Capturing the magic of the moment

A closer look at unique panoramas, a selection of travel ideas and expeditions to the farthest reaches of distant lands: in this section, Escales shares insider favourites. Fauna & flora, arts & heritage, gastronomy, architecture, history are all covered. Inspiration, no matter what you desire, no matter where you want to travel.
Capturing the magic of the moment
The Celtic soul on the edge of the Atlantic
Charming hamlets and picturesque fishing ports
A way of life
An unmissable weekend in Iceland
A natural paradise at the ends of the earth
Secret getaway in the Spanish archipelago
A selection of the best Scandinavian crime novels since Millennium
6 experiences in the heart of the Pacific
Embrace the charm of a Nordic winter
Paradise archipelagos
5 getaways from Scotland to Scandinavia
Find out all there is to know about these seabirds, which thrive in extreme cold
The story of an adventure to the ends of the earth
Polar bears, reindeers, whales, walruses…
Oasis between sea and ocean
Top 10 travel experiences
As many types of speciality coffee as there are countries
A polar sky illuminated by a magical spectacle
A gastronomic getaway with La Mamounia and Pierre Hermé Paris
The Marseille Jazz des cinq continents festival goes on a cruise
Get to know the last hunters of north-west Greenland
From scouting to setting sail
Through the eyes of photographer Julien Fabro
200 years of adventures on the edge of Greenland
A land of superlatives
Two very different destinations on a single island!
Expand your horizons
In the wake of Japanese merchants
A journey to the origins of the Earth
An adventure in one of nature’s great wildernesses
Everything you need to know before you go…
Breathe in paradise
Our top 10 experiences in the southernmost region of Portugal
The smallest Canary Islands
In the land of green gold
Exploring the island-continent’s hidden regions
The riches of South Island
Discovering little-known sides of Japan
Travel to the boundaries of reality
A heavenly chain of islands in the Caribbean
Take the time to immerse yourself in the places you visit
Fire, water, earth and air: an immersion in the essence of eastern wisdom
A multi-faceted sensory journey
Interview with Christian Makarian, deputy editor of L’Express
Embark on a spiritual journey to subtropical Japan
Don’t overthink it – just go for it!
Explore the unspoilt islands of Ponza, Procida and Filicudi
Three centuries of commercial supremacy
Contrasts and wonders
5 questions to Captain Étienne Garcia
A land rich in spirituality and legendary volcanoes
Up close and personal in the Seychelles
Islands of history, nature and diversity
Three destinations: something for everyone
New riches making their way onto the big tables
The challenging route from Guatamala to Costa Rica
A magical stopover at the gateway to Antarctica
Wild and mysterious islands in southern Chile
Our selection of authentic experiences
Sharing in the good life in Dalmatia
Introducing Julien Alex, glaciologist and polar guide
10 fascinating facts about the jewel of Granada
What is your perfect island destination?
The challenging route from Guatamala to Costa Rica
New riches making their way onto the big tables
Fruit of the mind and body
Connecting the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans: a historic challenge
Prepare to be amazed
Diving in the Maldives: discover unique marine life in an unspoilt environment
5 things you cannot miss in Madeira
Answer the call of the sea!
The Dominican Republic’s best-kept secret
An introduction to the iconic spice of Reunion and Madagascar
Surrounded by wild beauty in the cradle of the United States
Slow tourism’s favourite destination
A wonderland in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean
Portugal’s historical heart
Head to this natural paradise in the Balearic Islands
A sea of ice, at the very edge of the South Pole
A winning combo of tourism and research
An otherworldly ice volcano
Glacial attraction
Discover the log of the newest member of the PONANT fleet
PONANT & Ducasse: an elegant gourmet collaboration aboard Le Commandant Charcot
Five great features!
A ship designed for the Poles
Follow in the footsteps of legendary polar explorers
An unspoilt jewel in the heart of the Pacific
Hide and Reveal–Creating Mystery in Japanese Gardens.
Wild and unspoiled, these islands are a birder’s paradise.
From preserved underwater paradises and extraordinary geological formations, to extraordinary cultural landscapes and pristine wilderness areas, as well as lands with spectacular flora and fauna, it is not surprising that UNESCO has awarded many of Oceania’s most outstanding locations and sites with World Heritage status. Here are seven amazing places in Oceania that should be on your list to visit soon if you have not already.
Escape to the Isle of Beauty.
Experience these majestic natural sites in all their nuanced glory with our special selection.
The Far North, between myth and reality.
Discover the eternal magic of the poles.
When it comes to once-in-a-lifetime journeys, they don’t get much better than this. Picture this: a festive season spent sailing the infinite surreal landscapes of Antarctica, and swapping the crowds of people gift shopping for seals or penguins relaxing atop the ice. As if you needed any more convincing, here are our top reasons to plan for a once-in-a-lifetime Christmas or New Year celebratory polar expedition cruise to enjoy a special stress-free holiday packed full of outstanding memories.
Our selection of hidden gems.
An underwater tour guided by our expert.
Never-ending skyscrapers, luxury shopping centres and skiing resorts in the middle of the desert… The taste for excess in the biggest cities of the Persian Gulf needs no introduction. But few travellers know that they can visit this region differently, where magical moments off the beaten track in the heart of still-untouched natural settings, far from the thronging crowds, await. From Abu Dhabi to the Sultanate of Oman, explore these richly contrasting lands.
Journey deep into the heart of untouched, unspoilt archipelagos.
Six wonders to explore in the Riviera and Tuscany.
An exploration of coral reefs teeming with life with our expert diving specialist.
Exploring the most beautiful regions in the world.
A spectacular land born from the fury of volcanoes, Iceland offers visitors an impressive range of unique landscapes. From fjords and glaciers to lava fields and black sandy beaches, the story of the Earth’s geology is told before your very eyes. And there is also a wealth of cultural heritage to explore: Icelanders are still strongly attached to their Viking architecture and legends. Here is a shortlist of our favourite places to visit to discover a country untouched by time.
Is this region the world’s last secret destination ?
The most beautiful and unspoilt shores of the Mediterranean and Atlantic coastlines
Discover what the first passengers to sail have to say.
Sandrine Erwin-Rose introduces us to these remarkable wild and secret islands.
Exploring its hidden treasures, from Corsica to Sardinia
Nicolas Dubreuil spends time with the people of the river…
An adventure to the furthest reaches of the globe!
Journey into the world of “green gold”.
Celebrate like never before!
Norway, New Zealand, Chile… Which destination should you choose?
It goes without saying that you need to travel, and a long way at that… But, most importantly, you need to get off the beaten track. There is still a whole host of remote destinations that provide curious travellers with the chance to rediscover their inner adventurer. And there are so many desert islands all over the world that evoke the spirit of Robinson Crusoe thanks to their remote locations and protected wildernesses. Visiting these places at the ends of the Earth is not just a journey but an experience.
It is from here that the “Barefoot Diva” put not just the music but the very soul of Cape Verde on the map.
Shaped over centuries by geological and climate evolutions, these landscapes remain engraved in the memories of lucky visitors forever. From Réunion to South Africa via Italy, here are six destinations worth discovering for their unique and varied colours.
Virgin forests contribute to environmental balance and are the true guardians of biodiversity. These woodlands, which have never been exploited or influenced by humans, are found in both tropical and temperate zones, and constitute landscapes of unspoilt beauty. Here is an overview of five of these outstanding protected areas.
The largest country in Central America, Nicaragua is entirely dedicated to this classical element. Lakes, lagoons, rivers, coastlines and streams: water is everywhere. Escales takes you to explore one of the most “well-watered” regions on the planet.
Take a walk on the tropical side of the United Kingdom.
The Pacific islands do not have a monopoly on white sand beaches, palm trees and turquoise water. The landscapes in the North Atlantic are equally beautiful, inviting you to daydream and enjoy.
Take a trip to wonderland.
In the course of a lifetime of travel, some destinations leave memories that last forever. Whether in the air, underground or on the water, some places promise a one-of-a-kind adventure. Here are five unmissable destinations that you simply must experience at least once to know what ‘change of scenery’ and ‘wonder’ really mean.
Exploring the Inner Islands…
Journey to volcanic lands…
Travel back to pre-Columbian times.
The secret splendours of the Atlantic Ocean.
Why don’t you start drawing up a list of your New Year’s travel resolutions?
Let’s dive into one of the deepest submarine sinkholes in the world.
Discovering the baroque treasure of Central America.
The little country with so much to offer.
A journey through history and mythology.
In the footsteps of Victor Hugo.
In distant Oceania, where seafarers can go days without sighting land, there is a kingdom consisting of three islands. These three tiny dots are French territories and, located 16,000km from Paris, they are the furthest reaches of the French Republic – welcome to Wallis and Futuna!
Like Ushuaia, Dakar or even Petropavlovsk, Zanzibar is one of those destinations that you can’t necessarily point to on a world map, but whose name is enough to spark the wildest of dreams. But what if you’re no longer content to just dream? Head for this gem of the Indian Ocean, located off the east African coast just a stone’s throw from the coast of Tanzania!
Here are five treasures scattered across the globe.
A taste of something exceptional between the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans.
Venture to the wild, unspoiled expanses of the Antarctic. Reach the extreme lands of the Arctic. Give yourself the opportunity to go on “the trip of a lifetime” with our polar expeditions.
A journey through nature untamed.
If there is an ultimate luxury, it is the pleasure of combining our passions into one memorable experience. When the love of discovery meets the love of art, a whole world of possibilities opens up. On this Ponant cruise along the West Coast of North America, between Canada and the United States, the world’s largest auction house of contemporary art, Christie’s, will open doors to galleries and museums, revealing the secrets of key pieces of contemporary art.
From the Maldives to Micronesia passing through the Seychelles and French Polynesia, Costa Rica and Indonesia, we reveal some of the best scuba diving spots.
Focus on an ancient culture looking to the future.
From North to South America: that is the incredible challenge offered by this unique cruise. Between New York and Cape Horn, experience the best of these two continents.
“Olivier Levasseur, historical figure or folk legend? Both, my captain! Since his death in 1730 in Réunion, this famous French pirate, better known as La Buse, has lost none of his mystery and intrigue. And neither has his elusive lost loot, the stuff fantasies are made of and the focus of an astounding treasure hunt which began almost 300 years ago…”
From the mouth of the Saint Lawrence River to its source in the remotest Great Lakes, life is lived gently and tranquilly during the Indian summer in Canada.
In recent years, the North Pole has become a barometer of the global environment: so fragile and, paradoxically, such immense power. Everything here is raw, natural and in stark contrast: a pure, unsullied continent of ice resting on an inky black sea. And at the heart of this dialogue between land and sea, the wildlife, superlative in its untamed splendour. A tale of a singular and unique expedition.
From Mexico to Scotland, via Italy, Iceland and New Caledonia, discover five places where diving into the water becomes a magical experience!
If you’re looking for the keys to paradise, you are certain to find them in the Seychelles. White sandy beaches, crystal-clear waters, powerful and preserved nature, unusual fauna, and more besides. Located in the Indian Ocean, off the coast of East Africa, this archipelago deploys its generous beauty across islands of granite or coral. An Eden-like wonderland.
An attractive archipelago, no matter the season;
Almost 70% of our planet is covered by water. If you include gulfs, bays and straits, you can count over 150 seas brimming with animal and plant life as well as ecosystems and unique scenery.
3 secrets of an exclusive destination.
Two cities, two identities.
Full steam ahead for a multi-faceted land.
Why and how should you set sail for Antarctica?
Discovering the riches of Nuku Hiva island.
Towards the frozen extremity of the American continent
Discovering a region as fascinating as it is unknown
Discovering the untamed nature of the Svalbard archipelago
So if your heart can’t decide between the Arctic and the Antarctic, follow our guide!
Painters and authors: 5 artists to (re)discover to get inspired
5 Delicacies from the Land of the Rising Sun
5 destinations for an incredible New Year
Aquatic splendours in the heart of Latin America
The wonders of a small country far from the crowds of tourists
Turquoise waters and fine sand: our selection of breathtaking beaches
An immersive experience with the ‘perfect people’