Ponant Expeditions

PONANT Expeditions

From the coniferous forests of the North to the glaciers of Antarctica, from the banks of the Amazon River to the idyllic beaches of New Caledonia, from the ancient traditions of the Inuits to the millennium-old cultures of Vanuatu, discover remote corners of the earth and ways of life on board a modern, luxurious ship.

Luxury amenities…

An expedition with PONANT guarantees the best conditions of day to day comfort for you in some of the most remote places on the planet. The comfort of your ship and your cabin, personalised and attentive service, refined gastronomy... the unique atmosphere which we go to great lengths to preserve in order to stay true to our philosophy, creating that privileged feeling of being aboard one’s own private yacht. In the heart of the ice or the distant archipelagos of Oceania, our luxury amenities will make your expedition voyage an unforgettable experience.

Our expedition cruises

... in the heart of extreme lands

Whether in the Polar Regions or along the Amazon River, the size of our ships and their shallow draught mean you can arrive as close as possible to these hard-to-access areas. This proximity o ers the privileged discovery of preserved sites. Our expedition teams are always on the lookout for the unexpected and the surprises inherent to these itineraries, and our flexibility enables us to adapt to these. A genuine philosophy of exploration travel.

Zodiac® shore visits and outings

During Expedition voyages, our fleet of Zodiac® make landing ashore in remote, seldom visited destinations safe and enjoyable, and enable guests to get as close as possible to ice, coral reefs, waterfalls and fauna. Our Zodiac® are designed to accommodate small groups of 10 passengers. They are easy to step on to from the marina platform at the rear of your ship. Our inclusive Zodiac® and shore excursions are unforgettable experiences, whether you are landing on a deserted beach in the Maluku islands of Indonesia, interacting with remote tribes of Papua New Guinea, or discovering the splendour of Antarctic glaciers.

Our expedition cruises

Experts

Specialists of extreme regions, these passionate and fascinating professionals will bring cultural, environmental and historical dimensions to all your outings and will be sure to keep you informed about nearby flora and fauna, local cultures and natural phenomena. As recognised professionals, a er scouting missions in the field, they organise safe outings and shore visits, taking advantage of the opportunities that arise during any expedition. Aboard the ship the pleasure continues, with a series of cultural, scientific or historical presentations.

To make sure you have a safe trip, all our captains and crew are trained on glacier navigation.

All-inclusive Expeditions

Once aboard, enjoy the adventure in total peace of mind. Everything is included: Zodiac® outings and shore visits, excursions, lectures, parkas (offered) and boot rental (offered) for polar expeditions.
During some cruises and ports of calls, optional paying excursions are offered to visit sites that can be reached only with a local infrastructure.

Our expedition cruises

Destinations

Visit Papua New Guinea, explore the Kimberley, discover forgotten islands in the Indian Ocean, immerse yourself in glaciers in Antarctica, or go on an adventure in Spitsbergen, to name but a few options. Whether you’re attracted to the tropics or the polar expanses, thanks to our expertise in luxury expedition cruises, you will be in for an unparalleled change of scenery in some of the world’s most isolated regions.

Polar Expeditions voyages

The leader in expeditions to polar regions and an expert for over 20 years in these destinations, PONANT lets you live your dream for adventure, with the professional focus and responsible approach that characterises us.

In the Antarctic, set o to discover the icy vastness, and the fauna of the White Continent: humpback whales, seals, penguins... In the Arctic regions, fjords, glaciers, icebergs of changing colours and varied fauna await you: polar bears, Arctic foxes, walruses, orcas, whales... without forgetting the special moments of interaction with Inuit people.

Our polar cruises

Arctic

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Alaska

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Antarctica

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Tropical Expeditions voyages

A tropical Expedition voyage is more a matter of encounters. Sailing to remote and seldom visited destinations allows you to discover the ancient customs of many tribes and ethnic groups that continue their rituals on the land of their forefathers.

Whether they are Papuan, Polynesian or Māori people, you will gain an understanding of their tradition and cultures. During visits to their villages, take time to interact with these warm and friendly people, ensuring rewarding encounters and priceless memories. Not forgetting disembarking on idyllic white sand beaches with crystal clear waters and coral gardens far from the hustle and bustle of the modern world.

Our tropical cruises

Central America

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Africa & Indian Ocean

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Oceania
& Pacific Islands

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South America

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Expedition team

Internationally recognised for the precision and reliability of their knowledge of extreme environments our expedition leaders lead a team of experienced professionals. Scouting out destinations and making advance preparations, supervising cruise guests and communicating and interacting with them during cruises, protecting the ecosystems visited and ensuring safety guidelines and procedures are followed: our expedition team members are all about sharing their knowledge and imparting a sense of wonder and amazement.

The expedition leaders

Working alongside the captain, the expedition leader is the main person responsible for your exploration experience: they supervise the team of naturalist guides, ensure the safety of the organised activities offered, and tailor and adapt the cruise highlights to the sailing conditions, thus ensuring you get to see and experience the full wealth of riches these fascinating ecosystems have to offer.

The naturalist guides

Expert spotters and trained in supervising activities in extreme environments, one of the naturalist guides will be with you each day to share their knowledge of these fascinating ecosystems, both on board the ship and during your excursions and disembarkations.

Activity leaders

Scuba diving, snorkelling, kayaking, polar trekking, Nordic skiing, dog sledding... Whether you're a first-timer or looking to take your existing skills to the next level, get ready to enjoy immersive experiences supervised by certified guides, genuine ambassadors for local cultures and communities.

Florence Kuyper

Expedition leader

Born in the Netherlands, Florence discovered Antarctica in 2004, and she returns there every year. When she is not on board our ships, she works on sailing vessels in the Arctic and Antarctica. During the 2012/2013 season, she has been the Port Lockroy’s base head chief, an emblematic British base in Antarctica. On board PONANT ships, Florence will share with you her passion for polar regions and penguins

Specialty: polar expedition

Meeting with Florence, on Escales Magazine

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Raphaël Sané

Expedition leader

Raphaël took part in his first scientific expedition in 1997 in the Siberian Arctic. Further expeditions then followed, not only to polar habitats (Greenland, Canada and Svalbard), but also to parts of the world with steppe (Kazakhstan), semi-arid (Morocco) and tropical (Peru) environments. In 2000, he became a specialist guide and expedition leader working on cruise ships travelling to the world's polar and tropical regions.

Specialty: tropical expedition polar expedition

John Frick

Expedition leader

John’s wanderlust surfaced during his undergraduate studies and has since led him to live in Alaska, to work in Nepal as a Peace Corps Volunteer and to lead hundreds of expeditions. His voyages have taken him to many far-flung areas of the globe including Africa, Alaska, South America, the Canadian Arctic, Greenland, India and the South Pacific. He looks forward to sharing with you his enthusiasm for the wonders of the natural world, in particular for the White Continent.

Specialty: polar expedition

Mick Fogg

Expedition leader

In 2012, Mick was appointed first Ambassador of Orangutan Foundation International as a reward for his conservation work in Indonesia. He has led over 300 expeditions through the Asia-Pacific region, sharing his passion for these territories with guests. As an award-winning wildlife photographer and adventurer, Mick Fogg has spent the past 17 years leading expeditions to some of the world’s most remote and spectacular destinations, from the Sub Antarctic Islands to South East Asia.

Specialty: polar expedition photographer

David Beaune

Expedition leader

A doctor of biology, David first began travelling to the poles and the equator to explore and study underwater, underground, canopy and cliff ecosystems more than a decade ago. Initially a naturalist guide for PONANT before becoming an expedition leader, he delights in sharing his experiences and the strong emotions the natural world inspires.

Specialty: tropical expedition polar expedition

Sandrine Erwin-Rose

Expedition leader

Sandrine is head of operations and expedition leader for the Asia-Pacific cruises. She holds qualifications in tropical zoology, ecology, marine biology and education sciences and is passionate about wildlife conservation and protecting the environment.

Specialty: tropical expedition polar expedition marine biology

Meeting with Sandrine Erwin-Rose, on Escales Magazine

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Benjamin Dy

Assistant expedition leader

Trained in the management and protection of nature, Benjamin is a naturalist-guide and has lived in Quebec for ten years. He regularly accompanies groups of enthusiasts in the Canadian Arctic, Alaska or Svalbard. Reporter and photographer, he regularly writes articles to help people discover the wild world. Benjamin has been on board with PONANT since 2016.

Specialty: polar expedition

Alison Thieffry

Naturalist-guide

Alison has degrees in both geography and political science and developed a deeper interest in the Circumpolar World and the geopolitics and peoples of the Arctic while studying in Canada. She has been sailing with PONANT as a naturalist guide since 2018.

Specialty: polar expedition

Daphné Buiron

Naturalist-guide

Daphné Buiron holds a doctorate in glaciology and spent 14 months at the Dumont d'Urville scientific station in Antarctica. She then decided to devote herself to the protection, study and exploration of the polar regions, firstly as a teacher and researcher, then as a guide-naturalist. Daphne has been sailing with PONANT since 2015.

Specialty: polar expedition

Laura Jourdan

Naturalist-guide

Laura was biology teacher in France at a secondary institution before to venture into the polar regions. In Svalbard, she was taken by the polar bug and decided to become a polar guide. After 3 years of professional experience between Svalbard and Northern Norway, she joined PONANT in 2019.

Specialty: polar expedition marine biology

Nicolas Tolstoï

Naturalist-guide

A professional underwater photographer before becoming a naturalist guide and expedition leader, Nicolas Tolstoi has sailed all around the world's seas and oceans. Today he is responsible for training the PONANT expedition team for the polar and tropical cruises and acting as its official representative.

Specialty: polar expedition tropical expedition

Meeting with Nicolas, on Escales Magazine

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Ponant Expeditions