Itinerary
PONANT invites you to discover the east coast of Greenland during a new16-day expedition cruise on board L'Austral, and venture into an extremely remote part of the world, source of fascination to generations of explorers. From Kangerlussuaq, your ship will set sail south, before reaching the east coast of Greenland, known for its wild natural environments, its alpine landscapes, and its sea ice carried along the Transpolar Drift. You will then sail along the Blosseville Coast, named after the French captain who saw it for the first time in 1833. Here, the ice sheet meets the sea. You will discover the Scoresby Sund, the world' largest fjord network and the Ittoqqortoormiit Region, home to a small community of Greenlanders: this will be the occasion to find out about the life of the last hunters in the polar regions. Your ship will also head for the Northeast Greenland National Park, the largest national park in the world and a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve: here, there is no trace of human life, just alpine magically coloured landscapes as far as the eye can see and powerful glaciers. L'Austral will then cross the Arctic Circle before making its way to Jan Mayen Island, which was very dear to Captain Jean-Baptiste Charcot. Located at the limit of the Arctic and North-Atlantic oceans, this remote and uninhabited volcanic island was once a major whaling base and is home to large colonies of birds. We are privileged guests in these extreme lands where we are at the mercy of weather and ice conditions. The itinerary, landings on certain sites and the observation of certain wildlife cannot be guaranteed. They vary from day to day, making each PONANT cruise a unique experience. The Captain and the Expedition Leader will make every effort to ensure that your experience is as rich as possible, while complying with the safety rules and instructions imposed by the AECO.
