From Greenland to Svalbard in Luxury

From Greenland to Svalbard in Luxury 17 Days

Prices From £27,220pp
May to July | 16 nights

Free Single Supplement!

From Greenland to Svalbard in Luxury 17 Days

Aboard: Le Commandant Charcot

Step aboard Le Commandant Charcot and journey beyond the Arctic Circle on an expedition that follows in the footsteps of legendary polar explorers. This remarkable voyage leads you to the remote northeast coast of Greenland, an area unreachable by traditional ships in late spring, before continuing on to the pristine wilderness of Svalbard. Equipped with cutting-edge technology and guided by expert naturalists, Le Commandant Charcot unlocks one of the most inaccessible regions of the Far North, offering rare opportunities for exploration amid drifting pack ice and otherworldly seascapes.

Sailing through storied regions like Ammassalik, Blosseville, and Ittoqqortoormiit, you'll traverse landscapes tied to Arctic legends such as Paul-Émile Victor and Jean-Baptiste Charcot. The journey north reveals endless ice floes and glowing glaciers, while eastward toward Svalbard, the scenery becomes even more surreal. See Europe’s largest ice cap in Nordaustlandet, towering basalt cliffs, and the dramatic fjords of the Hinlopen Strait. In the remote Søraust-Svalbard Nature Reserve, look out for whales, Arctic birds, and the elusive Svalbard reindeer. Whether gliding silently in a kayak, venturing out by zodiac, or observing from the ship’s decks, this is a true Arctic odyssey, where the light dances on the ice and nature reveals its most breathtaking secrets to those willing to go farther.

Various departures available, some of which may operate in reverse.

Highlights

  • Visit the beautiful Scoresby Sund, the longest fjord in the world!
  • Discover Northeast Greenland National Park, the largest national park in the world
  • Explore along the stunning coasts of Spitsbergen, Svalbard’s largest island
  • Discover Nordaustlandet, Europe’s largest ice cap
  • Incredible scenery at every turn – from majestic fjords and snow-capped mountains to Polar deserts, glaciers, icecaps, and icebergs
  • Search for sightings of a huge variety of iconic wildlife including Polar bears, orcas, narwhals, musk oxen, walruses, reindeer, and a myriad of seabirds
  • Visit remote Inuit communities to share in their traditions and learn all about life this far north
  • Enjoy thrilling Zodiac and hovercraft cruises, shore visits and hiking opportunities
  • Exciting activity options including kayaking, hiking, snowshoeing, ice fishing, polar plunge, ice floating, dog sledding and participative science (select departures - fees may apply for some activities)

What's Included

  • Full board accommodation on board, including bar/beverage service
  • Flight from Longyearbyen to Paris post-voyage
  • Transfer from ship to airport post-voyage
  • Zodiac cruises and shore excursions
  • Entertainment and expert lecture programme
  • Loan of rubber boots
  • Expedition parka

Free Single Supplement!

Free Single Supplement! Book select departures now and the supplement for single usage of a double cabin will be waived!

Offer applicable when booked before 1st May 2026

Offer applies to new bookings, according to availability and staterooms categories. May be withdrawn at any time. / Available on selected dates/vessels.

Our popularitinerary Suggestions

All our itinerary holidays are fully customisable

Reykjavik - Embark
1Day

Reykjavik - Embark

Your thrilling Arctic trip begins in Reykjavik, the vibrant Icelandic capital, where after arriving independently you will make your way to the port to board your luxury expedition vessel. After settling into your supremely comfortable cabin and familiarising yourself with the fantastic facilities on board, you might wish to make your way to the deck to watch as we leave Iceland behind and set sail into the Denmark Strait towards Greenland.

We recommend arriving in Reykjavik a few days ahead of departure to allow you time to soak up the sights of this very special city and its beautiful surroundings. Please let us know if you would like any advice on places to visit and stay.

At Sea
2Day

At Sea

Today will be spent at sea sailing towards Greenland. This will be the perfect time to relax and enjoy the luxurious facilities on board including the spa, wellness centre, fitness centre, swimming pool and panoramic lounge. You might also choose to spend some time on deck looking for seabirds and whales following the ship and soaking up the beautiful surroundings.

Blosseville Coast
3 - 4Days

Blosseville Coast

Aboard your ship, follow in the footsteps of Jules Poret de Blosseville, a French explorer and sailor. In 1833, aboard La Lilloise, he set off to discover this isolated and unexplored part of eastern Greenland and gave French names to various sites on the coast. The adventure probably had an unfortunate outcome, since the crew was never found. This uninhabited territory, which now bears his name, lies to the south of Scoresby Sund. Surrounded by ice, icebergs and pieces of pack ice, Blosseville Coast is one of these wild and hard-to-reach places that very few people are lucky enough to explore.

Ittoqqortoormiit Region
5Day

Ittoqqortoormiit Region

On the East coast of Greenland, in the Ittoqqortoormiit region, you will have the rare opportunity of immersing yourself in the heart of isolated scenery and exploring the beauty of its landscapes. The high alpine mountains stand out in the sky, revealing dark rock edges. The region is home to the longest fjord system in the world, Scoresby Sound. On the edge of the fjord, the eponymous village is considered one of the most remote inhabited places in the world. The colourful houses, so typical of Greenland, dot the landscape with small red, yellow and blue patches that stand out against the surrounding arid landscape. Immersing yourself in this region will allow you to discover the ancestral way of life of the last hunters of the polar region. This will be a veritable deep-dive into the lives of the Arctic’s inhabitants.

Northeast Greenland Exploration
6 - 9Days

Northeast Greenland Exploration

We will now spend the next few days exploring along the jagged coastlines, gigantic fjords and breathtaking shores of Northeast Greenland National Park. Surrounded by magnificent alpine mountains, this is the largest National Park in the world and is a designated UNESCO Biosphere Reserve. As we explore by land and sea we will get up close to the area’s renowned nature and wildlife, hoping for sightings of the Polar bears and musk oxen that are often spotted in this wild and isolated area.

At sea
10 - 11Days

At sea

Spend exceptional moments sailing aboard Le Commandant Charcot, the world’s first luxury polar exploration vessel and the first PC2-class polar cruise ship capable of sailing into the very heart of the ice, on seas and oceans which the frozen conditions render inaccessible to ordinary ships. Le Commandant Charcot is fitted with oceanographic and scientific equipment selected by a committee of experts. Take advantage of the on-board lectures and opportunities for discussion with these specialists to learn more about the poles. Participate in furthering scientific research with PONANT and let us discover together what these fascinating destinations have yet to reveal to us.

Nordaust-Svalbard Nature Reserve
12 - 13Days

Nordaust-Svalbard Nature Reserve

The Nordaust-Svalbard Nature Reserve has been protecting the northernmost and coldest part of the archipelago, Nordaustlandet (North East Land), since 1973. This vast polar desert covered by two ice caps is the second largest island in the Svalbard archipelago. Protected by the Gulf Stream, the fjords and cliffs in the west and north are home to large colonies of birds and walruses. The landscapes in the colder east and south are dominated by imposing glaciers that calve majestic icebergs in the vast Hinlopen Strait. Large colonies of thick-billed murres have taken up residence on the sheer cliffs. You may even get the chance to see a bear or an Arctic fox roaming in the vicinity.

Sailing in the Hinlopen Strait
14Day

Sailing in the Hinlopen Strait

Sailing in the Hinlopen Strait, in the heart of the Arctic Ocean, between the Norwegian islands of Spitsbergen and Nordaustlandet promises an unforgettable experience. This territory of the Nordaust-Svalbard Nature Reserve offers breathtaking panoramas, with magnificent basalt formations and the ice cap stretching as far as the eye can see, diving into the sea. The shore line cut by the fjords moving inland composes a magical landscape in which icebergs float here and there, the result of the calving of the surrounding glaciers. This place, today a popular spot to observe the seabirds nesting in the enormous cliffs, polar bears and walruses, was once intrinsically linked to the history of the whalers who frequented the region from the 17th century. Indeed, it was one of them, Thijmen Jacobsz Hinlopen, then director of a Dutch whaling company, who gave the strait its name. Later on, Russian trappers, European explorers, scientists and even mountaineers roamed this region, as hostile as it is sublime.

Søraust-Svalbard Nature Reserve
15Day

Søraust-Svalbard Nature Reserve

The Søraust-Svalbard (Southeast Svalbard) Nature Reserve is the second largest protected area in Norway. Established in 1973, this nature conservation area stretching over more than 21,000 km2 will offer you stunning panoramas including coastal landscapes, rocky islets, mountain plateaux, vast tundra plains, and ice floes. With a little luck, you will be able to observe a wide variety of seabirds, given the site is listed as an Important Bird Area, as well as cetaceans, Svalbard reindeer, or even Arctic foxes. Among other things, Edgeoya Island is renowned for providing shelter to a number of polar bears during the breeding season.

Hornsund
16Day

Hornsund

Your final day in Svalbard will see you discover more of this fascinating archipelago and, more particularly, the Hornsund fjord. Considered to be Svalbard’s southernmost fjord, it is especially reputed to be its most stunning: at the end of its vast bay, 8 great glaciers slowly make their way down to the sea before giving way to the many icebergs elegantly drifting along its cold and mysterious waters.

Longyearbyen (disembark) to Paris
17Day

Longyearbyen (disembark) to Paris

As you arrive into beautiful Longyearbyen, the administrative capital of Svalbard, after breakfast it will be time to disembark and join your included flight to Paris where your itinerary sadly comes to an end. Numerous further Arctic adventures are available in Longyearbyen so please enquire should you wish to extend your experience and spend a few more days in this unique Arctic town.

A view from Above

All Aboard

Le Commandant Charcot
Luxury  first class vessel

Le Commandant Charcot

The truly luxurious, brand-new (2021) Le Commandant Charcot is the latest addition to the stunning fleet of high-class Ponant expedition ships. Re-imagining luxury Polar cruises, the ship is the very first hybrid-electric polar exploration ship powered by liquefied natural gas and has been designed with the greatest attention to detail in terms of safety and respect for the environment. Offering more comfort and luxury than any other expedition ship on the market, Le Commandant Charcot features a beautiful indoor swimming pool, a fantastic spa, gym and wellness area, and truly elegant common areas including a panoramic indoor restaurant, Blue Lagoon outdoor restaurant, lounge bar, observation lounge and conservatory. Every element of the ship has been designed to both convey French-style discreet luxury and arouse wonder and amazement.

The 123 exceptional suites and staterooms, ranging in size from 20 to 115 m², provide ultimate relaxation after a long day of exploring. With private balconies or terraces, each room allows for incredible views of your surroundings, and with their unique understated design, each room exudes the feeling and sense of sailing on a private yacht. Large comfortable beds, air-conditioning, minibars, satellite TV, Bose Bluetooth speakers, Wi-Fi, bathrobes and top-of-the-line toiletries are just a few of the room features. Premium rooms also feature a butler service, and some even have their own private jacuzzis.

Too much to choose from? This is where we come in

Take advantage of our vast experience, passion and expertise to help you hand craft the perfect Arctic adventure for you.

Michael Gardiner Senior Travel Expert

Mike has more than fifteen years hands-on experience in the industry, travelling to some of the most incredible wild places on the planet. His far-reaching knowledge and invaluable skills will ensure that your wildlife travel adventure is a dream come true.

Simon Rowland Senior Travel Expert

With a lifetime of unforgettable nature and adventure based travel under his belt, Simon shares his passion, enthusiasm and hands-on experience to help create the perfect itinerary for every client.

Sheena Ogley Senior Travel Expert

Having amassed a host of extraordinary adventures in destinations all over the world, Sheena’s experience, skills and enthusiasm for helping clients plan their ideal itinerary will help make your holiday unforgettable, action packed and life-changing.

Ready to start planning youronce in a lifetime trip?

Call us
0800 195 3385
Outside the uk
+ 44 1625 5811 43
Call us
+ 44 1625 5811 43
Call us
+ 44 1625 5811 43

Chat Now

Request a
callback

Fill in our
Enquiry form

Book Consultation

Book a
Consultation

text
close

Ready to start planning youronce in a lifetime trip?

Call us - 0800 195 3385
Outside the uk? + 44 1625 5811 43
+ 44 1625 5811 43 Call us - 0800 195 3385

Chat Now

Request a
callback

Fill in our
Enquiry form

Book Consultation

Book a
Consultation

Your Details

It would be great to know...

We are always looking for ways to improve the service we offer to our customers, so we would love to know...

1) How do you rate our website?
2) Where did you hear about us:

Tell us about your ideal trip

What are your interests?