Disko Bay: Meeting the Inuit & Discovering the Unknown

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Follow the Davis Strait currents and Qaqortoq, the largest town in southern Greenland, reveals itself in a rocky setting covered in immaculate white in winter and enchanting green in summer. From the moment your ship enters the fjord edging the town, off in the distance you will be able to glimpse the delightful, brightly-coloured houses built upon the hillsides surrounding this charming fishing port, the most southerly in Greenland. You will have the opportunity to wander around the streets of the town centre which have distinct Danish influences and are home to numerous historical buildings and landmarks, such as the country’s famous and oldest fountain, topped with whales. Not far from there, you will also have the chance to discover the town’s open-air fish market, where fishermen come to sell the day’s catch.

In the heart of Greenland's icy waters lies the island of Uunartoq, a harsh and wild land forged by the constant Arctic winds. Discovered in 2005 by explorer Dennis Schmitt, Uunartoq is an impressive island of sheer cliffs sculpted by the relentless waves and home to unexpected natural wonders. An icy mantle covers every part of this austere land, with the exception of a hidden cove where hot springs defy the harshness of the Arctic cold. Surrounded by icebergs and drifting glacial ice, Uunartoq offers an unusual activity: the chance to swim in a natural pool carved out of the rock. Here, after a polar hike, you will have the opportunity to shed your winter clothes, immerse yourself in these relaxing springs and let the warmth soothe each of your muscles as it envelops your body.

The Prince Christian Sound natural strait is located in the south of Greenland and connects the Labrador Sea to the Irminger Sea. It is home to a veritable labyrinth of spectacularly beautiful steep fjords. Imposing mountains, majestic glaciers and grandiose cliffs offer a unique sailing experience, during which you will perhaps be lucky enough to glimpse bearded seals relaxing on the ice. This exceptional natural setting is also an invitation to walking and polar hiking in the heart of striking Arctic landscapes. Within this wild setting, the village of Aappilattoq, founded in the 1920s, will reveal itself. Fall under the charm of its church in which you will hear the songs of a welcoming choir, and discover the traditional way of life of its inhabitants, focused on hunting, fishing and livestock farming.

A small, authentic village on the southern coast of Labrador, Red Bay immerses you in a unique atmosphere, combining wild nature, a fascinating history, and maritime culture. This UNESCO-listed heritage gem is home to one of the world’s best-preserved Basque whaling sites. Fall under the spell of its serenity and imagine the lives of the whalers of old as you visit its museums or explore the neighbouring Saddle Island, a wind-beaten land of silence, sea spray and traces of the past.

In the immense and mythical Greenland, in the Prince Christian Sound region, your ship will make its way to the Kujalleq Glacier. You will be captivated by this frozen tongue, in front of which dance small icebergs and a few growlers. Growler is the surprising name given to chunks of ice that are smaller fragments of an iceberg. They are either white or, more remarkably, blue-green. Birds fly in your wake and bearded seals observe you from afar, stretched out on granite rocks. Combined with the surrounding ice, these rocks form a magical landscape that immerses you in the polar realm.

In the azure setting of the Newfoundland coast, Twillingate stands like a rare jewel, with its jagged cliffs embracing the ocean. This picturesque haven, inhabited for over 3,000 years, was once the fiefdom of intrepid fishermen. The municipality now proudly shelters its secular lighthouse, an immutable sentinel facing the Atlantic. In this area, as soon as you arrive on the island, you will make the most of six walking trails in the heart of the famous Rockcut Twillingate Trails, from where you will be able to admire the striking views of local birdlife, unique geological formations and, if you are lucky, majestic northern moose. These itineraries wind their way through wild and preserved nature, providing a complete immersion in a coastal ecosystem featuring rare beauty. For those wishing to enjoy a more contemplative experience, the local museum, the historic lighthouse and the church make for very rich cultural alternatives, enabling visitors to explore the secrets of Twillingate fascinating maritime heritage, which is remarkably concentrated.

Located on the south-eastern coast of Greenland, the Timmiarmiut Fjord opens onto a world of vertiginous alpine mountains whose jagged peaks rise to over 2,000 metres (6,560 ft) and plunge directly into the icy waters below. Lined by active glaciers and both extremely remote and rarely visited, Timmiarmiut embodies the very essence of polar exploration. In this pristine, untouched environment, you may be fortunate enough to spot a polar bear.

The north-east of Greenland is renowned for being home to one of the oldest and thickest layers of ice on the planet. Aboard your ship, you will have the unique opportunity of sailing to the heart of this icy wilderness, many thousands of years old, and will travel along one of the world's most isolated coasts, between drifting ice and blue icebergs.

2 available excursions

Earth's Geological Showcase, St. John's and Cape Spear

In Tasiilaq, on Ammassalik Island, follow in the wake of Captain Jean-Baptiste Charcot’s famous ship, the Pourquoi Pas ?, which set off with its crew in 1935 to discover this small island of primitive and wild beauty that remained unexplored until the end of the 19th century. Along with Ittoqqortoormiit, a village with 500 inhabitants located at the entrance of the Scoresby Sound, the village of Tasiilaq and its surroundings, 800 kilometres (500 miles) further north, are the only inhabited areas on the east coast of Greenland. The name of this island is a reference to the capelin, a small flamboyant silver-coloured fish whose presence in the thousands announces to inhabitants the return of spring. A surprising discovery in a spectacular setting.

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.

Iceland’s capital stretches along the edge of a vast bay in the west of the country. Perlan, the “Pearl of Reykjavík”, a museum located on ’Oskjuhlið hill, offers a panoramic view of the lush, green landscapes. A little further, one can easily spot the signpost showing the way to the evangelical Hallgrímskirkja church, and to the historical centre where one can stroll along the Skólavördustígur and the Laugavegur, two lively streets with charming small shops. For some relaxation just outside of the city, visitors have the opportunity to visit the Reykjanes peninsula and its famous thermal lagoons of the Blue Lagoon.