alcoholic beverages
on the menu are not included in the Open Bar,
- free
Wi-Fi internet access 24 hours a day*,
- activities
offered during expedition cruises (see section "Expedition cruises"),
- access
to all the common areas:
- on
board our sister ships and Ponant Explorers: fitness room, steam room,
hair salon, swimming pool (sea water, heated), solarium, lounges,
theater, boutique & leisure area.
- on
board of our three-masted Le Ponant: Solarium of 400 m²,
marina, lounge, Boutique & leisure area.
- For
all our cruises in the Arctic and Antarctic, we charter aircraft and
transfers in order to facilitate the arrival and the departure of our
passengers
- Port
taxes are included in your cruise fare.
- The
breakfasts, lunches and dinners served on board are included in the
price of the cruise
- Access
to the steam room and the fitness room is free, except on Le Ponant
which does not have them.
- What
champagne is included in the price of the cruise?
- The
rates displayed on our site are per person, on the basis of a double
occupancy.
ADVENTURE
OPTIONS
- Dog
sledding
- Kayaking
- Le Commandant Charcot
- Ice
fishing
- Polar
plunge
- Hiking
or snowshoeing
- Participative
science
