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Consciously exploring the world

Guide naturaliste sur un pont - rivière tropicale

Set course for more sustainable journeys that are more respectful of nature and living things

It’s good to travel, explore and encounter new things. But not anywhere, anytime or any way. Designing the journeys and ships of tomorrow means creating experiences that are more sustainable and more respectful of people and ecosystems than ever before. We’re setting course to rise to the new societal and environmental challenges to better understand, share and protect the world around us.

Combining passion and exploration

Every journey is an exploration, whether of the natural, cultural, gastronomic or artistic world, because every discovery, every observation, every encounter is an adventure. Luc Jacquet, Eugénie Drion, Francine Kreiss, Laurence de la Ferrière and more: prestigious travellers share their sensitive and unique perspectives on the planet on board our ships.

Opening your eyes to the living world

Travelling with respect for nature and biodiversity lets you see exceptional ecosystems up close and enjoy special wildlife watching experiences, from emperor penguins, bears and albatrosses to primary forests, deserted islands and the extraordinary seabed. It is one of the best ways to learn more about the environment, thanks to experienced expedition leaders and naturalist guides specialising in glaciology or marine biology. They ensure strict landing protocols are complied with to preserve the biosecurity of the sites.

Building strong relationships

Respectful, in-depth discussions with local populations, from Greenland and French Guiana to the Bijagos Islands, and meticulous on-site scouting to discover the lifestyles of populations and cooperate with them is the first step in designing exploration trips off the beaten track. This philosophy is at the heart of our ethical charter, ensuring we leave the smallest footprint possible.

Taking care of each other

Caring for each other means committing to the planet and its inhabitants by supporting initiatives restoring ecosystems in the Philippines, educating children in Guinea-Bissau and restoring coastal reefs in New Caledonia and Greenland to support the development of Inuit communities by offering a unique immersive experience accompanied by local guides.

Researching for tomorrow

Designing an increasingly eco-friendly fleet, welcoming researchers for scientific missions on a hybrid polar exploration vessel, committing to significantly reducing our emissions, recovering waste and eliminating single-use plastic are some of our initiatives leading the way to more sustainable tourism.

To find out more:

  • Meet Daniel Cron, scientific coordinator on board Le Commandant Charcot.
  • Learn about Pure Ocean, a foundation supported by PONANT which funds innovative scientific research projects to protect the oceans
  • Get insight into the life of Pipaluk, a young Greenland woman open to the world, or Adam and Ole, two Inuit hunters who shared their expertise with PONANT during a reconnaissance trip to the North Pole aboard Le Commandant Charcot.
  • Discover the ancestral traditions and wisdom of the remote populations of Oceania with Serge Guiraud, a naturalist guide and ethnologist. 
  • Learn about ice science on board Le Commandant Charcot or discover the northernmost research station in the world at Spitsbergen.
  • Find out all about the history of kayaking, a way of observing the world while completely connected to the environment.
  • Contribute to scientific exploration by sharing your observations via participatory science apps, such as Happy Whale.

Photos credits :  ©Studio PONANT/Morgane Monneret; ©PONANT/Mathilde Vanneron, Julien Fabro; ©PONANT Photo Ambassador/Ian Dawson

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Explore the world with PONANT

Set off on more sustainable journeys to discover our planet’s treasures

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