Explore Svalbard’s largest island
Get inspired
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.
2024 and 2025: exceptional years for the northern lights
A polar sky illuminated by a magical spectacle
PONANT and Smithsonian Journeys Show You the Best of New Zealand
We’re collaborating with Smithsonian Journeys to bring you on an illuminating voyage to New Zealand’s North & South Islands by Sea
A gourmet journey
A gastronomic getaway with La Mamounia and Pierre Hermé Paris
Honduras! Authentic Communities & Unspoiled Beauty
Embark on PONANT’s inaugural Belize & Honduras voyage
A Journey Through Iberia’s Architectural Splendors
Join PONANT and Smithsonian Journeys during our Cruising Southern Spain & Portugal voyage
The Secrets of Prince William Sound
Learn about the secrets of Prince William Sound, & how it embodies the untamed wilderness and maritime heritage of Alaska.
PONANT Immerses You in the Rarely Visited Northwest Passage
Embark on an expedition through the seldom-sailed Northwest Passage aboard a luxury PONANT small ship for unforgettable adventures.
Majesty Standing Tall: Totem Poles of Alaska
As you’ll discover during a PONANT luxury Alaska expedition, totem poles of Alaska holds many meanings to the First Nations people.
Jazz on board!
The Marseille Jazz des cinq continents festival goes on a cruise
Announcing Our 2025 PONANT Cruises with Smithsonian Journeys
Since 2022, our alliance with Smithsonian Journeys has added depth and insight to PONANT itineraries.
A voyage to Kullorsuaq
Get to know the last hunters of north-west Greenland
An Arctic adventure like no other,
rooted in connections with local people
From scouting to setting sail
Twenty-four hours in Kullorsuaq, with the last guardians of the pole
Through the eyes of photographer Julien Fabro
Greenland: east coast or west coast?
Two very different destinations on a single island!
Explorers of the East Coast of Greenland
200 years of adventures on the edge of Greenland
Alaska’s six world-beating records
A land of superlatives
Top 10 travel experiences for 2024
Expand your horizons
Dreams of Elsewhere
Keep exploring the world from your home!
Carnival in the Caribbean
Exuberant freedom
On the route to Kitamae
In the wake of Japanese merchants
Four must-see ports of call along the coasts of northern seas
Wild islands and archaeological mysteries
Inuit myths
Tales from the collective memory
The Polynesian tattoo: a history
Discover an ancestral art
The mysteries of Antarctica
A journey to the origins of the Earth
Zooming in on 3 Spectacular UNESCO World Heritage Sites of Southeast Asia
PONANT zooms in on 3 Spectacular UNESCO World Heritage Sites of Southeast Asia: Malacca, Borobudur, and the Singapore Botanic Gardens.
Flights of Aegean Fancy: The Windmills and Pelicans of Mykonos
PONANT takes you to Mykonos, and reveals the story of these beloved treasures, during our spectacular journeys to the Greek Islands.
Storytelling and Drumming Echo in Scoresby Sound
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
PONANT and Smithsonian Journeys Unveil the Hanseatic Treasure of Visby. We’ll set our sights on Visby on the western shores of Gotland.
The Many Faces of the Antarctic Peninsula
Read on for a preview of this once-in-a-lifetime journey to the Antarctic Peninsula on board our luxury ship, L’Austral.
Svalbard: Wilderness Capital of the Arctic Ocean
Wilderness Capital of the Arctic Ocean. Europe’s gateway to the North Pole, the Svalbard Archipelago, is a land of unspeakable beauty
The Legacy of Vikings in the Orkney and Shetland Islands
Explore the Legacy of Vikings in the Orkney and Shetland Islands onboard our luxury expedition cruise through Scotland.
Dubrovnik: The Ragusa Republic, Rival to Venice
The Venetian Republic had a formidable rival: Today’s UNESCO World Heritage Site of Dubrovnik. PONANT is proud to show you its riches.
Join PONANT and Smithsonian Journeys and Experience Māori Culture
Kaikoura. Akaroa. Te Wharawhara. These coastal regions of the South Island of New Zealand were settled by the Māori people 1000+ years ago.
Spitsbergen: A Deep Immersion into a Serene World
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: A Birder’s Paradise. A Photographer’s Dream. Central America is a region of endless coastlines and emerald-green hills.
Legends and Landscapes in Iceland, Land of Fire and Ice
Join PONANT and Smithsonian Journeys on a luxury, small ship expedition to the Land of Fire and Ice for a scientific inquiry.
Set sail for the Magdalen Islands
An adventure in one of nature’s great wildernesses
The volcanoes of the Canary Islands
Everything you need to know before you go…
Set sail for the Brijuni Islands
Breathe in paradise
The Algarve: a Portuguese treasure
Our top 10 experiences in the southernmost region of Portugal
La Gomera, El Hierro and La Graciosa
The smallest Canary Islands
Sri Lanka: tea island
In the land of green gold
Madagascar: the roads less travelled
Exploring the island-continent’s hidden regions
The Southern side of New Zealand
The riches of South Island
Five things you were unaware of about the Land of the Rising Sun
Discovering little-known sides of Japan
The British Isles: land of legends
Travel to the boundaries of reality
The British Virgin Islands
A heavenly chain of islands in the Caribbean
Four unforgettable experiences in Croatia
Take the time to immerse yourself in the places you visit
Southeast Asian travel journal
Fire, water, earth and air: an immersion in the essence of eastern wisdom
Head for the American Great Lakes
A multi-faceted sensory journey
The wild adventure of the Suez Canal
Interview with Christian Makarian, deputy editor of L’Express
The Okinawa and Ryukyu Islands: Japanese to the core
Embark on a spiritual journey to subtropical Japan
Rise, power and decline of Hansa
Three centuries of commercial supremacy
Top 10 most inspiring travel experiences for 2023
Don’t overthink it – just go for it!
Little-known Italian islands of the Tyrrhenian Sea
Explore the unspoilt islands of Ponza, Procida and Filicudi
See south-eastern Spain in a whole new light
Contrasts and wonders
Crossing the Northwest Passage
5 questions to Captain Étienne Garcia
Bromo Tengger Semeru National Park
A land rich in spirituality and legendary volcanoes
Top 5 things to do in the Coral Sea
The Coral Sea, from Australia to Vanuatu
The Caribbean Islands, prized corners of paradise to treasure
Islands of history, nature and diversity
Luxury products from Madagascar
New riches making their way onto the big tables
Coffee is the ‘golden bean’ of Central America
The challenging route from Guatamala to Costa Rica
The enchanting South Orkney Islands
A magical stopover at the gateway to Antarctica
Why go on a luxury cruise in Antarctica?
Exploration and completeness
The Chiloé Archipelago
Wild and mysterious islands in southern Chile
Malta, Sicily and Sardinia: three islands, a thousand incredible discoveries
What is your perfect island destination?
The symbolism of cocoa among the Maya peoples
Fruit of the mind and body
Building the Panama Canal
Connecting the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans: a historic challenge
The Red Sea: a colourful history
Prepare to be amazed
Fascinating marine worlds of the Maldives
Diving in the Maldives: discover unique marine life in an unspoilt environment
Madeira: Europe’s own tropical archipelago
5 things you cannot miss in Madeira
The quintessentially Caribbean Samana Bay
The Dominican Republic’s best-kept secret
The secrets of vanilla
An introduction to the iconic spice of Reunion and Madagascar
Over hills and down vales in the national parks of New Hampshire and Maine
Surrounded by wild beauty in the cradle of the United States
Seychelles: a better way to travel
Slow tourism’s favourite destination
Anaga: in Tenerife’s primary forest
A wonderland in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean
Head to Guimarães, the cradle of Portugal
Portugal’s historical heart
Set sail for Menorca: a sustainable island
Head to this natural paradise in the Balearic Islands
Zoom on the Weddell Sea
A sea of ice, at the very edge of the South Pole
Science and polar voyages
A winning combo of tourism and research
Make for Peter I Island
An otherworldly ice volcano
Head for the geographic North Pole
Glacial attraction
Elevated gastronomy and polar exploration
PONANT & Ducasse: an elegant gourmet collaboration aboard Le Commandant Charcot
What makes Le Commandant Charcot so remarkable?
Five great features!
Le Commandant Charcot: a unique blend
A ship designed for the Poles
Head to the Ross Sea
Follow in the footsteps of legendary polar explorers
New Caledonia: Great South Lagoon
An unspoilt jewel in the heart of the Pacific
Hide and Reveal – creating mystery in Japanese Gardens
Hide and Reveal–Creating Mystery in Japanese Gardens.
The Kimberley’s Lacepede Islands
Wild and unspoiled, these islands are a birder’s paradise.
Corsica: the most beautiful beaches and diving spots
Escape to the Isle of Beauty.
Spitsbergen’s top six most beautiful fjords
Experience these majestic natural sites in all their nuanced glory with our special selection.
The facts and the fiction about the Arctic
The Far North, between myth and reality.
Six immersive experiences in polar environments
Discover the eternal magic of the poles.
8 reasons to spend Christmas or New Year in Antarctica
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.
A day in Saint Lucia
Our selection of hidden gems.
Fascinating marine worlds of the Seychelles
An underwater tour guided by our expert.
The Persian Gulf: 1,001 landscapes
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.
A trip off the beaten path to discover the Greek islands
Journey deep into the heart of untouched, unspoilt archipelagos.
Coastal Italy
Six wonders to explore in the Riviera and Tuscany.
The fascinating marine worlds of the Caribbean
An exploration of coral reefs teeming with life with our expert diving specialist.
Top 10 Trips for Your Bucket List
Exploring the most beautiful regions in the world.
Next stop, Kamchatka!
Is this region the world’s last secret destination ?
Discover France’s unspoiled coastlines
The most beautiful and unspoilt shores of the Mediterranean and Atlantic coastlines
Going away with PONANT: “a sensation of freedom and safety”
Discover what the first passengers to sail have to say.
Discover the Subantarctic Islands
Sandrine Erwin-Rose introduces us to these remarkable wild and secret islands.
Focus on… the Strait of Bonifacio
Exploring its hidden treasures, from Corsica to Sardinia
Top 6 most beautiful haciendas in Yucatán
Journey into the world of “green gold”.
Ponant Discovery: the story of a scouting voyage to Guyana
Nicolas Dubreuil spends time with the people of the river…
In the footsteps of trappers and gold prospectors in Alaska
An adventure to the furthest reaches of the globe!
Ideas for a different New Year
Celebrate like never before!
Fjords: should you head north or south?
Norway, New Zealand, Chile… Which destination should you choose?
Journey to the ends of the Earth: our selection of remote destinations
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.
Follow in Cesária Évora’s footsteps to explore Mindelo
It is from here that the “Barefoot Diva” put not just the music but the very soul of Cape Verde on the map.
Six truly colourful destinations
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.
The top 5 most beautiful primary forests in the world
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.
Nicaragua, where water sets the pace
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.
The idyllic islands of the North Atlantic
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.
Five of the most incredible adventures to experience with PONANT
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.
Travelling to the Seychelles: which island should you choose?
Exploring the Inner Islands…
Chan Chan, Peru’s eternal city
Travel back to pre-Columbian times.
Five sites to visit in the Azores
The secret splendours of the Atlantic Ocean.
Great Blue Hole, an underwater cenote in Belize
Let’s dive into one of the deepest submarine sinkholes in the world.
Take a stroll through Antigua
Discovering the baroque treasure of Central America.
Set sail for the Cape Verde archipelago
The little country with so much to offer.
Norway: in the footsteps of the Vikings
A journey through history and mythology.
Excursion to Guernsey
In the footsteps of Victor Hugo.
Wallis and Futuna: lose yourself in the South Pacific
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!
Zanzibar, a tiny African pearl off the coast of Tanzania
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!
The world’s top 5 most beautiful waterfalls
Here are five treasures scattered across the globe.
The islands of Chile and Argentina on the edge of the oceans
A taste of something exceptional between the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans.
Cape Horn: the edge of the world
Extreme adventure beyond the Roaring Forties.
Discover the French Scattered Islands
A journey through nature untamed.
United States: West Coast and contemporary art, a trip for aesthetes
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.
Hidden treasures and magnificent animals: the best scuba diving spots
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.
Conquering the shores of Japan
Focus on an ancient culture looking to the future.
New York, Rio de Janeiro… from one America to the other
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: on the trail of the lost treasure of the pirate La Buse
“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…”
Canada : exploring the spectacular Great Lakes
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.
The Arctic, a ocean of ice, pristine and unsullied
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.
5 natural swimming pools for an unforgettable swim
From Mexico to Scotland, via Italy, Iceland and New Caledonia, discover five places where diving into the water becomes a magical experience!
The Seychelles archipelago: the great getaway
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.
When is the best time to go to Japan?
An attractive archipelago, no matter the season;
Top Five Secret Seas
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.
Fernando de Noronha, the Brazilian pearl of the Atlantic Ocean
3 secrets of an exclusive destination.
An entirely Californian competition : San Francisco vs. Los Angeles
Two cities, two identities.
What should you see in South Africa? 5 must-see locations
Full steam ahead for a multi-faceted land.
Antarctica: the journey of a lifetime
Why and how should you set sail for Antarctica?
Dance, diving and traditional Kai Kai: experience a day in the Marquesas
Discovering the riches of Nuku Hiva island.
Perito Moreno: full steam ahead for the unmissable glacier in Argentinian Patagonia.
Towards the frozen extremity of the American continent
Take a closer look at… the Kimberley, the untamed Australian treasure
Discovering a region as fascinating as it is unknown
Expedition story in the heart of the wild Arctic regions
Discovering the untamed nature of the Svalbard archipelago
The Arctic vs Antarctica: 5 differences between these two frozen lands
So if your heart can’t decide between the Arctic and the Antarctic, follow our guide!
In the footsteps of 5 travelling artists of the 19th century
Painters and authors: 5 artists to (re)discover to get inspired
The Japanese specialities you absolutely must try!
5 Delicacies from the Land of the Rising Sun
Where to spend New Year’s Eve: our selection
5 destinations for an incredible New Year
Between Brazil and Argentina : a closer look at Iguazu falls
Aquatic splendours in the heart of Latin America
Head to Croatia, a treasure trove of nature and culture
The wonders of a small country far from the crowds of tourists
Top 5 most beautiful beaches in the world
Turquoise waters and fine sand: our selection of breathtaking beaches
PONANT Discovery: the story of a scouting voyage to the Bissagos Islands
An immersive experience with the ‘perfect people’