L'Austral, PONANT EXPLORATIONS

In the heart of the Northwest Passage: Kangerlussuaq, Greenland to Kangerlussuaq, Greenland

Embarkation date: 28.08.27

Duration: 19 nights

Your expedition begins in Kangerlussuaq on 28 August 2027, gateway to Greenland’s wilderness, where tundra landscapes and the immense Greenland ice sheet set the tone for your Arctic journey. The following day you arrive in Sisimiut, a colourful settlement with stilt houses, fishing traditions, and Inuit heritage. From there, sail to Kitsissuarsuit, or Dog’s Island, where villagers still live self-sufficiently from the sea, before reaching the ice-filled waters of Disko Bay, home to drifting icebergs and humpback whales. After a day at sea enjoying the ship’s comforts, you cross into Canada at Pond Inlet, a spectacular Inuit settlement framed by fjords and glaciers. The voyage continues through the Canadian Arctic Archipelago with stops at Queen Harbour, Dundas Harbour, and Croker Bay, where wildlife such as polar bears, musk oxen, and seabirds thrive. Somerset Island offers a vast tundra wilderness, while Fort Ross and the Bellot Strait recall the history of explorers navigating the fabled Northwest Passage. Encounters with belugas at Prescott Island, Franklin’s legacy at Beechey Island, and Mars-like Devon Island deepen the sense of adventure. Arctic Bay reveals whaling history and rugged hiking opportunities, while the Baffin Fjords astound with thousand-metre cliffs, narwhals, and orcas. Returning toward Greenland, you sail through Evighedsfjorden—the “Fjord of Eternity”—with its glaciers, soaring cliffs, and bird colonies, before completing your circle back to Kangerlussuaq on 16 September. This extraordinary voyage blends Inuit culture, legendary exploration routes, majestic fjords, Arctic wildlife, and the raw, untamed beauty of the Far North.

Wilderness of Greenland to the East Coast of Canada: Kangerlussuaq, Greenland to Halifax, Canada

Embarkation date: 16.09.27

Duration: 17 nights

Included – Arctic Kayak Discovery

Your journey begins in Kangerlussuaq, Greenland, on 16 September 2027, once a U.S. military base and now a gateway to the Arctic wilderness. From here, you may glimpse the vast Greenland ice sheet and tundra alive with musk oxen, Arctic foxes, and reindeer. The next day brings Nuuk, Greenland’s colourful capital, steeped in Norse and Inuit history, its bright houses standing out against sombre fjord waters. A day at sea follows, offering time to relax, enjoy lectures, or simply admire the open ocean. On 19 September, you arrive in Iqaluit, Nunavut’s small but culturally rich capital, where Inuit traditions and ancient archaeological sites reveal millennia of Arctic life. Nearby, the mighty Grinnell Glacier impresses with its towering walls of ice, while Akpatok Island reveals dramatic cliffs alive with seabirds, walruses, and possibly roaming polar bears. Sailing on, Nachvak Fjord in Labrador’s Torngat Mountains offers breathtaking vistas of sheer rock and glacial valleys. At Nain, the northernmost settlement of Newfoundland and Labrador, you’ll encounter daily Inuit life and panoramic views, while Rigolet charms with its wooden boardwalk, sealskin crafts, and abundant wildlife. Battle Harbour recalls a heritage of saltfish trade in a beautifully preserved National Historic Site. Continuing south, you visit L’Anse aux Meadows, the only confirmed Viking settlement in North America, before exploring the cliffs and trails of Twillingate, the dramatic coastline of Bonavista, and the fjord-lined beauty of Trinity Bay. St. John’s welcomes you with colourful houses and Signal Hill’s historic vistas, while Saint Pierre and Miquelon—France in North America—add a cultural twist with their rich history and vibrant wildlife. After a final day at sea, your unforgettable voyage concludes in Halifax on 3 October 2027, a maritime city of deep history, Titanic lore, and Nova Scotia charm.