Pearls of the Black Sea

Departing from Istanbul, Ponant brings you an itinerary along the coastlines in the Black Sea, to discover the Turkish, Bulgarian, Ukrainian and Georgian shores. During this 11-day cruise, Le Bougainville will take you to exceptional natural and historic sites. Your trip will begin with the discovery of the city of Varna, in Bulgaria. Renowned for its fine sandy beaches, this major city also features an important architectural heritage from the end of the 19th century, such as the Cathedral of the Assumption, built after the cathedral of Saint Petersburg.

Further north, Odessa, the...read more pearl of the Black Sea. This city will win you over with its unique charm resulting from the mix of Slavic and Mediterranean cultures. Don't miss the chance to visit its palaces, its catacombs, its magnificent opera house, and of course take a detour via the legendary giant stairway immortalised in the film Battleship Potemkin.

After a stopover in Georgia, in Batumi, your ship will then make its way to the Turkish coast, where the ports of call will be of great cultural and historical interest. First, Trabzon and Samsun, at the gateway to Anatolia, then, not far from Bartin, the ancient city of Safranbolu, boasting typical Ottoman architecture. Listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, it was a major caravan station between Europe and the East. Then you will reach Istanbul, a rich historical UNESCO listed site, at the end of a magnificent cruise.