The Celtic soul on the edge of the Atlantic

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.
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
Discover Japan aboard a PONANT EXPLORATIONS voyage into the heart of one of Asia’s most fascinating countries where ancient traditions meet modern innovations.
Polar bears, reindeers, whales, walruses…
Oasis between sea and ocean
Discover North America’s Great Lakes aboard PONANT EXPLORATIONS voyages with Smithsonian Journeys Experts to share the region’s rich history.
Aboard a PONANT EXPLORATIONS voyage, immerse yourself in the wonders of the planet alongside scientists, researchers and conservationists.
Together with Smithsonian Journeys, discover the timeless allure of the South of France the PONANT way.
Top 10 travel experiences
PONANT’s alliance with Smithsonian Journeys brings exceptional historical and cultural depth to your expedition.
Norway’s fjords embody its magnificence. Cruising these breathtaking waterways reveals why Norwegians take such pride in their nation’s natural beauty.
Follow in the footsteps of adventures of French explorers on PONANT explorer cruises.
Global cooperation continues to play a key role in keeping Antarctica pristine and protected to this day because of the Antarctica Treaty of 1959.
Indulge in the pinnacle of luxury aboard a PONANT small ship.
As many types of speciality coffee as there are countries
In this blog post, PONANT will be zeroing in on 3 Spectacular UNESCO Treasures on the Indian Subcontinent in India and Sri Lanka.
We thought we’d answer the question that might cross your mind as you explore this vast frontier: Who owns Antarctica?
Live the Legacy of France’s Great Explorers.
Experience True Cultural Immersion with PONANT.
Learn more about Shackleton’s expedition ship Endurance found in Antarctica’s Weddell Sea. Shackleton’s story of exploration is inspirational.
Join PONANT and Smithsonian Journeys on a luxury, small ship expedition to the Land of Fire and Ice for a scientific inquiry.
Explore Svalbard’s largest island
A polar sky illuminated by a magical spectacle
We’re collaborating with Smithsonian Journeys to bring you on an illuminating voyage to New Zealand’s North & South Islands by Sea
A gastronomic getaway with La Mamounia and Pierre Hermé Paris
Embark on PONANT’s inaugural Belize & Honduras voyage
Join PONANT and Smithsonian Journeys during our Cruising Southern Spain & Portugal voyage
Learn about the secrets of Prince William Sound, & how it embodies the untamed wilderness and maritime heritage of Alaska.
Embark on an expedition through the seldom-sailed Northwest Passage aboard a luxury PONANT small ship for unforgettable adventures.
As you’ll discover during a PONANT luxury Alaska expedition, totem poles of Alaska holds many meanings to the First Nations people.
The Marseille Jazz des cinq continents festival goes on a cruise
Since 2022, our alliance with Smithsonian Journeys has added depth and insight to PONANT itineraries.
Get to know the last hunters of north-west Greenland
From scouting to setting sail
Through the eyes of photographer Julien Fabro
Two very different destinations on a single island!
200 years of adventures on the edge of Greenland
A land of superlatives
Expand your horizons
Keep exploring the world from your home!
Exuberant freedom
In the wake of Japanese merchants
Wild islands and archaeological mysteries
Tales from the collective memory
Discover an ancestral art
A journey to the origins of the Earth
PONANT zooms in on 3 Spectacular UNESCO World Heritage Sites of Southeast Asia: Malacca, Borobudur, and the Singapore Botanic Gardens.
PONANT takes you to Mykonos, and reveals the story of these beloved treasures, during our spectacular journeys to the Greek Islands.
The vast snowy expanses and icy fjords of Eastern Greenland and Scoresby Sound have long been home to the Inuit.
PONANT and Smithsonian Journeys Unveil the Hanseatic Treasure of Visby. We’ll set our sights on Visby on the western shores of Gotland.
Read on for a preview of this once-in-a-lifetime journey to the Antarctic Peninsula on board our luxury ship, L’Austral.
Wilderness Capital of the Arctic Ocean. Europe’s gateway to the North Pole, the Svalbard Archipelago, is a land of unspeakable beauty
Explore the Legacy of Vikings in the Orkney and Shetland Islands onboard our luxury expedition cruise through Scotland.
The Venetian Republic had a formidable rival: Today’s UNESCO World Heritage Site of Dubrovnik. PONANT is proud to show you its riches.
Kaikoura. Akaroa. Te Wharawhara. These coastal regions of the South Island of New Zealand were settled by the Māori people 1000+ years ago.
Stepping onto the island of Spitsbergen, you really do feel as if you’ve arrived at one of the most remote places on earth.
Central America: A Birder’s Paradise. A Photographer’s Dream. Central America is a region of endless coastlines and emerald-green hills.
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
Three centuries of commercial supremacy
Don’t overthink it – just go for it!
Explore the unspoilt islands of Ponza, Procida and Filicudi
Contrasts and wonders
5 questions to Captain Étienne Garcia
A land rich in spirituality and legendary volcanoes
The Coral Sea, from Australia to Vanuatu
Islands of history, nature and diversity
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
Exploration and completeness
Wild and mysterious islands in southern Chile
What is your perfect island destination?
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
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
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.
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.
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
Journey into the world of “green gold”.
Nicolas Dubreuil spends time with the people of the river…
An adventure to the furthest reaches of the globe!
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…
Travel back to pre-Columbian times.
The secret splendours of the Atlantic Ocean.
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.
Extreme adventure beyond the Roaring Forties.
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’