HIGHLIGHTS
- Outings
and shore visits in Zodiac® inflatables with a team of
experienced naturalist guides.
- Hiking
opportunity.
- Visit
traditional villages and encounter the Inuit people.
- Disko
Bay, listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, to see the Northern
Hemisphere’s largest icebergs.
- Landscapes:
ice floes, jagged mountains, icebergs, ice caps, steep-sided valleys,
sheer cliffs, huge glaciers.
- Wildlife:
polar bears, Arctic terns, walruses, whales, musk oxen.
DATES / RATES
Rates are listed per person
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| Start Date | End Date | From EUR | From USD |
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Rates are listed per person
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| Start Date | End Date | From EUR | From USD |
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ITINERARY
Day
1: 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.
Day
2: SISIMIUT
During
your cruise, we invite you to discover Sisimiut, founded in 1756 and
the second largest town in Greenland. This small town is typical of
Greenland, boasting bewitching panoramas: here and there, colourful
stilt houses dot the undulating landscape, and the small fishing port
stands as the gateway to an icy realm. As for the town centre, it is
home to a number of historic buildings, a small church and a museum
which retraces the history of the Inuit people, as well as many craft
shops. When your ship drops anchor here, you will set out to meet the
locals in a typically arctic atmosphere.
Day
3: DISKO BAY
To
the east of Baffin Bay, discover Disko Bay, scattered with countless
icebergs produced by the Ilulissat Icefjord, a UNESCO World Heritage
Site. From your ship, admire the majestic ballet of these ice giants as
they slowly drift across the dark waters. This site is a natural marvel
of Greenland, and is also renowned as an observation point for the
region's many humpback whales. The encounters with wild fauna and
stunning landscapes in the heart of this spectacular and fragile nature
will be pure moments of wonder for you.
Day
4: PAUL-EMILE VICTOR BASE CAMP, EQI GLACIER
"The
most beautiful place in the Arctic" is how Paul-Émile Victor
described Greenland, a land of great icebergs and of towering ice
formations calved by the giant glaciers of the polar ice cap. The Eqi
Glacier is one of the region's most impressive sights. Here, the
silence is broken only by the roaring and cracking of the ice. It is
impossible to know if one is shivering from cold or from the sheer
thrill of being here... Imagine the vast outline of a glacier, its
translucent crystals glowing with an ice-blue fire in the sunlight.
Paul-Émile Victor's shelter cannot be overlooked; it was
from here that the French Polar Expeditions' anthropological and
geographic explorations set off in the 1950s.
Day
5: AKULLEQ
In
the curve of Uummannaq Bay, opposite a narrow passage between two
islands, you will discover the moonscape of the small desert island of
Akulleq. The ochre yellow and orange of this mineral site look ablaze
under the sunshine of the polar summer. From the island's summit you
will be able to contemplate a panoramic view of the bay's magical
landscape and its huge icebergs with surprising shapes.
Day
5: KARRAT FJORD
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.
DAY
6: KULLORSUAQ
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.
Day
7: SAVISSIVIK
Some
places in this world are so magical that their beauty cannot be
described in words… Savissivik, a small Inuit village with
less than a hundred inhabitants, is one such place. Rightly considered
to be the biggest iceberg graveyard in Greenland, it is a stunning
sight to behold. During your zodiac outing, you will sail between these
icy giants. Once on land, you can hike to a viewpoint from which to
enjoy breathtaking views over these icebergs, which come in an
incredibly diverse range of shapes and colours. Photographers will love
it. Savissivik Bay attracts many bears and is also known for having
been the home of one of the world's biggest meteorites, but the latter
has now been moved to a museum in New York.
Day
9: Pond Inlet, Nunavut
Day
8: POND INLET, NUNAVUT
On
Baffin Island, located in northern Canada at the mouth of the famous
NorthWest Passage, there is a small Inuit settlement at the very bounds
of infinity. To get there, cross the Arctic Circle, the imaginary line
that separates man from lands of mystery and wonder. It's not so much
the way of life that sets Pond Inlet's inhabitants apart, so much as
the setting. Snow-capped mountains, fjords and glaciers combine in a
dazzling natural environment that fills space and expands time. Some
discoveries change you forever: this is one of them.
Day
9: ICY ARM FJORD
The
east coast of Baffin Island is a real lacework of fjords. Among them,
in the north, is the spectacular Icy Arm fjord. As you sail these
parts, you'll be dazzled by the immense cliffs that are sometimes over
1,000 metres high. This is a paradise for base jumping (parachute
jumping from the top of the cliffs). During your stop here, you will
have the opportunity to hike at the feet of these mountains and within
the glacial valleys. Keep your eyes open when you get back on your
boat: you'll probably get the chance to observe marine mammals, such as
whales, orcas and even narwhals.
Day
10: ISABELLA BAY, NINGINGANIQ NATIONAL WILDLIFE AREA
Welcome
to the kingdom of the cetaceans! Here, those who love the giants of the
Arctic won't know where to look. Isabella Bay is in fact part of the
Ninginganiq National Wildlife Area, one of the finest places to observe
bowhead whales. From your ship, watch the sumptuous ballet performed by
these impressive mammals. With undersea faults over 300 metres deep,
Isabella Bay, located on the north-east coast of Baffin Island,
attracts cetaceans which come here to feed. In addition to the bowhead
whales, the uncontested stars of these parts, the Ninginganiq Wildlife
Area is also home to ringed seals, narwhals, polar bears, king eiders,
little auks and northern fulmars.
Day
11: SAM FORD FJORD, NUNAVUT
All
around you is a raw landscape of spectacular beauty. Nothing seems to
want to disturb the silence. You are in the Sam Ford Fjord, on the east
coast of Baffin Island. Located only a few kilometres away from the
Inuit community of Clyde River, this fjord has the kind of world's end
appearance that only the Arctic lands can offer. From your ship, allow
yourself to be dazzled by the series of vertiginous cliffs plunging
into the waters of the fjord. These impressively high walls of rock,
known worldwide to climbing enthusiasts, are reflected in the waters of
the fjord, as though to completely shift perspectives and blur the
lines between land and sea.
Day
12: 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.
Day
13: 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.
DAY
14: 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.
(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/Kangerlussuaq
Flight
Paris/Kangerlussuaq selected by PONANT.
Approximate
flight duration: 5 h
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 Longyearbyen/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/Kangerlussuaq 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.
