Expedition to the Edge of the Ice Sheet

Reykjavik, the vibrant capital of Iceland, offers a blend of natural beauty and cultural richness. Begin your day exploring the striking Hallgrímskirkja church, with its panoramic city views from the tower. Wander through the colorful streets of the Old Harbor, where you can find quirky shops, cozy cafes, and stunning views of Mount Esja.

Don't miss the Harpa Concert Hall, an architectural marvel on the waterfront, or a visit to the National Museum for a deep dive into Icelandic history. Recharge at one of Reykjavik's many geothermal pools, like the Blue Lagoon, just a short drive from the city. Wrap up your visit with a stroll along the scenic Sun Voyager sculpture, capturing the spirit of adventure and discovery.

Reykjavik, the vibrant capital of Iceland, offers a blend of natural beauty and cultural richness. Begin your day exploring the striking Hallgrímskirkja church, with its panoramic city views from the tower. Wander through the colorful streets of the Old Harbor, where you can find quirky shops, cozy cafes, and stunning views of Mount Esja.

Don't miss the Harpa Concert Hall, an architectural marvel on the waterfront, or a visit to the National Museum for a deep dive into Icelandic history. Recharge at one of Reykjavik's many geothermal pools, like the Blue Lagoon, just a short drive from the city. Wrap up your visit with a stroll along the scenic Sun Voyager sculpture, capturing the spirit of adventure and discovery.

During your journey at sea, make the most of the many services and activities on board. Treat yourself to a moment of relaxation in the spa or stay in shape in the fitness centre. Depending on the season, let yourself be tempted by the swimming pool or a spot of sunbathing.

This journey without a port of call will also be an opportunity to enjoy the conferences or shows proposed on board, depending on the activities offered, or to do some shopping in the boutique or to meet the Ponant photographers in their dedicated space. As for lovers of the open sea, they will be able to visit the ship’s upper deck to admire the spectacle of the waves and perhaps be lucky enough to observe marine species. A truly enchanted interlude, combining comfort, rest and entertainment.

Situated on Ammassalik Island and facing the beautiful King Oscar Fjord, Tasiilaq is East Greenland’s main town and one of the most isolated inhabited places in the world. Its brightly coloured buildings lie beautifully by a bay, surrounded by pointed mountains that reach towards the sky.

In summer, the green meadows are an amazing contrast to the millions of icebergs you find in the Sermilik Fjord just a few miles away. It is a hiker's paradise where you will find green valleys, icebergs in many shades, whales, beautiful views, and high mountain peaks.

Sermilik Fjord is the largest fjord in the south-east of Greenland and its spectacular scenery will captivate all who visit.

To the north, the Schweitzerland Alps and their peaks that rise to an altitude of more than 3,000 metres stretch out in the distance, while in the south, where it opens onto the Irminger Sea, heavy erosion has carved the landscape.

Three main glaciers calve a multitude of dazzling icebergs that drift serenely along the indigo waters of this majestic fjord. It owes its name to the Inuit word Sermilik, which generally refers to a fjord into which a glacier flows.

Located on the south-east coast of Greenland, Skjoldungen Island is an uninhabited land boasting magnificent landscapes. The island is surrounded by a stunning fjord which, due to its double entrance, forms a bend before joining the sea on the other side.

Mountains, glacial valleys, rocky outcrops, tundra and willow forests make up the beautiful scenery of this island. At this port of call, surrounded by wild and pristine nature, it is quite common to see bearded seals, orcas, but also birds such as the common redpoll, the northern wheatear, or the common raven.

Prince Christian Sound or Prins Christian Sund is a dramatically picturesque fjord in the south of Greenland with gorgeous glaciers, steep mountains reaching over 2,200 metres, crystal-clear waterfalls fed by the ice sheet and untouched wildlife.

Here, whales swim along the iceberg-dotted shores and bearded seals love to lie on the floating ice to soak up the sunshine.

Bright blue and purple flowers come out during the summer and visitors may get to witness an aurora borealis, a stunning light show put on by the polar night.

Hvalsey, located in southern Greenland, is home to the best-preserved Norse ruins in the country, offering a fascinating glimpse into Greenland’s Viking history. The Hvalsey Church, built in the 14th century, stands as a remarkable testament to medieval Norse architecture and is the site of the last recorded Norse wedding in Greenland in 1408.

Hvalsey is part of the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Kujataa farming complex, which highlights the unique agricultural practices of both Norse and Inuit cultures in the subarctic region. The surrounding area is characterised by stunning natural beauty, with rugged landscapes, fjords, and lush valleys that contrast with the ancient stone structures. Visitors can explore the ruins and the serene Greenlandic countryside, gaining insight into the life of the Norse settlers who once inhabited this remote part of the world.

Igaliku is a versatile, family-oriented, open-air destination with Norse ruins, modern agriculture, sheep farms, and many hiking opportunities.

It is the oldest sheep farming settlement in Greenland and boasts tall mountains with peaks covered by snow, rolling valleys lush with flowers, tall grass and sheep.

The town has a collection of sandstone houses, so different from the very distinctive wooden houses in Greenland, which hint at the settlements norse history.

Ikka Fjord in Greenland is renowned for its unique underwater forest of ikaite columns, a rare and fascinating natural phenomenon found only in this fjord. The fjord's icy waters and dramatic landscapes offer a stark, otherworldly beauty, perfect for those seeking an off-the-beaten-path adventure.

Above water, the surrounding area provides breathtaking views and opportunities for hiking and wildlife spotting, including seals and seabirds. The small nearby settlement of Narsaq is worth a visit for its charming atmosphere and insights into Greenlandic culture and traditions. Whether exploring underwater wonders or enjoying serene natural beauty, Ikka Fjord promises an unforgettable experience.

Nuuk, the capital of Greenland, offers a unique blend of contemporary living and traditional Arctic culture. Situated at the mouth of one of the largest and most spectacular fjord systems in the world, the city is a gateway to vast icebergs and remote Inuit communities. Nuuk's cultural significance is highlighted at the Greenland National Museum, which showcases artefacts from the Saqqaq culture and well-preserved mummies from Qilakitsoq.

Urban life in Nuuk is vibrant yet intimate, with local cafes and shops offering a taste of modern Greenlandic life. The city's backdrop of sharp peaks and the nearby Sermitsiaq mountain provide a constant reminder of Greenland’s rugged natural beauty. Explore the fjord and gain a direct view of ice floes and marine wildlife, while discovering both culture and adventure in this remote city.

During your cruise, we invite you to discover Sisimiut, founded in 1756 and the second largest town in Greenland. This small town is typical of Greenland, boasting bewitching panoramas: here and there, colourful stilt houses dot the undulating landscape, and the small fishing port stands as the gateway to an icy realm. As for the town centre, it is home to a number of historic buildings, a small church and a museum which retraces the history of the Inuit people, as well as many craft shops. When your ship drops anchor here, you will set out to meet the locals in a typically arctic atmosphere.

The Eqi Glacier is one of the most active in Greenland. Here, the silence is broken only by the roaring and cracking of the ice. Imagine the vast outline of a glacier, its translucent crystals glowing with an ice-blue fire in the sunlight.

Eqi Glacier is often referred to as the calving glacier as you are guaranteed to see small and large pieces of ice breaking off the five kilometre wide glacier. Visitors are able to see Paul-Émile Victor’s shelter where the French Polar Expeditions’ anthropological and geographic explorations set off in the 1950s.

Disko Bay is scattered with countless icebergs produced by the Ilulissat Icefjord, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. From your ship, admire the majestic ballet of these ice giants as they slowly drift across the dark waters. This site is a natural marvel of Greenland, and is also renowned as an observation point for the region’s many humpback whales.

Visitors can choose to explore the bay by small boat, to head ashore to stroll through the town of Ilulissat or to enjoy a walk to the idyllic Sermermiut valley. Ships will anchor offshore and tenders will be provided to the shore.

Located a few kilometres away from the Arctic Circle, the Nooralaq peninsula features raw and untamed beauty. Nature reigns supreme here, with the tundra stretching as far as the eye can see, decked out in various forms of flora and inhabited by Greenland’s emblematic fauna — snow buntings, common ravens, reindeer, musk oxen, and the discreet Arctic fox. The heights of Nooralaq afford sublime panoramas over the Itteleq fjord, whose water reflects the moving skies of the Far North.

When Erik Le Rouge, the exiled Norse chief, landed on the coast of Nuuk, he found a fertile and welcoming land dotted with fjords. He settled there with a group of his former countrymen, and the Norse remained the principal inhabitants until, over a period of 500 years, their population declined and gave way to the Inuit. Nuuk is situated at the mouth of one of the largest networks of fjords in the world, where the waters never freeze.

The town spreads gently out towards the Davis Strait and enjoys an historic center that is particularly rich in national heritage. The vivid reds, blues, greens and yellows of the houses are a lively contrast to the somber waters of Greenland and serve to lift the spirits of the locals during the Winter months.