Arctic Spring: A Journey Through Ice and Inuit Culture

When Erik the Red, a banished Norse leader, arrived near present-day Nuuk, he discovered a land with rich soil and numerous fjords. He and his fellow Norse settlers established a community that remained dominant for centuries. Over roughly 500 years, their numbers declined as Inuit populations gradually took over the region. Nuuk lies at the opening of one of the world’s largest fjord systems, where the sea stays ice-free year-round. The town extends toward the Davis Strait and features a historic district with strong ties to Greenland’s cultural legacy. Brightly painted houses in red, blue, green, and yellow stand out against the gray coastal landscape, offering visual relief during the dark winter season.

Sail on Le Commandant Charcot, the first PC2-class polar cruise ship built for luxury and equipped to navigate deep into ice-covered waters where standard vessels cannot go. Use advanced research tools onboard, chosen by a panel of experts, to explore polar regions. Join lectures and Q&A sessions with scientists to gain insight into the Arctic and Antarctic environments. Contribute to ongoing research efforts with PONANT and help uncover new findings in these remote areas.

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 nature will be pure moments of wonder for you.

Disko Island, called Qeqertarsuaq in Greenlandic, is one of the most spectacular jewels of the west coast of Greenland. It is crossed by an ice cap, which gives rise to small coastal glaciers and to immaculately white inland landscapes. At the end of the winter, the island unveils a magical face, between stretching ice, crystal-clear polar light and frozen fjords, offering the perfect setting for polar exploration. At this period, the south of the island is also home to bowhead whales, one of the rarest species in the world, which spend the winter in these polar waters. 

In the icy waters of Baffin Bay, you will sail into the heart of the scattered sea floe. You will be captivated by icebergs in dreamlike shapes as your ship takes you into the ice of the Far North. Everything comes in shades of white here and, if you watch closely, you may get a glimpse of the lord of this kingdom, the polar bear. This fascinating animal finds its food in the heart of the ice, so this is where you have more chances of spotting it. The polar light gives a shine to the ice floe that you sail along as you explore Baffin Bay, leaving you with memories of unforgettable moments.

During your cruise, the team invites 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, 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, you will set out to meet the locals in a typically arctic atmosphere.

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 a 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.