Stewards of Greenland and the Far North

At PONANT EXPLORATIONS, we believe that every destination deserves our deepest respect. This is profoundly true in the Arctic Circle, where the Inuit people have a sacred, millennia-old connection to snow-covered lands that are shape-shifting before their eyes. Here, we are guests in someone else’s home. And not just nature’s. The Inuit are the true stewards of the Far North, and we have felt honored to collaborate with them to create journeys that respect their heritage, protect the environment, and share an indescribable polar magic.

Ancient Wisdom in Every Step

The last hunters of Greenland’s great Northwest, the Inuit believe spirits are found in all things—animals, water, ice, and sky. Their reverence for the land spans generations. When you visit Greenland on a PONANT expedition, you are steeped in a living history, shaped by thousands of years of wisdom, resilience, and mystery.

Last year, we set out on a scouting trip to forge bonds with the Inuit. Our team included PONANT’s Director of Expedition Experience, José Sarica, and second captain of the PONANT fleet, Mathieu Tsingrilaras. Their singular mission was to ensure that, when we arrive in villages on future expeditions, we’ll honor the local Inuit role as stewards, embrace that role for ourselves, and pass it on to you.

Guided by Deep Local Bonds

José and Mathieu were accompanied by expert polar explorer Nicolas Dubreuil, co-founder of the SEDNA polar experts and former PONANT expedition leader. Nicolas has spent decades forging bonds with Arctic communities, many of whom now consider him family. He lives part of each year in Greenland, spending his days in remote regions like Upernavik and Kullorsuaq, small islands just off the mainland in Baffin Bay.

Through his close relationships and earned trust, Nicolas has helped bridge two worlds—ours and the Inuit’s. Thanks to him, we’ve been granted a rare privilege: to experience Greenland as welcomed guests and fellow stewards. This is not a responsibility we take lightly. It is an invitation to us—and to you—to listen, to learn, and to protect.

Mapping New Horizons

As we mentioned, designing these immersive itineraries didn’t begin in a boardroom. It began with an expedition of our own.

José traveled to Greenland alongside Nicolas with a bold idea: create a new voyage that will give you access to Greenland’s far northwest in early spring—something never done before. This meant planning experiences on the ice floes themselves. But first, José needed to meet with the community leaders of Kullorsuaq, assess the conditions, and develop experiences that are truly respectful and immersive.

For second captain Mathieu’s part, ocean and ice conditions were top of mind. His mission was to determine whether our luxury icebreaker, Le Commandant Charcot, could safely operate in this uncharted region. In the polar north, weather is unpredictable, and maps are often decades out of date. Some bathymetric surveys go back to the early 1900s. With shifting ice conditions, even the best data can’t replace local knowledge and first-hand observation. His was a journey of learning from the local Inuit who know the sea best, and to chart a course that respects the cycles of nature.

A Journey of Spirit and Snow

Their March 2024 scouting mission quickly turned into an adventure. Poor weather grounded the helicopters that were scheduled to take them to Kullorsuaq. The team adapted with sled dogs and snowmobiles, traversing starkly beautiful but harsh landscapes.

Their Inuit guides led them over endless fields of wind-blown ice and snow. In some spots, they witnessed terrain that, with the ever-warming planet, were seeing sunlight for the first time in millennia.

It didn’t take long for José and Mathieu to understand the sacred connection that the Inuit feel to this mesmerizing landscape. At times, it felt like walking through a dream—where the veil between the physical and spiritual worlds felt thin. In moments like these, José often thought of the Inuit word Imaqa (pronounced Imara). It doesn’t translate neatly. But its spirit is clear: It means letting go of control, adapting to nature, and moving with the rhythm of the Arctic.

This principle guided the entire expedition. Nature set their agenda. Rather than dictate, they collaborated. Both with the wilderness and the Inuit. And together, they created something extraordinary.

A Voyage Unlike Any Other

What emerged from José’s and Mathieu’s expedition are some of PONANT’s most ground-breaking experiences yet—true polar adventures that bring travelers into the heart of Inuit culture and Arctic life.

Unlike typical polar expeditions, where guests rely on Zodiac boats for exploration, this journey often trades sea for snow. During onshore excursions, dog sleds are the primary means of transport. Guests will snowshoe across glacier-scapes, ply waters in a traditional Inuit kayak, and even snorkel beneath the ice in specially designed wetsuits. Wildlife lovers may spot narwhals or belugas gliding beneath the surface of Baffin Bay.

But perhaps the most powerful part of this itinerary is the human connection. Guests will have the opportunity to stay with local families and become part of village life in ways that few outsiders ever do.