Ancient jewels of the Mediterranean

Starting in Valletta, step aboard Le Bougainville for an 8-day cruise between the majestic Maltese coast and Greece. 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, meet a famous puppeteer in his workshop in Syracuse, discover the typical villages of Lefkes and Naoussa on the island of Paros, or visit the former Rodolico shipyard in Aci Trezza, near Taormina. The diversity of experiences on offer promises you intense and varied moments (to discover the full range of excursions, go...read more to the itinerary tab).

Then, Southern Italy promises suspended moments where the beauty of the shores combines with the beauty of its historical remnants, which remain fascinating. In Syracuse, the Sicilian soul unfolds across the island of Ortygia - the oldest part of the city -, a maze of small streets dotted with churches, palaces, ancient remnants, sheltering a majestic cathedral in its very heart. You will take the sea to discover Taormina, overlooking Etna's blanket of snow. Its streets will lead you to its famed ancient Greek theatre, where the quality of the acoustics is exceptional.

In Puglia, Gallipoli, meaning "beautiful town" in Greek, reveals its Hellenic origins and offers up its singular atmosphere, where life is good. You will then set sail for Galaxidi. You will be charmed by this picturesque village where calm and tranquillity reign. You will then cross the Corinth Canal and stop off at Hydra, a small island of old-worldly charm where motorised traffic is banned.

Finally, your ship will call at Paros. Nestling in the heart of the Cyclades archipelago, this island reputed for its sublime white marble offers a real concentration of Greek beauty, from whitewashed houses to olive groves to ancient monuments. Athens, the mythical city dominated by the Acropolis and its monuments, which form the most extraordinary architectural and artistic ensemble bequeathed to the world by Ancient Greece, will mark the end of this exceptional odyssey.