Fly from Paris and arrive at Kangerlussuaq. From 1941 to 1992, the town of Kangerlussuaq in Greenland was home to an American military base. Today, thanks to its international airport, it has become a transit point for travelers seeking adventure in the Far North. Located on the north of the Arctic Circle, this town is the starting point of explorers making magnificent discoveries and is surrounded by unspoiled nature. Just a few dozen kilometers from the town, it is possible to get close to the Greenland ice sheet, the largest body of ice in the Northern Hemisphere. From Kangerlussuaq, admire the superb landscapes of tundra in autumnal colors, where Arctic hares, musk oxen, Arctic foxes, reindeer, falcons, and eagles live. 

In the afternoon, embark on the L'Austral for your 8-day cruise.
 

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, colorful stilt houses dot the undulating landscape, and the small fishing port stands as the gateway to an icy realm. As for the town center, 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, set out to meet the locals in a typically Arctic atmosphere.

"The most beautiful place in the Arctic" is how Paul-Émile Victor described Greenland, a land of great table icebergs and of towering ice formations calved by the giant glaciers of the polar ice cap. The Eqi Glacier is one of the region’s most impressive sights. Here, the silence is broken only by the roaring and cracking of the ice. It is impossible to know if one is shivering from cold or from the sheer thrill of being here. Take in the vast outlines of glaciers, their translucent crystals glowing with an ice-blue fire in the sunlight. Paul-Émile Victor's shelter cannot be overlooked; it was from here that the French polar expeditions’ anthropological and geographic explorations set off in the 1950s. 

In the curve of Uummannaq Bay, opposite a narrow passage between two islands, discover the moonscape of the small desert island of Akulleq. The ochre yellow and orange of this mineral site look ablaze under the sunshine of the polar summer. From the island’s summit take in a panoramic view of the bay’s magical landscape and its huge icebergs with surprising shapes.

The heart-shaped rock overlooking it is what inspired the name of the island and village of Uummannaq, where the locals welcome you with their incredible sense of hospitality and humor, essential to their survival in these northern lands. Seven Inuit villages also dot this territory where people still get around on dog sleds or in kayaks. Combining tradition, respect for nature, and modernity, the authentic and lively atmosphere that reigns in this region will win over visitors, as will the magnificent landscapes that compose it.

To the east of Baffin Bay, discover Disko Bay, 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. The encounters with wild fauna and stunning landscapes in the heart of this spectacular and fragile ecosystem will be pure moments of wonder.

Optional excursions such as evening cruise, a guided walk to the Sermermiut and the ice fjord, and iceberg cruise are available for additional fees.

Opposite Ilulissat, sail to the southern coast of the large Disko Island and admire the fields of angelica and the spectacular volcanic cliffs of Kuannit, where numerous sea birds find refuge. Combining glaciers, snow-capped peaks, flowery valleys, lakes, beaches and volcanic formations, the island’s exceptionally lush environment has inspired local beliefs. The island is believed to have a legendary and distant origin: it is said to have been towed back from the south by fishermen in kayaks, fastened by the hair of a child.

On the southern coast of Disko Island lies Qeqertarsuaq, one of just two small villages on this island the size of Corsica. Its isolation makes it an observation post popular among naturalists since the beginning of polar exploration and the set-up, in 1906, of the Arctic Center research facility. This site is a natural marvel of Greenland and is renowned as an observation point for the region’s many humpback whales. The possible encounters with wildlife and stunning landscapes in the heart of this spectacular and fragile natural environment will be moments of sheer wonder, particularly from the top of the Lyngmark Glacier, which offers breathtaking views of the stunning and varied landscapes of Disko Bay and Disko Island.

The Dutch were the first Europeans to come and hunt whales on this island, which they called “isle of dogs” - Kitissuarsuit in Greenlandic. Indeed, when they arrived there in the summertime, the inhabitants had left the island, leaving behind their dogs, and moved to the neighboring fjords for a season of fishing. Kitissuarsuit is considered to be the larder of the small town of Aasiaat, which is further away from the fishing areas, and the villagers still live self-sufficiently thanks to the marine resources, while trying to keep their age-old traditions alive.

L'Austral glides slowly along the water towards the west coast of Greenland, to enter Evighedsfjorden, just a few kilometers south of Kangerlussuaq. Evighedsfjorden means “the fjord of Eternity”, and for good reason: just when you think you’ve reached the end of this stretch of sea measuring over 100 kilometers in length, it seems to go on forever, as though to bring even more pleasure to those sailing in it. The spectacular scenery ranges from glaciers to tundra with an abundant flora, to jagged cliffs where numerous bird species have taken up residence. Take the time to observe the white-tailed eagles and the colonies of seagulls and black-legged kittiwakes flying overhead in the area.

Disembark at Kangerlussuaq after breakfast and transfer to the airport for your flight back to Paris.