HIGHLIGHTS
- Outings
and shore visits in zodiac inflatables with a team of
experienced naturalist guides.
- Hiking
opportunity.
- Exploring
the East coast of Greenland and its pristine territories once trodden
by the first French explorers Jules de Blosseville, Jean-Baptiste
Charcot and Paul-Emile Victor.
- Visiting
traditional villages and meeting the Inuit people.
- Landscapes:
fjords, rugged mountains, glaciers, icebergs, wild tundra, sheer
cliffs, polar ice cap, ice floes.
- Wildlife:
Arctic terns, musk oxen, Arctic foxes and hares, whales, seals and
orcas.
- Sail
along the Prins Christian Sund, a narrow, 100-km long passage that
winds its way through cliffs and glaciers.
DATES / RATES
Rates are listed per person
|
| Start Date | End Date | From EUR | From USD |
|---|
| Jun 28, 2023 | Jul 12, 2023 | 12,645 |
13,610 |
Rates are listed per person
|
| Start Date | End Date | From EUR | From USD |
|---|
| Jun 28, 2023 | Jul 12, 2023 | 12,645 |
13,610 |
ITINERARY
JUNE
28, 2023 - LONGYEARBYEN, SPITSBERGEN
Longyearbyen
is the capital of the Norwegian Svalbard archipelago, located on
Svalbard's main island, and is the northernmost territorial capital on
the planet. With winter temperatures dropping to below 40°C,
the landscapes of this mining town are simply breathtaking. The
glaciers, the mountains stretching as far as the eye can see and the
untouched nature, make you feel like you're in completely unexplored
territory.
JUNE
29, 2023 - STELLINGFJELLET, SVALBARD
To
the east of the southern tip of the South Spitsbergen National Park,
you'll discover Stellingfjellet, one of the largest cliffs of the
Svalbard archipelago. This impressive rocky promontory, located south
of the Markhambreen glacier in the Torell Land massif, is bordered by
shallow waters, rich in fish and nutriment. These feed the many
colonies of nesting birds which have found refuge in the crevices of
its vertiginous walls. The heights of this geological wonder are a
theatre for the skilful and endless dance of its inhabitants. From the
sea, you'll have a privileged viewpoint for observing this grandiose
decor.
JUNE
29, 2023 - ISBUKTA, SPITSBERGEN
Nestling
on the south-east point of the island of Spitsbergen, this small bay
shelters an immense glacier, the Vasil'evbreen, whose front is more
than 20 kilometres long. This is an opportunity for an unforgettable
Zodiac® outing. If the conditions allow it, you will be able to
land directly at the foot of this majestic glacier, so as to discover
the moraine and walk on the first section of the glacier. Depending on
the ice conditions, you will also perhaps be lucky enough to approch
Stellingfjellet, home to one of the largest guillemot colonies on the
archipelago.
JUNE
30, 2023 - AT SEA
During
your day at sea, make the most of the many services and activities on
board. Treat yourself to a moment of relaxation in the spa or stay in
shape in the fitness centre. Depending on the season, let yourself be
tempted by the swimming pool or a spot of sunbathing. This day without
a port of call will also be an opportunity to enjoy the conferences or
shows proposed on board, to do some shopping in the boutique or to meet
the PONANT photographers in their dedicated space. As for lovers of the
open sea, they will be able to visit the ship's upper deck to admire
the spectacle of the waves and perhaps be lucky enough to observe
marine species. A truly enchanted interlude, combining comfort, rest
and entertainment.
JULY
1, 2023 - JAN MAYEN ISLAND, SVALBARD
The
island of Jan Mayen, belonging to Norway, lies hidden off Greenland's
coastlines, lost between the Arctic Ocean and the North Atlantic Ocean.
This small piece of land is inhabited by only a handful of Norwegian
meteorologists. Tongues of ice descend from its volcanic summit, which
culminates at 2,227 metres and is covered with a thick glacial coat.
These tongues join the sea, between ranges of black volcanic rocks at
times tinged with red. If the sky is clement, you will have the chance
to glimpse the summit, decked out in magnificent light. The visit of a
small fin whale will perhaps enable you to complete this memorable
picture.
JULY
2, 2023 - AT SEA
During
your day at sea, make the most of the many services and activities on
board. Treat yourself to a moment of relaxation in the spa or stay in
shape in the fitness centre. Depending on the season, let yourself be
tempted by the swimming pool or a spot of sunbathing. This day without
a port of call will also be an opportunity to enjoy the conferences or
shows proposed on board, to do some shopping in the boutique or to meet
the PONANT photographers in their dedicated space. As for lovers of the
open sea, they will be able to visit the ship's upper deck to admire
the spectacle of the waves and perhaps be lucky enough to observe
marine species. A truly enchanted interlude, combining comfort, rest
and entertainment.
JULY
3, 2023 - WATKINS FJORD
At
the entrance to Kangerlussuaq Ffjord (East Greenland), you'll explore
one of its small side branches: the magnificent Watkins Fjord. The huge
glacial valley of Frederiksborg pours into this sumptuous desert of
rock and ice surmounted by the jagged silhouette of the summits of the
Lemon Range. The fjord owes its name to the British explorer Gino
Watkins (1907-1932), who in 1930 led an expedition aboard Quest, the
former ship of famous explorer Ernest Shackleton, in the aim of finding
a supply point in this region on the airway between England and
Canada. Come and discover this mythical place in the history
of Arctic exploration.
JULY
4, 2023 - TUGTILIK
JULY
4, 2023 - STORO ISLAND
In
the Ammassalik region, the small island of Storo welcomed the famous
French explorer Paul-Emile Victor during his first stay in Greenland in
1932. This young ethnologist was set down by Captain Charcot at
Ammassallik then made his way to the island of Storo, where he spent a
year hosted by an Inuit family. Bones, stones, a tomb and a few
vestiges of huts and wooden cabins are evidence that people have been
coming to the island for a very long time. Its location facing the
Denmark Strait, at the entrance of a small fjord, is indeed ideal for
hunting or for observing the whales, narwhals or belugas that live in
the fish-rich waters of the Greenland Sea.
JULY
5, 2023 - SERMILIK FJORD
You
will be captivated by the spectacular scenery of the Sermilik Fjord,
the largest in the south-east of Greenland. To the north, above the
glacial valleys, the Schweitzerland Alps and their peaks that rise to
an altitude of more than 3,000 metres (10,000 feet) stretch out in the
distance, while in the south, where it opens onto the Irminger Sea,
heavy erosion has carved the landscape. Three main glaciers calve a
multitude of dazzling icebergs that drift serenely along the indigo
waters of this majestic fjord. It owes its name to the Inuit word
Sermilik, which generally refers to a fjord into which a glacier flows.
It was mapped in 1884 by the Danish explorer Gustav Holm and his crew,
while they wintered in the Ammassalik region.
JULY
5, 2023 - TASIILAQ
In
Tasiilaq, on Ammassalik Island, follow in the wake of Captain
Jean-Baptiste Charcot's famous ship, the Pourquoi Pas ?, which set off
with its crew in 1935 to discover this small island of primitive and
wild beauty that remained unexplored until the end of the 19th century.
Along with Ittoqqortoormiit, a village with 500 inhabitants located at
the entrance of the Scoresby Sound, the village of Tasiilaq and its
surroundings, 800 kilometres (500 miles) further north, are the only
inhabited areas on the east coast of Greenland. The name of this island
is a reference to the capelin, a small flamboyant silver-coloured fish
whose presence in the thousands announces to inhabitants the return of
spring. A surprising discovery in a spectacular setting.
JULY
6, 2023 - QINGMINGUARTALIK
Welcome
to a small protected bay on the eastern coast of Greenland, around 200
km south of Tasiilaq, for a date with history and ice. During this port
of call, you will have the opportunity to visit the remains ofold peat
houses from the Thule civilisation. Then, after sailing through the
ice, you will reach the starting point of the very first crossing of
the Greenland ice cap, led in 1888 by Fridtjof Nansen, the great
Norwegian polar explorer. A magical place where you can climb the
gentle slopes of the ice cap's first foothills to better appreciate its
huge size.
JULY
6, 2023 - NANSEN HARBOR
Travelling
to Nansen Harbor is the guarantee of a voyage back in time and will
enable you to discover a superb bay, into which the ice cap plunges
directly. It was because of the proximity and accessibility of the
glacier that Fridtjof Nansen chose this location for his crossing of
the ice cap crossing in August 1888. Sailing along the coast, you can
imagine the first steps of the great explorer on the Greenland ice
sheet.
JULY
7, 2023 - SKJOLDUNGEN
Discover
Skjoldungen Island on the south-east coast of Greenland. This
uninhabited land boasts magnificent landscapes that are sure to dazzle
you. The island is surrounded by a stunning fjord, a distinctive
feature of which is its double entrance: it forms a bend before joining
the sea on the other side. Mountains, glacial valleys, rocky outcrops,
tundra and willow forests make up the beautiful scenery which you will
be able to admire more closely when you land here. At this port of
call, surrounded by wild and pristine nature, it is quite common to see
bearded seals, orcas, but also birds such as the common redpoll, the
northern wheatear, or the common raven.
JULY
8, 2023 - PRINS CHRISTIAN SUND
Your
ship glides silently towards the Greenland coast, in a setting
punctuated by pointed peaks and majestic glaciers… You are
on the verge of crossing the Prins Christian Sund, a narrow channel
that stretches out and zigzags over some one hundred kilometres between
Greenland's south-east and south-west. Fall under the spell of the
primitive beauty of these unique landscapes, including rocky cliffs and
waterfalls that are fed by the ice sheet and plunge into the icy
waters. Here, bearded seals love to lie on the floating ice to soak up
the sunshine.
JULY
8, 2023 - AUGPILATOK
Augpilatok,
is a small Inuit village of around one hundred inhabitants, whose name
means "sea anemone" in Greenlandic. Located in a mountainous region
inaccessible by road, its picturesque, colourful houses stretch out to
the southern tip of Greenland, on the banks of the spectacular Prince
Christian Sound. Some one hundred kilometres long, the sound connects
the Labrador Sea to the Irminger Sea, meandering through stunning
landscapes such as majestic glaciers, craggy peaks, and rocky cliffs
with waterfalls fed by the ice sheet. This region was uninhabited in
the 19th century. The village was created in the 1920s and the main
activities revolve around hunting, fishing and livestock farming.
JULY
9, 2023 - IGALIKU
JULY
9, 2023 - NARSAQ FJORD
From
your ship, discover the town of Narsaq. You will be dazzled by the
beauty of the surrounding icebergs - large masses of ice in different
shapes and shifting colours. Dominated by lush mountains, this small
town is typical of Greenland and is located in the heart of a wonderful
natural landscape. The multicoloured house facades and the glaciers
with their myriad shades of blue offer a magical setting, conducive to
wonderment.
JULY
10, 2023 - AT SEA
During
your day at sea, make the most of the many services and activities on
board. Treat yourself to a moment of relaxation in the spa or stay in
shape in the fitness centre. Depending on the season, let yourself be
tempted by the swimming pool or a spot of sunbathing. This day without
a port of call will also be an opportunity to enjoy the conferences or
shows proposed on board, to do some shopping in the boutique or to meet
the PONANT photographers in their dedicated space. As for lovers of the
open sea, they will be able to visit the ship's upper deck to admire
the spectacle of the waves and perhaps be lucky enough to observe
marine species. A truly enchanted interlude, combining comfort, rest
and entertainment.
JULY
11, 2023 - EVIGHEDSFJORDEN
Your
ship glides slowly along the water towards the west coast of Greenland,
to enter Evighedsfjorden, just a few kilometres south of Kangerlussuaq.
Evighedsfjorden means "the fjord of Eternity", and for good reason:
just when you think you've reached the end of this stretch of sea
measuring over 100 kilometres in length, it seems to go on forever, as
though to bring even more pleasure to those sailing in it. The
spectacular scenery ranges from glaciers to tundra with an abundant
flora, and jagged cliffs where numerous bird species have taken up
residence. Take the time to observe the white-tailed eagles and the
colonies of seagulls and black-legged kittiwakes flying overhead in the
area.
JULY
12, 2023 - KANGERLUSSUAQ
From
1941 to 1992, the town of Kangerlussuaq in Greenland was home to an
American military base. Nowadays, thanks to its international airport,
it has become a transit point for travellers seeking adventure in the
Far North. Located to the north of the Arctic Circle, this town is the
starting point of magnificent discoveries surrounded by unspoiled
nature. Indeed, just a few dozen kilometres from there it is possible
to get close to the Greenland ice sheet, the largest body of ice in the
Northern Hemisphere. From Kangerlussuaq, admire also the superb
landscapes of tundra in autumnal colours, where Arctic hares, musk
oxen, Arctic foxes, reindeer, falcons and eagles live.
L'Austral (Luxury Expedition, 199-guests)
This superb mega-yacht with 132 staterooms is the result of the expertise of the Italian Fincantieri shipyard and French sophistication, as interpreted by designer Jean-Philippe Nuel. L'Austral remains faithful to our philosophy - to create a unique atmosphere, a subtle blend of luxury, intimacy and well-being.
(Click image to view Ship details)
WHAT'S INCLUDED
For
your serenity, PONANT selects flights and organises transfers between
the airport and the port (and vice-versa). This package is included in
your cruise fare.
Embarkation
day - Paris/Longyearbyen
- Flight
Paris/Longyearbyen selected by PONANT.
- Approximate
flight duration: 4 h 30
- We
suggest you to be at the check-in counter 2 hours before departure.
- We
highly recommend you arrive in Paris the day before this flight.
- Meet
& greet at the airport by our local English-speaking
representative.
- Transfer
to the pier for embarkation.
-
Cruise aboard your ship -
Disembarkation
Day - Kangerlussuaq/Paris
Disembarkation
- Meet
and greet at the port by our local English-speaking representative.
- Transfer
to the airport in time for check-in of flight Kangerlussuaq/Paris
selected by PONANT.
- Flight
Kangerlussuaq/Paris selected by PONANT.
- Approximate
flight duration: 5 h
- We
highly recommend you stay one night in Paris after this flight.
This
programme includes:
- Flight
Paris/Longyearbyen and Kangerlussuaq/Paris selected by PONANT in
economy class.
- Transfers
mentioned in the programme.
- English-speaking
assistance.
This
programme does not include:
- Personal
expenses.
- Any
other service not mentioned in the programme.
Please
note:
- Flights
included in the programme are as of today, operated in economy class,
on a European airline.
- Due
to limited local transportation resources, waiting might be generated.
- For
passengers in transit in Paris, we recommend staying one night in Paris
before and after these flights.
- Programme
and flight schedule are subject to change without prior notice.
