From Paris to Reykjavik · Northern Europe · 17 nights
The world’s first electric hybrid polar expedition ship, Le Commandant Charcot may be the most exciting addition yet to the Ponant fleet.
Jean-Baptiste Charcot was a true polar pioneer, and Ponant’s
icebreaker explores the parts of the Arctic and Antarctica that
other expedition vessels can’t reach. On board you can expect
Ponant’s customary French flair, and the ship is also designed to
have a minimal effect on the environment, with technological
innovations such as hybrid propulsion and an advanced waste water
treatment system.
Board your flight from the UK to Paris and take the complimentary shuttle to the Paris Marriott Charles de Gaulle Airport Hotel for a one-night stay including breakfast. The following day take the complimentary shuttle to the airport for your included flight to Longyearbyen to board the ship.
Longyearbyen is the largest settlement in Svalbard, remotely located in the high Norwegian Arctic, and originally built as a mining town. The locals continue to make the best of this hostile environment, and brightly painted wooden buildings line the main street. The surrounding area is breathtakingly beautiful.
Spitsbergen is the largest island in the Svalbard archipelago, a land of snowy peaks, frozen tundra and glassy seas. You’ll likely have no fixed itinerary here, due to the unpredictable nature of an Arctic expedition; be prepared to drop everything and rush up to the top deck for the chance of a polar bear sighting!
The beautiful Magdalenefjord is one of the most scenic spots in the Svalbard archipelago, and was once home to an English whaling station. The landscape of jagged alpine peaks, glaciers and sheltered beaches is a popular spot for shore landings, with the chance to spot wildlife including polar bears, walruses and reindeer.
Few people can say that they have stood at the one earthly spot where every direction is south! Crushing through the ice, admiring soaring seabirds and the stunning Arctic scenery, your voyage will be an extraordinary experience indeed.
The east coast settlement of Ittoqqortoormiit is one of the most remote in Greenland, a collection of brightly coloured wooden buildings that is home to around 450 people. The town is situated between the Northeast Greenland National Park and the dramatic Scoresbysund, the world’s longest fjord system.
Capital of Iceland and gateway to this extraordinary volcanic island, modern Reykjavík is home to an impressive collection of interesting attractions and places of historic significance. Visit the impressive Hallgrímskirkja church, relax in a thermal pool, potter around the old harbour, and enjoy 24 hour daylight in the summer months.
