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History and culture visiting Caribbean jewels

Le Ponant, the first Relais & Châteaux sailing yacht. The finest travel address on the waters of the world.

The Caribbean. The mere mention of this vast archipelago conjures images of waves dancing along the shoreline, lapping against long beaches lined with elegant palm trees. During this unforgettable 8-day cruise, spend your time contemplating and exploring aboard PONANT's emblematic yacht.

You will move away from the lively shores of Marigot and sail under wind power towards the Anguilla archipelago, a little-known jewel where you will be able to reconnect both with yourself and the surrounding elements. The two small uninhabited islands of Prickly Pear Cays, separated by a narrow channel and surrounded by rocky protrusions, are heaven for divers and birds. The island is also home to Lesser Antillean iguanas.

You will set sail again, for St Barts, a small island in the Tropics offering an exceptional and windswept stretch of water. Sailing is synonymous with pleasure in these warm waters, even when the sea spray makes it onto the deck.

Le Ponant will set sail towards Saint Kitts and Nevis. Thanks to the perfect conditions, sailing here is a delight for all the senses. Lying on the deck, you will let the wind and the sunshine caress your skin, while the crew sail the mainsail. In Charlestown, on the island of Nevis, you will discover the port facilities built by Admiral Nelson. You will also be able to visit the birthplace of Alexander Hamilton, one of the founding fathers of the United States, as well as St John's Fig Tree Church, which houses the original marriage certificate of Lord Horatio Nelson and Fanny Nisbet. Nevis also has a very beautiful botanical garden.

You will find Admiral Nelson's works in Nelson's Dockyard, in Falmouth Harbour. This is also where his former residence may be found.

You will reach Barbuda, where you will be able to relax on beaches of white and pink sand bathing in crystal-clear water and observe the many seabirds, particularly the magnificent frigatebirds.

Soon, deeply breathing in the air on the deck of the three-mast yacht, you will be enchanted by the infinite palette of blues in the Caribbean Sea. As you approach Les Saintes Bay, which is one of the world's most beautiful bays, you will glimpse Fort Napoleon crowning the summit of the island.

After this odyssey embracing the elements, feeling refreshed by this special experience aboard LePonant, as if you were on your very own yacht, you will return to terra firma in Pointe-à-Pitre.

Emblematic Antarctica

If there is one place on the globe that fires the imagination of travellers and arouses in them an instant thirst for adventure, it is the immaculate and faraway lands of the White Continent. Inhabited by a surprising endemic fauna, the Antarctic will welcome you during an 11-day expedition cruise.

At the border between the Atlantic and the Pacific oceans, you will enter Drake Passage. At the roaring fifties and the screaming sixties, the wind blows and the waves beat against the stern of the ship. In the sky, cape petrels lead you toward their realm until you reach the first of the continent's lands.

Ice is there in all its forms. The mountainous landscapes open up to give way to huge calving glaciers, tabular icebergs drift in the middle of the Southern Ocean, and the sea ice shimmers in the distance. On board, the naturalists share with you the secrets of this unique ecosystem. As you near the shores, the first penguins appear. Gentoo, Adélie, chinstrap: these surprising birds, emblematic of the Antarctic, share their beaches with leopard, crabeater and Weddell seals. During an outing on land or at sea, in a zodiac dinghy or a kayak, you will move through a stunning scenery bathed in polar light.

We are privileged guests in these extreme lands where we are at the mercy of weather and ice conditions. 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 IAATO. 

The St. Lawrence River in the Heart of the Boreal Winter

With featured guest Sue Flood, British Photo Ambassador.

Le Commandant Charcot, a technological wonder capable of sailing in the most extreme environments, is opening up new horizons in unrivalled comfort and invites you to explore the Saint Lawrence. This river is not accessible to traditional ships in winter, so this exclusive and all-new PONANT journey lifts the veil on unique great open spaces, where the waters, once turbulent, freeze into ice, and where the forests are dressed in an immaculate white coat.

You will sail among different states and forms of ice - from drifting and fragmented sea ice to solid ice - and will be able to admire the evolution of this spectacular natural scenery from the reassuring cocoon of Le Commandant Charcot. In these lands, only the murmur of broken ice, bearing mysteries and legends, disturbs the calmness. Aboard the ship or on shore, you will seize the opportunities to explore these places where nature reigns supreme and in never-ending variety: boreal forests of immaculate conifers, snow-covered valleys and a sea of ice. Set off to discover this enchanting environment, thanks to winter activities such as hiking or snowshoeing, dog sledding or ice fishing. Perhaps you will be lucky enough to observe the emblematic caribou and moose in their natural habitat.

In this region, where souls are filled with deep serenity, the colourful houses and fishing huts stand valiantly. Their sparkling facades, in bright and vibrant colours, defy the harshness of the winter landscape. Here, where there is "no other place where you can feel the cold with as much warmth" (a Saguenay proverb), you will experience the welcome and conviviality of the Quebecois and the Innu people during privileged encounters. These indigenous communities, part of the First Nations, will tell you about their history, legends and ancestral traditions.

A journey suspended in time, where lives blend with the natural elements and where the wild beauty of nature is revealed in its full splendour.

The itinerary is subject to modifications. On board, the sailing programme, outings and activities cannot be guaranteed and are subject to weather and ice conditions

Mythical Sites & Islands of South-East Asia

From Bali to Phuket, set off on an all-new 16-day cruise to discover the coasts of South-East Asia. Dive into the Indonesian cultural melting pot, immersing yourself in the diversity of the landscapes featuring jungle, volcanic mountains and white sandy beaches. PONANT invites you to discover the natural jewels and historic cities of Malaysia and Thailand, with their heavenly islands, exceptional natural heritage, and cultural discoveries at the crossroads of Asian and Western influences.

Throughout your journey, you will benefit from an excursion included per person per port of call, to choose from a selection offered by PONANT. During this cruise, set off to discover Borobudur, the world's largest Buddhist compound, appreciate the surrealist landscape of Mount Bromo and explore the historical city of Malacca, which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The diversity of experiences on offer promises you intense and varied moments (to discover the full range of excursions, go to the itinerary tab).

Leaving from the "island of gods", Bali, Le Lapérouse will set sail to Java with a first port of call in Probolinggo, from where you will travel to Mount Bromo. Following a morning departure from the ship, once you reach the top of the crater, you will observe a lunar landscape. The journey will continue to Surabaya, nicknamed "the city of heroes" due to the important role it played in the country's independence during the Indonesian National Revolution. On the north coast of Java, Semarang, a cosmopolitan city with Chinese, Indo-Arabic and European influences, stands before you. From there, you will set off to discover the incredible site of Borobudur. Listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, this monumental Buddhist templecompound from the 8th and 9th centuries is an artistic marvel with over 500 Buddha statues.

On Bangka Island, a veritable verdant jewel off the east coast of Sumatra, you enjoy unique moments far from overcrowded beaches. Protected by immense granite rocks, Parai Beach, north-east of Bangka Island, is a tropical Eden. 

Le Lapérouse will then reach the southern tip of Malaysia and make a port of call in Singapore, a multicultural city rich in contrasts whose Botanic Gardens are a UNESCO World Heritage Site. You cross the Strait of Malacca, once a strategic hub of the spice and silk trade, and discover the colourful and multicultural island of Penang, known for its British colonial buildings, its Chinese shops and its mosques.

The ship heads to Langkawi Island, where you will discover scenery including picturesque rice fields and hills covered in rainforest. Your cruise continues along the coast of Thailand. In a sublime setting of emerald water, karstic cliffs, mangrove and white sand, Le Lapérouse also drops anchor off the coast of the uninhabited island of Ko Rok Nok, a paradise for swimming and relaxation.

Your trip will end in the province of Phang Nga, to the north of the island of Phuket. With vast stretches of lush old-growth forest, stunning waterfalls and sublime fine-sand beaches, it is one of the wildest regions in Thailand.

Emblematic Antarctica

If there is one place on the globe that fires the imagination of travellers and arouses in them an instant thirst for adventure, it is the immaculate and faraway lands of the White Continent. Inhabited by a surprising endemic fauna, the Antarctic will welcome you during an 11-day expedition cruise.

At the border between the Atlantic and the Pacific oceans, you will enter Drake Passage. At the roaring fifties and the screaming sixties, the wind blows and the waves beat against the stern of the ship. In the sky, cape petrels lead you toward their realm until you reach the first of the continent's lands.

Ice is there in all its forms. The mountainous landscapes open up to give way to huge calving glaciers, tabular icebergs drift in the middle of the Southern Ocean, and the sea ice shimmers in the distance. On board, the naturalists share with you the secrets of this unique ecosystem. As you near the shores, the first penguins appear. Gentoo, Adélie, chinstrap: these surprising birds, emblematic of the Antarctic, share their beaches with leopard, crabeater and Weddell seals. During an outing on land or at sea, in a zodiac dinghy or a kayak, you will move through a stunning scenery bathed in polar light.

We are privileged guests in these extreme lands where we are at the mercy of weather and ice conditions. 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 IAATO. 

Zanzibar, Aldabra & the Treasures of the Indian Ocean

Embark with PONANT aboard Le Bougainville for a 13-day expedition cruise in the Indian Ocean. A chance to discover stunning natural environments, exceptional wildlife and UNESCO World Heritage sites loaded with history. 

From Zanzibar, a city with superb UNESCO-listed buildings, blending African, Arab, Indian and European influences over more than a millennium, you will first reach the coral island of Misali.

After visiting of Pemba Island and its clove plantations and fantastic scuba diving, your next port of call will be an opportunity to discover the ruins of the 13th-century Swahili trading past of Kilwa Kisiwani.

You will reach stunning Assumption Island before setting sail for the Aldabra Atoll, a pristine sanctuary listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Edged with mangrove and fine sandy beaches, it is home to the largest colony of land turtles in the world.

Further on, the small island of Astove will provide an opportunity for snorkelling and diving in search of underwater life shimmering with colours.

You will extend these activities at sea and on land on the sublime Saint François Atoll.

Before disembarking in Victoria on the island of Mahé, a veritable picture-postcard awaits you in La Digue: palm trees, granite rocks, white sand and crystal-clear waters.

The encounters with the wildlife described above illustrate possible experiences only and cannot be guaranteed.

Zanzibar, Aldabra & the Treasures of the Indian Ocean

Embark with PONANT aboard Le Dumont-d'Urville for a 13-day expedition cruise in the Indian Ocean. A chance to discover stunning natural environments, exceptional wildlife and UNESCO World Heritage sites loaded with history. 

From Victoria on the island of Mahé, you will first sail to La Digue, where a veritable picture-postcard of the Seychelles awaits you: palm trees, granite rocks, white sand and crystal-clear waters.

You will then sail to the sublime Saint-François atoll before reaching Aldabra Atoll, a largely untouched natural sanctuary listed as World Heritage by UNESCO. Edged with mangrove and fine sandy beaches, it is home to the largest colony of land turtles in the world. Further on, the small island Astove will provide an opportunity to snorkel and dive among bright-coloured sea life.

After a stop on the sublime Assumption Island, your next ports of call will provide opportunities to discover several of the wonders of Tanzania. You will explore the ruins of the 13th-century Swahili trading past of Kilwa Kisiwani, the small coral island of Misali as well as Pemba Island and its clove plantations and fantastic scuba diving.

This fabulous trip will draw to an end in Zanzibar, a city with superb UNESCO-listed buildings, blending African, Arab, Indian and European influences over more than a millennium.

The encounters with the wildlife described above illustrate possible experiences only and cannot be guaranteed.

Expedition to Southern Lands

In South Georgia and on the shores of the White Continent, follow in the footsteps of the greatest explorers during a 18-day polar expedition cruise. Jean-Baptiste Charcot, Adrien de Gerlache, Ernest Shackleton, these legendary names evoke the most prodigious adventures, which PONANT is offering you the chance to discover during an unforgettable trip.

Le Boréal will leave Ushuaia, for South Georgia. It is there, amid the snow-covered mountains, that Sir Ernest Shackleton miraculously ran aground during the famous Endurance Odyssey in 1916, before returning to rescue the rest of his crew, left behind on the remote Elephant Island. You will travel back in time to (re)discover this fabulous saga and life at this little-known time in history.

You will sail on the Southern Ocean to reach the frozen shores of the nearly inaccessible White Continent, Antarctica. White shades take on a thousand nuances as it covers the icebergs, glaciers, mountains and frozen sea all around you. You will be one of the rare few travellers to have laid eyes on this legendary land, the theatre of the greatest expeditions and the witness of the most extraordinary adventures.

Throughout your trip, our team of naturalist guides will share with you the secrets of these faraway lands inhabited by unique wildlife. Discover the vast territory of the penguins - Adelie, king, chinstrap, Gentoo, Magellanic, southern rockhopper - albatrosses, numerous species of seals, and majestic whales blowing on the horizon.

To disembark in Ushuaia, in Tierra del Fuego, you will have to sail along Drake Passage. At the border between the Atlantic and the Pacific oceans, you will enter this mythical maritime route. The wind blows, the waves crash against the stem of the ship, and the cape petrels keep you company overhead until the end of your expedition.

We are privileged guests in these extreme lands where we are at the mercy of weather and ice conditions. 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 IAATO. 

Secrets of Central America

PONANT takes you to discover Panama and Costa Rica with an 11-day expedition cruise. A circuit of extraordinary beauty around the isthmus of Panama, a link between two continents, which concentrates a biodiversity that is unique in the world; from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean, you will experience dream islands, natural reserves and encounters with the fascinating local communities.

First, you will visit the superb Curú nature reserve. Deep inside the tropical rainforest you may be lucky enough to see multicoloured birds, monkeys, iguanas and sloths. You will then set off for a memorable day spent discovering DrakeBay.

The next stage of your cruise: Rio Esquinas. You will ride aboard one of our zodiac dinghies to observe this lush environment where monumental mangroves and emblematic species reign supreme.

During a first stop in Panama, in front of Cebaco Island, you will have the possibility to enjoy the beach or to take walks nearby.

Your ship will then head for the magnificent Darien National Park in Panama. This little corner of paradise is a UNESCO World Heritage site and home to remarkable plants and wildlife. Sandy beaches, rocky coastlines, mangroves, swamps and tropical rainforests vie with each other for beauty and offer a feast for photographers. This will also be an opportunity to meet the astonishing semi-nomadic Emberas community.

Le Bellot will sail to the heart of the Pearl Islands, nestling in the Gulf of Panama. There, our naturalists will offer to take you on an outing in a zodiac dinghy. Then, you will cross the legendary Panama Canal that connects the Pacific and the Atlantic.

You will then discover the golden sand and crystal-clear waters of the coral islets of the San Blas Islands. The Kuna live among the palm trees and pirogues; this people perpetuates, among other things, the traditional craft of molas, weaved textiles in sparkling colours.

San Lorenzo's Fort is the final port of call on your cruise aboard Le Bellot. Admire this unusual fortress built by the Spanish Crown to protect transatlantic trade. Now classified as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, it is an exceptional example of military architecture from the 17th and 18th centuries.

The encounters with the wildlife described above illustrate possible experiences only and cannot be guaranteed.

Gliding the Waters of the Windward Islands

Le Ponant, the first Relais & Châteaux sailing yacht. The finest travel address on the waters of the world.

The Caribbean. The mere mention of this vast archipelago conjures images of waves dancing along the shoreline, lapping against long beaches lined with elegant palm trees. During this unforgettable 8-day cruise, spend your time contemplating and exploring aboard PONANT's emblematic yacht.

You will move away from the shores of Guadeloupe and sail under wind power towards Dominica, the wildest and most mountainous island in the Lesser Antilles. In Portsmouth, in a local boat, you will go deep into the fascinatingmangals of the Indian River edged with mangrove trees and populated with green herons, moorhens, pelicans and kingfishers. On the banks, you will meet the Kalinago people, one of the indigenous Caribbean peoples. The chief will welcome you into his village, tell you about the history of his people and invite you to taste their food.

In the muted décor of Le Ponant, each moment of your cruise is steeped in the peacefulness of the Caribbean. It is now time to set sail for Saint Vincent and the Grenadines. Carried by the wind dancing around the ship's rigging, you will reach this strikingly beautiful archipelago. From island to island, savour the gentleness of the Creole way of life, admire the beauty of the sunsets, and explore the waters teeming with life.

Following a port of call on Bequia, where an indigenous fisherman is trying to save Hawksbill sea turtles from extinction, you have a very good chance of finding yourself face to face with one of these creatures in the warm and crystal-clear waters of Tobago Cays and Sandy Island. Thanks to the horseshoe-shaped coral reef connecting these four uninhabited islets, the Tobago Cays archipelago constitutes a real marine wildlife reserve that you can explore while swimming, diving or snorkelling. Back on your yacht, stretched out on the deck, barefoot and facing the wind, you will see the terns and pelicans flying in the azure-blue sky.

After sailing beneath the stars, the jagged silhouette of the pitons of Saint Lucia will appear on the horizon in the early morning light. Weather permitting, you will drop anchor and make the most of the rear deck to swim in this picture-postcard setting. In the evening, you will arrive in Les Anses-d'Arlet. With its colourful houses set on the beach, the tall brick-coloured church belltower standing out against a background of green mountains, and the pontoon jutting out over the sea, it is a perfect spot for admiring the sunset.

On Marie-Galante, the final port of call of your cruise, you will enjoy practically deserted beaches and be immersed in an authentic and agricultural atmosphere focused on growing sugar cane. After this crossing in the form of an ode to freedom, you will gently return to terra firma in Pointe-à-Pitre.