Encounter with the Last Guardians of the North Pole
With featured guests Nicolas Dubreuil, French explorer and specialist in the polar regions,, founder of the polar consultancy and expert company SEDNA, which also helped to design this unique itinerary, and expedition leader.
And Sue Flood, British Photo Ambassador.
Spring is in full swing in western Greenland! Time seems to stand still in these high latitudes. The ice floe goes through all states: from ice desert to drifting patches, sometimes it slowly breaks up, creating channels of open water used by narwhals and belugas during their migration. The last guardians of the pole of this distant region, harnessed to their dog sleds, criss-cross the icy expanse against a backdrop of snow-covered summits of jagged mountains and monumental icebergs stuck in the ice floe.
Once again, Le Commandant Charcot opens the way to new horizons and invites you to experience a timeless odyssey. During this 13-day PONANT exclusive, explore the frozen shores of the western Greenlandic coast and live like one of the last hunters in this region, which is one of the wildest and most remote of the planet. The special moments spent with the community of Kullorsuaq, the hardest-to-access village in the region, will teach you about Inuit wisdom: powerful nature reigns supreme and encourages humility, as suggested by the Greenlandic word imaqa. Here, life thrives on the present moment and the notion of time and space is redefined.
As you sail along the frozen shores of western Greenland, there will be wonder everywhere! In Disko Bay, the show becomes dreamlike, the majestic icebergs float like cathedrals of ice slowly drifting on dark waters. Carried by the breath of this pristine nature, you will sail through this desert of ice to arrive in the village of Kullorsuaq, accessible in this season only with Le Commandant Charcot. At the entrance to the mythical Melville Bay, enjoy four unforgettable days. A rare moment in this typical Greenlandic village, where you will fall under the charm of its inhabitants’ generosity, sharing and hospitality. Listen to the tales and legends of these last guardians of the pole. Share and discuss the knowledge of these outstanding ice hunters and help them make items that are vital for their day-to-day life, like the sled, kayak and harpoons. Enjoy various dog sled rides – the only means of transport allowed during this season - a polar plunge, snorkelling with wetsuits in the middle of the ice, or a session of ice fishing on the ice floe.
You will then set sail south. In the heart of the ice floe, you will explore the icy vastness of Baffin Bay. You are privileged to arrive on this white desert where you will be able to discover this place like no other during a polar trek or a ski trip. Perhaps you will be luck enough to glimpse the silhouette of the legendary polar bear, the lord of the manor, roaming this environment in search of the perfect spot for hunting or fishing. Here, the Arctic unveils its poetic soul, a place where the grandeur of nature combines with the heritage of the exploration and wisdom of the indigenous peoples.
We are privileged guests in these extreme lands, where we are at the mercy of the weather and the ice conditions. Our commitment to respecting this environment imposes certain rules of conduct upon us. Our navigation, mainly in the fjords, will be determined by the type of ice we come across; as the coastal ice must be preserved, we will take this factor into account from day to day in our itineraries. The sailing program, shore visits, activities and observation of fauna cannot be guaranteed and are subject to weather and ice conditions. These experiences are unique and vary from day to day and for each departure. The Captain and the Expedition Leader will make every effort to ensure that your experience is as rich as possible, while complying with applicable safety rules and AECO regulations.
When searching for a luxury yacht expedition cruise, there’s one name above all else that you need to know – Ponant Cruises. Founded in 1988 by former French Merchant Navy officers, Ponant combines succulent luxury with authentic adventures on all seven continents.
From classic Mediterranean itineraries and Caribbean sailings, to bucket-list expeditions around Greenland and Antarctica, Ponant cruises proudly counteract the banality of mainstream voyages with a unique take on the concept of small-ship cruising. It’s the absolute trip of a lifetime.
BEYOND EXPLORATION
Embark on board Le Commandant Charcotthe only passenger ship in the world to have visited both the Geographic North Pole, and the most southerly point on the planet, the edge of the Antarctic.
